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And from the expression on his face, I could see that he understood exactly what it all meant.
CHAPTER 12
Lili
"Lili, you need to hide—quickly."
Edward's voice was urgent but gentle, his hand touching my shoulder protectively. Through the window of the small bistro in Covent Garden, I could see exactly why he'd gone rigid with panic—Daphne's unmistakable silhouette approaching the entrance, her bright laugh carrying across the street as she chatted with someone on her phone.
My pulse spiked as I watched her animated gestures, the way she paused to check her reflection in the restaurant's window.
She was less than twenty feet away and closing the distance with every confident step.
I slid under the white tablecloth just as the restaurant door chimed, my heart hammering against my ribs like a caged bird.
The space beneath the table was cramped, the white tablecloth creating a cocoon that muffled sound and trapped the scent of Edward's cologne.
My knees pressed against the cold tile floor, and I had to bite my lip to keep from making any noise as the fabric brushed against my face with every shallow breath. The texture of the starched linen was rough against my skin, and I could hear theclink of silverware from nearby tables, smell the rich aroma of garlic and wine drifting from the kitchen.
"Lady Daphne, " The maître d's voice carried clearly across the small restaurant. "How lovely to see you again."
"Just picking up a takeaway order," Daphne replied, and I could hear the smile in her voice. "The most divine pasta from that new chef you hired."
I closed my eyes, willing myself to stay perfectly still as footsteps approached our general area. Edward's hand found mine under the table, his fingers intertwining with mine in a gesture that was both comforting and terrifying.
If Daphne caught us like this—hiding under furniture like guilty teenagers—there would be no explaining it away. Edward specifically asked the staff to not tell anyone that we were here.
"Edward?" Daphne's voice was suddenly much closer, surprise evident in her tone. "What on earth are you doing here?"
"Meeting with a client," he replied smoothly, though I could feel the tension radiating through his body. His voice carried just the right note of professional authority, but I could hear the strain underneath. "Some cases require a more personal touch. We're discussing some sensitive matters, so I chose somewhere discreet."
"How mysterious. Anyone I know? It's just that you've been taking so many private meetings lately. And always in such intimate venues. Last week it was that little tea shop in Chelsea, now this cozy bistro. Hardly your usual style for business."
"Attorney-client privilege, I'm afraid."
I pressed my hand over my mouth to muffle my breathing, acutely aware that one wrong move, one sound, would expose everything.
The cold marble floor was beginning to make my knees ache, but I didn't dare shift position.
"Well, I won't interrupt your mysterious business meeting," Daphne said, though something in her tone suggested she wasn't entirely convinced. "Though I have to say, you've been quite the enigma lately, big brother. All these private meetings and secret phone calls. Mother's starting to think you're plotting something."
"Mother always thinks I'm plotting something."
"True enough." There was a pause, and I could practically feel Daphne's analytical gaze sweeping the table. "You know, it's funny—I could have sworn I saw someone else sitting here when I walked in."
My blood turned to ice water.
Edward's grip on my hand tightened almost painfully.
"They went to the toilet," he said. "Should be back momentarily."
"Oh well, I should collect my order. The chef gets tetchy when pasta sits too long." Her footsteps began to move away, then stopped. "Edward? You're not in any trouble, are you? You've seemed different lately. Distracted."
"Just work pressures."
"Right. Well, try not to work yourself to death. I'd hate to have to find a new favorite brother."
Only when I heard the restaurant door chime again did I dare to breathe properly. Edward's hand was still gripping mine under the table, both of us frozen in place for several long moments before he finally gave the all-clear.