Total pages in book: 88
Estimated words: 84761 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 424(@200wpm)___ 339(@250wpm)___ 283(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 84761 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 424(@200wpm)___ 339(@250wpm)___ 283(@300wpm)
“No, my phone died. Crewe and I have been busy…”
Joseph ignored the awkward thing I’d just said. “Well, I’m glad you’re happy again. I almost didn’t say anything, but I’m grateful I did. You’re probably pissed at me, but I don’t care.”
“Actually, Ariel was in the process of telling him when you called, so I can’t be mad.”
“She told him?” he asked in surprise. “So the bitch has a heart, after all…”
“Or some form of one.”
“Crewe fired her?”
“Yeah. I haven’t heard anything about her.”
“Good. She got what’s coming to her.”
I eyed my beautiful engagement ring, pregnant with ancient history. Duchesses had worn it before me. Even the Queen of Scotland probably wore it centuries ago. “So…Crewe asked me to marry him.”
“He did?” Joseph blurted. “Oh, shit. Did you say yes?”
“What do you think I said, dumbass? No?”
“Damn. Well…I’m happy for you. I can’t believe that guy is gonna be my brother-in-law. Weird.”
“It doesn’t have to be weird if you both make an effort.”
Joseph was quiet for a long time. “He’s got a lot of resources and a great reputation. So I guess I can make it work.”
“I’m sure he feels the same.”
“So, when’s the wedding?”
“We’ll have a small ceremony soon. Then we’ll have the big royal one in about a year.”
“Do I have to go to the big royal one?” he asked with a groan.
“No. But there’ll probably be a lot of beautiful women there…”
“Ooh…maybe I’ll go after all.”
I rolled my eyes. “I’ll let you know when we do the small ceremony. It’ll be in Fair Isle.”
“I’ll definitely make it to that. I’m gonna give you away, right?”
I smiled. “I assumed so.”
“Alright. I’ll get my finest suit. And I’ll even be nice to you all day.”
“Whoa, that’s a serious wedding gift.”
“Yep. A one-time thing.”
I chuckled. “Well, I guess I’ll talk to you later.”
“What are you guys gonna do about Ariel?”
“What do you mean?”
“She’s just gone? Like off the map?”
“Sounds like Crewe fired her.”
“You said they were really close, so I guess I’m surprised.”
Crewe had been in a good mood since he picked me up in New York. It didn’t seem like he missed her, not like before. But her actions probably erased any affection he had for her.
“I’m not saying what she did was okay—by any means. I’ll always think she’s a cunt. But I saw the way Crewe was protective of her. She’s really important to him. You betrayed him, I shot him…maybe she should get a second chance too.”
After what she did, I wasn’t so inclined. But I shouldn’t lose sight to why I went to New York in the first place. I wanted Ariel to be in his life. She was what Joseph was to me. Without her, all Crewe had was me. I tried to make it work with Ariel, but she refused to meet me halfway. That said, my prejudice shouldn’t stop me from doing what was best for Crewe. “I’ve never heard you be so wise.”
“I’m not just a pretty face.”
I chuckled. “We have very different definitions of pretty.”
“Are you gonna do anything about her?”
“I don’t know…I’ll think about it.”
“Well, let me know what happens. It’s unfortunate she’s a lesbian because she’s pretty sexy.”
“Don’t be gross, Joseph.”
“I’m wise and gross. Deal with it.” He hung up.
I opened Crewe’s contacts and saw Ariel at the top of his favorites list. She was by far the person he called the most. He hadn’t deleted her from his phone book, so she wasn’t completely wiped from his existence.
I pressed the number and held the phone to my ear.
It rang four times before she answered. With her voice so weak, I hardly recognized her when she spoke. “Crewe?”
“Actually, it’s London.” I felt a wave of anger once our conversation was engaged. She’d caused me a lot of unnecessary pain. For an instant, I forgot why I was even bothering to do this.
“Oh…”
I sat on the phone in silence, unable to form words. I chewed on my inner cheek and cleared the anger from my blood. “I’m back in Scotland. Crewe asked me to marry him.”
“Congratulations…” She still sounded frail. “I know you don’t believe me and that’s perfectly fine, but I’m sorry for everything. I shouldn’t have overstepped my boundaries. I shouldn’t have done any of the things I did. Please take care of Crewe. He’s a good man.”
I shouldn’t pity her, but I did. “Crewe told me you told him the truth.”
“He went through a hard time when you left. Got blood poisoning from drinking too much. Lost his way…it was bad. I realized I made a terrible mistake, and I had to make it right. But telling him the truth doesn’t erase what I did. I understand that.”
When I pictured Crewe drinking himself into a coma, I wanted to burst into tears. When we were face-to-face, he took my departure calmly. But I should have known how disturbed he would have been once I was gone.