Total pages in book: 114
Estimated words: 107639 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 538(@200wpm)___ 431(@250wpm)___ 359(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 107639 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 538(@200wpm)___ 431(@250wpm)___ 359(@300wpm)
“The chemistry is neither here nor there,” I lied. I stuffed my hands in my pockets. “I do care about him. But Cora, the man lied to me—lied to all of us—about something huge. I know last night you said it wasn’t about him not trusting me, but that’s how it feels. Like I wasn’t important enough for him to let me in on his secret. And maybe that’s partly my fault,” I admitted. “I’m still hurt about it, though. And I’m angry. And he won’t talk to me.”
He just kisses me randomly in hallways and looks like his heart is breaking.
“Kenji—” Cora began.
I held up a hand. “Honestly, even if I could just shrug and roll with it, the two of us wouldn’t work. In case you’ve forgotten, I live in the States. My job is there. My friends. My apartment. My grandmother. My history. And he’s going to be an earl and an MP. He’s running for fucking Parliament, for fuck’s sake.” Air rushed out of my lungs as I deflated. “Sorry for the foul language.”
I didn’t add how upset I’d been to learn of Landry’s decision about Parliament on the fucking internet this morning, along with the rest of the world.
Cora’s lips pinched together and moved from side to side while she processed my response. “He doesn’t actually want to be an MP, Kenji. He’s been avoiding it for years.”
“Yeah? Then why’s he letting them put him up for it?” I leaned back against the door, arms folded over my chest. “Is he doing it for his dad? Is the pressure that strong? I mean… if he’s getting it from the prime minister and his own father…”
Cora’s forehead crinkled in frustration. “Not directly. Uncle Ed encouraged Landry to go to Yale and helped him with the necessary documents to do it under a different name. He wants to see Landry happy.”
“Could he say no if he wanted to?”
“To being an MP?” She met my eyes and nodded firmly. “Definitely. There’s no legal requirement that he serve. But… growing up a Davencourt means growing up under the weight of history. You’re not just part of a family; you’re part of a proud legacy. Landry feels the pressure of that, even if it wasn’t Ed’s intention to force him into anything.”
Turkey twined herself around my ankles and made a little mrrp sound for attention.
Cora leaned down and gave her a quick pet before straightening back up. “As Uncle Ed’s memory began to decline, Landry took on more responsibility for the earldom behind the scenes, and he was brilliant at it. I think the family, including Landry, assumed it was only a matter of time before he moved back to England and took on the public-facing role as head of the family, including serving in the Lords.” She caught one of Landry’s shirtsleeves in her fingers and twisted it lightly. “Except he kept putting it off year after year, even when it became clear Ed needed to retire. And I realized that, for Landry, it’s never been about deciding to serve in Parliament but about deciding whether he’ll be the first Davencourt in four hundred years not to.”
For the first time since learning Landry was a viscount, I could sense the invisible but undeniable burden of duty that came with his family’s long history. It wasn’t just a title. Not just a collection of estates. It was a part of who he was. Who he’d been raised to be.
And yet selfishly, I cared more about his happiness than any of those things.
“Landry’s spent the past almost fifteen years outside of England, and he hates giving speeches,” I muttered. “I’m sure he could be a good politician because there’s not much the man can’t do, but he’d be miserable.”
“I know!” Cora threw up her hands, frustrated now. “And I thought for sure he was finally going to bring himself to say no. Then the two of you… did whatever you did in your bedroom that sounded like a bit of fun… and he came storming downstairs, declaring his desire to be the next Davencourt MP!”
I winced at the memory of Landry’s pain yesterday. I’d been dismissive and prickly. But surely our personal situation hadn’t been enough to cause him to do something as serious as running for the House of Lords… had it?
Fuck. Everything in me wanted to fix this for Landry, but I didn’t even know what fixing it would look like. I didn’t actually know what he wanted.
“I can try talking to him again,” I offered, not believing for a moment that it would work. The man seemed hell-bent on ignoring me with the exception of his performance in the hall earlier.
“Yeah?” Cora’s smile was wide, all straight teeth and sparkling eyes. “Excellent. But first, you and I are going shopping.”