Total pages in book: 86
Estimated words: 83343 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 417(@200wpm)___ 333(@250wpm)___ 278(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 83343 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 417(@200wpm)___ 333(@250wpm)___ 278(@300wpm)
“Not if he couldn’t afford to, he wouldn’t,” Granny says under her breath.
“He’s an earl,” I say. “He’s got. . .investments.”
“You know this for a fact, do you?” Granny pats me on the shoulder as we cross the lawns and head straight through the glass double doors into the long room. “Whatever happens, just remember we’ll be fine.”
“What does that mean?” I ask.
Before she can answer, we are surrounded by people as we all fill up the long room.
Granny’s right, they’ve put a collection of chairs at the front, and we make our way through the crowd to find Granny a seat at the end of a row, where I can stand behind her.
I bend and whisper into her ear. “What does we’ll be fine mean?” Did she know something concrete or was she just listening to Basil’s silly rumors?
The room falls silent and I look up to see the earl coming through the long room’s north entrance, his head bowed, a crumpled piece of paper in his hand. He seems sprightly enough. He’s in his seventies, but as far as I know, is in perfect health. He looks just as he always has to me.
He stands in front of the twenty or so chairs at the front, nodding to Granny as he spots her. He clears his throat. “Thank you for coming,” he starts. “I wanted as many of you as possible to hear this directly from me.”
Anxiety knots in my chest. That doesn’t sound good.
“I understand there has been rumor and speculation over the last few years about the future of the Crompton Estate. I’m without an heir and the place, as you all know, takes a lot of upkeep. Well . . .” He takes a deep breath, then lifts his head, a forced smile on his face. “I have good news for you all.”
The knot of anxiety dissolves and I squeeze Granny’s shoulder in an I-told-you-so gesture.
“I’ve been very keen to ensure the generations of love and work that have gone into making Crompton what it is will be maintained for generations to come. I can say with confidence that that future is now guaranteed.”
I knew this wouldn’t be bad news. I could tell. I smile and look around the room, making sure everyone is feeling the same relief.
From their expressions, it doesn’t seem like everyone is having the same reaction to the earl’s announcement as me. I expect Basil to look dour. Even on his birthday, he looks like someone stole his favorite cap, but why is everyone else looking like the earl is telling us that he’s going to burn the place down? He’s saying the exact opposite.
I notice someone leaning against the wall on the north side of the ballroom, but he’s obscured by some of the younger gardeners. I dip my head to see if I can see between their beefy arms because for a second, I think it’s Vincent.
That man is still haunting me, even weeks after our night together.
The earl continues. “I have sold the estate to a very charming fellow who will steward this magnificent home toward a bright future.”
The knot of anxiety tumbles back into my chest and explodes. Heat floods my chest and memories circle my mind like ticker tape:
Me making my own lunch because Mum was in bed after a late night.
Me at school after everyone else had left except Miss Jamie, who stayed with me until my mother turned up an hour and a half late.
Me on a pew at my mother’s funeral, dressed in a black coat, not knowing how I should feel.
Sold?
Sold Crompton?
That was simply unacceptable.
“No!” I think I’m shouting, but I realize I haven’t made a sound. I can’t get the word out. It’s stuck in my throat like it’s painted on in thick strokes.
Granny grabs my hand on her shoulder and pulls my fingers into hers. “It’s going to be okay, my girl. This is just a new chapter.”
I don’t want a new chapter. I want to stay on the current chapter forever. My life is a fairy tale—perfect just how it is. I don’t want a different ending or a bend in the road or a new horizon or whatever other pretty words mask the devastation of this announcement. I want to rewind time to ten minutes ago and just get on with my day.
“Good evening, everyone,” a familiar voice says.
I look up to see my handsome American one-night-stand at the front of the room.
TEN
Kate
This can’t be happening.
Vincent is the new owner of the Crompton Estate. Vincent. The guy with the hard body and nipple obsession. It’s impossible he owns Crompton. Impossible.
“Thank you all for coming,” he says.
My knees fizz and I hold tight to the back of Granny’s chair because if I don’t, my legs won’t hold me upright.
This. Can’t. Be. Happening.