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“Stuart, dear, let’s go and call Violet. Freya?” Mum said, then looked back to me. “Would you tell your grandfather? We’ll all need to be ready to attend the funeral.”
I nodded. “Yeah, don’t worry. I’ve got it.”
The three of them left, all turning in the same direction, and I sagged onto the counter in front of me.
Grace lowered to the empty stool next to me. “Are you all right?”
I turned to her with a grim smile. “They’re good friends of ours. I went to university with Fred and Max, and Eric was very close to Dad.”
“I’m sorry,” she said softly, and there was a genuine sadness in her eyes, too. “How strange that we just spoke about Fred last night.”
“It is, yes. Not the heir anymore.” I pressed my lips together and looked down. “Sorry. It’s a bit of a stark reminder that my getting what I’m due by the virtue of being born is dependent on the death of two people I love dearly.”
“I can’t imagine.” She rested her head on my shoulder, sliding her arm all the way around my body in a gentle hug that spread warmth all through me.
“Thank you,” I said honestly, resting my hand on top of hers on my arm. “You don’t have to do this.”
“I do. I know what losing someone you love feels like, even if this isn’t quite the same.”
“Hm.” I nodded and took a deep breath, enclosing my fingers around hers. “Do you really know Ellie?”
“I do.” She let out a small, quiet chuckle. “Amy was in one of my classes, and she said she had a cousin who was writing a book about an earl but was struggling to find reliable research material. She introduced us and that was that.”
“Really?”
“Yes. I’ve become one of her go-to research spots. I did wonder why she didn’t ask me much when she was writing her last book, but it all made sense when she told me she was seeing Max.”
“She had a much better research source.”
“She did.” Grace lifted her head and slid her hand out from under mine to reach for her tea. “She’ll be back next time.”
“How very strange.”
“I’m in her acknowledgements if you don’t believe me.”
“I believe you,” I replied, watching her. “I just think it’s strange how we really do have mutuals.”
“I told you the engagement party was believable.” She grinned. “Come on. Let’s do what we need to do, and then see if you can break me into that library at some point.”
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN – GRACE
Uh-Oh
Dad’s name flashed on my screen, and I knew the reason he was calling.
The Glenroch family weren’t the only ones who’d lost a friend today.
Eric was a close friend of my dad’s, and I knew Fred well, too. Of course I could never tell William that, and I’d worked hard to keep my own sadness at bay all morning.
Speaking to my dad was not what I wanted to do right now.
I had no choice, though.
I turned to William. “Is there a spot in the castle with good signal? My dad is trying to call.”
“Uh, the kitchen,” he replied. “Is everything okay?”
“If my dad is calling? No.” I got up, laughing. “It’s fine. Granny probably harassed his wife again and he wants me to tell her to back off. I’ll go call him back.”
