Reluctantly Royal(55)

“You mean he’s an alcoholic.” It wasn’t a question.

“Yes.” I frowned. “I’m guessing that Mother knew or had a heads-up, because she sent someone to help out.”

“Sounds like something she would do.” Cathy nodded her head. “But why did you bring them here today?”

“Turns out that the old man left a will. Meredith’s father thought everything would just pass to him. Needless to say, he was not happy.”

“How so?” Sam climbed up off the floor and sat down in a chair.

“He’s an angry drunk.” I leaned forward and put my elbows on my knees. “I couldn’t leave them there.”

“You think he would hurt them?” Cathy lowered her voice. “Was it that bad?”

I nodded my head.

“Surely he wouldn’t hurt his daughter or grandson.” Cathy shook her head. “What did he do? Yell at them?”

I debated before answering and decided that they deserved to know the truth. “The first day I went over there, Arthur tried to hit Meredith.”

Cathy covered her mouth, but Sam sat up straighter.

“What did you do?”

“I pulled her out of his path and penned him until he calmed down.” I shrugged. “I wanted them to leave that night, but she wasn’t having any of it.”

“She probably felt like she had to stay until after the funeral.” Sam frowned. “God, that makes me so mad. I wish you had hit him.”

“I came close today.” I frowned. “He called Marty something and I was ready to beat his face in.”

“But you didn’t.” Sam cocked her head to the side.

“Meredith asked me not to.” I leaned back in my chair.

“You are in so much trouble.” Sam laughed.

“What do you mean?” Why did everyone keep hinting that I was headed for trouble?

“You’re in deep, boy.” Sam looked over at Cathy with a smile. I hated that smile. It was the one they used to convey womanly thoughts. Silly things and ideas. Like they knew something I didn’t know. Fuck, they knew something I didn’t know.

“I’m just helping them until they can get back to England.” I glared at my sister-in-law. I think I even sounded like I meant what I had said.

“I don’t think so.” Cathy shook her head.

“She has a life back in England.” Shit, did I sound dejected?

“Maybe.” Sam shrugged. “Or she may have a life here. You won’t know until after the reading of the will.”

“It doesn’t affect me.”

“Blind. He’s absolutely blind.” Cathy grinned at me. “I like seeing you all discombobulated. It’s fun.”

“I’m not discombobulated. Jesus. Who says ‘discombobulated’?” I ran a hand over my jaw. I need to shave before the morning. Christ, I had to carry a casket tomorrow.

“You look at her and that boy like they are yours.” Sam’s eyes softened.

“I do not.” I remembered that strong sense of possessiveness I had felt while holding her in my arms. Did I really look at her differently? I’d been around her for only a few days. A few very emotionally charged days. “They aren’t mine.”

“Maybe they should be.” Sam smiled.

“Stop that.”

“Stop what?” Her smile turned mischievous.

“Stop trying to plant ideas in my head.” Especially when there was already a seed there.

“You know, once upon a time, a very smart person told me that it’s easier for people on the outside to see what’s going on.” She paused for a moment. “Especially when you’re in love.”

“That’s stupid.” I leveled my gaze at her.

“You have much to learn, grasshopper.”

“Don’t you have pregnant things to do? Like looking at baby clothes?” I rolled my eyes.

“I’m getting the dirt on your girlfriend.” Sam shifted in her seat. “Duh.”

“She’s not my girlfriend.” I leaned my head back and closed my eyes. It was like being back in grade school.

“Hm.” Cathy tapped her mouth with her finger.

“Out with it.” I cracked my eyes open.

“I think you’d be good together. She pulls you out of your shell and you give her something stable.”

“I’m not stable. I’m an artist.” Stable sounded boring. Sounded like a job.

“It doesn’t matter what you do.” Sam shrugged. “Alex is going to be king one day. Not exactly who I saw myself ending up with.”

“You guys are killing me, you know that?” I closed my eyes again.

“Okay, back to the serious topic.” Cathy darted her eyes up toward the staircase. “Is her father going to be at the funeral?”