Page 9

9

Plus One

Caspian

“Is there anything else I can do for you, sir?”

I flash a brief smile toward Mr. Trenton as I adjust my bowtie. “No, I’m all set. Have a good evening.”

He offers a gracious nod. “You as well, Sir, and congratulations. ‘Tis quite a high honor to receive the Commendation of Gallantry. ”

“Thank you, Allen.”

He responds with another nod, then I’m alone in my dressing room, staring at my reflection in the three surrounding mirrors.

Mr. Trenton has outdone himself with this tux, just like he’s done with every tux or suit before it, but I’m unsettled. I’m guessing he sensed this, which explains his concern before taking his leave. But despite the ‘ high honor’ of the award I’m receiving tonight, there’s this massive cloud of dissatisfaction hovering over my head.

And there isn’t a doubt in my mind why it’s lingered.

In a perfect world, I wouldn’t be heading into this ceremony alone. There would be a beautiful woman on my arm, and only one woman will do.

The one who has made it more than clear she wants nothing to do with me.

I let out a deep breath with the realization, and instead of tonight feeling like a great accomplishment, it feels like an event I can’t wait to put behind me.

I latch the door closed when I exit, headed toward the front entrance where there’s a car waiting. At first, there’s only my footsteps echoing across the marble as I turn from one empty corridor into another. But now, another set of steps click and clack behind me.

“I hear you’re in need of a plus-one.”

I glance over my shoulder and meet Aunt Pen’s gaze. She’s decked out, wearing a gold, ornate ballgown, the cost of which could likely fund a small city. There’s a smile set on her face, and her intentions are clear. She’s had quite the love-hate relationship with events such as these. On one hand, being rebellious by nature, she tends to buck against high society and the pretentiousness that’s often associated with it. But on the other hand, I’ve never known the woman to turn up her nose at an excuse to get dolled up.

Apparently, tonight is no exception.

“Ah, I see you’ve taken the liberty of inviting yourself to tag along.”

Despite the harsh words, I smile a little, lifting my arm for her to take, and our steps fall in sync.

“Nonsense, Nephew. I do not… tag along. I prefer to consider my presence more of a spontaneous enhancement to your evening. In other words, I’m the bit of flare you didn’t realize you needed.”

A laugh slips, knowing she actually believes the bullshit that comes out of her mouth.

We fall silent and stay that way as we continue on to the car. Once there, I open her door, then join her in the backseat. And even ten minutes into the ride, she still hasn’t spoken.

At first, I thought she was simply silent for the sake of being silent, but that pensive look on her face says otherwise.

“What is it?”

She arches a brow when our gazes meet. “I beg your pardon?”

“What’s that look on your face mean?”

My question has her tilting her head in confusion. “The look on my…” She stops midsentence, then scoffs at me. “From where you’re sitting, I’m the one with an issue? I’m simply doing my best not to poke the bear.”

It’s safe to assume that this bear she speaks of is me.

“If one of us is wound tightly, it’s you,” she adds. “No offense, Nephew, but you’re already being a bit of a buzzkill.”

She holds my gaze, standing firm on her assessment.

“Well, pardon me for dampening your evening.”

She rolls her eyes. “Please, let’s not resort to passive aggressive jabs, Caspian. It’s beneath us. Just tell me what’s eating away at you, so I can blow your mind with my awe-inspiring advice.”

She flashes a half-smile, and my eyes fall away from hers as we make a sharp turn. Between her remarks, and Mr. Trenton’s questioning, it’s safe to say I’m not hiding my foul mood as well as I believed.

At first, I’m resigned to keeping my thoughts to myself, holding it all in, but bottling up my feelings has only felt toxic lately, like a slow-moving poison. And although Aunt Pen has ruffled my feathers too many times to count, there are few people I trust more than her, so…

“This whole award ceremony bullshit just feels… empty,” I admit, letting my head fall back against the seat. “It’s the same shit just on a different day.”

“Are you not excited about being honored tonight?”

“It’s not just this. It’s everything. It all just feels so fucking mundane, and I swear the walls are starting to close in on me.”

I don’t meet Aunt Pen’s gaze, but I can feel her stare burning a hole through me. And before she speaks, I already know what she’ll say, because she has a knack for seeing her way through the bullshit, right to the heart of a matter.

“This is about Annalise.”

I could lie, but what would be the point? So, I let my silence confirm.

“Well,” she sighs, “if it makes you feel any better, you’re not the only one on her shitlist.”

My head pops up, and my first thought is— who crossed her, and will I be tearing someone’s head from their shoulders tonight?

Aunt Pen arches a brow, and only now do I realize that she senses how her statement riled my wolf.

“Relax,” she says. “It was only Lady Radcliffe, and it was only words.”

I settle into my seat, not embarrassed in the least that I just completely overreacted. I’m more on edge than usual and will make no apologies for that.

A laugh leaves Aunt Pen, and my gaze shifts back to her.

“I understand that Lady Radcliffe has been with the estate for quite some time, but I suspect her service to the family may be drawing to a close.”

“What happened?”

Aunt Pen holds in another laugh. “Well, for starters, she stupidly thought she’d strongarm Annalise into attending the ceremony this evening, and it didn’t take her long to realize she’d made a mistake. Word around the estate is that Annalise stood her ground, told Lady Radcliffe that she had other plans this evening, and she intends to keep them.”

“Other plans?” It’s as though those were the only words I heard.

“She’ll be watching the meteor shower in her garden.”

“Alone?”

Aunt Pen laughs this time. “Well, I suppose that depends.”

When I meet her gaze, clearly missing her point, she rolls her eyes.

“It depends on whether my nephew gets his head out of his ass and joins her.”

I’m silent, staring out the window as we wander deeper into the city, pulling up at the steps of the New Eden Historical Museum where the ceremony is to be hosted. Only, when the driver comes around to open my door, I don’t budge.

“Is something the matter, Sir?” he asks, but I’ve hardly heard him, turning to Aunt Pen instead.

“Will you be alright attending the event alone?”

She shoots me an incredulous look, as if to say she’d shine with or without me. Then, I remember that this is exactly what she will do.

Her hand warms my cheek, and she looks directly into my eyes. “Thanks for your concern, but my plan was always to attend alone.”

At first, I’m confused by what she means, then it settles in. She planned this. Planned to plant the seed about Annalise, planned to be present to receive the award on my behalf, which will raise fewer eyebrows when I don’t arrive.

She yelps when I take both sides of her face, then kiss the middle of her forehead. “May the gods bless you, you infuriatingly manipulative woman.”

She smiles, patting my knee as paparazzi begin gathering outside the car. “I do what I can.”

With that, she reaches for her clutch on the seat, and then steps out when the driver opens her door. The volume of the crowd swells as she takes to the red carpet, and she bellows a poised, “One at a time, please,” as photographers yell her name, clamoring for her attention.

A quite laugh leaves me when she flares her dress in dramatic fashion, then strikes a pose. What was I thinking, asking if she’d be okay without me? That woman thrives in these situations.

I have no idea what’s next, no clue what I’ll say or do when I return to the estate. But the one thing I’m certain of is that I’d rather be there, with Annalise giving me the cold shoulder, ignoring me, than at this ceremony without her.

With any luck, she’ll see something in me tonight that she hasn’t seen before, and… maybe we’ll finally have a breakthrough.

I could definitely use a win right about now.