The Reigning and the Rule

by Calia Read

  The reality is I do know. I’ve known since the moment I set eyes on Serene in the ballroom the winter of 1912. It’s merely a matter of when, how, and where. And the biggest question is will Serene ever be able to forgive me and move on?

  “You do know,” my brother observes quietly. “However, I’m not going to push. Now if you’ll excuse me, I need to have a drink before dinner begins,” Livingston says and heads toward the sitting room.

  I take a deep breath. Tonight is not going to end well. I’m positive there will be yelling on Jack’s part. Not that I blame him. However, I’m positive Scarlett will find some other man who will want to marry her quicker than I can blink. She’s a Gould, and Goulds have money. In our world, that means more than anything.

  “Let’s get this over with,” I mutter to myself.

  As I walk toward the sitting room, I hear Jack’s hearty laughter. Not a shocker, considering Livingston’s in there. Standing stock-still by the front door, Ben dips his head in acknowledgment. I mimic his actions before I step into the room. Nat and Scarlett are talking quietly on the couch, and Jack’s standing in front of the sideboard buffet with a drink in his hand. Scarlett is the first one to see me. Her blue eyes widen with happiness. Nat lifts her head and looks at me. She arrived in Charleston days ago. It’s hard to reconcile her home now being in Savannah at the Brignac House, and her last name as Claiborne. In two weeks’ time, she’ll be leaving for Europe for her honeymoon. Nat claimed she would wait for Oliver in Charleston while he finished work at his family’s bank. I didn’t put up a fight; I enjoy having her at Belgrave. I can’t help but wonder if she’s lonely at Brignac House and having trouble adjusting to her surroundings. She hasn’t conceded to anything, though, and continues to smile as though nothing is wrong.

  “Étienne, so glad you could join us,” my sister says.

  I pull out my pocket watch as I walk toward the sideboard. Tonight requires a drink. “I do believe I’m right on time.”

  Livingston’s already there, speaking with Jack and pouring me a whiskey. As I approach, he hands me the glass. I gladly hold the drink and take a long sip. Jack claps me on the shoulder. “Étienne, my boy, it’s a pleasure to see you! I’ve been wondering when you’d have us over at Belgrave.”

  I look down at the amber liquid before I give him a smile. “Better late than never, right?”

  “Of course, of course. I was just telling Livingston here how Nicholas sends his regards since he couldn’t be here. He left for New York last night.”

  “How unfortunate. He will be missed,” I reply, keeping my voice neutral.

  In reality, I want to snort. It doesn’t surprise me that Nicholas left Charleston. He came pounding on Belgrave’s front door days after Serene left, demanding to know where she was. I didn’t have it in me to concoct an elaborate story, so I said I didn’t know. She was a grown woman who could come and go as she pleased. I could tell my response didn’t sit well with him, but he stopped coming around after that. It makes sense he would go back to New York.

  “Their mother misses Scarlett and wishes she would come home. But I reminded Eliza it’s crucial for Scarlett to stay in Charleston.” He gives me a sly wink. “Soon, my darling sweet girl will be the lady of the manor.”

  He turns toward his daughter and gives her a loving smile. I follow the direction of his gaze. Scarlett smiles at me, but I don’t smile back.

  Nat gazes at us. Her mouth slowly parts as she figures out the meaning of this dinner. Clearing her throat, she stands and smooths the front of her dress. “I do believe dinner is ready. Shall we go to the dining room?”

  “Of course.”

  “Étienne, will you escort me, please?”

  “Absolutely.”

  Livingston stands on Scarlett’s right, her father on her left. Nat waits until everyone’s out of the room before she whirls around on me. “What are you doin’?” she whispers.

  I give her a meaningful look. “I think you know what I’m doin’.”

  Her eyes widen. “You’re endin’ the engagement tonight? At dinner?”

  “Not at dinner! I’ll wait till after dinner.”

  “How kind of you,” Nat says dryly.

  “What do you want me to do? Write her a letter and shun her?”

  “It might be less awkward.”

  “I’m doin’ this the right way.”

  Nat closes her eyes and rubs her temples. “Well, when you do, please give me a sign. Cough twice. Kick me beneath the table. Anything. Because I don’t want to be there when it happens.”

