Total pages in book: 118
Estimated words: 120838 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 604(@200wpm)___ 483(@250wpm)___ 403(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 120838 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 604(@200wpm)___ 483(@250wpm)___ 403(@300wpm)
“Rix is meeting me, Davi, so…” he prompted when she didn’t seem inclined to speak.
She let out a harassed breath and launched in.
“I’ve debated mentioning it at all, but since you all are leaving tomorrow, and leaving him here, well, there’s no way to ease into this. I should be telling Blake, or maybe Ned, but I dinnae want to disturb them. They seem to be doing okay, but—”
“Tell them what?” he interrupted to ask, since his sister had descended into awkward havering.
She made a face and said, “Our illustrious butler, Jeff, made a pass at both Dru and Cadence while they were here.”
Dair didn’t move.
“Doesn’t take a genius to work out he’s looking for his next meal ticket, no insult to them. They’re both gorgeous, and this time, age appropriate, but I reckon he’d have a go at all the single ladies, including Mum, if given a shot.”
“What do ye mean, made a pass?” Dair asked, and his sister focused more fully on him.
“I mean he said a few things to Dru, which weren’t hard for her to translate since she might not speak the King’s English, but she speaks English. She rebuffed him, repeatedly. It didnae take, and Sully got wind of it, so he had a word with him. It ended for Dru after that. Cadence is younger, and he cornered her in a hall—”
At these words, abruptly, Dair left the horse tethered and saddled as he stalked by his sister toward the doors to the stable.
“Dair!” she called, and he could hear her running after him.
He didn’t slow.
But he did speak.
“He try it on with you?”
“He’s been giving me looks, but I can take care of myself,” she told his back, still chasing him.
And she continued to do it until they hit the study inside the house.
The three Sharps and Christine, all bent over an open book on the desk, looked right to him when he did.
As her gaze caught him, Christine recoiled.
Ned straightened from the ledger they were poring over.
Alex’s chin went into her neck.
Blake’s brows pinched and she was the only one who spoke. “Are you okay?”
He addressed Christine. “Kindly find Jeff and bring him here.”
Understanding dawned, though he doubted it was specific, before Christine proved his doubts true and asked, “What’s the lad done now?”
“Can ye just bring him here?”
She nodded before she scuttled away, passing Rix as she did.
“Saw you headed in here,” Rix remarked. “I thought we were meeting at the stables.”
“Aye, we were,” Dair agreed. “Something must be done first.”
“What’s that something?” Blake gained his attention with her question.
He looked to her. “Sully had to intervene for Dru, seeing as Jeff was making a play for her.”
Alex’s body went visibly tight, as was her voice when she asked, “He was what?”
“Once Sully did that, he cornered Cadence in the hall.” Dair looked to his sister to finish sharing the dire news.
However, the room had already electrified.
“It was physical,” Davi shared cautiously, considering the atmosphere was zapping with intensity, and Dair felt his blood pressure spike at this addition. “She pushed him off. Gage heard about it. And then Gage had a word. No other events were reported after that.”
“Why didn’t anyone tell me?” Blake demanded.
“Because you’re mourning the sudden loss of your mum” Davi pointed out.
“I’m a woman and a former mean girl,” Blake bit off. “I can multitask, mourn Mum and tear someone a new asshole, both at the same time.”
Dair nearly smiled.
That was his girl.
“How about you let me handle this, darling?” Ned requested.
“Um…no fucking way, Dad,” Blake shot back just as Jeff strolled in like he owned the place, Christine bustling after him.
Christ, this bloke was a twat.
“You summoned?” Jeff drawled.
“Might wanna rein it in a notch, bud,” Rix warned, his voice rough with anger.
“I might?” Jeff asked like the suggestion was ludicrous. Then, as they all stood there, staring at him, he threw himself into a chair that was probably a priceless antique. He did this crosswise, his legs over an arm, completely at home. “Why might I want to do that?”
“I know you used the estate’s cars when Mum wasn’t here, and when she was, and therefore do not own your own vehicle,” Blake began, her voice not rough at all, but smooth as pulled silk. “So I suggest you phone a friend to come collect you before Dair and Rix escort you to your rooms so you can pack.”
Jeff raised a lazy brow. “Am I going somewhere?”
“As I’m firing you from a job you never really had”—she indicated the ledger with her hand—“even though Mum paid you like you were a butler so the estate would cover your…” she paused for drama before she emphasized, “fees…make no mistake, I am indeed firing you. In case you’re curious, I’m doing so for gross misconduct.”
Jeff smiled a slimy smile. “Your mother had no complaints about my conduct.”