Boys of King Academy

by Rose, Louise

  “Now before we get into the real meat of today’s lesson, I’d like to say thank you to everyone who performed at the fundraiser. Becky–your piano playing is very much appreciated by the singers who needed accompanying. The orchestra is on point–your interpretation of Saint-Saens rivalled any professional performance and of course Ivy and Declan you were as great as I knew you would be. Mr Pilkington will be announcing the final figures for the fundraiser later this week, but I know it’s been an exceptional year and there’ll be a lot of very happy donkeys thanks to all your efforts. Now please open your textbooks to chapter seventeen. Josie, if you could please read the opening paragraphs for us?”

  I never enjoyed music theory lessons much, but today I’m grateful for the excuse to bury my head in a textbook. I can look like I’m paying attention and working hard while I try to figure out what is really going on.

  There is no way Lucas Donatello is who he says he is. Just last week he couldn’t find fifty pounds to enter the race and is accusing us all of being spoilt rich kids, but now his family can afford to send him here?

  Another thought occurs to me; maybe his family isn’t rich. Maybe my father is covering his school fees. It would certainly make a lot more sense, but if that is the case, why? What possible reason could my father have for spending all that money on a nobody? He’d left my mother and me in poverty and I am his daughter. Why would he help out someone who isn’t even related?

  There is a lot which didn’t stack up here, but there is no way I’m going to get the truth out of Lucas. I am going to have to be sneaky if I want to find out what is really going on.

  Lucas did a good impression of a model student during Mr Metcalf’s class, and when the bell went off to announce break, he takes out his timetable and shows it to me.

  “Looks like I’ve got double politics next,” he says. “Any chance you could point me in the direction of the class?”

  “Are you kidding me?”

  “No. It’s here in black and white. Double. Politics. In room 3E. Where do I have to go?”

  “I’ll take you.” I sigh. “I’ve got double politics as well. We’re in the same class.”

  “Really? Well, my day just got a little brighter.” Lucas smiles and for the first time I see why girls might find him attractive. He has the bad boy look going on, but it’s more hidden than what Archer gives off naturally. Lucas hides who he is under freckles and a sexy smile, but I see the darkness in his eyes. The darkness he is trying so hard to make sure I don’t see.

  But there is something about him that creeps me out. I can’t quite put my finger on what it is. Maybe it is the fact that he arrived out of nowhere and now he is suddenly in two of my classes. Maybe it’s just that I can’t trust anyone who is close to my father. Either way, I’m not going to be sitting next to him in politics. Someone else can have that honour.

  “You okay, Ivy?” Declan says lightly as he puts his books in his bag, but I remember how he nudged me earlier. I don’t think he trusts Lucas either.

  “Yeah, fine.” I subtly shake my head to let him know I’m lying.

  “I’ll be in the music rooms at lunchtime if you want to rehearse,” he tells me. “I’ll see you there?”

  “Sounds good.”

  We can compare notes about Lucas. Knowledge is always power in this place.

  Lucas strides along confidently as we go to the politics department.

  “How did you get into the politics class?” I ask him. “Music I can understand, but we’ve covered a lot of material. You’ve got a lot of catching up to do.”

  “Not really,” Lucas says. “I was in the advanced class at home and mum got me a tutor as well. She thought it was important I be aware of the British political system because of our business interests over here.”

  “Really? What kind of business?”

  “Oh, a bit of this, a bit of that,” says Lucas breezily. “I’m sure you don’t know everything your father’s involved in. Same deal with me.”

  “I don’t want to know about everything my father’s involved in,” I retort.

  “Ah yes. Solomon warned me you weren’t exactly close right now.” Lucas chuckles.

  “What do you mean, right now?” That’s it. I am getting annoyed. “Did he tell you about how he chased my mum away and then left me in foster care after she died? What about the way he kidnapped my friends and almost killed one of them?”

  “From the way he told it, your families were at war at the time. Is that wrong?”

