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“Not all of you have incurred my wrath.” I place my hands into my pockets. “Only the prejudiced among you that havejudgedmy woman, Luxury Whitson, or those who allow such travesties and hearsays from others. If yes, then you are a smutty cunt. Nonetheless, I’ve only loved and held esteem for a select few people in my life. As you all know, two are deceased.”
The subtle mention of Emeli and Jude scores a speck of sympathy, softening a few sneers, although I do not care. “Grandmother, I love you.”
Sarah places both hands to her lips, smooches, and tosses her arms in delight.
“Obviously, I love my othergrandmummy, the Queen. My brother, Graham, who has a knack for skedaddling at the faintest sign of confrontation. He’s not here tonight. Burt the Butler. Where are you, old chap?”
I find him through the crowd, near the door, hands stationed behind his back, knowing he would rather have followed after Luxury. The lad has his orders.
“I do believe my fondness for my butler has shocked the room, overpassing my verbal assault.” I chuckle softly. “When Luxury arrived, I brought her to Somerhaven first. She greeted everyone, all the servants, as equals. The chit has a good heart, a fucking golden heart. Her only fault is loving me. To a bloody fault.”
While I speak, my gaze connects with every person in the room. “The last, you all know as Princess Mary. Of course, Ilovedmy mother—a rather innate feeling growing up. I followed through with my end of the bargain as I saw others show affection to their mothers. Even that wanker, my father showed her affection, presumably twice. Thanks, arsehole, for my life and that of my brothers.”
Another shocked gasp.
“Not to say I ever loved thetosser. He’s just a tool to indicate that one shows respect toward their mother. Hmmm, perhaps, it was always respect. And now I’m rambling.” I pinch the bridge of my nose. “Nevertheless, thisMary personis nowdeadto me.”
Another gasp takes over the room.
“Now, I do believe that pretty much sums up the extent of my service to you all who live in my duchy. Burt, have the hired help assist you in removing the rubbish from my home. For those of you who have not prejudiced my love, provisions abound. Staff, have yourselves a drink, try the veal. And I suspect I’ll hear on fucking Twitter or some other point of reference that I’ve verbally assaulted and called you all cunts andarseholes, which is your prerogative. I’ve no desire to stifle one’s voice. Yet if I hear another bloody ill word or witness a devious stare in my woman’s direction again, I will take great pleasure inendingyou.”
I bloody damn well swear that this felt better than harassing Overton.The crowd parts like the Red Sea as I stalk past.
Near the door, I address Burt. “Don’t give me that bullshit father stance later, either.”
His expression never changes, though pride gleams in his eye. “Not unless Luxury holds you at fault, sir.”
I continue through the double doors and up the closest set of stairs. The blood in my veins is all jumpy.
I fucking said I love her.
As I round into the bedroom, I hear the toilet flush from the adjoining bathroom.Oh, thank God, she hasn’t left.
Wrenching the bowtie from my neck, I toss it on the bed. “I can’t fucking believe it. Lux, I’m sorry, Little One.”
“No, it’s okay.” I can hear the false smile in her voice as she lightens the doorframe.
“Like bloody hell it is. I just told the racist fuckers in my duchy to leave and not in the nicest of tones.”
As I shove out of my tuxedo jacket, Luxury stays put, not passing from the marble flooring to the herringbone wood.
“Oh, Vic.”
“I told them all that Madeline and I are not engaged. Luxury, I told themI am in love with you,” I profess, throwing the jacket onto the bed.
Warm brown eyes widen in intensity. “You can’t!”
“What are you say—” I stop short as the bathroom door slams in my face. “What the bloody fuck, Luxury?”
49
Luxury
White noise funnels in my ears while one word sears through my skull:Pregnant. My fingertips graze the knob, quickly locking the door.
“Just give me a moment, please,” I shout.
“Lux, open up!”
