I hear a laugh behind us, and when I turn around, I see Isla, the young girl I met the first time I was in Scotland.
“You’ve finally found someone willing to stand up to you, Elizabeth,” she says. “Do the world a favor and stop embarrassing yourself, cousin.”
The woman storms off, clearly hating both of us, but my mind is already elsewhere, replaying what she said.
His father killed his stepmother—Gilroy's mother—and then killed himself.
Is that why they hate each other so much? Does one blame the other for being left alone in the world?
No . . .I feel like there’s more to that story.
“Thank you. You cleansed my soul. I’ve been bullied by that witch for years.”
Isla’s voice pulls me back.
“Having someone like that in the family is terrible,” I say honestly, and she bursts out laughing.
“I think I love you, Jazmina. You say exactly what you think, no sugarcoating. Anyone else would’ve told me I shouldn’t talk that way about my cousin.”
“I can’t deny she looks a little unhinged with that serial-killer stare.”
Her laughter grows, and after a few seconds, I join in, already half-forgetting the horrible things that woman said.
“Congratulations on the engagement. You and the duke make a beautiful couple.”
“Thank you, but I think we’d better go back in. It wouldn’t look good for me to be absent from a dinner being held in my honor.”
Even though I suspect Rodrick’s relatives aren’t actually thrilled about our future union, just curious. I didn’t take a liking to any of his aunts.
“You disappeared,” he says when we’re on our way back to the castle. Rodrick isn’t driving, and as the chauffeur guides us along the dark road, we finally have time to talk.
I stayed quiet for the rest of the night, smiling on autopilot when his aunt—with the fakest smile imaginable—made a toast to our future marriage.
“Can I be honest?”
“Always.”
“All night, I felt like I was part of a play. I know we’ll have to make these appearances, and I’ll be by your side every time, but they’ll never stop judging me.”
“Did someone offend you?” he asks, tense.
“No. One of your finalists tried, but I’m not that easily shaken.”
“Who? What did she do?”
“Elizabeth. She said this necklace should be hers, but that’s not what upset me.”
“Then what did?”
“Let it go. I don’t want to talk about it.” I hate gossip, and I won’t force him to reveal his secrets because of that woman’s malice.
“Tell me,” he insists.
I sigh. “She said your family is cursed,” I simplify.
“She’s probably right. Maybe we really are cursed.”
As soon as the plane lands on the private runway of my fiancé’s estate, I get out of the car. I can barely stand still, and I suspect Rodrick is hiding a smile.