“I hope you’ll change your mind.”
She didn’t need to hear more. She tried to leave the room, but Daphne and Neville blocked her path.
“What’s the matter?” Daphne asked.
“Edith is upset because I sold her painting,” Valentine said.
“I tried to warn you,” Daphne said. “But you didn’t let me talk.”
A sudden fatigue caught Edith off guard. “You lied to me. You and Valentine meant to sell my painting from the beginning.”
“Don’t be sad, Edith.” Neville caressed her cheek, and she recoiled away from him. “Sadness doesn’t suit you. I would’ve bought your painting hadn’t I woken up late the day of the exhibition. It’s so difficult to be up and about before eleven.”
“You’re famous now. Aren’t you happy?” Daphne asked.
“Ask me that again after I’ve slapped you.” Edith sidestepped Daphne, but Neville coiled an arm around her waist and stopped her again.
“Not so fast, Star Maiden.” He inched closer to her ear. “Who’s the lucky bastard who has your nude painting? And don’t think I forgot about our deal.”
She removed his arm from her waist. “What deal?”
Daphne gave her a pointed look. “What do you mean? The dare we all agreed upon at the Scarlet Room.”
“I didn’t agree to do anything.” Although she’d been in her cups, and she didn’t remember everything about that night.
Valentine raised his eyebrows. “Yes, you did. We heard it and saw it.”
“Whatever this matter is, I have a more urgent one.” She tried again to leave the room, but Neville blocked her.
“Not yet. We need to talk.” He held the door open. “I need a word with Edith. Alone.”
“I’m in a hurry,” she said.
“It won’t take long.”
The others filed out in silence. When he shut the door, the chatter from the sitting room died. “It’s Perry, isn’t it?”
“I don’t know what you mean.”
He leant against the door, effectively trapping her. “He has your painting, doesn’t he?”
She folded her arms over her chest, waiting for the moment he moved away from the door.
“Perry isn’t the good man you think he is. He’s a spoiled, entitled brat.”
She scoffed, outraged.
“When he was younger, it didn’t matter what atrocious act he did, his parents always forgave him. They found his irreverent manners charming, his lack of respect for others a sign of strength. They scolded him, yes, but never too seriously because he was precious Perry.”
“Let me go.” She didn’t understand what this family’s story had to do with her.
He didn’t let her reach the handle, taking her wrist. “Albert did everything by the book. The golden boy of the family. He never broke a rule. I used to be like him until he defended Perry when he charmed my intended, and she broke the engagement with me. He did it to spite me, to prove he could charm any woman.I’m so charming, every woman does what I say, he told me.”
Those were exactly the same words Perry had used years ago to describe himself. Perhaps he’d been wild when he was younger, but he would never be cruel.
She wriggled her arm free; getting free from Neville’s hands was becoming a habit. “I don’t care about your quarrel with Perry. It’s a matter between you two.”
“He’s doing it again. Now he’s turning you against me.”
