The Heir and the Spare Read Free Page B

“And
that’s
why I want you all to come.”
    No one spoke.
    “Look, it’s not my ideal evening, either, but you know what her friends are like. I need an idiocy buffer. Please say yes.” Edmund looked around the room, stopping on me with a crooked grin.
    I returned his smile.
He’s so going to be a problem.
    “Fine,” Preston groaned. “But you’re paying.”
    “Deal.” Edmund clapped his hands and pointed at Preston.
    As the gang groaned about having to go, I watched Edmund. Maybe I should ask him to come into London with me when I do Mom’s next task, Big Ben and Parliament. I closed my eyes and shook my head. I probably
shouldn’t
ask him. This Jax chick certainly wouldn’t appreciate it.
    We’d be going just as friends,
I rationalized.
It’s not like he’s interested in me.
Plus it sounds like he practically has a girlfriend. I kicked off my shoes and tucked my feet underneath me.
I’m totally asking him.

Chapter Three
New Discoveries
    I tapped a nervous beat on the table as I ate my breakfast. Today was the start of term. When I stepped into my first class, I’d officially be an Oxford girl. My bag sat beside me, filled with new pens and notebooks. Mom’s letters were tucked inside the front flap. I wanted her close today.
    The early morning light streamed through the windows into the nearly empty dining hall. The quiet was nice. I jumped as my phone buzzed on the wooden tabletop.
    Dad.
    “Shouldn’t you be in bed?” I answered. It was well after one in the morning, Seattle time.
    “Well, I wasn’t about to let you start school without wishing you luck.” He laughed. “Now that I have, I’m going to crawl into bed. I love you, Peaches.”
    We chatted only for a minute more, but it was enough to give me a shot of courage to get through the day.
    I nibbled on my chocolate croissant, trying not to drip any on my hunter green summer dress. Students slowly filtered in, fueling up for the day. Pulling my book from my bag, I opened it to the first chapter. Losing myself in a book always helped calm my nerves.
    “
Anne of Green Gables
? My grandmother liked that book. She read it to us as children.”
    I jumped. It was Edmund. His deep voice alone was enough to get the butterflies stirred up in my stomach. “Did she really?”
    He sat on my left and leaned close, reading over my shoulder. “Yeah, Gram always read to my brother and me. She loved Anne Shirley. Well, she just loved to read, really.”
    I took a sip of my tea and laid the book down, turning to face him.
Does he ever not look good?
    “Sounds like she was a wonderful woman.”
    “She was.” The corners of his lips curled into a wistful smile.
    This boy, and his crooked grin, had spent far too much time in the forefront of my thoughts. I was glad he was here. It gave me a chance to see if he really was as awesome as my brain kept telling me he was. So far, he was.
    “Morning.” A chipper Suzy sat across from me.
    “Morning, Suze,” Edmund said as I waved.
    She tossed her hair over her shoulder. “So, Evie, you ready for this?”
    I nodded. “I suppose so. Can’t be all that different from back home.”
    “You’ll do great,” Edmund said, his voice low and soft. “What’s your first class?”
    With him so near, I suddenly couldn’t remember. I pulled my schedule from my pocket and smoothed it on the tabletop. “Um, European Art with Professor Sawyer.”
    Suzy looked at Edmund. “You like Professor Sawyer, don’t you?”
    “I do; he’s quite entertaining. That’s why I’m taking the class as well.” He raised his cup of tea to his mouth.
    I get to spend the morning with him?
My pulse quickened. This day was off to a fantabulous start.
    “Morning, everyone.” Caroline sat beside Suzy, eating an apple. “So, Edmund, where are the bodyguards?”
    I glanced at her. Bodyguards?
What is she talking about?
    “Oh, they’re around here somewhere.” Edmund did a brief survey of the room.
    Were they talking about