  “Well, not exactly.”

  “Ivy, I know your father didn’t bring you up and believe me, he’s absolutely heartbroken about that.”

  “Pah!” I spit.

  “But he wants to make up for it now. Whether you believe him or not, he’s only ever had your best interests at heart.”

  “My father only cares about himself.”

  “It’s very easy to think that and I’m sure if I were in your position, I’d want to think the worst about him too.”

  Ooh, I want to slap Lucas so bad. There is nothing I hate more than being patronised.

  “But when you take over your father’s business, you’ll understand why he’s done the things he has,” Lucas continues. “It’s one of the reasons why he wanted you to take politics as a subject. He thought that if you understood more about how the world works, you’d be able to appreciate all the things he’s done for you.”

  “You really are a good little lapdog, aren’t you?” I sneer. “Do you do tricks? Will you sit up and beg if I offer you a treat?”

  “Maybe. If it’s you asking.”

  I open my mouth to make a snappy comeback, but we’ve reached the politics class.

  “Come on you two.” Ms Dupree waves us in. “Don’t stand around in the corridor gossiping. Thank you, Ivy, for showing our new student where to go. Mr Donatello–would you like to introduce yourself to the class?”

  Lucas went to the front of the room to repeat the same little talk he’d given earlier while I find my seat.

  This is going to be a long class.

  * * *

  “Are you freaking kidding me?” I exclaim when Lucas walk into my business class. “Are you stalking me or something?”

  “Not at all,” says Lucas. “I took the classes your father recommended. He says they would be most beneficial to me. The fact that I got to spend more time with his lovely daughter is just a fortunate side effect.”

  “Uh-huh. I believe you. Thousands wouldn’t.”

  “No talking!” snapped Mr Robson. “We’ve got a lot to get through.”

  “Fine by me,” I mutter, taking out my business notes. I spend most of the day being tailed by Lucas. Any excuse not to talk to him is just what I need right now.

  There is no way this is a coincidence. He has to have been planted here by my father, but why? Is he spying on me? I wouldn’t put it past my father to pay for someone to go to my classes just to find out what I am up to. He wouldn’t have been able to infiltrate Romy’s household. All the servants have worked there for years. It would be impossible to get a stranger in there to find out what I am up to. The next best thing has to be getting someone in my class.

  The thought makes me sick, but it is just the sort of thing my father would do. It seems there were no depths that man wouldn’t sink to.

  Mr Robson lectures us on venture capitalists and I can feel my eyes glazing over. I suppose that this sort of stuff would be useful if I ever wanted to set up my own record label, which is something I’d considered doing at some point, but it is so much easier to pay someone else to worry about the money side of things. All I want to do is make music.

  I’ve never been more relieved to hear the bell for the end of class. It isn’t just that Mr Robson has taken dull to a whole new level, having Lucas in all my classes creeps me out. He hasn’t done or said anything exactly to make me dislike him, but knowing he is close to my father is more than enough to get red flags waving all over the place.

&n
bsp; I shove my books into my bag. I can not get out of the class quickly enough.

  “Ivy! Wait up!” Lucas hurries after me.

  “Can’t,” I snap over my shoulder. “I’ve got to go.”

  “But I was hoping I could borrow your class notes,” Lucas says. “The teachers here are teaching a different syllabus to what I’m used to. I thought maybe we could get some coffee and you could go over the things I don’t understand.”

  “I’m not the right person to ask,” I tell him. “I’m not exactly a star pupil in politics or business. Ask Travis or Becky. They’d be more than happy to help you–especially Becky. She was giving you puppy dog eyes all the way through politics. I’m sure she’d love the chance to spend more time with you.”

  “I’m sure she would, but I’d rather be with you, thanks.”

  “Sorry. You’re shit out of luck on that front. I’m busy.”

