Page 41 of Secret Dynasty

I’d spent the day unpacking Kerrigan’s life into my new home and trying to find pieces of myself in the boxes that had been delivered from Willoughby Place. It had been a fruitless and increasingly frustrating exercise. And now I’d shown up to my first day as future mistress of the house in stretchy pants that were covered in a patina of dust and cardboard.

Spencer stood as I entered the room and pulled out my chair. He had taken the seat at the head of the table, looking like he had belonged there all the time. My seat was now positioned on his left. Caroline sat opposite me, Evie by her side. No one sat at the other end of the table, which meant Holden occupied the seat to my right. I was more than surprised that Spencer had placed us next to one another. Maybe the other night had finally vanquished his paranoia regarding my relationship with his brother.

But as the first course was served, it became clear that we were playing a game of musical chairs. Was this how it was always going to be? The four of us vying for the coveted place next to him. Would any of us ever take the seat opposite Spencer as his equal?

“Holden, I’d like you to come into the office next week. I will need you on hand while Kerrigan and I are on our honeymoon,” he said, piercing a leaf of lettuce with his fork.

“You can’t be serious?” Holden dropped his fork on the table and swiveled to face his brother. “Why me?”

“I want someone I can trust there.” Spencer continued eating as if this was a completely normal request.

Except it wasn’t, and everyone at the table knew it.

“Since when am I someone you can trust?” Holden pressed.

“You’re family.”

“That’s a low bar,” Holden muttered.

“Darling, you can’t really think that’s a good idea,” Caroline interjected. She’d yet to touch her plate, but her wine glass needed to be refilled.

Holden smirked, looking vindicated and insulted at the same time. “Thanks for the vote of confidence.”

“You know what I mean,” she said with a dismissive wave before she lifted her hand to snap her fingers. A server appeared and refilled her chardonnay.

“Not really.” Holden lounged in his seat and tugged at his tie. “Elucidate me.”

“That won’t be necessary,” Spencer said, ending the bickering. Then, he turned his attention to me.

There was a time when I might have melted under the intensity shining in his green eyes, now it made me shiver. Was this what it would be like every evening? Would we line up to receive our orders over dinner?

“I need you to meet me tomorrow afternoon,” he said.

Before I could ask why Evie pushed her chair back and stood. She dropped her napkin on the table.

“Give me a kiss before you go,” Caroline said.

Evie started to lean down to kiss her mother’s cheek, but Spencer cleared his throat.

“It’s dinner,” he said meaningfully.

“Oh, um, I have plans with some friends,” Evie said, biting her lip, still bent slightly over. “I cleared it with mum.”

Spencer lifted his own napkin and dabbed his lips. “You didn’t clear it with me.”

Evie glanced at her mother. Caroline, meanwhile, was clutching her wineglass so tightly her knuckles were white. I half-expected it to shatter.

“I said she could go,” Caroline said, managing to sound calm even though she was visibly unnerved.

“And I said that it’s dinner time,” Spencer replied. His eyes locked with his mother’s, and everyone went totally silent. Holden didn’t move, but his gaze followed the quiet battle being waged.

“Let her go,” I spoke up, reaching for my own glass of wine. “She’s going to be so caught up with the wedding next week that she won’t have time for any fun.”

“I had no idea fun was such a vital part of life,” Spencer said, not breaking eye contact with Caroline.

“That’s pretty obvious,” Holden grumbled.

“What was that?” Spencer finally looked away, pinning his murderous stare at Holden.