Heaven And Hell novel Chapter 103

I learned their names when I'd been introduced after my weird hello, and now we were having a meal fit for royalty.

Lady Cutting smiled -- a bit wickedly, or maybe I was just paranoid -- and beckoned for me to sit with them at the long table. Colton walked away from the window and sat at the head, without acknowledging everyone, and the food was immediately served. I felt a heavy stare from across my seat and looked up to see Lady Portia studying me as she sipped her wine. I cleared my throat. This wasn't going too well.

"My dear girl," the duke said with a jolly grin, "how on earth did my Aunt Marge find you?"

"She saw me out the window, hugging your tree."

"My tree?" He blinked at me for a moment, looking adorably confused. The servant, a boy with blond hair, served him water from a glass jug. I noticed that he and I were the only ones who weren't drinking alcohol. "I don't recall having my own tree..."

"I do believe it's mine," a deep voice called out. We all swivelled our heads to look at Colton, who leaned back in his seat.

"Did we even give you a tree as a present in the past?"

His lips actually somewhat twitched at the edges. "No, but my ancestors did."

"Ah, yes." The duke scratched his head. "Your title and your estate. Right, right."

"So do continue," Lady Portia told me with kind, scintillating green eyes. "She found you hugging Cole's tree and I presume my grandson found out not long after?"

My cheeks started to turn hot but I thanked the blessed lighting in this room. "Um, I guess?"

Lady C chuckled at that, touching my arm heartily. "I instructed Colton to see what was going on, to be frank." The wicked gleam in her eye was pretty terrifying, honestly.

"And you were cunning with the way you handled the situation," her grand-nephew drawled. His eyes met mine. "Quite a memorable first meeting, don't you think?"

I squeaked and continued eating my cutlet.

"D'you have a nice lad at home, Olivia?" the duke queried, taking a swig of his water. I couldn't help but smile and look dreamy. I felt Colton's gaze on me but I ignored that. Lady Cutting, on the other hand, gave a low grumble, although I thought she was just thinking how good the meat was. "Ah, I see you do. One so pretty seems impossible not to have a bloke!"

"'Kay..."

She patted her stomach and shook her head. With a kiss on her nephew's cheek, she strolled out of the room with her cane, her head held regally high like a queen ready for battle.

Or, like, ready for the toilet.

Once the door was shut, the dining room was so quiet that I thought my eardrums were going to pop. Not more than twenty minutes, and the evening drew to a horrible mess, and it was so awkward.

"Um..." I started, fumbling for words. "Do you still, uh, want to have dinner?"

Colton looked at me in wry amusement, but his lips remained immobile. "Do you?" There was challenge in his eyes, daring me to find out if I'd get sick like his relatives. He took a bite of his cutlet.

For the first time in his presence, I actually barked out a laugh. Shaking my head and cutting my food, I said, "Is it just me, or what had just happened seemed way too weird?"