Chapter 27 #2
“Honestly, I’m fine.” She shakes her head in refusal as she takes another sip. “I’ll tell you something, those old boys still have some pep in their step.” She laughs. “Bert almost had me beat.”
“You mean Sir Robert Whitley,” Annabella corrects her.
“He hates Robert, much prefers Bert; it’s what his Navy buddies used to call him.” My girl puts her straight, and I kiss her temple and smile at Annabella, waiting for her response.
“Maybe now you're finished, the children can come out and play; it was who the game was intended for after all,” Annabella swipes back at her.
“I didn’t realise there were children here.” Gracie searches the space around us expectantly. “As soon as I’ve got my breath back, I’ll take them on, too.”
“I arranged a crèche for the little ones; they’re with the children's entertainer now. I’m sure it’s something you’ll be taking advantage of at next year's gathering.” Elizabeth appears from nowhere.
“That's very thoughtful of you, Elizabeth." I take Gracie’s hand.
“I do pride myself on the finer details; it’s what makes our gatherings so special.” She smiles. “The auction’s about to start. I hope you're feeling generous.” She claps her hands before moving past us to take the microphone and get things started.
“A gown designed personally by Pandora?” Gracie looks at me, unimpressed as I drive away from the Winfield mansion.
“I paid good money for that; you should be grateful.” I try hiding my smile but fail.
“Of all the things you could have bid for, you buy me more time with that insufferable woman.” Grace shakes her head. “What about the week's yachting vacation, or the trip to Antigua?"
“We already have a yacht, and you're in no fit state for a trip to Antigua," I remind her, and when she rests her head back against the car seat and sighs at the roof, I reach across so I can stroke her tummy while I drive.
“Are you going to tell me who that girl you were talking to was?” she asks. Placing her hand over mine like she wants to keep it there.
“What girl?” I wonder if she can feel our son moving around inside her right now.
“The girl who was eye-fucking you the whole time we were there and was standing with you when I finished playing with the boys.”
“The boys.” I laugh. “I bet it’s been a while since someone called them that.”
“Don’t try to distract me from the question. I want to know who she is.” Gracie looks serious.
“You jealous?” I glance across at her accusingly
“What? No, don’t be stupid, why would I be jealous?” Now she really looks pissed off.
“I don’t know; you said yourself, just the other day, that pregnancy hormones do crazy things,” I remind her.
“Jack, I was crying over a donkey sanctuary advert on TV. It’s not the same as being jealous. But since we're on the subject, I don’t think it’s very good for our act if you're going to be seen flirting with other women.” She looks out her window to avoid eye contact.
“Flirting?” I laugh. “You think I was flirting…? For your information, Annabella was engaged to my brother. I never have, nor would I, flirt with her. She’s not my type.”
“And what is your type?” Gracie sounds intrigued.
“Let's see. I like dark hair and sapphire blue eyes.” I stare across into hers. “I find it attractive when a girl can handle herself.”
“Even though you’d never let her,” she interrupts.
“Testing,” I continue. “Confident, but without arrogance,” I add to the list, “And, of course, a cute popped-out tummy where my son is growing, is a necessity.”
“Flattery will get you nowhere.” She slaps my hand away and laughs at me.“But seriously, you know she’s into you, right?”
“She’s into who I am and what I own,” I put her straight, “and if Annabella Linchford was the last woman on the planet, she still wouldn’t hold my interest.” I notice the tiny satisfied smile Gracie makes as she rests back again, but her contentment is only short-lived.
“And what about that guy? The one whose arm you nearly broke for touching me. You're not telling me everything about him.”
“Kaleb.” I shake my head and try not to ruin the mood with anger. “He was a good friend of my brother’s; they went to Cambridge together.”
“And that's the reason why you hate him?” She lets me know she’s not buying it.
“I hate him because he’s a jerk.” I focus on the road instead of memories.
“Did you study at Cambridge, too?” she asks, trying her best to delve deeper.
“No. Father would never have had me at the same school as Thomas; I did my business degree at Oxford.”
“A business degree?” She sounds impressed.
“Yes. I might be a bastard, but my father wanted me to be one with a good education.”
“That still doesn’t explain how you ended up hating Kaleb.” She proves she’s not going to let things drop, so I give her another insight into who I really am.
“I was two years older than Thomas and Kaleb. I was bigger, I was tougher, and a hell of a lot more streetwise. I may never have been allowed to be part of the family, but Dad never hesitated in asking me to step up when Thomas got himself in the shit.” I sigh.
“He and Kaleb wanted to be part of some stupid, secret club the Cambridge boys were in, and in order to become members, you had to pass certain challenges.” I clear my throat because those challenges were sick.
“They found her at some party on the rough side of the city, lured her back to the halls and there, in front of all their buddies…” I blow out a frustrated breath before I continue. “They claim it was consensual, but they raped her. You only had to look at the girl to see how scared she was.”
“Who?” Gracie looks horrified.
“Some unsuspecting girl who thought she was being taken to a fancy, high society party to have a few drinks and a good time. They ripped off her clothes, drew on her, smeared food on her, poured vintage champagne in her hair, then they forced themselves on her in front of their friends, and celebrated passing their initiation.”
“And you watched this happen?” She looks at me as if I’m the villain in this story.
“No…of course, I didn’t! Thomas started freaking out. He was worried because he hadn’t used a condom, and scared that she’d recognise who he was; he’d called our father to bail him out, and dad called me.”
“You? You helped him?” She shakes her head like I’ve betrayed her.
“Dad woke me in the middle of the night, and sent me there with a wad of cash to get rid of her from the halls and buy her silence. She was naked and cold, shivering in some room they’d put her in so they could carry on partying.
I was ordered to take her to the closest pharmacy, get her a morning-after pill, and ensure she never spoke of the night to anyone.
” I take all my frustration out on the gear stick when I switch up.
“She was scared, humiliated. I really had to convince her that I was there to help her.”
“And she trusted you?” Gracie looks shocked.
“She had no choice. I was the only person who was going to get her out of there; the girl could hardly walk. Luckily for Thomas, her family had nothing; the money Dad was offering was too good for her to turn down.” I shake my head bitterly.
“So you bailed him out?” I hate that she sounds disappointed in me.
“I helped the girl who he made suffer. I took her home, made sure she was safe, and then I went back and taught those two fuckers a lesson in respect.”
“You beat your own brother?” Her disappointment turns into a satisfied smile on her face.
“You didn’t see her, Gracie. It made me sick. They ruined a girl’s life just to keep up with their stupid fucking society.”
“And what did your father think of that?”
“He called me out on it,” I laugh. “He was mad at me for hurting Thomas, but that's about all he could do. Even at that young age, I knew far too many of his secrets.”
“But you never knew about his club,” she reminds me.
“Maybe my actions that night proved to him where my opinion on shit like that lies,” I admit, and she takes hold of my hand and squeezes it sympathetically.
“You're nothing like them.” That pitiful smile is back on her pretty face.
“That doesn’t mean I’m not bad, Gracie.” I smile back at her sadly as I continue to drive us home.