The Rake (Boston Belles #4) by L.J. Shen

“How much did he leave you?” Belle asked, businesslike.

“Thirty million pounds in estates and heirlooms,” Lou intervened from beside us. “Although Whitehall Court Castle is priceless. And by priceless, I mean, the next in line to inherit the castle is England. It’ll get turned into a museum. It is prominent in British history.”

“That’s a crap ton of dough.” Belle popped another lone Froot Loop between her luscious lips, nodding thoughtfully. No trace of emotion on her face or posture, I noticed.

Louisa turned to me. “Now I am absolutely not saying she’s a gold-digger …” She sang in a perfect, American accent, quoting the Kanye West song.

“But I ain’t messin’ with no broke.” Belle laughed. “Damn straight.”

“This discussion is futile.” I rubbed at my forehead.

Internally, however, I was beginning to question my own statement. What stopped me from marrying Louisa? She was gorgeous, well-bred, well-read, and well-mannered. She was smart and still fond of me. I would get richer, sort all my family’s problems, and have a marriage on my terms. Most of all I’d be able to marry, something I prevented myself from doing thus far.

“It shouldn’t be.” Louisa played with the teabag poking from her green tea. “There’s much to discuss, and time is running out.”

“I don’t understand. We’ve already agreed we’re not exclusive.” Belle scrunched her nose. “What’s stopping you from marrying this obnoxious, pompous, stylish woman?” She pointed at Louisa like she was a statue. “No offense.”

“From you, none taken,” Louisa huffed.

“Everybody wins,” Belle added.

Not everyone, I thought. Not me.

Belle flashed me a smile I’d never seen on her face before. It looked wounded. Almost ugly. She stood up, surveying Louisa head to toe with a look that would make most humans die from the frostbite.

“I think you two have a lot to sort out, and honestly, if I wanted to see a bunch of Brits squirming around the subject of sex and relationships, I’d watch Sex Education. At least I’d get a few laughs out of it.”

With that, she grabbed the cereal box from the nook and made her way to her room, slamming the door behind her.

Louisa turned to me. “Darling, that woman is not fully cultured. How could you possibly find her attractive? How old is she? Twenty-four? Twenty-five? She’s hardly even a woman.”

“She is the most maddening, infuriating, annoying woman I’ve ever come across, but a woman nonetheless,” I replied. Taking out my tin of rollies, then thinking better of it, I set it down on the nook.

Now that Sweven lived here, I couldn’t smoke indoors. I had her and the baby to think about.

Louisa stood up and waltzed over to me, lacing her arms around my shoulders.

It felt good to be embraced by a woman who wasn’t constantly on the brink of busting my balls for breathing in her vicinity.

“Lou,” I said softly, moving my hand across her back. “I appreciate the last-ditch effort, but it isn’t going to work.”

“Why?” she asked, her dark, deep eyes dancing in their sockets. “You’ve always been such a cunning, smart man. Practical and pragmatic. Why not marry into a world of wealth and titles? Even your little girlfriend thinks it’s a bad idea to pass this chance up.”

I grabbed her arms and lowered them gently. “I wish I could give you what you want.”

“Why can’t you?” Her voice cracked.

“Edwin,” I answered simply. I was never going to let him win.

“He’s not going to know.” Her eyes filled with tears. “And he cannot hurt you anymore. Look, I know you don’t want to play into his hands. But he is not here to see this. He died knowing you defied him.”

I smiled sadly. “You know me too well.”

Even after all these years, it was true. Louisa knew what made me tick. What my walls were built of.

She looked down, drawing a deep breath. “Cecilia is on suicide watch.”

“No. That’s not true.” I reared my head back.

Lou nodded.

“Can you blame her? Her life is practically over. She doesn’t want to stay with Drew, but you took away her options when you said you wouldn’t marry me. Ursula and her were going to convince you to sell the Battersea complex building and live off the money after Edwin blew through their savings and investment portfolio.”

The news hit exactly where it was supposed to. Right in my heart.

“Your mother is in a deep depression. There’s no one to pay the hefty bills. I know you cannot take care of them, Devon. You’re doing very well for yourself, but you have your own life to sustain. Tying the knot could make all of this go away. I’m willing to overlook your little mistake with this … Belle girl.” She shuddered when she said her name. “Make an honest woman out of me. It’ll make everyone happy. Including, by the way, your stripper. I just spent a few hours with her. She doesn’t care for you at all, Devvie. The entire time, she couldn’t stop telling me how much she was looking forward to getting out of here. To start dating again.”

Sweven missed dating, did she?

My senses became oversaturated with fresh white anger.

The only reason why she was here, in my apartment, was because she had a literal death threat hanging over her head and sexual needs she wanted me to take care of.