Page 56 of Shameless

Heat washed through me. “Or what?”

She lowered her arms to her sides and said, “We can both stop pretending you’re some lady and future duchess to replace my mother.”

I swallowed and lowered my voice to ask, “So you want me to leave England?”

She nodded. “I want you to take your American friends, leave town, and divorce my brother.”

Kelly came over and asked, “Are you okay, Britney?”

I took her hand as Bernadette said, “You have twenty-four hours to decide.”

Then she swooped away.

Kelly tugged me back toward the group as she mumbled, “Bitch, huh?”

After we took a few steps, she asked me, “Are you okay?”

I swiped my face, not wanting to get into it. She had no idea I was a liar. None of my friends did. I nodded, but the second I rejoined the group, I clutched Michael who was like a port in the storm.

“Michael…” I said.

He glanced at me, and we pivoted to one side, away from our circle of friends.

“What’s going on?” he asked.

I went on tiptoe and whispered, “She knows everything.”

His eyes widened as he asked, “Knows what?”

“That our relationship is a lie,” I said, my stomach clenching.

He curved his lips higher, and bright lights caught my attention. He pointed for me to turn as he said, “Smile, darling. They are videotaping us.”

I rocked on my feet but somehow did as requested. The second the camera left us, I let him go and said, “I need to get out of here.”

He offered his hand and said, “Come with me.”

Perfect. He knew how to escape.

“Michael, the game is over.” I said.

He took a deep breath but then hugged me closer and puffed out his chest. “Wait. Here comes the host. Say hello, and then once they pass, we head to the door.”

The party was feeling surreal and huge and stifling all at once. I somehow managed to say hello.

The duchess said, “You two look so in love.”

I lowered my head, needing to just hop on a flight and go home, but I said, “Thank you ma’am… I mean Your Grace.”

Once she was gone, Michael gripped my hand and led me outside. “Come.”

As we were hailing our limo, I said, “I can’t breathe.”

He opened the door for me without waiting for the driver, and once we were inside, he said, “Everything is going to be fine.”

I shook my head. “Stop saying that.”

He closed the partition and asked me, “What is Bernadette intending to do that has you scared?”