“Like hell,” I tell her. “You need to step aside, Ellery, or things are going to get pretty uncomfortable for you.”
“I’d love to go back to your place!” she says loudly enough that I’m pretty sure they heard her in Paris.
“I didn’t invite you back to my place,” I tell her angrily.
“Ah, hahahahahahaha! You rascal!” I feel like I’m trapped in a nightmare that I can’t wake up from.
I finally give her a firm shove, which causes her to trip over her own foot and fall backwards. I reach my hand out to stop her from slamming into the ground.
More flashing cameras. I can only imagine how this is going to look in the papers tomorrow.
When she’s back on her feet, Ellery leans in and says, “We’re going to have a drink together, so turn around and walk into the club.”
“I’m not having a drink with you,” I tell her.
“Oh, I think you are.”
“That’s not going to happen.”
“If you don’t turn around and walk inside, I’m going to create a scene that your reputation will never recover from.”
“What in the hell, Ellery? You’re threatening me?”
She shrugs. “Don’t think of it that way, Alistair. Think of it like I miss you so much that I need to spend some time with you.”
“I don’t want to spend time with you. How do I need to phrase this so you believe it?”
“Let me put it this way,” she says. “Turn around and walk into the building with me or I will start crying. Then I’ll accuse you of being the father of my baby.”
“What?” She’s pregnant? What in the fresh hell? I don’t trust Ellery as far as I can throw her, so I turn around and walk back into the club. As soon as we’re inside, I pull her into a dark corner and demand, “What are you playing at?”
“I’m not playing at all. I’ve just found myself in the family way, and I thought I’d better hurry up and secure myself a husband.”
“Why not choose the baby’s father?” I ask, full of disdain.
“He’s not the most appropriate partner for me. You’re much more respectable.”
“Except for the small fact that I want nothing to do with you,” I tell her.
“Alistair, you need to get married, and I need to get married. Why can’t we just go back to the way things were? Surely we can make each other happy again.”
“Except I don’t love you. I don’t even like you anymore.”
“At least buy me a drink.”
“You’re pregnant and you’re going to drink?” I know this shouldn’t surprise me, but it does.
“Just one.” Then she says, “See? You’re already worried about our baby.”
“I am not the father of your child, Ellery. I will not buy you a drink, and I’m done talking to you.” I turn and walk back toward Easton, only to find that he has another woman on his lap. I don’t have the energy to put up with him or Ellery. Instead, I find our server and give her a large bill. I ask her to tell Easton that I was called away. Then I leave the bar.
Instead of going home, I decide to spend the night on the boat. I need to figure out a way to shake Ellery once and for all. Why in the world does she think I’d take her back after what she did to me and Andrew? Why does she think for a minute that I would play the role of father to her unborn child?
Chapter Thirty-Nine
Sheila
“What do I wear to a dinner party that I won’t actually be attending?” Sheila asks Charlotte.
“I say wear your jammies. You probably won’t be in there for longer than a couple of hours, but still, you should be comfortable.”
“I better not drink anything before I’m locked away,” Sheila says.
“Good thinking. Now, do you want to go down and look at the room? I had the housekeeper put a comfy chair in there for you when you’re not peeking through the spyglass.”
Sheila waves her off. “There will be no sitting. Now, tell me who else you’ve invited. I know your kids will be there, Lu will be there, Alistair and Andrew’s ex—I’m a little nervous about that one—but who else?”
“I’ve invited a couple of men that I have my eye on for my girls, and someone I think might be a match for Andrew.”
“Wow, you’re really going all out, huh?”
The queen laughs, “My only real targets are Lu and Alistair, but I like to keep my eyes open for the other kids.”
Sheila says, “Nobody has any idea what we’re really up to, do they?”
The queen shakes her head. “No clue, whatsoever.”
Lutéce
I look down at my phone to see a message from Alistair.
Prince Charming: I slept on the boat. Do you want to meet me here for breakfast?
Me: I’d love to, but I don’t have a ride.
Prince Charming: I could come get you.
Me: You could …
I reach over and pick up a newspaper that’s sitting on the kitchen table. OMG. There is picture after picture of Alistair and Ellery, and they appear to be full-blown making out. I thought he was meeting some ambassador’s son last night.
Prince Charming: Lu, are you there? I can be there to pick you up in ten minutes.
Me: Sorry, I can’t.
Prince Charming: Are you okay?
I am so not okay, but I really don’t want to get into this with him right now. I have to think. I turn my phone off without responding to him.
I open the paper and spend several minutes dissecting the images of Alistair with his arms around his ex. The photos don’t leave any room for interpretation. None. Obviously, Alistair is two-timing me with Ellery. Which means I should just accept that I’m meant to be single forever. Maybe I should chat with Sister Hennepin about joining the convent.
I can’t believe I’ve done it again, falling for a man who can’t commit. But this time it’s worse than ever before because it’s with my sister’s future brother-in-law.
Why didn’t I follow my instincts about Alistair? What is wrong with me, always chasing after unavailable men?
