Heirly Ever After - Vernon, Magan (pdf ebook reader .txt) 📗

“I…I don’t even know what to say. Holy heck, maybe we should buy a lottery ticket. Way too much of a coincidence.” She sat down on one of the high-back chairs, leaning into her propped elbow.

“It’s too much, isn’t it? Do you need a minute?” I asked.

“A minute isn’t going to help me not be more pissed. I honestly feel blindsided.”

I winced at her words before taking the seat across from hers.

A chill crept down my arms. I’d come so close to my goal and yet was still so far. I was literally inside Webley Manor, sitting underneath the family crest. But I needed time to find proof, and the easiest way was to stay as Madison’s guest.

Once I got it, I would tell everyone who I was.

Madison’s voice rose over the stillness. “I can’t say I’m not pissed. You’re just telling me all of this now, but…” Her eyes softened, but a smile didn’t reach her lips. “We’re also in too deep for you to just leave.”

I inwardly sighed a breath of relief, trying not to smile.

“But I do think now we need some new rules set up. First one would be no more secrets.”

I nodded. “Right. No more secrets.”

I swallowed hard.

Okay, so one more secret.

But telling her what I was really here for wouldn’t make things any better.

Now I just had to try and ignore the guilt riddling in my stomach. This wasn’t just about her or me for that matter. It was about family and legacy. When I had the proof the MacWebleys were owed something, this would all be over.

“And since this is a big room and you didn’t mind the couch last time,” she continued, “you’ll sleep there again, and I’ll take the bedroom.”

I nodded again, thankful she wasn’t kicking me out on my arse. The plan could still work, and maybe by the end of the day, I’d be able to come clean to the family.

“All right. That’s fair. Anything else?”

She crossed her arms over her chest, trying to appear pissed, but the movement also pushed up her dress, giving me a bloody fantastic view.

Dammit, stop staring at her tits and focus.

“I don’t know yet. But we probably need to figure out what happens now. Are you going to tell Gavin who you really are?”

I opened my mouth then closed it, swallowing hard. “Eventually, yes.”

“Well, I guess I can’t stop you since this is your family, but can you at least wait for us to get through all of this wedding stuff? I can’t ruin this day for my sister.”

My chest tightened. I wanted to get this all over with. But I guessed a few more days couldn’t hurt.

“Sure. I can do that.”

“Good. Then I guess we need to get our stories straight before tea.”

“Tea?”

She tilted her head. “Natalie said we were going to have tea in an hour with Gavin’s grandmother.”

“Did she happen to say if it was his mother or his father’s mother?” I asked tentatively.

“Does it matter?” She shrugged when I didn’t answer then said, “I don’t know. So I guess we just prepare for both scenarios.”

I nodded, that stiffening feeling back in my neck. “Ah.”

…

Madison retreated into the bedroom for what felt like an eternity, and I could do nothing else but pace the room. My plan before coming to Webley had been solid, but current circumstances had me reconsidering that stance. Thinking I could just walk in and find proof and that it would somehow fix things had been naïve of me.

And now…now things were much more complicated.

I had to keep my cool, be the doting wedding date to Madison, and look pretty for pictures. And definitely not sleep with her. Or think about it.

Madison finally emerged from the room with a fresh coat of lip gloss on just as a maid knocked at the door.

“Afternoon. I’m here to escort you to the dining room,” she said in a proper posh accent.

I turned to Madison, offering her my elbow.

She raised an eyebrow and mouthed, “Seriously?”

I didn’t reply but stood there, not able to hide my smile.

Finally, she rolled her eyes then looped her arm through mine.

We followed the woman down the long corridor until we stopped at an open doorway. The room was flooded with light, and a large round table filled with different trays of tiny tea sandwiches sat in the center of the room, an array of people around it.

Out of the group, one person zeroed in on me.

An older woman with short silver hair pulled back from her face. She wore a high-neck floral dress that, even in the afternoon light, I could see was hand sewn. Her poised demeanor and those bright blue-green eyes felt familiar.

The maid introduced us. “Miss Madison and her date, Mr. Jacob,” she said with a small bow before backing out of the room.

Another maid pulled out two chairs next to Madison’s mom for us.

But before we could sit down, a powerful yet shaky voice carried over the table. “Excuse me, Mr. Jacob, is it?” The old woman ushered me closer, hooking a wrinkled hand out to me. “Come, let me have a better look at you.”

Each step was like wading through wet cement as I rounded the table and stood in front of the old woman. Then I crouched down so that our eyes met.

“You look so much like Lachlan. My husband’s uncle. He was such a handsome man, too. And Scottish,” she murmured, her hand going up toward my cheek but stopping not even an inch from it as if she thought better of it.

I swallowed hard to drown out the pounding in my ears.

I’d underestimated the Webley family’s memory of the MacWebleys.

And I promised Madison I wouldn’t say anything—hell, I’d promised myself—but when this lady stared at me like that, there was only one thing I could say.

“Ah, perhaps because I am his grandson,” I said. “I am Lachlan Jacob MacWebley. The Third.”

Chapter Five

Madison

Out of all of the ridiculous drama