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It’s the first time that she has shown me this side of herself. A vulnerable side. Almost a scared little girl as opposed to a brash, bratty child she has shown me so far.
I suck in a breath, unsure how to answer. I want to reassure her, but I don’t want to lie to her.
“I’m not exactly sure,” I say at last.
She looks at me with eyes full of disappointment. “Oh.”
“Hey, do you want to check on Lady?”
Isla’s eyes go to the door. She shrugs, deflated. “Okay.”
Putting my coloring book down, I stand up and offer her a hand. She curls her lip and gets up on her own instead. Brushing past me, she moves toward the dining room.
I follow, feeling like my stomach has turned to lead.
CHAPTERSEVENTEEN
Natasha comes bursting through the door of my tiny office, out of breath. I cock a brow and look up, but I don’t even get a word in before she hurriedly stage whispers to me.
“Your family is here!”
“Fuck.” I stand up, pushing my chair back and straightening my tie. “Aren’t they supposed to be in Dublin right now?”
“That’s what I have on my calendar. Yet here they are, waiting downstairs for you. Your mum doesn’t look especially pleased, either.”
Repressing a sigh, I make an angry sound.
“When is the last time you saw her and she looked happy?”
Natasha ducks her head as I brush past her, heading to the stairs. “Good point.”
“Where are Ella and Isla?”
“They were already downstairs when your father opened the castle’s front door and ushered your mother and your brother inside.”
“Damn. I hoped to spare them the experience of dealing with my mother’s questioning.”
I take the stairs at a trot, leaving her behind to follow as best she can. Smoothing my tie and shirt, I realize only as I’m on the last step that I don’t have a suit jacket. Usually I put on my jacket as a sort of barrier, a uniform of modern plate armor, defending me against my mother’s brutal recriminations.
Without the complete suit, I can’t help but feel a little unprepared. My stomach sinks but I lift my chin, already defiant when I come around the corner.
Ella and Isla stand near one wall, huddled, Ella’s arm flung casually around Isla’s small shoulders. Ella provides some shelter for my daughter and her chin juts out as she stares at my mother, my father, and my brother James.
Henri stands as stiff as a suit of armor a dozen feet away, looking as though he hopes to fade into the stone wall behind him. I smile at him, giving my head a jerk to indicate that he can leave. He gives me a half-bow and turns, rushing off toward the mostly-unshed parlor.
I clear my throat and regard my family. Mum, Dad, and James stand against the opposite wall from my daughter and Ella. My mother looking at them with stern frown and my brother with his ever-present smug expression. My father pulls up his sleeve and looks at his watch, bored.
I stroll the last few steps, opening my arms in a questioning gesture. “I wasn’t expecting guests. To what do I owe this surprise visit?”
“Our plans changed, darling.” Mum, dressed in a severe-looking dark gray sheath dress and pearls, gives me a tight-lipped smile. “And we thought, why not visit our oldest child?” Her gaze slides down to clock my outfit. A tiny frown appears on her face. “I did not count on you being so indisposed, Keiran.”
I give her a cool smile, stepping in front of Ella and Isla. “And yet, here you are.”
I kiss her on the cheek even as my gaze roves over to my father and my brother.
“We came to see how you were making due with your staff shortage,” James announces. He smirks. “I assume you are still having trouble finding a permanent au pair.”
“We are doing quite well. Isn’t that right, ladies?”