I hurriedly pack my things into my suitcases. I cannot stay here for another minute, because staying with Bree means living next door to him. As soon as everything is packed, I leave a note for my friend, and then walk outside her front door. Thank goodness for luggage with wheels or the hike up to the palace would be a much more arduous task.
The butler does his best not to look shocked as he watches me walk up the driveway with my suitcases. He hurries out and asks, “May I be of assistance, miss?”
“Yes, please,” I say, trying to sound calm. “The queen was expecting me to move back into the palace.” Then I motion to my things and add, “I’m here.”
I’m not shown to the bedroom I inhabited when I first arrived in Malquar. Rather I’m taken to an apartment within the palace that has two bedrooms and two-bathrooms. This must be where the queen envisions me spending the next year with Beatrice. It’s quite charming.
I’m not here for long when Queen Charlotte herself knocks on my door. “Hello, Lu. Are you getting excited about tonight’s dinner party?”
“I’d actually forgotten about it,” I tell her. And I really, really don’t want to go.
“My goddaughter Ellery will be there. I’m sure the two of you will get on very well.”
“Ellery? As in Alistair’s ex?” Could my day get any worse?
“That’s the one, but of course that’s long over. Alistair has moved on.” She gives me a covert wink.
“I’m not sure he has,” I tell her. “Have you seen the newspapers?”
“Not yet,” she says. “But I’m sure there’s a logical explanation for whatever you saw. Have you asked Alistair?”
“I haven’t,” I manage, even though my jaw is so tight it’s practically locked.
“You should just ask him. I’m sure it’s not whatever you think it is.”
And suddenly I can’t wait to go to tonight’s dinner party. I’m sick of bei
ng treated like trash and dumped without consequence. No, sir, I’m going to attend this party and I’m going to out Alistair to his whole family. I’ll probably have to find a new place to live when I’m through—I can’t imagine the queen is going to want me around after I make such a scene—but whatever. I’ll do whatever I have to do.
I’ll go out in a blaze of glory and then I’ll call my mom and tell her to put my house on the market. I can buy a cute little cottage for me and Beatrice. I don’t need Alistair in my life to be happy. I don’t need any man for that.
I spend the day alternately seething and getting ready for tonight. When it’s time to go down, I give myself one last look in the mirror and admire my pink evening gown. The halter neckline not only accentuates my collar bones, but it makes me feel powerful. I lift my head high and straighten my shoulders, feeling like a warrior princess going into battle.
“Lutéce, dear,” the queen greets me with open arms as I walk into the parlor. “You look beautiful.”
“Thank you,” I tell her. “You look quite lovely yourself.” Much like my own mother, Queen Charlotte looks at least a decade younger than she really is.
She introduces me around the room, and I meet several people that I have never met before. Then I officially meet Ellery. Not only do I recognize her from the fountain, but also from recent photos in the newspaper.
Ellery smiles at me smugly and says, “Hello.”
I don’t bother returning the greeting. Instead, I ask the queen, “Where’s Alistair?”
“I’m sure he’ll be along shortly,” she says. Ellery is eyeing me like I’m a particularly interesting-looking insect—half curious and half appalled.
“I see from the newspapers that you and Alistair are seeing one another,” I tell her. I have to know. I have to hear it from her own lips. I cannot have one more man lie to me without losing my ever-loving mind.
She smiles impishly and leans in. “Promise you won’t tell a soul,” she says. “But Alistair and I are expecting.”
“Expecting?” Even as I say the word, I can’t fully process it. What are they expecting? A nice weekend away? A nice supper? A delivery of matching tennis sweaters?
“A baby,” Ellery gushes. “We’re so happy about it, but we want to wait a bit to share the news with his family.”
“Yet you somehow felt this was appropriate news to share with me? A total stranger?” I blurt out. My mouth goes dry. It’s very possible my heart has stopped beating because my head starts to spin. It goes in one direction and the room takes off in the other.
The periphery of my vision is closing. As the floor rushes up to meet me, one last thought rushes into my brain. “Dammit, Alistair, why couldn’t you have just been gay?”
When I open my eyes, I’m lying on a couch and the queen is fanning me. “Lutéce, dear, are you okay?”
“Yes. No. Maybe. What happened?” My eyes move past hers and connect with Alistair’s. He’s arrived and he looks concerned.
“You fainted,” she tells me.
I have never fainted before, so it’s a new experience for me—as opposed to my frequent experiences with cheating louses. I can’t say I care for either.
Ellery says, “One minute you were standing and talking to me, and the next you were on the floor.”
“What were you saying to her, Ellery?” Alistair’s tone moves closer to rage.
“Darling, I was just making small talk,” she says sweetly.
The king joins his wife at my side and suggests, “Maybe we should take you up to your room to rest. I’ll call the doctor to come check on you.”
This is my chance to escape, but one look at Alistair and I decide to see this night through to its fateful conclusion. “I’m fine.” I push myself up to a sitting position. “In fact, I’m starving. Maybe if I just sit here for a few minutes.” I force a brave smile to my face.
As the queen and her husband walk away, Alistair sits down next to me and asks, “Are you okay? Really?”
“Right as rain,” I tell him.
“If that’s true, and I’m sort of doubting it, what’s going on with you today?”
