Dirty Aristocrat

‘What the fuck do you think you’re doing?’ A voice like whiplash rang around the room.

Dorian released me unhurriedly and turned to look at his stepbrother insolently.

‘Do you mind? I’m saying hello to my dear stepmother.’

My shocked gaze flew towards Ivan and found his blazing eyes fixed on me. The gray was like molten silver. Oh my god. What a terrible mess! My hand went up to my throbbing mouth. My

knees felt like jelly, but most of all I felt soiled by the accusing look in Ivan’s eyes. He thought I was a willing participant.

Feeling sick to my stomach, I stepped away from Dorian, but like a fool I stumbled slightly and from the corner of my eyes I could see Ivan make an involuntary movement as if to help me,

but I placed my palms on the desk and stopped myself from falling.

‘I should get back to the party,’ I said shakily to no one and, without looking directly at either man, I walked past both. When I was outside the room I leaned against the wall and

heard Ivan say in a hard voice, ‘As a matter of fact I do mind.’

‘Oh, don’t be greedy, brother. I’m perfectly willing to share. You can have your turn next.’

‘You’re drunk.’ Ivan’s voice was hard and cold.

‘And you’re a hypocrite. Don’t tell me you’re not lusting after her because I’ve seen the way you watch her.’

‘Go home, Dorian.’ Ivan’s voice sounded exasperated.

‘Always the spoilsport,’ Dorian said with a laugh.

CHAPTER 7

Tawny Maxwell

God! How I wished I had slapped him hard enough to make his arrogant, drunken head reel. It was a tangled web I was caught in, but I remembered my grandma’s words, In life you have to

walk like you’re on a runway.

Dorian’s ugly words were still ringing in my ears, but with my head held high, I forced myself to put one foot in front of the other and started walking back towards the sound of

laughter and music. Oh, Robert. Why on earth did you think I could do this?

I ordered a glass of brandy from a waiter and drank it really quickly. The fiery liquid spread a warm glow into my numb limbs. I felt myself relaxing. I had not eaten anything for hours

and the alcohol was making me feel almost floaty. The tension seeped away. I looked around at the room full of strangers. Soon this would be over. All these people would be gone and I

would be alone. I could make my plans then.

At the other end of the room I saw that Ivan had returned to the gathering. He was coming towards me when the woman he had come with waylaid him. Thank god. A waiter approached me with a

tray of food and I picked something up and popped it into my mouth. It tasted of nothing. A thin, long-faced woman in a dark gray suit came up to me. Her lips were thin and painted

blood-red and her eyes were watery and pale. I had no idea who she was. I smiled.

‘I’m so sorry for your loss, my dear,’ she said without introducing herself.

‘Thank you,’ I said, feeling buzzed and hoping it didn’t show.

‘He was such a good man.’

‘Such a good man?’ I echoed.

To my horror a mad giggle escaped my lips. I covered my mouth. The woman’s eyes grew huge with speculation. There was no way to explain that if she thought that he was such a good man

she couldn’t possibly have known him. He was a ruthless man. He told me so himself. A man has to decide whether he wants good friends or he wants to be rich. He cannot have both. I chose

to be rich.

‘Can I have a word?’ a steely voice on my right asked.

I turned gratefully towards Ivan. His eyes were no longer molten silver but ice cold.

‘Of course,’ I said coolly.

The nameless woman excused herself and left.

‘Don’t make my job more difficult than it needs to be,’ he grated.

Anger flashed through me. Fuck him. How dare he judge me? Still, I did not let him see my irritation. I twirled the stem of the crystal flute between my fingers and looked up at him with

cold disdain. ‘Do you really think I would encourage my stepson to assault me at my dead husband’s wake?’

Something shifted in his eyes. He ran his hand through his hair. ‘God,’ he said. For a moment he looked as if he felt that by taking me on he had bitten off more than he could chew.

‘Why did you have the reading of the will in that way? You must have known Rosalind would react badly. Did it please you to see her attack me?’

His jaw tightened. ‘Don’t be stupid. I needed to see all their reactions.’

‘And now that you know, what help is it to you?’