“Here’s what we’re going to do. We’re going to find your father and wish him a happy birthday. Then, we are going to leave and go back to your house. You’re going to take a hot shower and drink plenty of water and I’m going to cook you dinner. How does that sound?”
Liam’s hand gripped the back of my neck, pulling my forehead to touch his. “Gods, Cerise. You are…” He gave me a light kiss on the lips. “You are everything.”
My heart twisted with something I didn’t know how to name as my fingers dug into the hair at the nape of his neck. We stayed like this for a long moment, foreheads pressed together, just gazing at each other.
Breaking the trance, I took a breath. “Are you ready?”
We stood, making our way back to the party and trying to avoid talking to whoever we could as we pushed through the crowd.
It wasn’t long before a voice spoke behind us.
“There you are, son. I heard you were here.”
Liam’s demeanor immediately shifted when we heard his father speak. I hadn’t ever seen him so tense, so on edge. It was even worse than when his brothers had bombarded us.
We turned around as a tall, slender man approached. His gray hair was carefully combed, his shrewd green eyes—Liam’s eyes—evaluating us. He wore a deep blue bespoke suit, everything tailored to perfection.
“Father,” Liam said with a nod. “Happy Birthday.”
“I had assumed you’d forgotten. It’s been so long since you’ve deigned to visit.” His eyes moved to me, assessing the way Liam and I stood close, catching on his arm around me. “And you are?”
I reached out my hand before Liam had a chance to speak. “Cerise Thornheart. It’s wonderful to meet you, Mister Pendragon.”
He stiffly shook it, then let go. “Are you aprofessortoo?” he asked, spitting it out like it was difficult to say.
“Yes, I?—”
Liam interrupted. “Cerise here is the most brilliant woman I’ve had the pleasure of knowing.” He pulled me closer.
His father squinted. “It’s about time you settle down, son. You’re almost thirty, you?—”
Liam’s laugh cut his father off. “Almost thirty? Of course, you don’t even know how old I am. Typical.” Liam began to lead me away. “Well, we’ve done our duty for the night. Happy Birthday again. Enjoy your party.”
“I need to speak with you,” his father said.
“Not now.”
Liam dragged me away, but his father caught his arm. I froze, looking in between the two men.
“My office,” his father said, letting go and turning to enter the house. “Now.”
Liam clenched his jaw so hard, I thought his teeth would shatter as we followed after him. After going back through the living room and down a dark hallway lined with sconces, we stopped before a set of heavy wooden doors. His father was already inside.
“Will you wait out here for me?” Liam whispered, cupping my face.
“Of course.”
After kissing my forehead, he disappeared, leaving the door cracked. I took my place against the wall, crossed my arms, andwaited.
The conversation started off quiet and I was unable to make out what they were saying. But it wasn’t long before I heard raised voices.
“I’ve waited long enough, son. It’s time for you to stop playing teacher and join your family’s legacy.”
“Fuck your godsdamned legacy. I want no part of it.”
“This was always your future. And now that you apparently have a woman, it’s time. You don’t want her to work.”
I gripped my dress, my hands trembling. What a misogynistic thing to say, though I was hardly surprised. In just the hour or so we’d been here, I’d gotten the impression most of the men in attendance were that way, their wives attending frivolous luncheons while leaving the men to do the ‘real work.’