“Whatever do you mean?” I ask while going for a blank expression.
“I texted you all day and you never got back to me. When I got home, Bree said that you moved out. Hence my question. What is going on?”
“Why don’t you ask Ellery, Daddy?” I say before pushing him aside and walking out of the room.
Chapter Forty
Queen Charlotte
“Once we leave the dining room, you just have to pull this lever and the door will pop open,” Charlotte tells Sheila.
“You gave a phone to one of the servers so I can hear what’s going on, right?” Sheila asks.
The queen nods. “I did. I gave her your number and she’ll call as soon as the dinner guests are seated. Then she’ll walk around so you can overhear snippets from various conversations.”
“This is going to be fun!” Sheila squeals. “I’ll make sure to let you know if anyone is plotting to overthrow the crown.”
Charlotte laughs, “This isn’t a scheming crowd for the most part. Most of them are family.”
“You never know. Did you ever see that movie with Katherine Hepburn, The Lion in Winter?” Sheila arches her eyebrow in question.
“No, is it any good?”
“In the scariest possible way. I don’t think there’s ever been royal intrigue quite like it.”
“Ah,” the queen says, “I think I’ll pass then.”
“Good idea.” Sheila kicks off her slippers and sits down to wait until dinner starts.
“Do you have everything that you need?” When Sheila shakes her head affirmatively, Charlotte says, “I’d better back into the parlor then.”
“Let’s get this party started!”
Alistair
Apparently, Ellery has gone ahead and decided to announce that I’m the father of her child. That is the only explanation I can think of for Lu calling me Daddy. A sinking sense of dread crawls over me, causing my body temperature to drop. I don’t imagine Lu will believe the truth easily, given her previous experience with infidelity.
Two thoughts are currently fighting for center stage in my brain. The first is that I need Lu to give me a chance to explain. She and I have already had a conversation about how I’m never going to lie to her, and that she can’t believe what she reads in the newspapers. That needs to include anything my ex tells her.
The second thought is that Ellery had best watch her back because I will not be bullied into marrying her, and I sure as hell will not sit back and let her interfere in my love life. That is something she lost the right to participate in when she decided to date both me and Andrew at the same time.
I can’t wait until dinner is over so I can take Lu into my arms and reassure her that I’m all hers. She needs to know that Ellery is a master manipulator, and that she means nothing to me. What Lu and I have is real, and I need to prove that to her.
Alas, royal duty calls, and I have no choice but to follow behind my family and guests into the dining room. Tristan Ryan is trailing behind my sister Sophie like a bloodhound hot on the scent of a bone. Tristan has had a crush on Sophie for as long as he could walk. It can’t be a coincidence that Mum invited him.
Speaking of my mum, I hurry to her side and whisper in her ear, “I’m going to need to talk to you later.”
She shoots me her best, who, me? look, before saying, “Whatever for?”
“Don’t play coy with me, Mother. It’s not going to work.” Irritation grates my nerves.
“You mean Ellery? Don’t you worry about her, dear. I know you’re through with her.”
“And yet she’s been invited to dine with us. Why?” I demand, not caring if my voice carries and others overhear us.
My mother shrugs. “She asked if she could come visit one night. I didn’t see the harm.”
“You didn’t see the harm?” What was she thinking?
“Keep your voice down.” My mother leans closer to me. “Just ignore her. Now that you and Lu are an item, we need never speak Ellery’s name again.”
“Except that Ellery has already told Lu something that has her angry with me,” I say.
“All she had to do was look at today’s papers for that, Alistair. You did see the papers, didn’t you?”
A chill of dread rushes through me. I generally read the papers first thing in the morning, but I don’t get them delivered on the boat. I can only imagine what those pictures looked like. Damn, I need to get Lu off by herself to explain before she decides to never speak to me again.
Hell, who am I kidding? She already saw the papers. That explains her reaction. And once again, another person I care about believing the gossip rags over me. I had hoped she knew me better than that.
I have more than a sinking feeling that I was wrong.
When I get to the dining room, I find that I’m seated to the left of my father, which is across the table from Lu, who is at his right. We’re both at the other end of the table from Ellery, thank God.
Once everyone is seated and dinner service has started, I hear muted music coming from somewhere. It sounds like Tooty Jackson’s “Pucker Up Romeo.” Where is that coming from? I look around to see if anyone else hears it.
“Do you hear that?” my dad asks me.
I nod my head. “Where is it coming from?”
“I have no idea. How strange. I do love that song though.”
One of the servers comes by with a silver tray full of stuffed figs. I take two before telling my father, “Mum is up to no good.”
“You mean Ellery?” he asks. “That woman will not listen to reason. She’s so sure she knows what’s best for all of you kids that she’s jumped right into the deep end with this one.” He points at Andrew and says, “Look at your brother.”
I peer down the length of the table at Andrew and find that he’s staring daggers at the side of Ellery’s head. “He looks furious.” Then I look up at the server who has yet to move on. “I think we have all the figs we need, Mary, thank you.”
You're So Vain: A Royal Haters to Lovers Romance (Seven Brides for Seven Mothers Book 4) Page 20
