Page 56 of Cruel Hearts

Elizabeth’s face paled. “What?”

“That arrest didn’t follow any guidelines, did it?” I bared my teeth. “Maybe you got a slap on the wrist for wasting police time, but someone’s going to investigate the officers who listened to you.”

“You can’t do this,” she screeched.

I narrowed my eyes. Was now the time to bring up her missing betting slip?

“What is going on, girls?” said the long-suffering voice of Mrs. Campbell.

Elizabeth prodded my shoulder. “Hand-job is—”

“Miss Liddell,” snapped the deputy headmistress. “You have been warned about the use of foul language. Detention!”

Her eyes turned cold. “What did you say?”

“If you think you can adopt that haughty attitude with me, you can think again.”

“One day, I’ll own this academy, and I’ll—”

“Until then, you will follow its rules and conduct yourself like any other student.” Mrs. Campbell wrapped her hand around Elizabeth’s arm. “You’ll spend lunch in the sanctuary until you’re ready to behave.”

My brows rose, and the crowd parted to let the deputy headmistress march Elizabeth down the hallway. Hopefully, this sanctuary was a form of padded room. I continued down the hallway to the dining hall, where Gideon sat alone at a table for six.

I glanced at our usual table for four and then back to Gideon. “What are you doing here?”

He sighed. “Your suitors have made me sit with them every mealtime since you’ve been gone.”

“Are you friends?” I slipped into the seat next to him.

“Not particularly.” He took a slice of rye toast from the rack. “Nevis seems to think that I’m the key to reaching your heart.”

My cheeks warmed. Judging from how much I had thought about him the night before, Orlando had clearly found an alternative route. “Are you alright?”

“Bored mostly.” Pursing his lips, Gideon nodded at a server, who brought over a tureen of porridge. “I’d much rather speak to you than listen to them speculate on how best to earn your affection.”

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

He raised a brow. “And give them the satisfaction of your attention?”

I picked a whole wheat slice from the rack and buttered it while the server filled my porridge bowl. The warm scent of cream filled my nostrils and made my mouth water. “Enough about those gits. Are you still avoiding Lachlan?”

Gideon frowned into his porridge. “I need time to think things through.”

I stared at my best friend, waiting for him to elaborate. Before now, I would have described Gideon as prim on the outside and wild on the inside, but I wasn’t so sure about that. In his position, I would have jumped at the chance to have Francesco and Lachlan. They were gorgeous, wealthy, and considerate people.

“Do you feel bad about having two boyfriends?” I whispered.

“At some point, I’ll have to inform my parents of my orientation,” he murmured. “It will be hard enough telling them I’m in a relationship with one man, let alone with two.”

“Ah.” I took a spoonful of porridge. It wasn’t like I had any good advice on the subject of parents.

“Did you read the local paper?” he asked.

I shook my head. “Is there anything worth reading?”

“Some intrepid reporter at last term’s fashion show noted the similarities between Elizabeth’s creation and her mother’s wedding gown.” Gideon pulled out his smartphone and pulled up an article featuring a picture of Elizabeth in her dress next to a shot of her parents on their wedding day. “It’s quite the scandal, and other papers are picking up the story.”

My eyes bulged. “Really? But she’s just a spoiled brat.”