“Well, no… I don’t imagine anyone in their right mind does.”
“So, am I doing the wrong thing by protecting him?”
“That’s not what I said. But, what about his choices? Does he get no say in you throwing away your happiness for his?”
I turned to her and she blinked heavily at whatever she saw on my face.
“He doesn’t get a say, because he’d turn around and yell at me for being an idiot. He’d tell me we can face anything together and we can find a way to both be happy.”
“And your happiness? What would it look like?”
I looked across the pitch to Lily as she jumped up and down while yelling at Williams again. A small, sad smile crossed my face. “It doesn’t matter what it would look like, Cass.” I put my arm around my cousin. “Jax can have anything he wants, anyone he wants, he can be anything he wants. Aunt Celia only needs one heir.”
“So, your happiness doesn’t matter? You’re actually happy giving it all up?”
“My happiness for my brother’s?” I asked, laying my cheek on her head. “That, dear cousin, is no sacrifice at all. You’ve seen Jax’s heart, at its best and its worst-”
“Some worst, he’s a bloody angel, that one.”
I chuckled and gave her a squeeze that she returned. “Jax doesn’t have the strength to be the heir Aunt Celia wants.”
“And you do.” It wasn’t a question.
We stood in silence a moment. I saw her looking across the pitch and followed her gaze to Lily. She was so bloody animated that it made my chest tighten to watch her.
I pulled my eyes away and watched the game.
Jax managed to score, but the Military College’s team weren’t happy about it. Still, we were three-one up with less than twenty minutes to go. It wasn’t unheard of to lose at this point, but it was becoming less likely as time went on.
Without me and Anders on the field, the game was clean and mild. There was an urgency in both teams, though – Netherfield needed to keep their lead and the Military College were desperate to at least equalise. We still had a few more games to play against them while they were here; the more wins we could get, and the bigger the margin, the better.
“I can see why you like her,” Cass said quietly, almost sadly.
I started and looked back to Lily. She was talking animatedly to Anne and Sebastian, who seemed to have no idea what she was talking about. I smiled, despite my next words.
“I don’t like her, Cass,” I replied.
“You keep telling yourself that.”
“I have to…” But, I don’t think she heard me.
****
I winced as Jax poked the bruise.
“Dude, can you just leave off it?”
“No, I won’t. Seriously, mate, I’ve seen some bruises, but this one’s a beauty.” He whistled.
“Yes, thank you, I’m a work of art.” I pulled away from him and pulled my shirt back on.
Cass snorted. “I know plenty of girls who’d agree with him on that one.”
Jax just sighed. “Why the hell did you whale on him?”
“Oh, I’m sorry, brother. Did I not save you these beauties? He thought you were me, I wasn’t about to let you take a beating for me.”
“I’m a big boy, Oz, I could have handled it.”
“Would have been better for the team if you had,” Williams answered.
“What the hell is that supposed to mean?” I turned to him.
“It’s well known you’re a better player than me, Oz,” Jax said.
“We won four-one, how was me being on instead of Jax going to help that?” I asked, furious.
Williams shrugged. “We might have won by more? Also…what is up with Lily? She was on point!”
“I would seriously not have pegged her for a football fan,” Jax said, smiling and shaking his head.
“She was bloody amazing. Can she coach us instead of Coach?” Williams said. “I mean, I love Coach, he’s great, but Lily…? Woo! That girl knows her stuff.”
“You’re just getting a crush because you assume she only has eyes for you given how much she was yelling at you,” Jax sniggered.
Cass shot me a look, but, for the first time in our lives, I couldn’t decipher it. She looked wary, sad, uncertain, and weirdly protective of…something. I could only assume she was thinking of me and the crush she assumed I had on Lily. I cleared my throat.
“Do we really want an Australian coaching our team?” I asked.
“Why not? The Military College has an Australian captain,” Williams said.
