Page 30 of The Devil's Deceit

“They’re fortunate. Not all arranged marriages go that way.”

“True. But our family has a pretty decent record. My father, your grandfather, chose your mother for me, and we had eighteen wonderful years together. I like to think I’ve followed in his footsteps and know what’s best for my sons and daughter.”

I can’t believe it’s happening now, when I’ve finally met a woman who keeps me interested for more than a few hours. “You gave Nicholas a choice.”

“I did, and I was wrong to do so. If I’d picked Victoria from the beginning, then all that nasty business with Elizabeth wouldn’t have happened.”

Nasty and Elizabeth go together in the same sentence like strawberries and cream. Victoria might’ve forgiven her sister for faking her death to get out of her marriage to Nicholas, but I’m firmly on my brother’s side when it comes to Elizabeth. The fact it worked out brilliantly for Victoria and Nicholas is, in my opinion, moot. What Elizabeth did is unforgivable. I note, with amusement, that she isn’t here this evening, even though her parents are. That’s got my brother’s fingerprints all over it.

“Okay, Dad, cut to the chase.”

His hand tightens on my shoulder. “It’s time for you to start thinking about marriage.”

And there it is.

The walls close in around me. I don’t want to get married. I like my life the way it is. Inevitably, marriage would’ve come for me eventually, but I’d hoped for a few more years. Ideservea few more years.

“It’s too soon,” I say. “I’m not even thirty yet.”

“I was twenty-five when I married your mother, and twenty-six when the twins were born. Age has nothing to do with it.”

“Yeah, but Xan was thirty-five when he got married. Nicholas thirty-four.”

“This will be good for you,” he replies, doggedly. “Arranged marriages are what we do in this family, and it’s time we arranged yours.”

“George and Alice’s wasn’t arranged.”

My father rarely gets angry, but the blast of fury that explodes in his face is enough to force me to step back. “And look how that turned out,” he growls, his voice holding the kind of menace I’ve seen him use at Consortium business meetings when the occasion called for it.

“Sorry. I shouldn’t have said that.”

“We don’t mention that man’s name in this house, Christian.”

“No.” I lower my gaze to the floor. “No, sir.”

He sighs the kind of weary exhalation of breath saved for the truly exhausted. A raft of remorse weighs heavy in my chest. He’s as frustrated as we all are with the lack of progress in locating my treacherous uncle, and the last thing he needs is me adding to his troubles.

“Son, you’ve had a tough year, what with the building collapse and the ensuing investigation. Settling down will be good for you, trust me. There are many wonderful womenwho move in our circles, and the right one is out there for you.”

With that bombshell, he claps me on the shoulder again and wanders off.

I stand there, glued to the spot, the remnants of my freedom scattering at my feet like ashes.

Chapter Eleven

GRACE

Whatever Christian’s father said to him, it wasn’t good news. He’s staring pensively into the distance, his posture now slouched instead of erect. A guest passes him and says something that he completely ignores. They pause, as though they’re thinking of stopping, then carry on.

“Would you excuse me?” I smile at Destiny and Loris, then make my way over to Christian. He doesn’t acknowledge me until I touch his arm, then he jumps as if he got an electric shock.

“Hey, it’s just me. Is everything all right?”

He lets out a laugh filled with bitterness, his eyes facing forward. “No, Grace, everything is not all right.”

A lump of anxiety crawls into my throat. Does he know? Has his father found out who I truly am and left Christian to deal with me? Am I… in danger?

“Can I help?” There’s a tremor to my voice—one I hope he doesn’t pick up on.