  “Come on, Ivy. Don’t be like that.” Lucas reaches out and grabs my shoulder, forcing me to stop and face him. “You were the new girl here not so long ago. You must remember what it’s like to come into the Academy and feel like everyone wants to stick a knife in your back because they don’t like the thought you might be a threat to their standing. Wouldn’t you have liked someone to help you out?”

  “Yeah, I would’ve.” It is annoying, but he has a point.

  “So, why won’t you do that for me?”

  “I have a fiancé,” I point out.

  “So? It’s coffee, not a date. Surely your fiancé isn’t so insecure he has an issue with you getting coffee with another man?”

  “He’s not.” I thought about Romy and how self-confident he is. He is almost too self-assured, knowing that his prowess in the bedroom is more than enough to keep any woman coming back for more. Romy would probably laugh at the thought that Lucas posed any kind of threat to him.

  “Then have coffee with me. Help me figure out everything I’ve missed. And maybe I can fill you in on a few things your dad’s been up to.”

  I don’t know how he knew that is the one thing which would intrigue me enough to meet him, but if Lucas could help me figure out what is going on in my father’s twisted mind, it is worth spending an hour or so with him in a coffee shop.

  “Fine,” I huffed. “I’ll have coffee with you. We’ve got an early finish tomorrow so we can go out then.

  “Great. I look forward to it.” Lucas smiles. But if he thinks he has anything to be happy about, he is deluded. My notes aren’t worth a dime. I am going to get way more out of this meeting than he will.

  Chapter Forty-Four

  “That new guy Lucas is an interesting chap, isn’t he?” says Romy as we drove home together.

  “That’s one way of putting it. He’s in all the same classes as me. I can’t get away from him. And somehow, he managed to talk me into having coffee with him tomorrow after school,” I say.

  “Good call.”

  I frowned. That is not the reaction I was expecting. “Really?”

  “Of course. The guy’s a total unknown quantity. Knowledge is power in this town, so if you can figure out where he’s coming from and how he fits in with your father’s plans, we’ll be able to work out how we can use him.”

  “Of course. Why didn’t I think of that?” I laugh bitterly. I am never going to get used to this town. Everyone is always out for themselves and what they could get. Nobody could just be friends without thinking about how that friendship impacted on their status.

  “It’s okay, Ivy. That’s what you have me for.” I think Romy intended to be reassuring as he pats my knee, but it comes off as patronising.

  “Anyway. Enough about me,” I say. “How was your day?”

  “Pretty typical for a Monday. I’ve got a major essay I need to finish tonight though, so do you mind if I get a few hours to myself to work on it?”

  “I’ve got a lot of homework myself, so that’s fine.”

  “We could work in the library together,” Romy suggests. “We might not be able to talk much, but we can at least be together.”

  “Thanks for the offer, but no.” I shake my head. “Part of my endless amount of homework is a piece to work on for music. I don’t want to disturb you,” I lie. I don’t have much homework at all, but all I want to do is have a long bath and listen to music by myself.

  “Fair enough. Maybe we can have dinner tomorrow night after your coffee then? I can get Cook to make us something special, get the dining room set up with candles and roses, open a bottle of wine while you tell me everything you learn from Lucas.”

  “Okay. That would be nice.” It would be nicer if it was just a simple dinner without getting all caught up in the politics of the Houses, but beggars can’t be choosers.

  ***

  I take extra care over my appearance the next morning. It isn’t that I want to impress Lucas, but if a hint of cleavage and pouty lips could persuade him to reveal a little more about what my father is up to, I am not afraid to use what feminine charms I have to figure out what the hell is going on.

  “You look good today.” Romy’s eyes travel up and down my body when I get out to the car. “Poor Lucas won’t know what’s hit him. Just remember you come home to me, okay?”

  “Like I could ever forget.” I lightly kiss him before getting into the car.

  “Do you know where you’re going tonight?” Romy asks as we head off to school.

