Page 17 of Cruel Hearts

Gideon leaned forward and frowned. “What’s on your mind?”

“Camden Liddell was at my disciplinary hearing today—”

“The Deputy Chief Constable?”

“Yes, with Lady Liddell and the archbishop. Any normal person would have apologized for Elizabeth’s dangerous prank, but they acted as though I’d been guilty all along.”

He tapped his chin. “Didn’t they know the outcome of the police investigation?”

“I don’t think they cared.”

“Would they go so far as to indulge a spoiled brat?”

Raising my mug to my lips, I said, “Maybe. Or maybe they know she has behavioral issues and wanted to keep them swept under the Persian rug.”

Gideon made a delicate snort. “You may have a point. Every year, they expel some girl or another for lewd conduct, theft, or reasons unknown. The only thing those girls did wrong was clash with Elizabeth.”

“Did anyone keep in contact with them?” I asked.

“Maeve O’Brian befriended the last girl. I can ask her to come over and tell you everything she knows.”

“Thanks.” My stomach rumbled, reminding me it was way past lunchtime. I walked to the freezer and pulled open the door. Piles of prepackaged meals, mostly from Marks and Spencer, sat behind perspex drawers. I slid one open and gazed down at shepherd’s pies, Lancashire hotpots, and steak and kidney puddings. I grabbed a shepherd’s pie and pushed the door shut.

As we waited for the pie to cook, I pulled out the biscuit tin and slid into the seat next to Gideon. Hearing him talk about the girls Elizabeth and her knights had run out of the academy was depressing. It seemed that she liked to target girls like her: blonde, petite, and pretty enough to knock her off her pedestal.

“How can anyone be so pathetic?” I opened another cupboard and pulled out a glass jar of peas and carrots.

“Someone clearly told her she was special but failed to explain why.” Gideon reached into the biscuit tin and pulled out a chocolate-covered wafer. “With no talents or attractive personality traits, anyone who vaguely resembles her is a threat.”

The doorbell rang, and my back stiffened. Mr. Burgh was still at the Board of Governors’ emergency meeting, dealing with Maxwell’s disciplinary. This had to be the other knights.

I shot out of my seat and headed to the door. “Come with me.”

Gideon set down his tea and followed me up the stairs and down the hallway. My heart thrummed a marching beat of soldiers going to battle. Kendrick and Orlando had tried to approach me after church. It made sense that they would track me down to the headmaster’s quarters.

At the door, I turned around and met Gideon’s hard expression. “Ready?”

He gave me a sharp nod.

I opened the door, letting in a gust of freezing wind that made my skin tighten. Orlando stood alone at the doorstep with his hands in the pockets of his suit jacket and his broad shoulders hunched. Snowflakes settled on his dark blond curls, making him look like he’d stood behind the door for several minutes before ringing the bell.

“What do you want?” I folded my arms across my chest.

“To talk.” His gaze lingered on Gideon, who stood at my side. “Alone.”

“Not interested.” I pushed the door closed, but Orlando jammed it open with his foot.

“Lilah, this is serious. Max—”

“Framed me,” I snapped. “Now, bugger off before you put me off my lunch.”

The asshole had the nerve to slacken his features and appear hurt. “Things didn’t go well for him in custody.”

“At least he won’t be able to impersonate Kendrick for the next few weeks.”

“They put him in the same cell as your ex.”

His words hit me like a flying kick to the gut, and my mouth dropped open. “Sammy?”