Page 48 of Ruthless Legacy

“What was your dad like?”

I risk a glance at him and see genuine interest there. “He was the best dad. He was always there for me. Dad always made time to play with us when we were younger, and I knew I could always turn to him for anything. He was kind and caring and loving, and every day I look at my brother and watch as he grows; he gets more and more like him, which is kind of comforting and kind of painful at the same time.”

He doesn’t speak, he just nods his head. I give myself a mental shake. Why am I sharing things like this with him? I don’t want to give him any information that he can use against me.

We pull up at the Alderman mansion and I climb out of the car, and he follows me inside. I throw my bag down in the hallway and head straight through to the kitchen. Edith is there singing along to the radio.

“Hey Edith,” I say, announcing our presence. She jumps and puts a hand to her chest.

“Gosh, is it that time already?” She smiles at me and dries her hand on a towel. “Mr Savage, it’s been a while since I last saw you. My, you’ve grown into a fine young man.”

Archer grins warmly. “Hello Edith. You don’t look a day older.”

Edith flushes and bats his comment away with her hand. “A charmer, just like your grandfather. How is he?”

Archer gives me a side-glance. “He’s good. You should pop by and say hello sometime.”

I watch their interaction with interest. A polite and chatty Archer is something new. When he sees me watching him, he winks at me and smiles, and it does funny things to my stomach.

“Is Boyd here yet?” I ask Edith, changing my focus to her. I don’t know what to do with a winking and smiling Archer.

“Not yet, Lovely. Why don’t you both have a seat and I’ll make you a drink. Redbush for you, and Archer, what would you like to drink?”

“Coffee please. Black.”

“Like your soul,” I comment with a snigger, and he cocks a brow at me.

“Eliza, that isn’t very nice,” Edith chastises me as she brews my tea. From behind her back, Archer grins in delight at her chastising me.

“Ah, he can take it,” I reassure her. “Besides, he gives me as good back, trust me.”

Edith looks from me to Archer and smiles. “It’s lovely to see the two of you getting on so well.”

I chuckle into my cup. “I wouldn’t go that far; we barely tolerate each other.”

“Mm,” Edith comments, looking over the top of her glasses at me.

The buzzer for the main gate goes and Edith rushes over to answer it. The screen reveals its Boyd. I cup my tea in my hands. I’m not sure why he wants to speak to me. I didn’t see anything or hear anyone.

“We’ll meet him in the main lounge, Edith,” Archer announces as he stands and ushers for me to follow him. With a curious frown, I fall into step beside him, bringing my drink with me.

“You seem to know your way around here,” I say to him as we walk through to the other room.

He shrugs his shoulder as he sits down on the large three-seater sofa. “I spent time here as a child. The four families have always been close. Edith used to watch me sometimes when my nanny had errands to run.”

I snigger. “Nanny, typical.”

He scowls at me as I sit down on the sofa, leaving a good gap between us. I didn’t trust myself near him. He was like a beacon luring me in.

“My father was always busy with work, so someone had to be employed to look after me.”

“What about your mum?” I ask, as I take off my shoes and tuck my legs underneath me on the sofa.

“My mum died when I was eight.” His eyes turn as cold as ice and as he glares at me, it’s like he’s looking through me, lost in a terrible memory.

“I’m sorry to hear that. I know how it feels to grow up without a mum. It’s hard.” I blow on my drink before I take a sip, and he pops his shoulder looking away from me. Okay, so that conversation was over.

I’m pulled from my thoughts when I hear Edith opening the front door and chatting with, who I presume to be, Boyd.

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