Page 84 of The Grand Duel
“Can I do anything? Be on standby for any of the ‘just in case’ responsibilities?” She looks at me with pleading eyes. “I think the panel would be right up your street, and why not take the night away? You work hard.”
“I thought it would be a good time to have the flooring ripped up and replaced in the dog’s playroom. I’ve already called Gavin and told him Lissie will be working from headquarters for the two days, so this place will be empty. I’ll work from home with the dogs.”
I look between the two of them. “How long have you two been scheming?”
They look between one another and chuckle.
“Go let your hair down, Charles,” Edna pleads. “Invite your friends along. You’ve not attended the event since everything with Lance. It’s time you got back to it.” She leaves the room, taking the case I’ve not long finished working on with her.
Once she’s gone, I bring my gaze back to the woman sat opposite me.
“Up to you, Charles. You said you’d give mine and Ed’s way a go.”
“Don’t try to guilt me into it. It’s this week. Wednesday.”
She sits back in the chair, defeat slipping over her face like a mask.
I readjust in the seat, not liking how I’m responsible for it.
“I get it if you have commitments I’m not aware of, but if it’s because of this place—if I can help with the ‘Lance’ thing in any way.” She shrugs. “You can trust us, Charles. We’ve got it all under control.”
We stare off against one another. Her desperately trying to force the chains that tie me to this place from my throat and me looking for any way to pull them that much tighter, to keep the control.
“I’d need to be back early morning on Thursday, not lunchtime.”
Her face lights up.
“What tailor?”
She glances down at her notes. “Lucy Morgan at Venty, per Edna’s recommendation.”
“Good,” I say, and nothing else, sitting forward to refocus on the new case.
When she doesn’t stand to leave, I fight with every fibre of my being not to look up at her.
“Charles?”
My head lifts with ease. I tip my chin up, her winning smile doing something to me I can’t explain or understand. And so, I ignore it.
“Thank you. For trying, I mean. I promise everything will run smoothly back here. It means a lot that you’re trusting us with this.”
A pack of wild tigers could walk into my office right now, and I still wouldn’t be able to tear my eyes away from her as she stands and leaves my office.
I wait, knowing what’s to come…
“You!” Edna jeers. “You’ve got him by the collar, girl.”
Shaking my head, I look back down at the forgotten case, my mind daring me to forget for a little while longer.
Maybe a couple of days away from Lissie Elton is a good thing.
It’s eighteen minutes past five when there’s a knock at my office door.
“Come in.”
I hear scuffling, and then Luna’s head is pushing its way past Lissie and Daisy.
“Lu, come on, we’ve been working on this!” Lissie tells her.