“You did what?!”
I sat awkwardly in the desk chair watching Adam yell at Victoria with a very confused looking Devereaux Sr. looking on.
“You have been very distracted lately,” she said coolly. “So, I took it upon myself to inform your father and bring him here to help keep you focused.”
“Does anyone want tea?” His father asked.
Very focused indeed.
“You took it upon yourself?” Adam asked.
“No one asked you to do that, if anything he will be a distraction.”
“A distraction?” Adam’s father asked.
“I’m not a distraction. Now, your pretty lady over there is a distraction, which we have promptly been ignoring. Hello, darling! My name is Malcom Deveraux, I’m Adam’s father. It is a pleasure to meet you.”
He reached out and kissed my hand.
This was the second time that morning he had introduced himself to me.
“You are a very stunning woman!” He exclaimed brightly.
“Barely a woman,” Victoria muttered.
If looks could kill, Adam’s glare would have done the job.
“Don’t listen to her,” Malcom said to me. “She never had a mate, which I think it’s because she’s a bit of a bitch.”
I tried not to laugh as Victoria rolled her eyes.
“You know, he continued, “I think I was about your age when I married Adam’s mother.”
“She’s twenty,” Victoria said.
“Oh, good heavens!”
Malcom exclaimed. “You are just a child! Oh well, you’ve got a long life ahead of you, live it well!”
Victoria closed her eyes in frustration and Adam sighed heavily.
“Does anyone want tea?” Malcom asked, for the second time.
“I’m fine, thank you,” I said politely.
“I’ll take some,” Adam said. “No cream, bit of sugar though.”
“Nonsense!” Malcome exclaimed. “You will drink it black! It will put hair on your chest, boy!”
“Take Victoria with you when you go,” Adam said as his father turned to leave.
“Would you like to come too, darling?” Malcom asked me.
“She’s going to stay here with me,” Adam said.
“Oh, I see…” Malcom said, giving me an exaggerated blink, which I assumed was supposed to be a wink, as Adam ushered them out the door.
“Malcom, this is not what we discussed over the phone,” Victoria said firmly as they left the room.
Adam turned around and sighed loudly.
“He’s a character,” I said laughing.
“He’s lost his mind,” Adam said, taking a seat beside me. “That’s why I sent him away.”
“You sent him to Brighton?” I asked.
“Yes, well, after my mother died he had a mental breakdown and started to go crazy. Xavier took over unofficially until I was old enough. No one knew though.”
“Li told me you overthrew him?” I said.
Adam laughed at this. “That’s what we tell people to preserve his honor. He wouldn’t be so much of a legend if people knew he sang Twinkle Twinkle Little Star before a meal instead of a prayer.”
“And whatever you do,” Adam continued, “don’t talk about airplanes in front of him. He will talk you ear off for hours about airplanes and U-boats.”
I nodded. “Duly noted.”
We were silent for a few moments before I spoke up again.
“Have you heard any news about Mr. Chandler?” I asked.
Adam shook his head. “No, I haven’t.”
“Has anyone found my mom?” I asked hopefully.
“I’m sorry, no,” he said.
I sighed heavily and laid my head back against the chair.
“We’ll find them,” Adam assured me.
“I hope so,” I sighed.
“Have you started planning the Centennial yet?” He asked me.
I shook my head. “I have no clue what I’m doing. Maybe you should get someone else to do it?”
Adam smiled. “I think you’re going to do great. Go find that pipsqueak Tyler, he’ll help you. It might help you get your mind off things.”
“I thought you said Tyler wasn’t staying?” I asked.
“I took your advice,” he said. “He can stay as long as he doesn’t find out our plans for Europe.”
I smiled. “It was a good plan wasn’t it?”
Adam nodded, leaning forward to kiss me. “Now, go,” he said. “I’ve got things to do and Victoria-as much as I hate to say it-was right about you being a distraction.”
“Oh,” I said.
“A good distraction,” he assured me. “But me trying to picture you naked doesn’t exactly motivate me to write treaties and budget plans.”
I laughed
“I’ll go.”