Eden had half-hidden herself behind him. Willow wrapped an arm around her and eased her forward. “Eden and I are so glad to be here.”

Like her husband, Maggie only seemed to see her daughter once he’d said her name. Her smile faltered. “Edie! How lovely to see you!”

“Hi, mum.”

They kissed like two birds pecking. Maggie touched Eden’s skirt. “What a pretty outfit.”

“Thanks.”

“Where is the rest of it?”

Maggie gave a bright laugh and Willow joined in out of pure muscle memory. Eden didn’t say anything, just raised her champagne glass and drank.

Maggie patted his arm. “So, you’re Edie’s boyfriend, Sloan?”

Feeling entirely out of his depth and knowing he wasn’t getting an assist from Eden, he winged it. “I am. It’s early days, but we’re doing well.”

“Wonderful.” Her eyes raked him over like she was recruiting a new fullback to her state team. “Are you from Victoria?”

Willow knew a class-assessing question when he heard one, but was he supposed to say he was from Queensland or give her the whole shebang? He shot Eden a look. She was staring into her empty glass, miserable. And why wouldn’t she be? Her parents were acting like assholes. Fuck it. Shock and awe.

“Actually, I’m Scottish,” he told Maggie. “My dad and I moved to Australia when I was three, but I’m still close to everyone back home.”

“A Scotsman!” She clapped her hands. “I have Scottish relations. Where are you from?”

“Edinburgh. My father’s John Fitzpatrick Williams and my mother was Elizabeth McCall.”

“McCall? Not Gerard McCall’s daughter?”

“That’s her,” Willow said with grim satisfaction. “I went home and saw Grandad last year. He’s doing well. Still hunting somehow.”

Maggie shot Eden a look he needed no help interpreting—why didn’t you tell me?

Eden stared at her toes.

Her mother turned, gesturing to a cluster of men nearby. “Sloan, you must meet my son. Kane? Kane!”

A mournful-looking bloke loped over. “What’s the problem now, mother?”

Maggie swatted her son. “Don’t listen to him. Kane, this is Sloan Williams. His grandfather used to host those fantastic May Day parties. Do you remember?”

Kane blinked. Unlike his mother and sister, he wasn’t good-looking. His thin face and bulging eyes reminded Willow of a greyhound. “I do remember those parties,” he said in a sharp English accent. He held out a hand and Willow shook it. “Nice to meet you.”

“What brings you here? Are you some kind of distant relation?”

“He’s here with Eden,” Maggie interrupted and Kane’s gaze fell on his younger sister. “Oh, hullo, Edie. Nice to see you.”

Eden held up two fingers. “Hi.”

Maggie patted her daughter’s middle. “Stand up straight. Your skirt is bunching.”