“Thank you so much. I mean, when you hear that your brother’s bed caught on fire with him in it, it’s a little nerve-wracking, isn’t it?”
“Naturally,” she says, faux concern pinching her brows. “I’m grateful he wasn’t hurt, and I’m so sorry it happened. There weren’t any signs at all. I make sure all my buildings are up to code regularly.”
“Yes, I know. You’re vigilant when it comes to keeping your properties in the best shape imaginable, aren’t you?” My smile softens, and I turn to look straight at the closet as I finish off my cookie. “Pity. I’m also fairly vigilant in some areas.”
Everyone tenses.
I stand.
“N-now, August,” Granee says, voice wobbling, “what do you think you’re—”
I open the closet door and find the absolute most harrowing thingever.
Scrunched inside, amid a slew of shoes and jackets, isDominicholding my binder.
Staring at me, he whispers a curse.
My heart pounds. “Vampiric knave. Have ye taken to spying upon me in your latest schemes?”
His eyes cut past me, taking in the others, then he winces. “I’m…not sure. I kind of…was just shoved in here.”
“Indeed? Well.” I turn. “Gentle ladies, it’s not polite to shove men into closets.” I harden my tone, drop my smile, and breathe through the thundering in my chest. “Dominic. Why are you here?”
A pause. “I was…calling upon the wisdom of The Council.”
“Poor Mirabelle,” I murmur, crossing my arms. “The rest of you should be ashamed of yourselves. It’sonething to be scheming. It’s another to drag someone whodoesn’tscheme into the mess.”
Frail, Mirabelle whispers, “I’m sorry. I promised.”
“Yes, I’m sure they made you. I’m not upset.” I grin and turn to face Dominic. “Not at all.” My eyes lower, to the binder in his arms, and I wince. “Well. Maybe I’m alittleembarrassed, but that’s a different sort ofupset.” I point. “You should know that’s not entirely accurate information. It was…tampered with. At a degree I’m not even sure of myself.”
“I was made aware of that minutes ago, yes.”
I extend my hand, and he delivers the binder without any fuss.
My mind works, and I assess what I know.
Dominic is here. With my binder. He’s here because he’scalling upon the wisdom of The Council. He has access to Lynn, who has access to my grandmother. It could be as simple as him prepping for our lake date this weekend and attempting to obtain information from people he knows who know me better than he does. After Sunday, he could have reached out to Lynn and asked if my grandmother might be open to talking with him about my likes and dislikes. Then, Lynn may have invited him to book club for the discussion.
It’s not a far-fetched possibility.
Granee would absolutely take the opportunity to bring my binder and give him the best “fighting chance” she could. If the behind-my-back recon was meant to result in a truly spectacular date, then maintaining it as a surprise would lead to this outcome.
Nevertheless, I can’t shake the feeling that I’m grounding my assumptions in far too much speculation and also far too much trust in the story I’ve been given so far.
It’s a fatal error to make.
Why?
Because.
I’ve just learned that Granee isn’t the only one scheming against me.
Lynn’s in on this in a way that goes deeper thanright now. And if she’s been in on it since the start, who’s to say Dominic hasn’t also been? Who’s to say that thisentire thingisn’t a part of the scheme?
I face Lynn.
She holds my gaze. Unflinching.
