“No,” Freddie said evenly. “We’ve been too busy discussing how I’m taking over the British Society for Early Childhood Development.”

“That’s a big one,” Nick said pleasantly. “Bex and I are being given Pediatric Blindness. Maybe we can collaborate on something.”

“Maybe,” Freddie said. “I’m going to be rather occupied with Children’s Anemia but perhaps we can work Blindness in.”

“That’d be fantastic, assuming our Lyme Disease schedule allows,” Nick said.

“Anything for the children,” Freddie responded.

“You’re both being ridiculous,” I said.

Freddie scrunched his face up, as if I’d asked him to do high-level calculus on the fly.

“We were just having a conversation, weren’t we, Knickers?” His phone buzzed and he fished it out and brightened. “I’ve got to take this. One second.”

As he stepped away, I turned to Nick. “Our Lyme Disease schedule?”

“It was just—”

“Do not say it was just a conversation, because we both know that’s bullshit.”

His cheeks reddened, and he cast a furtive glance at Freddie’s back. “I’ve been working myself ragged trying to do right by my place in this family, and still there was a headline a few days back that said Freddie has been the real champion this year,” he said softly.

“So? You’re always telling me that stuff is meaningless.”

“Well, I saw it and thought, Right, then, I’ll piss off again if that’s how you want it,” Nick said. “I cannot believe he’s come out of a scandal he caused looking so fucking golden.” He again looked over at his brother, who was plugging one ear while carrying on a conversation. “I used to want our old relationship back. But right now, what I want more than that is to make the public see what it’s got in me.” He looked up at me, eyes blazing. “And sometimes, I want Freddie to shove it.”

I told you so, Eleanor’s voice said in my head.

Before I could respond, a tall man with dramatic eyebrows scuttled into the hallway. “We’re ready to start,” he said. “Is everyone prepared?”

Freddie hurriedly ended his phone call. “All set,” he said.

“Do you need to practice with the tiny curtain, Your Highness?” the man asked Freddie. “My notes here say that you’re to pull the cord.”

“I’ve gotten very adept at these, thanks,” Freddie said.

“I’ve been looking forward to this,” Nick said. “The painting is really beautiful.”

“I started a terrific biography of this artist,” Freddie added.

“I finished that biography last night,” Nick noted.

“Yeah, well I wrote that biography, so I win,” I said.

Nick and Freddie turned to me, startled, as if they’d already forgotten I was there, whereas Eyebrows knotted his and appeared to be considering correcting me on that point. “Shall we perhaps get started?” he asked instead.