  I frown at her. “Of course not. I have enough respect for everyone to do it in the privacy of my office.”

  “Again, how kind of you.”

  “Are we done with this conversation? I’m sure they’re all beginnin’ to wonder where we’re at.”

  “Yes.” Nat sighs. She loops her arm through mine, and we walk out of the room.

  Dinner is a special kind of torture for me. I’m not one to put on airs. If there’s something that needs to be said, I say it. People might consider me callous and cruel and harsh with my words and opinions, and to an extent, they’re not far off. In life, you have to be tough and form an outward barrier, or you’ll be crushed by the weight of the world. But I don’t want to purposely hurt Scarlett.

  Throughout dinner, I’ve been thinking about how I’m going to properly ease into the conversation with Jack about calling off the engagement. I want to handle the situation with as much tact and respect as I can, but I’m smart enough to know feelings are going to be damaged, and people might lash out. Especially Jack.

  All through dinner, he carries on a conversation with Livingston. Occasionally, he’ll look my way to discuss business matters, but Livingston continues to draw him in, and more importantly, the servants make sure his wine glass never drifts below the halfway point. I’ve seen Jack sloshed before. He’s friendly when he’s had too much to drink, and I’m hoping that works in my favor tonight.

  Nat consistently shoots me meaningful glances as we all eat. Scarlett attempts to talk to her, but Nat gives her one-word answers. Multiple times, she asks my sister if she’s feeling all right. Nat wordlessly nods and shoves food into her mouth. I’ve stopped counting the number of times her gaze has wandered to the open doorway.

  After the last course is served, Jack seems to be in high spirits, so I clear my throat.

  “Dinner was great, but I am full.” I pat my stomach for emphasis, and everyone chuckles. I look at Jack. “How about we retire to my office to talk for a moment?”

  Jack grins. “Splendid idea, my boy!” He stands, grabbing his glass, and ambles toward the hall.

  Livingston and I make eye contact across the table and begin to push our chairs back. Neither one of us can predict how this will end up. I might need Livingston’s help.

  “Flowers!” Nat blurts.

  Everyone, including Jack, looks at her as if she’s grown three heads. Nat reaches out and grabs Scarlett’s hand and smiles. “I heard that the gardener planted new hydrangeas in the garden, and they look positively lovely. Why don’t we take a look while the men talk?”

  A slight wrinkle appears between Scarlett’s brows as she frowns at Nat. “All right,” she says slowly.

  “Great,” my sister says a little too brightly before she all but shoves Scarlett out of the room. Before she leaves, she walks past me, and hisses, “Make this quick.”

  Nat hurries after Scarlett before I can reply.

  Livingston, Jack, and I walk to my office. My lips are drawn into a tight line as I close the door behind us.

  “Has Belgrave been quiet since Nathalie moved out?” Jack asks. He makes himself at home and pours another drink at the sideboard.

  Sitting down behind my desk, I cross one ankle over my knee and link my hands behind my head as I watch him. “It has. But I enjoy the solitude of silence. I’ve gotten a surprisin’ amount of work done,” I say with a smirk.

  Jack laughs. Livingston doesn’
t because he sees the dark circles beneath my eyes.

  The truth is, I haven’t slept since Serene left, and I work as a distraction. The guilt I have for not spending every waking moment with her while she was here is crippling. Memories of her follow me around the home like ghosts. When I turn around, ready to snarl at them to leave me alone, they dissolve into thin air before I can catch them. I made an enormous mistake by proposing to Scarlett, and I take ownership of that. I broke Serene’s heart. I take ownership for that too, and if time ever gives her back to me, I vow to never hurt her again.

  The last thought is the one thing that keeps me going through the day.

  “When you and Scarlett are wed, things will become much livelier around here.”

  I arch a brow; I find that interesting. Scarlett’s the quietest person in the room. “How so?”

  Jack looks around my room, inspecting it with a sharp eye. “Oh, you understand how women are. They want things done a certain way and desire to put a stamp on what belongs to them.”

  “What does that mean?” Livingston chimes in.

