Scandal and the Runaway Bride (Heirs to an Empire 1)

She laughed a little. “You’re foolish, but I appreciate the compliment.”

“It’s going to be fine,” he said, more confidently than he felt. But one thing he was sure of: he would stand beside her. She hadn’t cowered; she’d come to face them all, and at the scene of the crime. That took a lot of strength.

They made their way down to the drawing room for before-dinner drinks. Gabi clutched his hand so tightly his fingers hurt, but he wouldn’t say a word about it. She was entitled. When they walked in, a hush fell over the room as several pairs of eyes landed on them.

And then the conversation sparked up again as they were...ignored.

“Let’s get a drink,” Will suggested.

“Just soda or tonic or something for me,” Gabi whispered. “I think I’ll go light on the alcohol tonight.”

“Fair.” He kept his voice low. He headed to the bar and poured himself a gin and tonic and added a fresh wedge of lime. Bella appeared at their side and smiled, though her eyes were troubled. “Here we go,” she said. “Gabi, would you like a drink?” She said it loudly enough that others might hear her being at least polite. Will appreciated her trying to set the tone.

“Maybe a w

hite wine spritzer?”

“Good choice. I’ll get it.” Bella adeptly poured some wine in a glass and added club soda. “Lime?”

“No, thank you.” She accepted the glass. “Thank you, Bella,” she whispered.

“Don’t thank me yet.”

Will and Gabi held their drinks but it soon became clear that the family strategy was to pretend they didn’t exist. Will took Gabi’s hand and led her to his mother, whom he wished happy birthday. She kissed his cheek but her eyes only glanced over Gabi and she said nothing to her. The snub was brutally obvious, though subtle.

Charlotte looked their way and then turned her back, talking to Stephen, who stood with his hand in his suit pocket, being ever the earl, commanding the room almost as much as their mother.

Resentment burned in Will’s veins. They weren’t even making an effort. He wanted to call them out on it, but he wouldn’t give them the satisfaction. He would not ruin the party or make things more difficult for Gabi. He would choose his moment.

Christophe finally took pity on them and approached with Lizzy, a model from London who, while no stranger to celebrity, seemed very shy and lovely. Will sent Christophe a look of gratitude, which his cousin acknowledged with a slight nod. Lizzy was the perfect buffer, at least for now. She and Gabi chatted easily.

They went into dinner and Gabi and her ally were separated, being seated at different sides of the table. Will noticed that Gabi picked at her food but really didn’t eat much from each course. The conversation was never directed their way, and William’s anger multiplied. He was still a part of this family. He put his hand on Gabi’s thigh under the table, a small gesture of togetherness. She put her hand over his and squeezed, then looked at him and smiled weakly.

She was here and she was trying. And Will’s anger continued to bubble.

After several courses that Will couldn’t remember tasting, the cake was brought in, a beautiful white cream cake with fresh fruit. Corks popped as champagne was opened to accompany the cake, and it was sliced and served beautifully on the Pemberton china.

If his father were here, he wouldn’t have stood for this. Will knew it deep in his soul. Cedric Pemberton had been a fair man, always willing to listen, to give people a chance even when others were against them. Look at Maman. She came from humble beginnings and had married an earl, and if Will remembered correctly, his grandparents hadn’t been overly fond of the idea, either.

He was just about to say as much when Gabi touched his elbow. “Will you excuse me for a moment, Will? I need to go to the powder room.”

“Of course.” He smiled into her eyes. “Are you coming back?”

She lifted an eyebrow. “I’m not running away, if that’s what you’re asking.”

“That’s my girl,” he replied. “I’ll be here.”

She slipped out of the dining room while the rest of the family rose from the table and circulated with their champagne. The formal part of dinner was over. If they could get through the next thirty minutes or so of mingling, they were in the clear.

* * *

Gabi locked the powder room door and let out a breath as her chin dropped. It had been a good ninety minutes of constant tension and being under a microscope. Bella had been polite, and Christophe’s girlfriend was a godsend, but she hadn’t been able to completely ignore the standoffishness of Stephen, Charlotte and Aurora. It was like she didn’t exist.

Five minutes. She just needed five minutes of peace to regroup and then she could face the rest of the evening. She sat on the closed toilet lid and closed her eyes, then took several long, slow breaths.

When she felt she was ready again, she opened the door, only to find Stephen leaning against the wall on the opposite side of the hall.

“Oh,” she said, immediately wary and confused.