“I like purple and blue the best and please, not anything too revealing.” I was not a fan of being leered at.
“But you have a shape to kill for!” Anika shot back. “Soft toned curves, full breasts and a small waist. You should accentuate this!”
I looked at Sophia for help, she had to understand. She gave me a quick wink, a conspiring gesture which warmed my heart. “Maybe we could keep the boys guessing, don’t you think, Anika? Less is more, we know that.”
Anika rested her forefinger on her lips, detailing me once more. “Umm, yes, I guess I can keep the more revealing outfits for the evening gowns.”
I threw Sophia a grateful smile which she returned.
Sophia clapped her hands together. “Perfect, can we expect some items tomorrow?” she asked Anika, a subtle way to let her know she had outstayed her welcome for today.
Once she was gone Sophia brought me one of her dresses for dinner. “Purple,” she smiled handing me a straight, lilac dress. “It’s your favorite color right? Your father expects a certain style for dinner, and he wants women in a skirt or dresses, always.”
“I see…” I muttered, taking hold of the dress. It was pretty, I couldn’t deny that, but it was not me. No, it wasn't Esme Danvers, but it was Esmeralda Forbes I thought bitterly.
At 8pm Sophia came to fetch me for dinner.
“The boys are already downstairs, but I thought it would be better to come for you.” She linked our arms together.
“Thank you,” I confirmed. It did help to know I had somebody on my side.
“You look very pretty,” she commented, squeezing my arm as we walked down the stairs.
I hadn’t done much except pull my long wavy hair into a high ponytail and a put on a little of the make-up she’d purchased for me.
When we entered the dining room both men turned, and I was taken aback by how similar they looked. Same towering height, broad shoulders, dark hair, grey eyes. Even their demeanour was the same. The air of authority, the coldness… it was all there, and a little piece of my heart broke to realize this brother would not be what I expected. The only subtle difference was in the nose and chin, which he and I clearly got from our mother.
“Ah, here you are, my beautiful daughter!” my father beamed, causing Archie to scowl.
I frowned at this excess of pleasure; this wasn’t right. Was he trying to start a feud?
“Archibald, please meet your sister, Esmeralda.”
Archie took a step toward me and bowed slightly. “Esmeralda,” he offered so formally, without emotions. Was he the Prince of England?
Fuck it! Let’s show him how it’s done. I took a couple of steps toward him, closing the distance and pulled him into a hug. He was so surprised by the gesture that he didn’t resist but he just stood there rigidly, declining to return the embrace.
I let him go but rested a hand on his arm. “I’m so happy to meet you Archie, I’m so glad to have a brother.” I gave him a genuine smile. “I hope we can be friends. I’m so happy to have you.”
Archie smiled back at me, but it didn’t reach his eyes, which shone with promise of pain.
When William turned around to take a seat at the head of the table Archie removed his arm from under my hand. “I wish I could say the same,” he spat, low enough that neither my father nor Sophia could hear. “My only wish is for you to go back to the shithole you came from,” he added with finality, walking stiffly to his seat.
I stayed frozen on the spot at the crushing pain his words caused. I had not expected a warm welcome, far from it, but such disgust, such… dare I say ‘hate’, was unwarranted and so soul crushing. I’d never expected that a stranger could cause me such hurt and yet it had just happened. Congratulations, Archibald Forbes, it took you all of thirty seconds to break my heart.
“Esmeralda,” my father gestured to a seat at his left, across from Archie. Either he was oblivious to the pain I had just experienced or he just didn’t care.
I shook my head. “I, yes sorry.”
“Archibald will be taking you to and from school starting on Monday. He will help you integrate into the ranks. Won’t you, son?”
Archibald nodded, taking a spoon of his mushroom soup. “Of course,” he replied but when he threw a look at me it meant ‘In your dreams’.
The rest of the dinner was just as clinical, and I was pleased when Sophia offered me an out when she declared that I must be tired after the day’s events.
She offered to take me upstairs, but Archie jumped up and said he would oblige. Already I knew that was not a good thing.
I sighed when we reached the top of the stairs. “We’re out of earshot now, say what you need to say – I’m tired.” I meant that both emotionally and physically. I missed Luke dearly, and I hated to feel so unwanted.
“You don’t belong here. Nobody wants you here,” he hissed.
I let out a humourless laugh. “See brother, that’s something we agree on.”
His pace faltered, as if he was surprised by my agreement. “Don’t call me that!” he barked as we reached my door.
I shrugged, reaching for the handle. “Want it or not, it’s what you are… genetically at least. But don’t worry, brother, as soon as I find a way out, I’ll be gone, I promise.”
“Good.”
I nodded. “Good indeed.” I replied, walking into my room and closing the door without a look back at the glowering young man behind it.
Chapter 4
I woke up late for the first day of school and had to rush, which meant no time to do my makeup or hair, so I settled for a messy bun.
Archie was waiting for me at the bottom of the stairs, radiating irritation.
“Sorry, sorry,” I offered, trying to smooth the frown on his face only to see it deepen.
“You’re clearly not late because you took care of your appearance, are you?” he sighed before exiting the house without a look back.
I followed him to the car and he glared at my red Converses.
“What? It matches.” I pointed to my red blazer and red pleated skirt.
“You’ve got to step it up, because like it or not you’re now also the image of the Forbes family and this isn’t acceptable.”
I detailed him as he drove, not even bothering to look at me. Was he serious? How much of a pompous ass was he?
“Don’t worry, brother dear,” I taunted, “I won’t take your arm in public.”
He snorted, throwing me a quick look. “You don’t speak to me. You don’t acknowledge me. You don’t look at me. You don’t even breathe in my direction. Are we clear?”
It stung, no matter how much I said I didn’t care, being rejected by my own flesh and blood hurt deeply. “I’m not sure, brother – I’m quite slow, you know, public school and all. Can you explain again? Pretty please.”
He glared at me; his lips pursed in a fine line. “Don’t antagonise me, Esmeralda, I can make your life a misery.”
I hated how much he sounded like our father, how poisoned he already was. “Aww really? But you’re making my life so easy right now,” I replied with heavy sarcasm.
“Don’t test me, you won’t like it.”