  “She and her mother are already planning to redecorate certain rooms in Belgrave. She doesn’t want any lingering traces of your ex-wife.”

  My eyes narrow the same time a cynical smile curves my lips upward. He thinks Serene decorated this home, but he’s sorely mistaken. Belgrave had feminine touches, courtesy of my aunt and sister after my parents died. Everything they picked out would’ve been something our mother would’ve loved. It makes me stand firm in not changing a thing. That and the fact Serene always seemed so amazed by the plantation. She never wanted to change Belgrave. Instead, it changed her.

  If Scarlett believes there are traces of Serene, it’s all in her head. Or maybe she can sense the memories of Serene trailing me like a shadow. Incredibly doubtful, but it’s a possibility.

  “Oh, don’t look so somber, Étienne. Give Scarlett this one thing. It’ll keep her busy,” Jack says and laughs.

  Livingston looks away, and mutters, “You’re laughin’ now, but I don’t know if you will be in a few minutes.”

  Glaring at him, I sit up in my chair and lace my hands together on my desk. “Speakin’ of Scarlett, I think we need to have a talk.”

  Jack finishes his drink and places it on the edge of my desk, still oblivious to my somber tone. “What about her, my boy?”

  I rub my chin between my thumb and index finger and feel the stubble grate against my skin. “After thoughtful consideration, I’m gonna have to withdraw my proposal to Scarlett.”

  Just as Livingston predicted, Jack’s smile vanishes. His back goes rigid, and his cheeks become red with outrage. “What are you talking about? You two are to be married in a matter of months. My little girl has a wedding dress picked out.”

  “While I’m sorry to hear that, I’m still standin’ behind my decision.”

  “We’ve signed contracts.”

  “No,” I draw out before I point a finger at him. “You have.” I direct my thumb toward my chest. “I have not.”

  The rage in his eyes builds with every word I say. He knows I’m right. The contract has been sitting on my desk for the past two months. I haven’t signed it, and I know it’s been bothering Jack because until my signature is on those papers, nothing is set in stone.

  I stand to gain quite a lot. Scarlett has a large dowry.

  If Serene were here, she would roll her eyes and mutter about how this whole proceeding is “archetypal” and a “bunch of bullshit,” and then she would probably give Jack the finger. The very thought has me grinning.

  “What are you smiling at, you fool?” Jack hollers. He leans forward and slams his hands on my desk. “Is this about that little whore of an ex-wife? Is she giving you problems?”

  Unhurriedly, I stand to my full height. “If you call Serene that again, I will kill you,” I say, my voice deadly quiet.

  Livingston stands. “Étienne,” he says, knowing the signs of when I’m about to lose control.

  “So it is!” Jack pops up out of his seat.

  “I think it’s time for you to go. I’m sorry for how things have turned out.”

  Jack is positively vibrating with anger. As a businessman, he’s used to getting what he wants by finding loopholes in contracts or browbeating people into saying yes. He knows my decision is final and nothing he says or does will change my mind.

  “You’re making a terrible decision. Do you understand me?”

  I shake my head but don’t say a word. Yet I don’t need to. I’ve discovered that silence can be more potent than words if you wield it correctly. Right now, Jack is furious with me. And rightly so. He wants nothing more than to yell at me, and more than that, he wants me to holler back. It will give him a small sense of justification for his outburst.

  “Any business I’ve done with you is finished.”

  I dip my head in acknowledgment. “I expect that.”

  “I’ll smear your name in Charleston. No one will want to work with you. You hear me?”

  At that, I smirk, and Jack lunges toward my desk.

  Livingston, always the peacemaker, clears his throat and intercepts Jack. Placing both hands on his shoulder, he gives Scarlett’s dad a grim smile. “It’s gettin’ heated in here. Why don’t we get some air?”

  Jack stands, shooting me a glare I’m positive would have most men writhing on the floor. Stoically, I stare back at him. I wait until he’s the first to look away before I stand and follow them out of the office.

  “Have someone bring my car around,” Jack barks at Ben. “Right now! My daughter and I are not staying here a second longer.”

  Ben’s face remains expressionless as he dips his head and does Jack’s bidding.

