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“Arthur—my cousin, you met him once, do you remember? He’s changing the structure so he’s not the final authority on everything.”
“I see.” This must be new information to Amber as well as to me, so surely I’m allowed to ask more questions. “Why is he doing that?”
“It’s always been set up in a ridiculous archaic way. Where the oldest male heir has to sign off on everything.”
My mouth drops open slightly. “So you haven’t been the final decision-maker on the companies you run?”
His shoulders shake slightly, like he’s silently laughing. Dry and sardonic. “No, I have not. As I said, it’s ridiculous. A remnant of patriarchal assholes in my family tree. But Arthur’s changing it, which is a good thing. But it’s a lot of work to reorganize in a way to make my companies separate and self-sufficient from the rest of the Worthing assets.”
“It sounds like it will be worth it in the end if you actually will get to make your own decisions.”
“Yeah. I think so.”
There’s a flicker of something on his face. Maybe reluctance. Maybe anxiety. “What’s the matter? Aren’t you excited about it?”
“Sure. It’s what I’ve wanted for a long time. But… it’s a big weight on me. A lot of expectation.”
Amber told me that William was desperate for the approval of his family, so much so that he entered into the agreement with Amber to get the Delacourte brand and name. I ask softly, “Who are you afraid of disappointing?”
He stares at an empty spot in the air for a long time. Then shifts his eyes to meet mine. “Everyone?”
I make a weird little whimper and reach over to put a wet hand on his knee. I don’t have any idea what to say.
Searching my mind for what I researched on the Worthing family, I remember that William’s father is dead. So is at least one of his uncles. “I didn’t get a good sense of Arthur when I met him. Is he not a decent guy?”
“No, he is a good guy. Brilliant. And he never cared all that much about business. He was doing the job because he was born into it and he thought he had to.”
“So he should be relieved to pass off most of the responsibility. He’s not going to be disappointed in you. Who else are you worried about?” I’ve completely forgotten about my role as Amber. I really want to know the answer.
William doesn’t answer immediately. He’s staring in my direction but not really seeing me. Finally he murmurs thickly, “Sometimes it feels like there are generations of Worthings all lined up to judge me.”
My chest aches at the deep feeling in the brief comment. “But they’re dead.”
“Even so.”
“Was your…?” I clear my throat. “Was your father… like that?”
“Oh yes.” He shifts slightly, meeting my gaze for real. “He was like that. Every Worthing in the older generations was like that.”
“But Arthur isn’t. What about your other cousins? You have a bunch of them, don’t you?” I’m purposefully vague since I’m not sure how much of this information I’m already supposed to know.
Evidently not much. He clearly never shared much of a personal nature with Amber. “Yeah. Most of them are okay. I’m not sure how we turned out okay, to be honest.”
“That’s good then. So it will be fine. You’ll work hard, but you’ll do a good job. And no one will be disappointed in you. They’ll see how great you are.”
He swallows so hard I can see it in his throat. He glances away but then back to me in a quick look, like he’s checking to make sure I’m being serious.
I am. Dead serious. My eyes are wide, and my lips are wobbling slightly since I’m far more emotional than is entirely appropriate.
His mouth softens. “Thanks.”
My cheeks flush hot. I hide behind a long sip of wine.
We sit in silence for a couple of minutes, but it doesn’t feel awkward. We’re just lost in our own thoughts.
Then he asks, “So why didn’t you go out tonight?”
I shrug. “I just didn’t feel like it.”
