Page 75 of Lipstick Kiss

He personally knew how heavy the lion’s head was.

“So you don’t deny you sired an heir?” he shouted.

Cynthia said nothing, looking like she’d smelled something foul.

“If you sired an heir, then Archer won’t inherit this estate. Again you’ve given us something that can be taken away when the heir gets here. They’re not that much older than Archer. Hell, they’ll inherit the whole fucking island. Why aren’t they here learning how it’s run? Or are they, and that’s why you’re not teaching Archer?”

More silence followed. The longer she stayed silent, the angrier he became.

“You don’t want to impart any knowledge to us. We’re not allowed access to anything. We have to find out everything the hard way. I found out you bore an heir the hard way. I found the florins, the hard way.”

Cynthia’s eyes grew wide at the news of the florins.

Luke was aware he was yelling, but as long as she had her contrite expression, he knew she wouldn’t keel over with heart failure. He didn’t want her death on his hands.

“Are you going to say anything to what I’ve said?”

“No,” she clipped.

It sounded like a whip lash he felt across his face.

To Luke’s surprise, Cynthia left the room first. She walked with the cane her grandfather had used as a weapon with style. He could hear the faint thud as she hammered it to the ground on every other step. Bailey didn’t open the door for her. Cynthia swung it open.

Another first.

As soon as she was gone, leaving the door open, Luke turned full circle, not knowing any more than when he came in.

“Sir?” Bailey said from the door.

Luke looked in his direction and clutched the ring firmly in his hand, desperate not to have it taken from him.

“Where did she go?”

“I believe the walled garden. Jennifer is with her,” Bailey answered factually but carefully. He searched Luke’s face and then scanned his body. No doubt he missed the cane she carried.

“Right,” Luke said with a nod, looking around the morning room with his family’s portraits adorning the walls, hating they were witness to the downfall of the Turner family.

Bailey snapped him from his thoughts. “Maggie’s asking if you want food.”

Maggie was a feeder, happiest when she could make sure the people she cared for had full stomachs.

“I don’t. I don’t think I could manage a bite after my conversation, but if I don’t go back downstairs, she’ll worry.”

“You’re good to her,” Bailey said, remaining at the open door in his livery uniform.

“She was good to me when mum left, and I was at the mercy of that woman and my grandfather.”

Bailey’s lips thinned, no doubt at memories of him not being able to help them.

“Let’s get you settled in the kitchen. Will Freya be joining us?”

“No, she’s gone back to work.”

“Archer, Jason and Erica are also in the kitchens,” Bailey told him like he needed more persuasion.

Luke smiled. The backup squad were waiting for him.

“Let’s go, Bailey.”

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