Page 160 of False God

She rolls her eyes before taking the seat two down from the head of the table. “Ada texted Zara, saying you had dinner with a woman at Buckleby Inn last night. Then, you showed up here with her—holding hands—and she spent the night in your room. I doubt you two were discussing Parliament reforms. That all sounds like dating to me.”

Blythe grabs a scone off the table, slathers it with raspberry jam, then stares at me expectantly.

“I’m not dating her,” I repeat.

“You should,” Blythe tells me. “I mean, get in line because she’s basically New York’s It girl, but she must like you a little if she came all the way toBuckleby.”

“Drop it, Blythe. I don’t ask about your … blokes.”

My sister smirks. “Do you want to hear about my Spanish lover? I met him in?—”

“Idon’t,” I say hastily.

“She’s a billionaire. If you married her, we’d have plenty of money.”

My throat draws tight, like an invisible fist is squeezing it, as Blythe casually mentions my biggest fear.

Lili ended things with her last boyfriend—a guy she’d known for decades and was with for two years—because she thought he’d never be able to see past her money.

And here I am, in desperate need of it.

That’s why I haven’t told her the entire truth about the dukedom. Not just because it’s embarrassing or because I haven’t settled on a solution.

Because I’m worried she’ll second-guess my feelings for her. Especially if she finds out I was at Kensington Consolidated, looking for an investment they didn’t make. If you focus on the facts, it doesn’t look great, more like I’m scrounging around. I already told her I’d anticipated having an arranged marriage, likely with a woman who coveted a title. I just left out whatIneeded to gain from it.

“I told you, I’m taking care of it, Blythe.”

She nods, not asking more questions for once. Or pointing out that I told her I’d take care of it, but I haven’tactuallytaken care of it.

My meeting in London is with Louis Haywood. He visited Newcastle last week to discuss the deal on the table with the company Asher had put me in touch with. I finally told someone the truth about why I needed to sell.

Louis was surprised, but not shocked.

He had known my father well. As well as anyone could. He admitted to knowing about some of the problems, but he had no idea the extent. He agreed this deal was the best solution, which was reassuring.

Not that I have another option.

It’s a best-case scenario in so many ways, but I can’t shake the feeling of failure. Auctioning off pieces of businesses thathave been fully owned by my family for generations isn’t a success to celebrate.

“Good morning!” Lili appears, entering the dining room, wearing a sundress and a wide smile.

“Morning,” Blythe chirps.

“For you.” Lili sets some folded fabric down in front of my sister. “My shirt from last night. Conrad already had it washed. And I added a dress I thought might look cute on you. If you don’t like it, just—oof.”

Blythe has catapulted out of her seat to hug Lili.

“Thank you!”

“You’re welcome,” Lili replies.

She looks surprised when Blythe lets go, and I get a glimpse of her expression.

Not what I expected to see. Lili comes from an affectionate, loving family and has a close friend group that bickers like siblings.

Blythe’s reaction is less surprising to me. Not only does she adore anything related to fashion, but she’s lacking any female role models. No mom, no aunts, no sisters. She has her friends—and Gran, I suppose—but that’s it.

Still, I’m taken aback when Blythe sits back down. She’s already finished everything on her plate, which is usually when she takes off from the few meals we eat together.

---