The Accidental Countess (The Aristocrat Diaries 3)

“A stupid article Cecilia Forsyth sent me. Something from The Society Central, harking on about the shiny new Countess of Anglesey, and how no doubt everyone will flock to the estate to catch a glimpse of me.”

“Sounds like a scintillating read.”

“Oh, yes. I’m sure it is once you’ve waded through the knee-high bullshit. Sadly, I’m not wearing my wellies.”

His eyes flashed with laughter. “So we’re the hot topic, are we?”

“Matthew, we’ve been the hot topic for the past two months. Ever since we announced the engagement, we’ve been bombarded with nothing but fawning articles and exes we’ve never heard of crawling out of the cracks.” I put my phone down and tucked my feet beneath my bum. “I suspect we’ll remain as such until someone else does something worth talking about.”

“It won’t be long, then.”

I paused. “Why do you say that?”

He shrugged a shoulder. “It never is, is it? There’s always a drama or a scandal in our circle.”

“Matthew, what do you know?”

“I don’t know anything.”

Oh, yes. That’s why he was refusing to look at me.

“You’re lying!”

He pressed his lips together. “I can’t tell you.”

I flattened my hand against my chest. “Well, isn’t this a fine start to a marriage? Keeping secrets from your wife already. It’s fine. I see how it is.”

He rubbed his hand over his lips. “Eva, come on. I don’t even know if it’s going to happen, and that’s why I can’t tell you.”

“Fine. The next time Jack poops in your shoe, I won’t tell you, either.”

“Jack shit in my shoe?”

“Yes. As if he hadn’t just been out to do his business, too.”

Matthew sighed. “That dog is a little sod.”

“Hey. Don’t talk about him like that.”

“He shit in my shoe!”

“So? I have four friends here, and only one of them is a human. Leave the furry friends alone.”

He sighed, smiling sympathetically, then got up and walked over to my sofa. He set his wine glass down on the side table and sat next to me, resting his hand on my ankle. “I think I continue to underestimate how hard this move has been for you.”

“Oh, please. I’m absolutely fine.” I swatted his forearm. “I’m just trying to get my bearings, that’s all. Besides, Christopher is good company. Did he tell you about the riveting time we had this afternoon?”

Matthew’s lips twitched up, making his handsome face even more devastatingly so. “He did not.”

“We organised his spices. I wrote all the labels for him.”

“He let you help? He must like you.”

“I am terribly charming. It wouldn’t be surprising.”

He laughed, leaning forwards. “Are you sure you’re all right?”

“Matthew, I’m perfectly all right. In fact, I’m quite enjoying having some peace and quiet, although I would like all my things now.”

“Aren’t they supposed to be delivered tomorrow?”

“I hope so. I didn’t bring my good camera or my paints with me. All I have is my pencils.”

“You want to paint?”

“Well, I don’t have much else to do. If I were to go anywhere, I’d only end up getting lost in a place where there’s no phone signal, and that’s before I’ve even left the house,” I mused, making him laugh. “And I suspect I’ll just start getting in everyone’s way after a while.”

Matthew squeezed my ankle. “I have an idea. Why don’t you come with me tomorrow?”

“Come with you?” I shifted to look at him properly. “To the hotel?”

“Yes.”

“It’s the grand opening.”

“Even more reason for you to be there.”

I wrinkled my nose. “Really? You think I should be there?”

“Absolutely. The local paper will be there covering the opening, and it’ll be a good way to introduce you to the island.”

“Will I have to speak to anyone?”

“The paper will probably want a few words, but all you’ll really have to say is that you’re settling in slowly, you’re excited about the new hotel, and can’t wait to see more of the island.” He shrugged. “They’ll be happy with that.”

I made an awkward little noise. “I’m not… good with interviews,” I said after a moment. “I get nervous.”

“You? Get nervous?”

“What? I can’t be this strong, confident superhero all the time, you know. Even Batgirl needs a breather once in a while.”

He laughed, squeezing my ankle again.

I wished he wouldn’t do that.

It felt too nice.

“You don’t have to come at all, but I thought it might be good. I think people might be expecting you to be there, but I can always brush it off as you still settling in. Hey.” He reached forwards and pushed my hair from my face. “Eva, if you don’t want to go, you don’t have to. You don’t have to do anything that makes you uncomfortable.”

“No, I want to.” I did. I wanted to see his new hotel—I’d heard a lot about it over the past few weeks in the run up to the wedding, and the opening was the reason why we’d decided against an immediate honeymoon. “You’re right. I probably should come, and I do want to see what you’ve abandoned me for.”