Page 19 of Ruthless Legacy

Verity looks at the three of them in question.

“Robinson,” Seb states simply, and Verity hisses at the mention of his name.

“You look like you’d enjoy being tied up and tortured, Scarlet,” Archer says in my ear. “You could do with a good whipping to bring you into line.”

My wriggling to get free of him has caused my shirt to rise up from out of my skirt and my breath freezes in my throat when I feel his thumb rub across my skin.

“I’m sorry to disappoint you, Little Red, but there are no brothels taking on in Hawk Bay.” Seb chuckles, and Rafe joins in laughing at his joke.

“Damn, guess I’ll have to sell my wares on the street corner then,” I reply dryly. The whore jokes are so predictable. I don’t come from money, so I must be a slut who opens my legs at every opportunity. Rich people are so predictable.

“I might have a party at the weekend,” Seb announces, looking directly at me. “But you’re not invited.”

Verity clears her throat and throws daggers at her brother. “It’s also my house, Sebastian, and I can invite who I want. In fact, Eliza is sleeping over.” She looks over at me and winks. I love that she is sticking up for me.

“I’m not sure your parties are my kind of thing, Seb. High tea and croquet aren’t really my bag.”

From behind me, I feel Archer’s chest move as he laughs at my response. My, my, so he does actually know how to laugh. I thought his face was set in a permanent resting bastard look.

“The village is a buzz of gossip at the return of Wilbur Alderman,” Rafe says as he leans back in his seat and plays with the lid on Verity’s drink.

I look over at him. “What do you mean?”

I see Rafe look over my head at Archer and then at Seb in some silent conversation. “Dear Grandad hasn’t lived here in the village for the last seven years. Last I heard, he was living in London.”

Well, this was news to me. I want to ask more, but I don’t want to admit to them that I know nothing about the man who is now my guardian. My phone rings in my bag at the side of me and before I can reach for it, Archer has it out of my bag and answers it.

“Hello.” He frowns as he listens to the person on the other end. “Yeah, this is her number.” He hands the phone to me. “Your social worker.”

I flush red as I take the phone from him and hold it to my ear. “Hi, Hayley.”

“Hi, Eliza. I just wanted to touch base and see how your first day has gone.”

I’m conscious that everyone is listening in. “Yeah, all good. I’m out right now. Can I call you later or tomorrow?”

“Oh, sure. I just wanted to make sure you were okay. I’ll call you tomorrow.”

“Speak soon,” I reply, ending the call and slipping it back into my bag.

I feel Verity’s inquisitive gaze when I lift my head. “What?”

“You have a social worker?” I can see the sympathy in her eyes, and I hate it.

“Little Red here has been in foster care for the last five years. She’s a poor little orphan,” Seb happily shares, grinning coldly at me. Why do these three hate me so much?

I lift my chin high. I’ve nothing to be ashamed of. It wasn’t like I was in care because I was neglected. “When my parents died, we didn’t know of any living relatives, so we went into care.”

“Oh wow,” Verity says, her eyes are full of empathy. “That must have been awful.”

I shrug my shoulders. “It was what it was.” I bite into my burger, effectively ending that conversation. I glare at Seb. It looks like these fuckers have done their homework on me. I need to get the details on these three and fight fire with fire.

Archer’s phone rings and as he lifts it to his ear, I snatch it from him and answer the call. Two can play this game.

“Hello, Archer Savage’s phone,” I say in my best cheery voice.

“Hello. Who is this?” The male voice on the end of the line asks me, the surprise in his voice clear.

Archer tries to grab the phone off me, but I lean out of his way.

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