I felt my fists ball at the thought of Anders, but Cass laid a hand on my arm and Jax threw me a look.
“Fine, but you can ask her,” I snapped and headed for the door.
“Don’t you dare miss your brother’s party!” Cass yelled as I walked out.
No one made a move to follow me though and, for that, I was glad. I seriously needed to clear my head. Especially because I knew Cass and Jax wouldn’t let me get out of the party now that I’d been reminded.
I remembered Cass’ words from a few days’ earlier; how I should just take Lily to bed and be done with it. The idea swirled around my head until I found myself on a balcony at the top of Rosings wing. I leant on the rail and watched the world below me.
What would happen if I tried to seduce Lily?
I laughed.
I suspected it would blow up in my face and she’d laugh at me, or insult me. She’d say something though, and then we’d share a smile and move on with our lives.
I grunted in frustration.
Why couldn’t I just pretend that’s what had happened? Then I could move on, be the life-long bachelor and leave all Aunt Celia’s shit to Jax’s kids.
I could just imagine his kids in my mind’s eye. The way he was behaving, they’d be Anne’s. They’d share their parents’ light brown hair and blue eyes, looking every bit the proper Cooper children. They’d have three boys, then a girl who’d be so well protected by her older brothers that no boy could come near her. She’d be small compared to her brothers’ tall Cooper height, but would be fierce and strong regardless. And, even though I’d be stuffy Uncle Oz, she and I would share a special bond because she could see through my snobby exterior…
Lord, what was wrong with me?
Most guys didn’t fantasize about their brother’s children…
And, any of the fantasy hinged on Anne’s reciprocating Jax’s feelings, of which I was still not convinced. I was still on the fence that she was like all Longbourn kids and just wanted a rich husband… She could fall into either category on that one. But, I just wasn’t convinced she really liked him.
Whenever they were together, he was his usual invested self and she seemed…so indifferent. For all I knew, she was harbouring a tendency for Cass’ side of the fence.
I groaned and watched the people wandering around below me. With the game that morning, there were a lot more people on campus than usual. There probably would be for the next few weeks while the clash was going on. It didn’t happen every year, but, every time it did, it was the same. The school was inundated with extra spectators, whether they were family members of the participants, or just interested randoms.
I was a few stories up, but I still saw Lily and her sisters walking along with Anders. I felt my blood boil. All the images I’d lived with for the past year slammed into me once more. And, once more, the brown hair became red, the blue eyes became green. I saw her bruises, her fear, her hate on Lily’s face, and I almost jumped off the balcony to punch him in his smarmy face.
“But, I can’t do superhero landings…” I muttered to myself as they walked out of sight.
Besides, what was it to me if Lily wanted to spend her time with Anders? I couldn’t have her, so who was I to dictate who she spent her time with?
Chapter Seventeen: Lily
After the game, Liam joined us for lunch. Which was
good, because Seb was starting to get on my final nerve and there was only so much Gemma could do to divert his attention.
Apparently, Seb had now decided I was a much better prospect for…whatever the hell he had in mind. Gemma and Kate made gagging faces behind Seb’s back, Anne was as polite as always, and Liam seemed to think it was one of the funniest things he’d ever seen…when Kate wasn’t all up in his face.
I managed to get Liam alone for a few minutes when Gemma’s and Kate’s need for muffins outweighed their obsession with attractive young men.
“So… Want to tell me what’s going on with you and the Cooper twins?” I asked as we still stood outside the café.
Liam looked around, looking somewhat haunted, and sighed. He took my hand and pulled me to a table towards the edge of the place, sitting down next to me.
“Percy Cooper took in wards now and then,” Liam started slowly. At my confused look, he clarified, “Percy Cooper was the twins’ father. My parents had known the Cooper family since way back…”
He paused and a sudden though occurred to me. “They’re not related to the Coopers?”
He smiled. “I don’t know. They may be. Although, I can’t honestly see the twins being related to brewing genius, can you?”
