Page 70 of Valentine Nook
“No, I’m not a novice.” She laughs, but there’s weariness inher tone I don’t like. “Anyway, how were your meetings? Investments go well? What exactly do you do apart from making more money?”
I ponder her for a moment, the speed at which she changed the subject. Or shut down. It’s a move I know well, which makes me all the more curious why she did that.
I also know enough that pushing her for an answer won’t work, so I answer her question.
“It’s not me who makes the money, but yes, the investment reports for the month were better than expected. Alex has been in Hong Kong finalizing a deal on some land, which will be lucrative in the long run.”
Her eyes widen. “I like Hong Kong. What was he doing there?”
“We—Burlington Estates—bought a plot to redevelop, which will become a mall. The biggest mall in Hong Kong, actually.”
The glass stops halfway to her lips. “Wow, that can’t have been cheap.”
“Two billion dollars for the plot, another seven for the build.”
She sips her wine and puts it down. “Then it’s good we have the dinner voucher tonight.”
A laugh belts out, and it’s oddly freeing.
I never used to discuss business with Caroline because she wasn’t interested, and my mother inputs every so often when she has her quarterly reports, but for the most part, she keeps her distance.
But this, this feels . . . like we’re sharing something. A commonality. Our fields of business might be completely different, but the basics are similar enough to understand.
“Yes, it is. It clearly pays to know you.”
One perfectly shaped eyebrow lifts. “Do you travel?”
“Not much. I like being here.”
“Hanging out doing duke things?”
“Exactly, duke things.” I grin again.
There’s a pause as Eddie brings over our steak pies. Holiday’s eyes widen at the size of it, and she picks up one of the green beans on the side and bites down.
The gravy inside still bubbles away when I stick my knife and fork into the thick puff pastry lid. “There’s nothing better than Eddie’s steak pies.”
After her first mouthful, she seems to agree because the next few minutes are conducted in silence. I must have been much hungrier than I thought, and the rain definitely added a chill to the air that’s made me crave warmth from more than simply the fire.
“How long have you been doing this?” Holiday asks, spearing a piece of steak.
“Doing what?”
“Running everything, being a duke. How do you become a duke anyway?”
Putting down my cutlery, I pick up my wine and sip. “My dad was the tenth Duke of Oxfordshire. He died in a car accident when I was fourteen. I became the eleventh that day and officially took over Burlington Estates on my eighteenth birthday.”
“Your dad died?” Her voice becomes a whisper. “I’m so sorry, I didn’t know. I figured your parents were divorced or something, and that’s why he wasn’t around.”
“It was a long time ago but thank you.”
“You’ve been in charge of this since you were eighteen?” Her hands sweep around the pub. “Of the village, and your house . . . and everything?”
“Yes.” I nod. “I have a lot of help. I don’t do it by myself. But the final decision falls to me.”
She’s quiet again, pondering as she takes another mouthful.
“I guess that’s kind of the same as me.” She sighs. “I startedauditioning when I was fourteen. I had my first proper movie role at seventeen, and it’s been my life ever since. I have a team helping, but all final decisions are mine. It’s hard sometimes, huh?”
