Total pages in book: 128
Estimated words: 126850 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 634(@200wpm)___ 507(@250wpm)___ 423(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 126850 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 634(@200wpm)___ 507(@250wpm)___ 423(@300wpm)
“You’re right. It’s probably going to be worse.”
“It won’t be, I promise.” He motioned for me to get in, and I did, putting my bag at my feet. Will closed the door for me and walked around the front of the car, getting in at the drivers’ side. He peered over at me with a smile. “You ready?”
“No.”
He dipped his chin, and his shoulders shook with a gentle laugh. “You can always sleep on the way there, you know.”
“Nah, I’ll be fine.”
“You sure?”
I clicked my seatbelt into place and held up my coffee cup. “Absolutely.”
CHAPTER SIX – GRACE
What. The. Hell
As it happened, I was not, in fact, absolutely sure.
About twenty minutes into the drive, I dozed off. And judging by the time on the clock, I’d slept for most of the journey, because when I stifled a yawn and stretched out my neck, I caught William’s eye.
“Not tired, huh?”
“Shut up,” I muttered. “Was there any caffeine in that coffee?”
“Apparently not.” He chuckled. “Good timing. I was worried about waking you up, and we’re only about ten minutes away.”
I blinked and shifted in my seat, looking out of the window. We were surrounded by snowy hills that rolled and weaved through the landscape, and there were big, thick batches of fir trees that were blanketed in the same white snow.
It was beautiful. Pristine. Like a daydream.
“We are?” I cleared my throat. “Where are we?”
“Close to Duncree,” he replied, checking the sat nav on the built-in screen on the dashboard. “See? We’re not far from the southern side of the loch.”
I peered over at it. “Oh. I didn’t know your grandparents lived so close to the wedding venue. I suppose that makes it easier.”
He glanced over at me and ran his teeth over his lower lip. “Huh. I didn’t tell you, did I?”
My stomach fluttered, but not in a good way. “Didn’t tell me what?”
“My grandparents own Glenroch Castle.”
I choked.
On absolutely nothing.
Actually, it might have been the tiniest of air bubbles that just happened to get lodged in my throat that started a miniature coughing fit, but who knew for sure?
“Are you all right?” William asked, his brow furrowed as he glanced between me and the road.
“No, you didn’t mention that,” I said, pressing my hand to my chest. “Your grandparents are the Duke and Duchess of Glenroch?”
“Yes.” He paused. “Huh, I guess I forgot you probably didn’t know that. Hey, how do you know who they are?”
I held up my hands. “History graduate. PhD student working on a topic that involves the aristocracy.” Part of the aristocracy… “Of course I know. Also, it’s on the website.”
“I forgot about that,” he mused. “Well, yes. My grandparents are the Duke and Duchess of Glenroch.”
“How could you not mention that?”
“Honestly, it’s not something I usually mention to people I’ve just met. People get a bit weird about it.” He caught my gaze out of the corner of his eye. “Case in point.”
“Okay, hold on.” I waved my hands and shifted in my seat so that I was looking at him. “I’m not freaked out about the fact they’re the duke and duchess,” I explained. Hello, my dad is an earl. “I would have just appreciated a heads up, that’s all.” So I could back the hell out before it was too late. Like now. “I’m not entirely sure what I’ve packed is appropriate for staying at such a residence.” Would they mind my Lilo and Stitch pyjama bottoms?
“That’s fair,” Will said slowly. “I’m sorry. I should have told you exactly where we were staying. I didn’t specify that they owned the castle and that’s on me.”
I bobbed my head in agreement and acknowledgement of his apology.
“People get weird when they realise you’re going to inherit a castle one day.”
“I can see that.”
He glanced at me. “You’re not freaking out.”
“What? You think I’ve never met an aristocrat before?” I raised my eyebrows. “There were at least four in my history class.”
And, uh. I am one.
He chuckled, indicating off the main road onto a smaller one. “Yeah, you’re right.” He turned the car. “That’s why my grandpa is kind of set on me seeing the right person. Or who he deems the right person. He’s…”
“Archaic and judgemental?”
“No.” William paused. “Yes.”
I laughed. “So why did you bring me instead of some fancy aristocratic girl he’d like?”
“I tried. She wasn’t available.”
I stared at him.
His lips curved to one side. “Kidding. Mum suggested someone, but I asked you instead. You’re a perfectly acceptable friend with your education, and he might even consider you an acceptable casual girlfriend.”
“I’m starting to feel like I’m a roast chicken being presented to Gordon Ramsay,” I remarked. “I thought you said there was no drama in your family.”
“There’s a lot of drama in my family,” he replied. “I absolutely lied about that.”
“Is there anything truthful in what you’ve told me?”