Page 47 of Fallen Legacy

“Grandfather, please,” he insists, offering me a tight smile that doesn’t reach his eyes. “It is good to have you home again.”

I nod my head, chewing on the inside of my lip. I want to tell him he can shove his home far up his arse, but I don’t, of course. I store all the rage inside me, boxing it away for the day when I will bring this man down.

“We have guests for dinner this evening, so I expect you to change into suitable attire,” he advises me, glancing briefly down my body at the ripped jeans and cropped band t-shirt I’m wearing.

“Let me guess,” I say dryly, “the Savages.”

Wilbur nods his head, confirming my suspicions.

“Not wasting any time, are you?”

Edith reaches for my hand. “Come on now, let’s go through to the kitchen. I’ve made your favourite cookies.”

“You spoil them,” Wilbur chastises from behind us, as she guides me away from my jailor.

“That’s what housekeepers are for,” she informs him cheerily, and I breathe a sigh of relief when I hear his study door close.

“Wait until you see what grandfather bought me, Eliza. He got me the coolest bike.”

“Wow, did he now,” I reply, taking a seat at the island and giving Edith a roll of my eyes. “One thing you can guarantee about Wilbur is he will always be there with his wallet.”

Kit’s smile falls. “Can you not, for like five minutes,” he mumbles. “I get you don’t like him or trust him, but I’m happy here, sis. Don’t spoil it for me like you always did.”

I jerk from the emotional slap his words deliver and I mimic me zipping up my lips and throwing away the key. Hearing him blame me for our previous foster moves reminds me of what a shit sister I have been to him in the past.

“So, I hear you went to London this week with Archer and the others. What did you get to see?” Edith asks me as she places a plate of cookies in front of me. I love how Edith always tries to distract and bring warmth back into a room.

“We did, and yes, we went sight-seeing. I got to see Big Ben, and we went on the London eye. It was fun.”

I look at the cookies on the plate in front of me and usually I’d devour them without a second thought, but today they just don’t appeal to me.

“Do we have any custard?” I ask her and she looks at me in surprise.

“Of course we do. Would you like some? Do you want carrot cake or chocolate cake with it, my dear?”

I shake my head. “No cake please, just a big bowl of warm custard. It’s my new sweet fix,” I tell her, and she nods her head and sets to work on warming up some homemade custard.

“So, the black sheep of the family has returned,” a deep voice I instantly recognise speaks. I turn with a frown to find Chester leaning against the doorway into the hall, shades on, observing us.

“Chester. Can’t say I’ve missed you,” I tell him with a deadpan smile on my face. His answer is to smirk and give me the finger.

“I won’t be here for dinner, Edith. I’m off into the city with a few friends,” he announces, turning his attention from me.

“Friends,” I comment. “You found people crazy enough to agree to be your friend?”

He scoffs, giving me a dry look. “As strange as it may seem to you, there are those who enjoy my intellect and intelligent conversation.”

“Well please,” I gesture towards the front door, “don’t let us keep you.”

Smiling sarcastically at me, he winks at Kit before he turns on his heels and leaves.

“He’s still not been expelled, then?” I ask, not able to hide the disappointment in my tone.

Kit shrugs, looking at me from under his mop of dark curls. “Chester’s okay once you get to know him a bit better. Maybe you need to give your family more of a chance. You might be surprised,” he says, giving me a pointed look before he grabs a cookie and walks out of the room.

I stare after him, opened-mouthed. Did my baby brother just chastise me?

Edith clears her throat as she hands me the warm bowl of custard. “He’s growing up.”

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