I laughed. “No, I can’t imagine this Aunt Celia allowing them to be associated with brewers, even if they are probably the most famous in Australia.”
And, no, the way I’d phrased that sentence, with my last name being Brewer and all, was not lost on me. But, at the look on Liam’s face, I put all that aside and waited for him to tell his story. Liam sighed, took my hand, and looked down.
“Percy took me in as one of his wards two years ago. He was a great philanthropist and I’d known him all my life. I was all set to come to Netherfield like the rest of his children-”
“Rest?” I interrupted.
Liam nodded. “His other ward, Amanda, graduated last year. But, I would not be so fortunate. Percy’s sister, Celia was named the executor of his estate and, goaded by Austin, she sent me to the Military College and wrote off my inheritance.”
“What? When was this?”
“He died not a few months after he took me in. I hadn’t had time to start school in England. I should have graduated last year, but with everything that’s happened in my life, I just didn’t manage to get all my subjects together.” He took a shuddering breath and I gripped his hand.
He looked so fragile, sharing his story with me, and I didn’t know how I could make it up to him. I squeezed his hand, hoping that I could impart everything I felt in one touch. I could entirely believe Austin was enough of a wanker that he would try to keep Liam away from his family. I had been expecting Liam to come up with some pitiful excuse as to why they came to blows on the pitch that morning, but as far as I could see, Austin Cooper was the only one in the wrong.
He smiled sadly. “Celia is a ruthless bitch, if I’m entirely honest. But, it all stemmed from Austin. He has…a power over her. He acts like the perfect heir and she dotes on him in every ridiculous way. Everyone seems blinded by his wealth and forgives him his arrogance.”
“I won’t disagree with you there,” I said, thinking of all those stupid airheads who went to bed with him. “He isn’t well liked at Netherfield, it seems. But, there are plenty of idiots who’ll put their self-respect aside for a drunken night with him.”
“I imagine they don’t have the guts to talk to him without any booze in them?”
I laughed. “No, it certainly looks that way. The only people who’ll speak to him with any coherency sober are Jax, Cassandra, Anne and me. Though, what I do is hardly talking, it’s really just trading insults.”
“I’m sure he doesn’t know what to do with you,” Liam said, brushing his thumb over my hand.
“And what about you? What will he do about you?” I asked, just as the others sat down.
“Oh, yes, Liam. Tell me you won’t go just because of that arrogant arse!” Kate squealed and sat down next to him. She passed me my coffee then gripped his arm so tightly his hand was pulled from mine.
Liam shook his head. “No, I’m not going anywhere. If Austin wants to avoid me, he’s more than welcome. He’s ruined my life enough; I’m not letting him bully me into not doing what I love. I owe it to Percy to keep going, even if his son seems hell-bent on trying to stop me.”
“Who’s Percy?” Kate asked, hanging onto his every word.
“Austin and Jax’s father,” Anne replied.
“He was the best man I knew, after my own. It shocks me he could have created such a proud and hateful boy.”
I watched as Kate and Gemma pulled Liam into random conversations, not listening to the words but studying his face. Some of the sadness had left him and he smiled at something they said. He was charming and handsome and so very nice that the comparison between him and Austin was palpable.
Austin’s behaviour made me so angry, I couldn’t believe he could behave so poorly. Well, actually, I entirely could, I just didn’t want to believe that someone so handsome on the outside could be so hideous inside. It was always the way though, wasn’t it?
“Yes, I was at a function with Lady Celia and Miss van Wilhausen the other day,” I heard Seb say and I returned my thoughts to the conversation.
Liam leant closer to me. “Seb knows the Coopers and the van Wilhausens well?”
I shrugged. “Celia Cooper is apparently responsible for his scholarship. I have no idea who the van Wilhausens are.”
