Total pages in book: 128
Estimated words: 126850 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 634(@200wpm)___ 507(@250wpm)___ 423(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 126850 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 634(@200wpm)___ 507(@250wpm)___ 423(@300wpm)
“Oh. I didn’t realise until just now.” I undid the buttons before I sat down and unwrapped my scarf. “No, I’m fine.”
Katie smiled at me. “Will tells me you’re studying for your PhD at Cambridge.”
Thank you, William.
“Yes, I am. I’m a little over halfway through,” I replied. “And regretting all my life choices to this point.”
She laughed quietly. “I can imagine. I commend you for seeking even further education. I barely made it out of university the first time around.”
Will eyed her with a barely-there frown. “Yeah, that’s what they call a distinction these days.”
“Be quiet,” she said, but there was a fondness in her eyes that I caught when she turned back to me. “I’m academically inclined, but that doesn’t mean I enjoy it.”
“That’s part of why I took history,” I admitted. “I thought it would be easy, but it turns out that it isn’t. Even more annoyingly, I’m a bit of a nerd for history, apparently.”
“What’s your field of study?”
“The broad answer is British royals and noble classes and slavery,” I replied.
That didn’t look bad at all while I was apparently dating a future duke.
Katie raised her eyebrows.
“The narrow answer is the how British upper classes affected the slave trade and their relevance to British society since the United Kingdom abolished it.”
They raised even higher. “Impressive. That’s quite a unique take on things.”
“Thank you. It’s been an enlightening study so far, that’s for sure.”
“I’d love to hear some about it,” Katie said, and she sounded more than genuine. “You must be enjoying being here, then. At Glenroch Castle. Were you aware before you came?”
“Of the castle? Of course. Of the fact this is where I would be staying? No. Someone didn’t mention that.”
Will cleared his throat and looked away, sipping his tea.
“Of course he didn’t. He never does, unless he absolutely must,” Katie replied, eyeing him. “Something about people behaving strangely when they find out you’re inheriting a castle.”
“Yes. I heard that one, too.” I fought a smile as I looked at him.
He was looking everywhere but at us.
Katie laughed, reaching for her own tea. “Have you met my father-in-law?”
“I have. He seems… interesting,” I said.
She cracked a smile. “That he is. You should ask him about the castle and the family. He’s a fellow history graduate and does so enjoy imparting his knowledge on others, whether they ask for it or not.”
“Mum,” William muttered.
“I’m sure it’ll be far more interesting to you than most others,” she continued after a moment, then looked at her son. “What? I’m helping.”
“No, you’re not. You’re sniping.”
“Don’t be ridiculous. If I wanted to snipe, I’d hire a military man to do it for me.”
She had an excellent point.
“You know what I mean,” William said.
“I do,” she replied. “So, how did the two of you meet?”
I looked at William.
“At an engagement party,” he replied. “A few months ago.”
“Whose engagement party?”
“Couldn’t tell you,” he continued. “A friend of mine from university was invited, and she’d just broken up with her boyfriend who was going to be there, too. I was dragged along as both moral support and an attempt at invoking some jealousy in the man.”
Nice.
Katie looked at me. “Did you know the happy couple?”
Laughing, I nodded. “I did, yes. It was a friend of mine from university. We both studied history and kept in contact after we graduated.”
“Did you succeed in either the moral support or the jealousy?” Katie asked William. “I’m assuming neither given you met your own girlfriend there.”
“I succeeded in both, thank you very much,” he replied. “She met someone else there, so I did an excellent job.”
“How could you have possibly made her ex jealous when you were following me around like a lost puppy all night?” I asked, tilting my head to the side.
He slowly turned his head so he could look at me.
I swear, he looked like he wanted to suffocate me with a pillow.
I raised my eyebrows. “Well?”
“Fine,” he said, looking at Katie again. “I was good at the moral support, not so much the jealousy.”
Katie’s eyes sparkled. “How could you have been good at the moral support if you were following Grace around all night?”
“Right, we’re done here.” Will put his cup down and stood up. “I’m not going to take this… attack… from you both. You’ve met, I’ve done my bit, and you’re getting along far too well for my liking, so I’m going to have to end this little shindig here.”
“I haven’t finished my tea,” I said, cradling the cup. “Don’t be so dramatic, William.”
“Yes, William. Don’t be so dramatic,” Katie said, picking up her own cup.
He sighed and sat down. “This is why I don’t introduce you to my girlfriends.”
“I usually already know them,” she replied, glancing at me.
“How would you know if I don’t introduce you?”
She paused. “I suppose I wouldn’t. How long have you been together, by the way?”