Read Online Fall For You [The Jane Austen Academy Series #1] by Cecelia Gray - Free Book Online Page B

her sweater.
    “I’m afraid not.”
    “He came back for me.” She pointed to her scarf-covered head. “He left the Naval Academy for me. I can’t believe he didn’t mention—”
    The next thing she knew, Lizzie had reached out and gently placed her hand over the woman’s fingers, which had formed a fist. “Rick is new here—he hardly knows anyone. I’m sure he just didn’t feel he could share such personal details about his life.”
    “Oh dear.” She blinked rapidly. “I knew he’d given up his friends to come here.”
    Lizzie bit her lip—could she say nothing right? Everything seemed to be distressing Rick’s mother more and more.
    “Oh, I know,” the woman said, sitting up. “Perhaps Rick should have you and his other friends over to the lake house this weekend. There’s Dante, and that nice boy, Edward. You should come. And Anne, for doing the interview.”
    “I don’t know—” Lizzie wasn’t sure Rick would appreciate her being grouped into the category of his friends.
    “I insist,” she said, color coming to her cheeks. “I’ve wanted to meet Rick’s friends for a while but I’m too tired to make the trip out here. I’ve barely been able to keep up with my duties on the Jane Austen Academy Trust.”
    “The Trust?” Lizzie blinked. “You’re a member of the Trust?” She’d studied the names, contacted most of them. She didn’t remember Rick’s mother being on the list. Would she be more willing than the other trustees to divulge the names of the new owners?
    “Oh yes, I turned in my confirmation late. I wanted to see how treatment went. But I’m feeling better than expected, which is also why now would be a good time to visit.”
    “You should probably ask Rick what he thinks about…me…coming.”
    “Because you’re a girl?” she asked with a twinkle. “I’m not so old-fashioned. You’ll be in separate wings, of course.”
    Wings?
    “But I trust you to comport yourselves like adults. You know, I’ve been so happy Rick could finally attend the Academy that has been part of our community for so many years, and I was saying to the new owners that the gender changes are a godsend for us.”
    “How long have you known the new owners?” Lizzie asked carefully.
    “Oh, dear.” Mrs. Wright covered her mouth with trembling fingers. “I’m just so tired these days, I forget what to say. But never mind those business matters. I’ll talk to Rick immediately.”
    “Talk to me about what?” Rick asked.
    Lizzie glanced up to see that he and Dante had returned. “It’s barely been five minutes,” Lizzie said.
    “A weekend house party,” his mother said. “We’re having one for you and your friends—like Lizzie here.”
    “Like Lizzie?” Dante repeated.
    “And Anne,” Lizzie quipped.
    The color drained from Rick’s face, and Anne slipped off her stool.
    “I would be delighted,” Mrs. Wright said. “I never got to know your friends at the Naval Academy.”
    Lizzie saw the moment Rick relented in the soft smile he gave his mother. “That sounds like a great idea, Mom.” Rick planted a kiss on her forehead.
    Lizzie actually did like Rick’s mother, but she also knew she couldn’t pass up this opportunity to search the house and see if she could dig up who the new owners were.
     
    * * *
     
    Lizzie craned her neck, searching for Ellie in the crowd of girls having dinner on the quad for Jasta’s annual fall barbecue—although now they had a grill reserved just for tofu kebabs after Lizzie’s freshman feature on the lack of vegetarian options. Before that article, Ellie couldn’t eat anything.
    It was weird to see boys dotting the green landscape. A few were tossing a football over some girls’ heads. Another couple were determined to climb one of the old apple trees.
    She supposed she could admit it wasn’t worse having them here for the annual tradition. Just—different.
    The same horseplay had been forbidden under the last administration when the