The Accidental Countess (The Aristocrat Diaries 3)

He nodded. “Yes. It’s beyond repair, and the property isn’t listed, so it’ll be fine. What do you say?”

“I think you should see if you can bring it down because of the other issues found, but if not, just do it anyway.”

“Are you going to help me?”

“I’m not sure I’d be any good at roofing, nor do I think I should be on a building site.”

His lips twitched. “No, I mean are you going to help me? Do all the fancy stuff I’m evidently shit at.”

I laughed, handing him back the surveyor’s report. “You’re not shit at it, Matthew. You’ve just always had someone else handle that side of it, but if you want me to…”

“I do.” He reached over and twirled my hair around his finger. “I want you to do this with me, Eva. If that’s what you want, of course. You’re perfectly within your rights to tell me to fuck the hell off.”

My lips twitched.

“But your input to The Heron was invaluable, and I really want you to be involved from the start here.”

I tilted my head to the side and looked at him. “Fine, but when we divorce, I’m taking half the business.”

“About that.” He slipped his hand around the back of my neck and pulled me in close, ghosting his lips over mine. “That isn’t happening.”

“What isn’t? The business? I’ll fight you for it,” I teased.

“The first part.” He kissed me again, slowly this time. “I’m not letting you leave.”

“Wait, a few minutes ago I could tell you to fuck off, but now I’m not allowed? That’s not fair.”

He grinned, pulling back just enough that his gaze met mine. “Not this time. Not for this.”

I pouted.

“Don’t pout. I’ve just decided I’m reneging on our deal, that’s all.”

“Terrible idea, really.”

“I disagree. I don’t feel like getting divorced. Not from you, anyway.” He kissed the corner of my mouth.

“It’s incredibly rude of you not to give me a say in the matter.”

“I can take being rude for a day or two.”

“I’d like to exercise the break clause.”

“You can’t. There’s a clause on that one that says we can’t do it while you’re pregnant.”

“Damn it. I knew I should have read the fine print.”

He smiled, leaned forwards, and brushed the tip of his nose against mine. “Do you feel up for dinner tonight?”

“Depends. What are you thinking?”

“Fish and chips.”

I wrinkled my nose. “That sounds really good.”

“All right. It’s a date.” He kissed my forehead and pushed up to standing. “I need to call Ivan. We’ll leave about five.”

“Okay.” I picked up my sketchpad. “I suppose I should get to work for your grandmother before she puts me in a box and forces me to sketch on her schedule.”

“Good idea.”

• • •

“Fish and chips was not as good as it sounded,” I grumbled.

“How would you know? You threw up before you could eat anything.”

I folded my arms across my chest, huffing. “It smelt vile in there! Couldn’t you smell it? All the grease and the salt? Even the vinegar smelt horrible.”

“It smelt like a fish and chip shop, sweetheart. That’s how they smell. Jack, leave it,” Matthew added as an afterthought.

“No, it smelt like a fish and chip shop that had gone stale. I wouldn’t eat there if you’d paid me.”

“What are you? A sniffer dog?”

“I might be.”

“I’m calling North Wales Police to see if they have an opening.”

I smacked his arm. “Don’t be a dick. Along with the ability to vomit like it’s a party popper and a super-powered nose, I’m pretty sure I can also cry on demand now.”

“As fascinated as I am to see that, I would prefer not to be the reason why you do such a thing.” He moved a tree branch out of the way for me.

I smiled, walking past him. Lucy and Baxter darted ahead, and Jack swiftly followed with his little legs working hard so he could keep up with them. “Smart move.”

“Thank you. I thought so.” He drew level with me and clasped my hand. “Have you told your parents yet?”

“About my newfound ability to vomit on a second’s notice? No, I can’t say that’s something I thought they should know about.”

His shoulders shook as he laughed. “You know what I mean.”

“No. I think Mum said she’s calling me tomorrow, so I’ll tell her then.”

“Do you think she’ll be excited?”

“Matthew, after Addy told her she was marrying Alex, she immediately drove to Bentley Manor and became best friends with Olympia. Three days later, Olympia was the proud owner of an entire new library, a new game for her Nintendo Switch, three pairs of boots, and six stuffed animals.”

“So she’s looking forwards to having grandchildren, then.”

“What gave it away?”

He chuckled, patting his thigh. Lucy stopped whatever she was snuffling through and darted off ahead to the rocky shore of the Menai Straight.