Page 199 of Save You

Mr.Beaufort just gives me a nod.Then he turns to James.“Dinner is ready.Your…girlfriend is welcome to join us.”

He turns on his heel without a second glance at either me or Lydia and disappears into a room at the other end of the hall.

I hear Lydia beside me as she suddenly lets out her breath.“Oh God, Ruby,” she says with a grimace.“I’m so sorry.We wanted to have a nice evening, and now we have to face Dad.There’s probably coq au vin, not sushi.”

James’s eyes are piercing as he looks at me.“You still have time to escape.”

“Your dad knows I’m here.”

“Doesn’t matter.”

“Would you prefer it if I left?”

James doesn’t miss a beat.“No, of course not.The sooner Dad gets used to the idea that you’re one of us now, the better.”

Warmth fills my body at his words.I take James’s arm and give it a quick squeeze.“I won’t leave.And I like coq au vin.”I pick up my bag.“Plus, I’ve brought ice cream.”

“I’ll just take that down to the kitchen,” Lydia says.“You two go ahead.”

James’s hand is on my lower back as we walk into the dining room.It’s huge, with a high ceiling and wide windows that look out over the Beauforts’ extensive gardens.The walls are painted a dark green that’s echoed in the seat covers; over the long dining table hangs an impressive chandelier that’s easily a match for the ones at Maxton Hall.The table is set with rows and rows of cutlery, dainty porcelain, and gilt wineglasses.

But it isn’t only the furniture and décor that makes this dining room—if that’s even the word for it—so different from home.It’s mainly about the atmosphere.Everyone is tense and the mood is chilly, nothing like the warm, relaxed house I grew up in.

Just the same as that time at their London workshop, Mortimer Beaufort’s presence is dominating the room.His brusque manner and cold eyes make it utterly impossible to feel at ease.It’s incredible.

We all take our seats, Mr.Beaufort at the head of the table, James to his left with me at his side, and Lydia opposite us.Twoof the kitchen staff come into the room and set a deep bowl of soup in front of each of us; it smells delicious.I follow James and Lydia and spread the folded damask napkin over my lap.

“To a pleasant evening,” says Mr.Beaufort, raising his glass.

James and Lydia mumble some kind of agreement, and I lift my glass too.

This is already the mostunpleasant evening I’ve had in ages.

The first ten minutes pass in silence.The room is so quiet that it feels unnaturally loud every time I swallow or set my glass down on the table.I’m desperately trying to think of something to say—or wondering if I should even speak at all.I have absolutely no idea.

I dare to glance at James and he flashes me a quick, thin smile.

In the end, Lydia speaks up.“The charity gala went well, didn’t it, Ruby?Or at least, I’ve only heard good things about it.”

I’m relieved that she’s picked a subject I know about, where I have something to say.“Yes, it was brilliant.We raised over two hundred grand, which was way more than we even hoped.”

“Wow,” says Lydia.“Was Lexington happy?”

I nod.“Yes, luckily.But he’s usually pleased with us.”

“With a few exceptions,” murmurs James.

As I turn toward him, he’s grinning into his glass.

I know what he’s thinking.I remember the day we sat side by side at Lexie’s desk, when James was ordered to join the events committee as a punishment, as vividly as if it were yesterday.I smile back at him.

“Well, one exception, maybe.But that was hardly my fault, or anything to do with my team.”

Mr.Beaufort interrupts our conversation, and I feel the grin immediately wiped off my face.“I hear you’re very involved in school life, Ruby.”

“Yes, I’ve been on the events committee for the last two years.”

He just nods.Blink and you’d miss it.“Uh-huh.”