I shake my head. “I don’t think it was. I mean, you know how much he loved a party. Especially a Christmas party.”
Edward smiles, sadly, but fondly. “He was a beast this time of year. Remember how he kept stealing Mother’s mulled wine last year, even though he wasn’t supposed to drink with his medicines?”
“And laughing like an imp,” I add, throat tight. “Healways appreciated my extra effort for White Elephant.” I sigh. “I think he’d be especially delighted by this year’s offering.”
My brother’s gaze sharpens on mine. “Which is?”
Fighting a grin, I demure, “I don’t want to ruin the surprise. I promise, it isn’t cursed or flammable, and was obtained through…mostly legal means.”
His brows shoot up. “Mostly legal? What does that mean? Either something is legal or it’s not, Olly.”
“I would argue that there are actually shades of gray when it comes to?—”
“Oliver, I swear, if the constable shows up at our Christmas luncheon, I will be forced to… I, well… I will have no choice but to…” He huffs out a breath. “I don’t know what I’ll do, but something will have to be done.”
Taking pity on my poor, uptight brother, already buckling under the strain of his new title and responsibilities, I decide it’s worth breaking tradition to put his mind at ease. “Relax, Eddy. It’s just a Westminster speedbump. For mother. I drew her name again this year.”
“What?” He blinks, then frowns as he connects the dots. “You mean one of those hideous concrete sleeping policemen?”
“The same,” I say. “I bribed a man in the public works department to liberate one for me. I hid it in the old larder at the country house, wrapped in paper and topped with a big red bow, ready and waiting for the big reveal.”
“Oh God, she’ll hate it,” he says, looking torn between amusement and revulsion. “She’s been complaining about how tacky they are for at least a decade.”
“Oh, much longer than that,” I agree cheerfully. “I remember her grousing about them when we were small. I’m going to offer to put it in the garden for her, right next to that rhododendron she loves so much.”
Edward snorts. “She’ll send it straight to the attic with all the other things she’s too embarrassed to have downstairs. You’re going to end up lugging fifty pounds of solid concrete up three flights, mark my words.”
“Likely. But it’ll be worth it,” I say, glancing at the clock on the wall above the giggling elf.
10:12. Huh. Strange that I haven’t heard from Emily…
The presentation was scheduled for forty-five minutes, tops. They had someone else coming in to present at ten.
I flip my cell over on the table to see if I missed a notification, but I’m still all caught up.
“Nothing from Em?” Edward asks.
I shake my head. “No, but maybe the meeting ran long. I’m sure she’ll text soon.”
Edward smirks. “Well, well…looks like Matilda was right.”
“Right about what?”
“It’s serious this time,” Edward says. “You and your American. I said it couldn’t be, or you would have said something after you two met in New York, but…” He shrugs. “Looks like I was wrong.”
Guilt twists through my gut. I hate lying to Edward. I also hate breaking promises, but surely, Emily will understand. And Edward can be trusted. He’ll take our secret to the grave if I ask him to.
“About that…” I exhale. “There might be more to the story.” I fill him in on what really happened—the night Emily and I met, the instant scandal, the fallout for her business, and our decision to tell a few white lies in the name of making the scandal seem less scandalous.
By the time I finish, his eyes are as round as our coffee saucers. “Well, hell. That’s completely mad, but…it looks like your plan worked.”
“Thanks to Ronan and his midnight ride upon a concrete lion,” I add.
“I mean, that didn’t hurt,” Edward agrees with a laugh. “But you were well on your way to putting the scandal to bed on your own. You’re a charming couple. And for two people who have known each other such a short time, remarkably natural together.”
“It’s so easy to be with her,” I agree, hating how mundane that sounds. “I know that doesn’t seem like a meaningful thing, but it is. For me, at least. I’ve never felt so comfortable with a woman. Or so…happy.” I exhale, frustrated. “I don’t know, I’m doing a shit job of explaining it, but it’s special.She’sspecial.”
Edward’s lips curve into a slightly patronizing smile. “Aw, my baby brother’s in love.”
