Heaven And Hell novel Chapter 117

"She's -- Havenhurst -- oh God, Eddie, she's engaged!"

"What!" Both me and Uncle Eddie exclaimed the word at the same time a waitress got startled and nearly dropped her tray. She gave us an acid stare before heading into the kitchen. I awkwardly waved at her.

"Piss off!" was what I got as her response, including a nice show of her middle finger.

"Ohhhh," Aunt Mary moaned, pacing around like a madwoman. "Your parents are going to flambé us!" She stopped in front of me and actually shook me. "It's amazing you caught the eye of an active peer of the realm, but goodness, pet!"

"Hold on, whoa, hey," I said, trying to calm her down. But my heart was beating so fast, and Uncle Eddie's befuddled expression wasn't helping me soothe my nerves one bit. "Where did you hear about this?"

"The loo!" she moaned again. "Two widgeons were talking about something they read in the bloody paper, an announcement; an actual engagement involving 'Nicholas Colton Boselli Cutting and Olivia Grace Mathison' --"

"Oh. My. God." If my aunt and uncle hadn't been there before me, I would have toppled over the barrel and everyone would think I was this drunkard, ready to shimmy at the pub.

Uncle Eddie's strong grip on my elbow calmed me down somewhat, but his voice was slightly anxious. "So you didn't know about this at all?"

Before I could get an answer in, the TV flashed before our eyes by the bar, and though the volume was muted, there was the headline covering my "engagement" announcement with Colton, then his picture popped. It was a candid shot of him in some village, Ray-Bans on, unsmiling, and then...

"That is so not fair!" I cried, thanking the loud music for drowning out my voice. "Where did they get my pictures? My Facebook and Instagram are super private!" The picture they had of me was the one with my mouth hanging wide open, a finger on my teeth and looking totally un-chic whatsoever, orange fluffy sweater and (unfashionably) messy ponytail and all.

"Darling, I'm sure that doesn't matter right now," Aunt Mary mused in a rush. "You still look quite lovely."

Suddenly another photo of me came about, this one from my high school prom. Hmmm, I looked pretty good there, actually...

"So not the point, Livvy!" I snapped to myself. "God!"

"Who would do such a thing?" my relatives mused, brows scrunching over vertically.

Aunt Mary wrapped me in her arms. "Why a major lie and on the telly!"

I noticed a few people by the bar staring; even the bartender looked from the TV to me, back and forth, back and forth, like a ping-pong match, trying to pinpoint my face to the girl on the news. I didn't dare look at the screen anymore.

They figured it out. Some whispered but mostly the others didn't mind. Except for the bartender, who flashed me a grin and chuckled, "Wow, we got a future Kate Middleton in our midst, have we now?"

"I knew you weren't all that sincere," Colton hissed. I didn't get to snarl back at him because I was so stunned, then he turned on his heel to start finding the dowager, all in a hissy fit.

"Excuse me?!" I yelled, plodding on behind him. His strides were longer so I had to catch up. "I didn't know anything about this stupid announcement!"

He didn't even bother looking at me when he boomed, "To hell, you didn't!"

I stopped in my tracks and gaped at him, then I shook in fury and marched toward him again.

"Master Colton!" a butler exclaimed, a rare smile lighting up his face. "You and Miss Mathison are expected."

"I bet they are!" Colton bit off. "Where the hell are they?"

"In the garden, taking afternoon refreshments."

Colton moved away from him and I followed suit, chest heaving. When he slammed the elegant French double-doors open, we found the dowagers, the duke, and Keller and Michael elegantly taking their drinks. They all made a pretty picture with butterflies floating about and wildflowers and roses in the background. They were all seated in beautiful white-painted metal furniture, but Colton didn't see the picture I saw. He was so furious that he lashed out, without preamble. "And I presume you are responsible for this goddamn announcement?" His eyes hardened at the sight of Lady Cutting.