Page 23 of Broken Crown

I draw in a breath, preparing to face my grandmother, something I avoid doing as much as possible, then walk in, putting on the mask I must wear in order to survive this life.

As expected, everyone bows or curtsies as I enter, apart from my father and grandmother, who don’t have to.Instead, I curtsy at them first.My father, at least, returns the gesture with a small bow of his head.My grandmother doesn’t, though, her judgmental eyes looking upon me with disapproval.No doubt she’s making a mental list of everything about my appearance she finds offensive.

I look around the space for Anderson, but he’s not here yet, leaving me to deal with all these people myself.My gaze falls on a waiter carrying champagne, and I exhale in relief, stepping toward him.But before I reach him, someone grabs the last two flutes, much to my disappointment.

Until the tuxedo-clad man turns around and walks in my direction, extending one toward me.

“I assume you’re looking for this?”Jameson says with a sly smile, but it doesn’t reach his eyes like it usually does.Instead, there’s a sadness about him.

I wonder if it has to do with Callie Sloane.

Or if he’s just pretending to be affected about what happened to her.

“Thank you.”I take the flute from him.

“Of course.I know how much you love these public events.”He winks, his voice oozing with sarcasm.

“Oh, it’s the absolute highlight of my life.Donning an uncomfortable gown, only to sit for hours on end so the who’s who of Belmont society can see me supporting the arts.Don’t get me wrong.I’m happy to support the arts, especially arts education for little ones.I just think there’s a better, less ostentatious way to do it.”

“Particularly if that way involves yoga pants instead.Am I right?”He tilts his glass toward me.

“You absolutely are.”I clink my flute against his and take a long sip, savoring in the effervescent liquid.

Silence descends on us, neither of us knowing how to act around the other.At leastIdon’t know how to act around him, considering my suspicions.So I decide to use this opportunity to do some digging.See if my instincts are correct.

“I, uh… I’m sorry about Callie,” I say softly so no one can overhear.

While most people here were probably aware of his history with her, I don’t want to assume anything.For the most part, his relationship with Callie was kept under wraps.Instead, both Jameson’s and the palace publicists claimed the only reason Hayes Barlow accused Jameson of being responsible for her disappearance was because he founded a charity that helps bring home missing women.

“It’s been…difficult,” he admits, his expression pained.“She’d been missing for ten years, so the chances of her being found alive after all this time were practically nonexistent.But it’s still hard.Especially after the police accused Hayes Barlow.”He rolls his eyes, his skepticism obvious.

“You don’t think he did it?”

He leans toward me, gaze unwavering.“I don’t.”

His response takes me by surprise.If Jameson were involved in her disappearance or death, wouldn’t he fully support the police’s conclusion that Hayes was responsible, thus releasing Jameson from any culpability?

But that’s not what he’s doing.

Instead, he’s raising his own doubts.

“What makes you say that?”I press, unable to stop myself.

He glances over his shoulder, body stiffening when he sees Silas Archer.

Which only increases my confusion.I thought they were close.

Maybe I misread that, too.

Jameson touches my elbow and pulls me farther away from everyone.But he still keeps his voice low.“Because Hayes wasn’t like that.And him being obsessed with her?”His tone is heavy with disbelief.“I don’t buy it.”He rakes his gaze over me.“And I get the feeling you don’t, either.”

“When I learned she was strangled to death, which is typically associated with a domestic murder—”

“You thought I might have something to do with it.”

I give him a tight-lipped smile, neither agreeing nor disagreeing.

“Believe me…” He straightens, running his hand through his perfectly groomed blond hair.“I tried to get the police to arrest me.”

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