Revenge_An Elite High School Bully Romance by Sofia Daniel

Author:Sofia Daniel [Daniel, Sofia]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2019-07-18T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter 12

The crisp air gave me a shock as I stepped through the balcony doors, and the view of the river caused a breath to catch in the back of my throat. On one side of the Thames, the London Eye glowed cornflower blue. Opposite and a little downstream, stood Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament, illuminated with yellow light. Maybe the few scraps of alcohol I’d imbibed had gotten to my head, but the entire city looked magical.

Perhaps some of the magic might rub off on Edward, and he would give me the information I needed to satisfy Jackie’s fascination with International House.

Edward uncorked the champagne bottle with a soft pop and threw the cork into the night.

“What’s wrong?” I asked.

“I don’t want to burden you with my problems.” He leaned against the edge of the balcony and stared down at a spot on the tiled floor.

I stepped forward but kept a distance of about three feet so as not to crowd him. Trying to keep the eagerness out of my voice, I said, “Maybe there’s something I can do to help.”

“It’s doubtful.” He took several long drags of the sparkling beverage and handed me the bottle.

“Get it off your chest.” I let a thimbleful bubble onto my tongue. “It’s clearly bothering you.”

The faint sound of a foghorn caught my attention, and I glanced down into the Thames. A cruise boat, lit up by hundreds of multi-colored lightbulbs, made its slow journey through the river. It was probably filled with party-goers.

After a moment, Edward sighed. “My father has a condition which is worsening, and we’re having trouble with round-the-clock care.”

I held my breath. Henry had mentioned the duke’s decline while we were in that dingy room, but so much had happened since then, I wasn’t sure if I correctly remembered the details. “Your butler?”

“Gregson is too old, and Father has young-onset dementia. He needs a carer young and strong enough to keep up with him.”

“Oh.” I tried to picture Dad in that situation, but the image was too painful. With his mother deceased, the pressure on Edward had to be tremendous. I took a swig of champagne and handed it back. “I’m so sorry.”

“So am I.” He backed away, leaned against one of the balcony rails and drank a few gulps. Compared to the others, he was relatively sober. I wondered if he’d drunk enough of that absinthe.

“Is he in an institution?”

Edward raised his head, giving me the strangest look as though I’d said something ridiculous. I went over what I had asked. Since Edward was sixteen or seventeen and in full-time education with only an elderly butler at home, it made sense that the Duke of Mercia might go to a facility that could give him the treatment he needed.

After several moments, he said, “We’re taking care of him at home.”

“You and Gregson?”

“And a male nurse Henry was kind enough to hire.” He gulped down several mouthfuls.

I gasped, just as a cold breeze blew across the balcony, sending a chill running down my back.

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