Chapter Twenty-Six
“Brother.” Emmett extends his hands toward Bram, and the familiar mask of cool detachment drops over his face.
“I beg of you, stop treating me like I’m a child,” Bram snaps. I’ve never seen him look like this. His hair is disheveled, his burgundy velvet coat hanging half-off one shoulder, and his face, usually open and kind, is shattered, as if he might be on the verge of tears.
“I’m certain I don’t know what you’re referring to,” Emmett says.
“Lady Ivy Benton,” Bram snarls. “I just saw you two together in the garden. You looked rather close.”
“There was a bee I was shooing away—you know how ladies are,”
Emmett answers.
Bram throws his hands up. “Do you expect me to believe these weak excuses? Please do me the honor of not insulting my intelligence. I saw you
in the boathouse too.”
The color drains from Emmett’s face.
“I’m not naive,” Bram continues. “I knew not every girl who entered to be my bride would fall in love with me, but I did not expect to be betrayed by my own brother.” His voice cracks. It would be easier if he were angry with us, but he just looks so sad.
“It’s not what you think,” Emmett insists.
“Do you love her?” Bram asks.
“No, of course not,” Emmett says emphatically. It stings more than it should.
“At least if you loved her, I could understand,” Bram says. “But if you’re just sneaking around to—” Ever the gentleman, he stops short of saying it aloud. The implications make my face burn.
“We’re not sneaking around. I barely know her. I tried to seduce her mad sister once, and it went so poorly I’d be a fool to try another Benton girl.
Give me some credit, at least.” Emmett lays a hand on his brother’s shoulder, but Bram shakes it off and crosses the room, pacing like a caged animal.
“Bram, please just listen,” Emmett begs.
“Listen to what, more lies?”
“Please don’t shout. Making a scene at a party is my specialty, not yours.”
“I know you weren’t at camp that night,” Bram says, and Emmett goes deadly still. Dread pools in my stomach, and the sickly sweet tea cake goes sour in the back of my throat.
“Of course we were—” Emmett tries, but Bram raises a hand to silenceiliar mask of him.
“Stop lying to me,” he shouts. Then he sinks down onto the love seat thatps. I’ve never I’m hiding behind. I can only see the backs of his shoes. “Please don’t lie toy velvet coat me,” he says once more, his voice a whisper. I remember what Emmett saidand kind, is about the fae, that Bram is incapable of lying. A hairline crack traces the center of my heart as it breaks for him.
Emmett’s eyes well with tears at the sight of Bram so upset. I feelgether in the helpless and overwhelmed, my heart beating in my throat like I might throw up my guts all over the Duke of Hinchingbrook’s expensive carpets.ladies are,”
Emmett sighs deeply. “Lady Ivy asked for my help in getting to know you. She’s inexperienced. I pitied her. I hoped if I helped her, you’d pick her,e these weak not Faith Fairchild.”I saw you “You could have just told me you didn’t want me to pick Faith.”
“I should have, I know that now. I was being stupid. I didn’t want you playing with my toys.”ho entered to “Where were you that night?” Bram asks. He doesn’t sound angry, juste betrayed by sad.re angry with “I took a horse and cart and went to the coaching inn in Alton to drown myself in ale. I’m a horrible shot, and I didn’t wish to embarrass myself on your birthday. I’m sorry for my pride.”
“You’re not that bad a shot.”more than it “You’re being too kind, as always.”
“What about Lady Ivy Benton?” Bram asks.But if you’re “I haven’t the slightest idea. Probably sick in her tent like she said. If anyof saying it of the servants said she was with me, they were only generating pointless gossip. That would be scandalous, wouldn’t it?”duce her mad Bram sighs heavily. “You swear it?”Benton girl.
“I swear it,” Emmett offers immediately. “She’s not my type at all, soer’s shoulder, overly coddled by that embarrassing family of hers.” Anger rises like bile in
my throat. I can’t believe he’s using what I told him in confidence as a weapon. pecialty, not“She’s a lovely girl,” Bram says in my defense.
“Oh, without a doubt, and she’ll make a perfect bride for you, but I could Emmett goesnever be content with a girl like that . . .” He trails off.
ea cake goes“Like what?”
“That inelegant.” nd to silenceI think of beautiful Faith Fairchild and the way she walks, like she’s floating. Anger rises in my throat. I know Emmett can’t tell Bram anything love seat thatother than of course I don’t want her, but this rejection feels personal. e don’t lie to“I happen to like her the way she is,” Bram replies.
Emmett said“All the better. Come, brother, let’s steal a bottle of champagne and leave ck traces thethis horrible party. I’m not having any fun. There’s only one pretty girl here, and I’ve already had her. I’m bored.” Faith, again. Always Faith. upset. I feelBram stands and Emmett approaches the couch. There’s a rustle of fabric might throwas he slings his arm around Bram’s shoulder. The door closes behind them, leaving me alone in the room, my heart beating like I’ve just run a mile. ting to knowI swipe away my tears with the heels of my hands and enough pressure to
u’d pick her,bruise.
Emmett is right. We aren’t a match.
As soon as the door slams behind them, I spring from my hiding spot, n’t want youpress my ear against the door until I’m sure the coast is clear, and then run down the hallway, back into the thick of the party. d angry, justThat night, once everyone else is asleep, I sneak out of the cottage and through the palace tunnels to Emmett’s room, for what I hope will be the last ton to drowntime. ss myself onPig greets me at the hidden door, wagging his tail so hard his whole body shakes. Emmett is at his desk, reading by candlelight. He jumps as I enter.
“Ivy?” There’s no time for him to put on his cold mask of detachment.
He’s staring at me, like he’s looking for something. His words from earlier play in my head. Coddled. Inelegant. A girl like that. e said. If any“Just one question, and then I’ll go. I’ll never ask again.” ing pointlessHe just nods, something dark flickering behind his eyes.
“Did you mean what you said to Bram? That I’m not the kind of girl you could ever want?” ype at all, so“Don’t make me answer that,” Emmett replies tightly. es like bile in“Please, I just need to hear you say it.” Give me closure, I want to beg,
nfidence as athen maybe I will stop remembering how your hands felt in the dark.
Emmett looks out the dark window. There are no stars tonight. “You’re making a fool of yourself, Ivy. Bram is going to be a wonderful husband. But u, but I couldyou and I?” He sighs, his voice remote. “There was never going to be a you and I. I’m sorry if I ever made you think differently.”
I get the impression that this is a well-worn rejection speech, one he’s given to dozens of lovesick girls just as foolish as me.
ks, like she’s ram anything
gne and leave etty girl here,
ustle of fabric behind them,
h pressure to
hiding spot, and then run
e cottage and ill be the last
s whole body
detachment. from earlier
nd of girl you
want to beg,
then maybe I will stop remembering how your hands felt in the dark.
Emmett looks out the dark window. There are no stars tonight. “You’re making a fool of yourself, Ivy. Bram is going to be a wonderful husband. But you and I?” He sighs, his voice remote. “There was never going to be a you and I. I’m sorry if I ever made you think differently.”
I get the impression that this is a well-worn rejection speech, one he’s given to dozens of lovesick girls just as foolish as me.
