Page 193 of Save You

“You’ve got this.And we’ll help,” I declare, bumping shoulders with Wren.He slowly lowers his hands from his face.

“James, the thing with Ruby—”

“Is in the past,” I interrupt him.

At this moment, this isn’t about me, or Ruby, but about thefact that Wren’s been carrying all this around for ages, without his best friend having a clue.That’s not how things should be.Not with us.

I don’t care about our fight now.All that matters to me is that I want to help Wren.Even though I have no idea how.

24

Ruby

My heart is hammering in my throat as I open the door.Percy is standing there, and he nods slightly, a smile on his lips.

“How nice to see you again, Ms.Bell.”

“It’s nice to see you too, Percy,” I reply, following him to the car, gripping my silver clutch bag tightly.James refused to tell me anything about our date all week, so I’ve just had to guess at what to wear.But Ember’s helped me put together an outfit for all occasions: a simple black dress, shoes with tiny heels, and the little silver bag.My hair is half up and I’ve glued my fringe down with a ton of hairspray in case we’re spending any time outdoors in the wind.

“We’re meeting Mr.Beaufort there,” Percy explains as he holds the door for me and gives me a hand into the Rolls.I smile up at him to thank him.To my shock, I see that there are dark rings under Percy’s eyes and his skin is pale and dull.And he looks miles away, like his thoughts aren’t really present.

“How are things, Percy?”I ask.

“I’m fine, miss, thank you for asking,” he replies mechanically.Smiling politely, Percy shuts the door behind me and walks around the car.The screen isn’t up and I watch with a frown as he sits down behind the wheel.Is it my imagination, or is there considerably more white in his hair since Cordelia Beaufort’s death?

“How long have you been working for the family?”I ask, edging forward slightly on my seat.

“Over twenty-five years now, miss.”

I nod sympathetically.“Wow, that’s a long time.”

“I started driving Mrs.Beaufort when she was in her early twenties.”

“What was she like?”

For a moment, Percy seems to be hunting for the words to describe her.“Fearless and intrepid.She turned the firm upside down, even before she finished university, which didn’t please her parents.But it paid off.”I can see in the mirror as his eyes narrow as if he’s smiling.“She always had a good eye for the trends.She continued working all through her pregnancy, and set so many things in motion.Nothing went out under the company logo without her personal approval.She—” Percy breaks off.“She was an amazing woman,” he concludes, his voice hoarse.

I feel a wave of compassion.It seems like Mrs.Beaufort meant a lot to Percy.Maybe more than that, if I’m reading the look in his eyes correctly.

“Are you really OK, Percy?”I whisper.

The chauffeur clears his throat.“I’ll get there, miss.I just need a little time.”

“Of course.If I can ever do anything to help…” I have no idea how I could ever help Percy, but just now, offering seems like the right thing to do.

“There is actually one thing you can do for me.”Our eyes meet in the rearview mirror.“Please take good care of James.”

My breath catches and I have to gulp.

“I will,” I say after a short while.“I promise.”

Twenty minutes later, we’ve arrived.As Percy parks the car, I look through the tinted windows to the outside of the restaurant.I know that we were headed in the direction of Pemwick.But I don’t know this area.

Percy opens the door and helps me out.The sun is just setting and bathing the building in front of me in an orangey-red light.The sign is already lit up, and I readThe Golden Cuisinein fancy lettering.As Percy holds the restaurant door for me, my heart is suddenly racing.

“Mr.Beaufort is waiting inside.Have a nice evening, Ms.Bell.”

I thank him, then walk inside nervously.The minute I step through the door, I see James waiting for me.A smile spreads over my face.I’m so relieved that I can feel like this with him again.