Liam grinned. “Fleur van Wilhausen is Lady Celia’s best friend’s daughter. It’s suggested that Fleur will inherit some of Lady Celia’s estate. Word is, she and Austin will… Be keeping it in the family, so to speak.”
I choked on my coffee. “I’m sorry, he’s engaged?”
Liam chuckled. “All-but.”
“God, I feel sorry for the poor girl.”
Liam and I shared a look and laughed.
I thought of this Fleur, who she must be and wondered how she felt about Austin’s playboy ways and absolute arrogance. No doubt, she was a meek sort of girl who was blinded by those rare moments of charm he deigned to shine on people. She would be totally sucked into him and probably had no idea she was in for a lifetime of disappointment and unhappiness. Part of me felt sorry for her, but part of me just found it funny.
****
I was furiously killing zombies when Anne came home.
“How was Jax?” I asked.
“He was fine.”
“Everything ready for the party?”
“Yep, all taken care of, we just need to get ourselves dolled up,” she giggled, then sobered. “God, I still can’t believe Austin did that to Liam.”
“I can,” I scoffed.
“No, I mean I really don’t believe it,” Anne said, sitting in the desk chair next to mine.
I paused my game and turned to her. “Really? You can’t possibly believe that that proud excuse for a human being could be rude to anyone?”
Anne looked down. “Not to that extent. He’s not a good person at the best of times, but his brother is so kind, I just don’t believe that that’s the only side to Austin. Surely there must have been some misunderstanding between him and Liam?”
“I doubt it very much. Liam seemed very specific in his details and the look of pain on his face said it all. I defy Austin to talk his way of this one.”
“I suppose so. It’s hard to know what to think.”
“Sorry, no. It’s quite obvious,” I replied, crossing my arms.
I could tell by the look of hesitation on her face that she disagreed with me. Both of us were saved answering and the potential fight that would come by a knock on the door.
I got up and opened it to find Seb there.
“Oh, hi,” I said, wondering what boring nonsense he was going to ramble at me now.
“I was just wondering if you’d be so kind as to let me accompany you to the party to
night?” he asked.
I blinked. I was torn, I’d been about to text Liam and ask him to go with me, but I felt an overwhelming obligation not to unleash Seb on the wider female population of Netherfield.
Ugh, damn step-cousins and their terrible timing!
I nodded. “Um…sure. But, uh, we still need to get ready. Negligée and all that.”
I heard Anne snort behind me and kept my face impassive as I watched Seb turn a fabulous shade of red. He nodded quickly and so vigorously, I thought his head was going to fall off.
“Yes, of course. I won’t keep you. I’ll return at seven to collect you?”
“Sure, Seb… That sounds great.”
He bowed again and walked off. I groaned and closed the door behind him.
Anne, though, was entirely unsympathetic. “Why on Earth did you do that?”
I sat down on the bed. “I don’t know. I couldn’t very well have him wandering off and accosting some other poor girl, could I? He’s family, someone needs to keep an eye on him.”
“I don’t think he’s viewing you as family, Lil,” Anne laughed.
“Oh, ew… No, unfortunately, I think you’re right.” I grimaced. “You should thank me; he was looking at you like that a few days ago.”
She winced. “I’m just thankful I missed it.”
“I honestly don’t know how you can be so blind, Anne.” I shook my head. “I mean, you’re ridiculously beautiful, you’re smart, you’re funny. Guys stare at you as we walk down the corridors and you’re just…pleasantly oblivious. Add legitimately modest to that list, and you’re the perfect girl. I’m not surprised Jax likes you.”
She’d blushed bright red at this point and I laughed.
“I’m not the only one, Lily.” She looked at me very pointedly. “You’re just as beautiful, you’re smarter, funnier… Perhaps less modest,” she teased, “It’s no wonder Liam and Seb are interested.”
I snorted. “Seb only saw me after he realised there was no chance with you. And, I’ve only got a shot with Liam if Kate keeps her hands off him. Which seems entirely unlikely.”
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