  Leaning against the doorframe, I watch my ex-future father-in-law. “If you’d allow me, I’d like to speak with Scarlett.”

  Jack abruptly turns around and stares at me with outrage. “Absolutely not. My daughter will not be speaking to a scoundrel like you.”

  Over Jack’s head, Livingston makes eye contact and mouths the word, “Scoundrel,” and fights the grin threatening to pull up the corner of his lips. I shrug. There’s a first time for everything.

  Jack marches up to me, and for a second, I think he’s going to punch me, which is the last thing I need. I’ve already broken my nose twice. “You’re making a huge mistake, Étienne Lacroix.”

  I stand to my full height and stare down at him. “I understand you’re upset. That’s why I’m lettin’ you scream in my face. But I suggest you take a step back right now.”

  Even in his state of anger, Jack realizes the truth of my words and immediately backs away.

  At that moment, Nat and Scarlett walk in from the back of the house. Scarlett is quietly speaking to Nat about something while my sister nods, a strained smile on her face.

  When she sees the three of us, her eyes widen. “What’s going on?” she asks in mock concern.

  I fight the urge to roll my eyes.

  Scarlett’s eyes shift between her father and me. She takes a step toward Jack. “Daddy, what is the matter? I—”

  Before Jack has a chance to reach his daughter, I hurry toward her. Behind me, he shouts. I hear Livingston call for Ben’s help in escorting Jack to the front porch. Nat rushes to help Livingston. He tells her to move away while she claims to be helping him. In the front foyer of this sophisticated plantation, it is nothing but chaos.

  For the first time in our engagement, I wrap my hands around Scarlett’s shoulders. Serene wouldn’t think twice at the contact. Scarlett, however, turns red and looks close to passing out. We would have been awful together. I’m impatient, ill-mannered, and blunt. I can lose my temper quite frequently. Scarlett wouldn’t know how to handle me. Serene does.

  Bending my head, I meet Scarlett’s gaze. “I need to make this quick, so please listen.”

  She nods. Her almond-shaped eyes are wide.

  “Good.” I take a deep breath. “Scarlett, I have to call o
ff our engagement. I deeply apologize for hurtin’ you. Not once was that my intention. You deserve a man who will cherish you”—I take a deep breath—“and I am not that man.”

  She’s silent for a few seconds. “You love Serene.”

  At the mere mention of her name, my hands drop from Scarlett’s shoulders. While Livingston, Ben, and Nat keep Jack from charging at me, I stare at my ex-fiancée. “Yes, I do. How did you know?”

  “I am quiet, Étienne; however, I’m not blind. I saw the way you two looked at one another.” Scarlett links her hands together. “A lot of people did. Although Serene currently isn’t in Charleston, I know she still owns your thoughts.”

  My eyes briefly close. I was so hell-bent on having Serene’s attention and love yet afraid of her leaving that I did so many things wrong, and now I have to face the mess I’ve created. “I truly am sorry, Scarlett.”

  She merely nods. Her eyes blink rapidly, and I know she’s fighting back tears. Awkwardly, I look away.

  Dealing with Jack was a hassle. Explaining to Scarlett why I couldn’t go through with our engagement is hell, but necessary. I needed her to know it’s not her. The ending of us is my fault.

  Was there ever an us, though? It occurs to me this very conversation is the longest we’ve ever spoken. It may be painful for Scarlett now, but I’m doing her a favor. We would have been terrible together.

  Before the two of us can say another word, Jack pushes past Livingston and heads toward Scarlett. I watch him as he approaches, but he says nothing to me. Narrowing his eyes in my direction, he places a protective hand on Scarlett’s back as though I’m a big bad wolf who’s going to hurt his little girl.

  He directs her toward the front door. Nat gives Scarlett an apologetic smile, but Scarlett won’t meet her gaze. She won’t meet anyone’s gaze.

  Nat shoots me an expression that says, “Great! Look at what you’ve done!”

  “Come with me, pumpkin. We need to leave. We’re not wanted here.”

  Wordlessly, Scarlett follows her father out the door. Her shoulders hunched and arms crossed. I know I deserve her silence. Nat doesn’t understand and follows Scarlett and her father out of the door.