  “I thought I’d take Lucas to that coffee shop around the corner from the Academy,” I reply. “We can walk there and there’ll be plenty of people around to make sure he behaves himself.”

  “I like the way you think,” Romy says. “Do you want me to come and lurk in the background to keep an eye on you?”

  “I think I can cope with having coffee with someone,” I tell him. “Anyway, we’re going during our free period this afternoon. I’ll be back at the Academy in time for us to go home together so I won’t be late for dinner, if that’s what you’re worried about.”

  “I’m only worried about you,” Romy tells me, kissing me on the forehead. “This guy is a mystery to all of us. For all we know, he could have a wicked plan to kidnap you and whisk you off somewhere I’ll never be able to find. It would kill me to lose you.”

  “Don’t be daft.”

  “I’m not. When you’re an heir to a House, you’re always a target for kidnappers. And it’s not like this would be the first time your father got caught up in something like this, remember?”

  My stomach clenches as I think of how my father imprisoned Romy, Archer, and Declan just a few months ago. “You don’t really think Lucas would do something like that, do you?”

  “Anything’s possible.” Romy shrugs. “We don’t know this man. Until we know what he’s up to, it’s always best to be on the safe side.”

  “Okay. I’ll make sure the GPS tracker on my phone is on,” I promise. “If it looks like we’re going anywhere other than the coffee shop near school, send in the cavalry.”

  For the first time, I feel grateful Romy’s dad has insisted we both install apps on our phones so he could track where we were. I’d rebelled and switched mine off at random times just to annoy him, but now it seemed like he had a good reason to keep tabs on us. I don’t think my father would do anything to hurt me, but then again, he seemed to view me as more of a pawn in his games than his own flesh and blood. And, of course, there is always the chance Lucas would have a scheme of his own, possibly even wanting to use me against my father.

  This is why I’d need time out by myself. Having to think three steps ahead all the time is exhausting.

  When we get to the Academy, Romy kisses me before heading off in the direction of the economics department while I wander off to the music practice rooms. As I walk down the corridor, I see Archer heading towards me. My heart beats faster. Archer is just my type, and if I am honest with myself, if I’d met him in a less fucked up situation, he’d have been the one I’d have gone for out of the three men who complicated my life.<
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  “Hey, Archer.” I smile at him, but he ignores me. I frown, wondering what I’d done to make him be so rude, but as he walks past, he subtly presses a piece of paper into my hands. He glances at me and subtly shakes his head, warning me not to open it just yet.

  I know when to take a hint, so I palm the paper, heading into the nearest bathroom to read the note. Locking myself in a cubicle, I open it up.

  Meet me behind the gym at lunch. I have information you need to hear. Make sure no one follows you, and don’t tell Romy.

  I read the note a couple of times. What could he possibly have to tell me?

  There is only one way to find out.

  I tear the note up into little pieces and flush it down the toilet so no one would be able to read it. It is going to kill me having to wait for lunch to find out what is going on. I’ve never been good at being patient, and I am desperate to know what is so important it merited this kind of secret squirrel behaviour.

  * * *

  “Everything okay?” Lucas asks as the bell rings for lunch. “You’ve been jumpy all morning and you’ve paid more attention to the clock than the teacher.”

  “Isn’t it a little creepy that you know that?” I point out. “I mean, shouldn’t you have been focused on the teacher instead of watching me?”

  “I can’t help myself.” Lucas shrugs affably. “You’re much easier on the eye than Ms Dupree. So what’s the matter? Didn’t you have breakfast or something? Let’s go to the cafeteria. I’ll buy you lunch.”

  “You’re buying me coffee later, remember?” I remind him. “You go on ahead. I’ve got to find Mr Metcalf. I need to check the details of the latest composition assignment.”

  “Okay. But we are definitely going for coffee, aren’t we?”

  “I said we were, didn’t I? You go have lunch and I’ll see you in business later. We’ll go straight to the coffee house afterwards.”