Read Online Leopold: Part Five by Ember Casey, Renna Peak - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Ember Casey, Renna Peak
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employ for so many years. He’s exactly the sort of man you want working for you, not against you—though I’d take the good-natured Matthias over the loathsome Stephan any day.
He called her a bloody courtesan. While she was a guest under this roof. First my father and now Stephan—and here I was hoping to give her a proper welcome to Montovia. She probably believes we’re all a bunch of arrogant bastards now.
And speaking of arrogant bastards, my brother has risen from his bench.
“I’ll have a word with our father,” he says. “But not tonight. Not with the mood he’s in.”
I can’t believe Andrew is offering to defend me to our father for a second time, especially after the way we ended things at supper—he must be after something. But before I can raise my suspicions, Elle speaks.
“Did something happen at dinner?” she asks.
“Unfortunately.” My gaze moves to my sister. “Would it have troubled you to be on time?”
Sophia shrugs and pops a piece of candy into her mouth. “You could have warned me he was in a foul mood. I didn’t know you were bringing Elle to the palace today.”
“Elle has nothing to do with it,” I say. “He would have been angry with you either way. You know better than to keep flaunting the rules, Soph.”
She laughs. “What’s going on here? Did you switch bodies with Andrew or something? I can’t believe I’m getting a lecture from you of all people about breaking the rules.”
She’s right , I realize. How did this happen? But then my eyes fall on Elle again, and I remember why I’m here. Why I’m doing all of this.
“It would just help Elle and me tremendously if we all did everything in our power to keep from upsetting our father too much. At least for a little while.” My gaze flicks back to Sophia again. “Why were you so late, anyway?”
She shrugs and smiles. “As I said, I was volunteering and lost track of the time.”
I frown. I’m not a fool—and neither is Sophia.
“What sort of trouble were you getting into?” I ask her.
Her eyes gleam. “I promise, Brother, I was every bit the proper princess.”
I very much doubt that. Andrew doesn’t look convinced either, but he doesn’t say a word.
“Just try to behave,” I tell her. “Please. I think we’ve had enough drama for one day.” I slide my arm around Elle’s waist, but when I try to lead her back up the stairs, she doesn’t move.
“Leo…” she says.
My chest tightens. “I think we should go inside,” I say carefully. “Have you had anything to eat yet?”
Elle glances back at the car waiting nearby, then at my brother and sister.
“I don’t want to cause trouble between you and your father,” she says finally.
“Nonsense,” I say. “We cause trouble all on our own, whether or not you’re here.”
“It’s true,” Sophia says.
“I just… Leo, what am I doing here?” Elle slips out of my arm. “I don’t belong here. Stephan might have been wrong about me being a whore, but he was right about that. I belong back in the U.S. I might still be able to make that job interview if I leave now.”
I can’t believe after all that’s happened that she’s still talking about leaving. I’m going to strangle Stephan the next time I see him.
“You can’t be serious, Elle,” I say.
“I’m very serious,” she says. “This isn’t real life, Leo—not for me, anyway.”
I’m suddenly very aware that we’re having this conversation in front of Andrew and Sophia.
“Shall we continue this conversation inside?” I ask her. I have no intention of letting her get into that car. If I have to throw myself in front of it, I will.
I see the indecision in her eyes. I look over at Sophia, wondering what was said between them before I stumbled out here, but my sister just shrugs. She wouldn’t try to drive Elle away, not like my father. Andrew is a different story, but on the other hand, he did just offer to speak to our father about
He called her a bloody courtesan. While she was a guest under this roof. First my father and now Stephan—and here I was hoping to give her a proper welcome to Montovia. She probably believes we’re all a bunch of arrogant bastards now.
And speaking of arrogant bastards, my brother has risen from his bench.
“I’ll have a word with our father,” he says. “But not tonight. Not with the mood he’s in.”
I can’t believe Andrew is offering to defend me to our father for a second time, especially after the way we ended things at supper—he must be after something. But before I can raise my suspicions, Elle speaks.
“Did something happen at dinner?” she asks.
“Unfortunately.” My gaze moves to my sister. “Would it have troubled you to be on time?”
Sophia shrugs and pops a piece of candy into her mouth. “You could have warned me he was in a foul mood. I didn’t know you were bringing Elle to the palace today.”
“Elle has nothing to do with it,” I say. “He would have been angry with you either way. You know better than to keep flaunting the rules, Soph.”
She laughs. “What’s going on here? Did you switch bodies with Andrew or something? I can’t believe I’m getting a lecture from you of all people about breaking the rules.”
She’s right , I realize. How did this happen? But then my eyes fall on Elle again, and I remember why I’m here. Why I’m doing all of this.
“It would just help Elle and me tremendously if we all did everything in our power to keep from upsetting our father too much. At least for a little while.” My gaze flicks back to Sophia again. “Why were you so late, anyway?”
She shrugs and smiles. “As I said, I was volunteering and lost track of the time.”
I frown. I’m not a fool—and neither is Sophia.
“What sort of trouble were you getting into?” I ask her.
Her eyes gleam. “I promise, Brother, I was every bit the proper princess.”
I very much doubt that. Andrew doesn’t look convinced either, but he doesn’t say a word.
“Just try to behave,” I tell her. “Please. I think we’ve had enough drama for one day.” I slide my arm around Elle’s waist, but when I try to lead her back up the stairs, she doesn’t move.
“Leo…” she says.
My chest tightens. “I think we should go inside,” I say carefully. “Have you had anything to eat yet?”
Elle glances back at the car waiting nearby, then at my brother and sister.
“I don’t want to cause trouble between you and your father,” she says finally.
“Nonsense,” I say. “We cause trouble all on our own, whether or not you’re here.”
“It’s true,” Sophia says.
“I just… Leo, what am I doing here?” Elle slips out of my arm. “I don’t belong here. Stephan might have been wrong about me being a whore, but he was right about that. I belong back in the U.S. I might still be able to make that job interview if I leave now.”
I can’t believe after all that’s happened that she’s still talking about leaving. I’m going to strangle Stephan the next time I see him.
“You can’t be serious, Elle,” I say.
“I’m very serious,” she says. “This isn’t real life, Leo—not for me, anyway.”
I’m suddenly very aware that we’re having this conversation in front of Andrew and Sophia.
“Shall we continue this conversation inside?” I ask her. I have no intention of letting her get into that car. If I have to throw myself in front of it, I will.
I see the indecision in her eyes. I look over at Sophia, wondering what was said between them before I stumbled out here, but my sister just shrugs. She wouldn’t try to drive Elle away, not like my father. Andrew is a different story, but on the other hand, he did just offer to speak to our father about
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