Page 7 of Forbidden Earl

Cassidy brought her bag to the door, left it and turned around to face them. “Father?”

“You finally agreed to marry?” He held his arms wide open to hug her.

She couldn’t remember the last time either of her parents had hugged her as an adult before today. She walked toward him and accepted the offer. They meant well. And as he hugged her, she promised herself she’d pay maintenance with her next paycheck to fix the elevator. Her current check had gone for the kitchen repairs.

The hug ended and she scooted backward. “Yes, and I’m moving in with Remy, tonight.”

He lifted her chin and she was bemused at the wide grin on her father’s face. “Good girl. We’re proud of you.”

If only they’d cared when she accomplished things on her own—like keeping the roof from falling down. Her heart skipped a beat, but she adjusted her backpack. “You’ll be at my wedding?”

Her mother pressed her hand on her heart. “Of course. Why wouldn’t we?”

She didn’t roll her eyes and instead glanced at her mother. “You skipped my graduation.”

Mom dropped her hands to her sides. Her father stood next to her mother, as always. “We had the date wrong,” he said, “but I’ll happily give you to Lord Burke. Your mother will be over tomorrow to discuss the dates with the Queen of Avce.”

Details she didn’t want to think about. She released a sigh. “Good, because I’ll be at work. Let me know whenever it’s decided. I’m sure it will be this week.”

Her mother’s face lost color. “You won’t have to work at the palace anymore.”

She clutched the black shoulder strap that hung under her arms. “I like my job. It makes me happy.”

Her mother rubbed her arms. “But now you’ll have an estate to run.”

Seriously? She felt cold inch down her spine and she shook her head. “You mean another estate to run. Though with two, perhaps I can cutthisone some better deals.”

Her father walked with her toward the door, but he made that sound in his throat that meant she’d gone too far. “The contract will help your mother and I run the place.”

Money filtered out of their hands like more was easily obtained. Whatever the contract price was truly didn’t matter. She reached for the handle of her suitcase. “For a year, maybe, before you gamble the cash again. Look, I’ve got to go.”

Her father stepped in her way with his face down, though his gray hair was still perfectly coifed. “I’ve always provided a roof over your head, young lady.”

Nowthey were insulted? No one offered to help when she’d literally jumped in the gardener’s path to beg him to stay on though he’d not been paid in a month because her father had siphoned the cash she’d left for him. Her shoulders slumped and she took a deep breath—then exhaled. Cassidy released her death grip on the handle of her bag. “I’m nervous about moving in there tonight. Just give me a hug and wish me luck, Dad.”

He hugged her again with warmth. For once they approved of her. “You’ll do well once you take your place as a true lady.”

Like she was less than she was right now? She dragged her suitcase out the front door. “I’m going.”

Her father walked her out. “I hope he gets you a better car.”

The Renault had been her first thing to buy for herself, and she’d had it for years. Cassidy patted the roof of her dented and sometimes unreliable baby. “Reynoldo and I get along fine, Dad.”

Her father scoffed but helped put her bag in her trunk.

She waved as her mother came out and her father left her side to join Mom—they painted the perfect portrait of a team.

She turned the ignition and Reynoldo purred. Whatever had been wrong yesterday was hopefully over now. With a honk and last wave, Cassidy drove toward Remy’s house.

Once there, she parked near the livery and took her bag from the trunk when one of Remy’s servants walked over to her, horrified.

“Ma’am?”

“Sorry.” She let him take the suitcase, though at her own home, she’d had to release most of the staff go years ago, but she kept her backpack.

She didn’t knock but then she never did here. The large Maplewood foyer was empty so she called out, “Honey, I’m home.”

Remy peered out of Gigi’s favorite sitting room, so Cassidy assumed she must still be inside. Smiling, Remy walked toward her. “Very funny. Dinner will be served soon.”

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