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“Lemon and poppy seed.”
I have something of a sweet tooth.
“Sounds good.”
Annie gestures toward the sofa. “Well, make yourselves comfortable and I’ll be back in a minute.”
I lead Eleanor to the sofa and let go of her hand as she sits. I wander over to the bookcase to examine the school photos more closely.
They’re all posed in a similar fashion, with Eleanor facing the camera at a sideways angle. There’s a pale blue backdrop in each of them. Her uniform comprises a black blazer, shirt, and tie.
She was a pretty child, which is unsurprising since she’s such a beautiful young woman. It saddens me, though, that her smile looks forced in the images. It doesn’t reach her eyes.
“I hated school,” Eleanor says, coming up behind me and putting a hand on my shoulder. “People were so cruel.”
“Libby mentioned something about that.”
Eleanor nods. “She was one of the rich, popular kids. She wasn’t as bad as most, but she could be mean when she wanted to be.”
I put the photo I was holding down and turn to Eleanor. “Libby bullied you?”
“Yeah, but we’ve put that behind us. She got a taste of what it was like to be mocked and ignored after that scandal with her dad. It taught her a lesson, I guess.”
“But you’re friends now?”
“We’re friendly.” Eleanor looks off to the side as she considers that for a moment. “Yes, we’re friends.”
I’m glad to hear it. Our family spends a lot of time together and Eleanor will need to find a way to fit in. Her friendship with Libby will help, and I know Sorcha has a soft spot for her. Aidan’s wife, Madeline, is the unknown quantity. She can be a real bitch when she wants to be, especially when she’s unhappy.
I turn back to the display of photographs and something catches my eye, a silver trophy, shaped like an artist’s palette. Picking it up carefully, I read the inscription.
“First place in the Gray’s School of Art Junior competition.” I look at Eleanor. “What is this?”
“It was a competition I won in my final year at school. Grays is a prestigious art school in Scotland. It was an honor to win it.”
There’s a hint of longing in her voice that I can’t help but notice.
“You didn’t pursue art?”
“Couldn’t afford it. I needed to find a job straight after school and when nothing came up, I decided to use my talents in a practical way, so I started doing interior design jobs. Andrew is the first big client I’ve had.”
“You can afford it now,” I tell her. “If you want to go to art school, we can make it happen.”
“Yeah, maybe.” She sounds less enthusiastic than I thought she would. Then she smiles. “Yeah, I’ll look into it.”
Putting her trophy back on the shelf, I follow Eleanor over to the sofa and sit next to her as Annie comes back into the room and sets a tray down on the coffee table.
“How do you take your tea, Rory?”
I don’t have the heart to tell her I never touch the stuff, so I just ask for it without milk or sugar. She pours me a cup and hands me a small plate, indicating I should help myself to a muffin.
“These look incredible,” I tell her and she beams widely.
Eleanor pours her own tea and grabs a muffin. As her mother sits down, she glances at me.
“Donovan? Didn’t Liberty Preston marry a Donovan?”
“Yes,” Eleanor confirms. “That’s where I met Rory, at their wedding. Libby married his brother.”
