Page 46 of Cruel Games

“Fortunately, Mr. Burgh won’t divulge the nature of the videos, so nobody will be disowned. A car is on its way to pick them up.”

We walked side-by-side down the hallway. I wanted to apologize, but they had started it by recording me in the first place. If the original footage ever got out, it would be a scandal both for me and Mr. Burgh.

“Why are you here?” I asked Kendrick.

“To let you know I’m no longer associating with Elizabeth Liddell, regardless of my parents’ wishes. She publicly humiliated you and besmirched the good name of a gentleman who has guided and educated thousands of students.”

I kept my gaze on the end of the hallway, not believing a single word. For all I knew, this could be the second part of a plan to get me expelled — good cop’s attempt to slither under my skin and uncover the rest of my secrets.

When we reached the door leading to the tower, all I could say was, “Thanks for letting me know.”

The next morning, a hush fell across the dining room when I stepped inside. Everyone stared at me. I wasn’t sure why because nothing had changed apart from gaining a piece to the puzzle that was my life. I walked over to the table I shared with Gideon and lowered myself into the seat.

He gave me a warm smile. “Sorry for not going to see you last night. My phone wouldn’t stop ringing.”

“Anyone I know?”

“Actually—”

“Hancock, Adewale,” Kendrick stood at our table. “May I join you?”

“We’re having a private conversation,” I snapped.

Gideon’s brows drew together. “What brings you to our table? You’ve never shown an interest in sitting with anyone else apart from Miss Liddell.”

Kendrick’s gaze slid to the middle table. “Elizabeth and I are no longer acquainted.”

“What does that mean?” I glanced in the direction he was looking. Elizabeth sat alone, her face a livid purple. Hopefully, this meant that her fancy father, the lord and archbishop had given her a dressing-down for yesterday’s bitchy display.

Up at the head table, Mr. Burgh stood. “Everybody, settle down. I have an important announcement.”

Without another word, Kendrick slipped into the seat next to mine, and we all turned to look at the headmaster.

“I’ve heard from several sources that a revelation was made last night about the parentage of Miss Hancock.”

Chatter filled the dining room. Everyone on the head table, including Mrs. Campbell, glowered at Elizabeth, who shrank into her seat. I sat straighter.

Elizabeth had taken her malice too far. If she had announced that I had been born in prison and that my stepfather was banged up for dealing cocaine, I’d be the one squirming right now. But she had done me a favor by dragging Mr. Burgh into the mix.

Elizabeth had proven that I was just as well-bred as anyone in this room. Who else would have gotten a girl in boarding school pregnant but one of the other boys? And if anyone wanted to fault me for the circumstances of my birth, they would just prove themselves assholes.

“I hoped to be able to share that news with Miss Hancock when she turned eighteen, but now that the information is out, let me formally welcome my beloved granddaughter, Lilah Hancock, to Templar Academy.”

Applause filled the dining room, and heat rose to my cheeks. I curled my toes, wondering what the fuck I was doing, blushing like a first year. The only thing better than being introduced as the granddaughter of Mr. Burgh would be the knowledge of my real surname.

“Congratulations,” said Kendrick.

“Thanks,” I replied. The high of being formally introduced by Mr. Burgh made the next words float out of my mouth. “And I’m sorry about Orlando and Maxwell.”

He gave me a solemn nod. “As I said yesterday, you weren’t to know someone would monitor the network.” He reached across the table and took a slice of toast off the rack. “Would you accompany me to church this Sunday?”

I was about to tell him that I had a dress to tailor when Elizabeth shot me the most hateful glower. The stupid cow blamed me for her plans backfiring. A smile stretched across my lips. With two of her knights suspended and the third defected, I wanted her to choke on regret.

“Why not?” I said. “I haven’t seen the academy’s chapel yet.”

From that moment, things changed. People called me Hancock or Burgh, which was a thousand steps up from handjob and all the other dumb nicknames.

Elizabeth kept a tight group of female sycophants, including Myra with the witchy features and the tawny hair, but most people agreed that Elizabeth had been out of line for exposing my parentage before the headmaster had a chance to share the information with me.