Total pages in book: 131
Estimated words: 130255 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 651(@200wpm)___ 521(@250wpm)___ 434(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 130255 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 651(@200wpm)___ 521(@250wpm)___ 434(@300wpm)
When I wasn’t thinking about that, I was thinking about my brother’s situation. And Meg’s work issues. And Winston’s great escapades. And if I really wanted to stay in London or move. And if I did, where?
See?
I was thinking about everything other than the fact I was very bloody stuck on this plot hole. What kind of issue could possibly have an aristocratic family be in a situation where they barely spoke?
“If you sigh any harder, you’re going to blow your laptop across the table.”
I dropped my head back and rolled it to the side, staring at Max. He was standing in front of the window in jeans and a black t-shirt, and a water droplet trickled down the side of his face, disappearing into his stubble.
“I’m going on strike,” I mumbled.
He laughed, walking over. He perched on the edge of the table and peered down at the screen for a moment before turning his attention back to me. “That’s a lot of words for someone going on strike.”
I pursed my lips. “My editor pointed out a plot hole. I can’t go forwards until I’ve gone back, but I’m stuck.”
“Would you like to talk it over?”
“It’s not a big one, exactly, but I’m stuck.” I rested my elbows on the table in front of me and propped my chin up on my hands. “So in the book, something happened in the family that means that the grandmother and the mother of the duke don’t speak.”
“Right.”
“I just don’t know what that is.”
“Ah.”
“Yes. You understand my predicament.”
Max nodded.
“So I need something that would be completely believable, not at all petty, and something that would potentially be an issue for more than twenty years.”
“And let me guess—your heroine will help to heal the rift.”
“But of course. What else?”
He dipped his head, smiling. “Okay. Anything specific?”
“Well, not really. Just something that would cause a lot of issues that couldn’t really be easily resolved.”
“Okay. Hm.” He tapped his fingertips against his knee. “My friend, William… that might work.”
I blinked at him. “Why? What did he do?”
Max laughed and stopped tapping. “Not him, but his family is in a similar situation.”
“Are you going to share?”
“Don’t be so impatient.” He tapped his finger against the tip of my nose, and I wrinkled my face up in annoyance. “His grandfather is the Duke of Glenroch.”
Oh, I knew that one. I’d researched Scottish castles for past books.
“Ooh, their castle is fancy.”
“One hell of a place,” he agreed. “He’s also very old school, and he expected his son—Will’s dad—to marry well.”
“Into another titled family, you mean.”
“Yes. I can’t remember who it was, but he and the other woman’s father tried to arrange their marriage, basically,” Max explained. “They went out a few times but didn’t click romantically. Will’s dad met his mum and told the other woman he wanted to marry her instead, and she agreed that they should marry for love. Turned out she’d been seeing someone quietly for two years and wanted to marry him but was willing to give it up for her family’s wishes.”
Aw.
“The duke wasn’t pleased. He married for status, not love, and Will’s grandmother came from a very old Scottish line, and the duke wasn’t happy when his son refused to marry the other woman. I think the only reason he didn’t disown him was because he was his only son.”
“Wow. That’s… harsh.” I frowned. “I couldn’t imagine disowning my child because they fell in love.”
Max slowly shrugged. “It’s… how it can be in the upper class. Not so much now, of course, but in generations past, absolutely. Especially if there was a second or third son willing to toe the line.”
“Oof.”
“Anyway, Will’s dad went against the duke’s wishes, and I think the only times they spoke after that was when Will and his sister were born.”
“Did they not go to Will’s dad’s wedding?”
“No.”
Wow. “Was his grandmother okay with that? Um… the duchess? I don’t know.”
His lips twitched. “Not really, from what Will has told me. Not as time went on, at least,” he added. “I think the only reason he himself has a relationship with his grandfather is because his grandmother insisted on spending time with the children, and his father agreed. Grandma would know more about that.”
“Know more about what?” The woman in question walked into the library, looking at us. “Oh. This is cosy.”
I rolled my eyes.
“Give it a rest,” Max muttered. “We’re talking about the Glenrochs. Ellie is going to appropriate their drama for her book.”
“That’s a strong word,” I said slowly.
“So you’re not?”
“Oh, no, I absolutely am.”
Esme chuckled. “Ah, yes. The drama there is quite something,” she said, nodding. “Angus is a right bloody curmudgeon.”
“The duke,” Max explained.
“Is it true?” I asked her. “He didn’t even go to his son’s wedding?”
“He did not,” Esme sang, sitting down. “He was so angry that Stuart chose to marry Katie that he didn’t go to the wedding. He attended William and Freya’s christenings because Morag made him. His wife,” she added after a second. “She refused to not be included in her grandchildren’s lives, and they reached somewhat of an agreement. Stuart still uses Angus’ secondary title of Earl of Dunbarn, and on William’s christening, Angus bestowed another of his secondary titles on his grandson. William goes by Viscount Kinkirk. He should have been Marquess Braenig, but it’s got quite a lot of scandal linked to an ancestor, so Angus chose another.”