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Even though the club transferred ownership several months ago, it’s our first time attending as a family since my father got sick and no matter what, we aren’t welcome. We bought our way in. There will always be whispers.
My marriage to Madelena De Léon is all a part of legitimizing us, because even though our name is carved into the stone above the grand front entrance, we are not born society members.
Tonight, we’re attending a lavish ball hosted by Marnix De Léon to raise funds for a charity to which the Augustine family has donated a large sum. That fact just may keep their tongues from wagging for at least one hot minute.
The guard waves us through, and I wonder how many members will know Caius. He’s been here several times and has been inserting himself without much care about the whispers. I think he might even like the gossip in his wake. My brother is charming. Me? Let’s just say people break ranks when I walk through a room. But Caius is no less dangerous. He’s just quieter about it.
The SUV comes to a stop, and the driver opens the door. I climb out and extend my hand to help our mother out. Caius follows her. We stop to take in the opulence of the beautifully lit gardens.
Mom pastes a smile on her face. Caius doesn’t bother. We all know that a few years ago, these people would have wiped their feet on us. None of us will ever forget that.
A man approaches, and I get the feeling he was waiting for us. Well, for Mom, when I see how he looks at her.
“Evelyn.” He takes her hand, leans in to kiss her cheeks. “You look lovely.”
My hackles go up. They know each other, obviously, but that’s not too surprising. She’s been doing charity work for years, and the last few months, it’s been centered in Avarice. But there’s something in his look that’s not right. She is still a married woman even if her husband is on his deathbed.
I study him. He’s younger than Dad, and a hell of a lot healthier.
“Lawrence, you remember my son, Caius.” Caius and Lawrence shake hands as if they have already met. “And this is Santos, Brutus’s son.” Odd introduction, I think, but I extend my hand. “Santos, this is Dr. Lawrence Cummings. He’s one of the members who founded the original club.”
Ah. So we have history. I recall now how Dad talked about Lawrence Cummings.
“Dr. Cummings,” I say, shaking his hand because it would be too awkward not to.
“Brutus’s son,” he says and openly looks me over. “I can see it.”
What an asshole. “Dad mentioned you a time or two. I didn’t realize you’d kept your membership.”
He clears his throat, then glances at Mom. “We worked it out. How is your father?”
“Fine,” I say flatly, my expression daring him to say another word to me.
“Yes, good to hear,” he says awkwardly before turning to my mother. “May I escort you inside, Evelyn?” Lawrence holds out an arm.
“Thank you, Lawrence,” she says, and I don’t like it. I don’t like the tone of it. I don’t like the familiarity, the ease with which they walk a little too closely, if you ask me.
I look over to Caius to find him watching too. His expression matches mine. “What’s that about?”
Caius takes a breath in and shrugs a shoulder. “Mom doing her part for the family, I guess.”
“You know who he is?”
Caius nods.
“I don’t like him.”
“Join the club,” he says, then pats my back. “Although I guess you own it.”
“We own it,” I clarify. Fuck. My conversation with Dad replays. Caius can’t know about the change to the will, can he?
“Fine, brother. Let’s go in. I need a drink.”
We enter the mansion that houses the club, and if the gardens were impeccable, this is something else entirely. Soft music and the hum of conversation and laughter spill from the ballroom as we enter. My brother and I stop to take in every detail from the chandeliers that cast soft golden light from above to the sconces that flicker along the richly paneled walls. Tables that have been draped in the finest linens and set with so much silver and crystal it’s almost blinding. Not to mention the flower arrangements that must cost more than most people earn in a year.
Well, not these people. Ordinary people.
My mother is a few steps ahead of us. She laughs at something someone says. Caius walks toward the nearest bar and returns a moment later with a club soda for me and a whiskey for himself.
