Sins of the Father – Chapter 1

Drake sat at the table during the Cordonian Art Council’s Annual Appreciation Ball nursing a large glass of malt on the rocks, watching Liam, the foundation’s patron, engage the audience in a light-hearted speech. Drake hated these sort of functions, full of stuffy nobles with their mouths full of marbles, either ignoring him completely or looking down their nose at him… But as much as he detested it, he knew that Liam appreciated his support at these events, so he sucked it up and stuck around. Drake pinched the bridge of his nose… Sometimes he felt like he’d been doing that for a lifetime; sticking around for Liam. Not that he grudged him any of his time, of course he didn’t: Liam was the best friend Drake could ever have asked for. Even as a child Drake hardly spent any time at home, particularly after his father died. It was much more fun to hang out with Liam and Leo than hanging around with his mother and sister. Drake smiled sadly. In the six months that followed Constantine’s demise, Drake had watched Liam bend and almost break, personally knowing the pain of losing a father… But tonight, his buddy was looking much more like his old self again… Drake had watched on in amazement during those trying times as Clara had held Liam tight, letting him grieve for his father, supporting him quietly. That girl had been his absolute rock, and it caused Drake a sudden sharp pang of guilt when he thought of that, knowing how he felt deep down inside about Clara. Fitzpatrick was one of a kind and Drake had fallen pretty damn hard for her. Even though she was Liam’s girl. Even though she never encouraged how he felt. Even though he tried his hardest not to…

Drake sighed. After what his best friend had been through recently, it was totally wrong that he was sitting here lusting after Liam’s wife; and Drake loathed himself for how Clara made him feel… He knew in his heart of hearts he’d never stood a chance with Clara , she only ever had eyes for Liam… Why did Drake ever think that she would have taken a second glance at him when Prince Charming was going all out to sweep her off her feet? Drake loved his best friend, of course he did. But Liam had his pick of an international variety of beautiful noble women, couldn’t he just have stuck to them and let Drake pursue the gorgeous, funny waitress from New York? On paper at least, she was much better suited to Drake than Liam… He drained his glass, a twinge of jealously coursed through him: the simple truth was that Liam always seemed to end up with exactly what Liam wanted. Of course he did, because he was royalty for God’s sake. Liam’s birth right had afforded him the best of everything money could buy. And although Liam wasn’t pompous or at all vulgar in his spending, money wasn’t ever something he had to think about or worry about the way normal people had to. He was effortlessly popular as they’d grown up; he’d received a top-class education of course and the other kids in school had consistently fallen over themselves to get into the Prince’s good graces; he was never picked on, never sniggered at… In their teens and early twenties Liam never had a problem picking up girls. Drake had to admit his friend was exceptionally handsome; if he wasn’t a prince he could have modelled or acted. But even when girls hadn’t known Liam was royalty they’d still fawned over him… Drake supposed it was the air of confidence that came with the life Liam had been born into that made him so damn appealing: a little assertive, very suave, poetic and intelligent when he spoke… Drake knew Liam’d gotten through some tough times, but when you looked at the whole picture, Liam had lead a pretty charmed life – he didn’t know or understand the struggle of worrying about finances, of not fitting in, of going unnoticed when he walked into a room, of being treated like scum because of his station, of not getting the object of his heart’s desire… And it wasn’t a poor reflection on his friend, but Liam would never understand any of these things, because of the life that he was born into.

Liam’s speech finished and the applause from the audience pulled Drake back out of his own thoughts. He clapped and grinned up at Liam, giving him an approving nod as their eyes met. King Liam and Queen Clara made their way down from the stage, shaking a few hands and giving air kisses as they went, Drake watched Clara swoop in and acquire a couple of flutes of champagne from a passing server and hand one to Liam before running one hand through his wavy fair hair and placing a gentle kiss on his cheek. Drake looked away as Liam pulled his beautiful wife flush to his body, smiling down at her like a lovesick puppy. Clara was utterly stunning tonight as always; a pale pink dress with a deep V-neckline, covered in embroidery and beds that sparkled and shimmered as the light caught them, complimenting her dark skin and silky blonde hair, skimming her delicious curves… Drake conceded that Fitzpatrick looked every inch the Queen that she now was, wondering to himself how the hell a waitress from New York had managed to so effortlessly and quickly slot herself into royal life, loved and accepted by the majority of the Court, when he’d barely been scraping by all of these years as Liam’s best friend…? Drake poured another whiskey as the royal couple ambled across to his table, hand in hand, smiling and chatting. Raising his glass to Liam as they approached, Drake fixed on a big smile,

“Great speech buddy. You did good up there tonight Liam. Congratulations.“

Hana raised her glass also,

“Yes, well done! And you both look wonderful tonight! “

Liam winked at Hana as he dropped down into a free seat beside her and Drake, loosening his tie as he did,

“Phhhhew, I’m just glad that part’s over!”

He shot Drake his dazzling signature grin, blue eyes glittering as he pulled a giggling Clara onto his lap, wrapping a muscular arm around her slim waist as she leaned into him,

“Means I can relax with my beautiful wife and good company, and enjoy the rest of the party now, my friend…”

Drake raised his glass again,

“Cheers to that!”

—

As the night progressed into the small hours, only the die-hards remained, their little group was all slightly worse for wear, Clara had gotten herself into a ridiculous dance-off with Maxwell as had become a fairly regular occurrence, surrounded by a circle of onlookers giggling as they watching the good-natured banter between the two friends. Bertrand hanging back with Liam and Drake shaking his head as they both laughed at the shameful moves, neither Maxwell or Clara willing to be outdone by the other… When Hana had finally diplomatically declared it a draw, Maxwell picked Clara up and threw her over his shoulder as she squealed, bringing her to Liam, jesting,

“Here Liam, she’s frankly a terrible loser, Hana was too kind… Some of those moves were criminal!”

Liam chuckled,

“Maxwell I think you could both be sent down for crimes against rhythm… ”

Maxwell and Clara gawped at each other gasping, feigning shock, as Liam wearily stood,

“Well, I do hate to call time on this wonderful evening, but I’m afraid that I have a meeting with the security team tomorrow at 10am, followed by the legal team who were handling my Father’s larger estate. I’ve been honestly rather shocked at the number of properties abroad, bank accounts, futures and bonds that I wasn’t even aware my Father had. I feel like there were a lot of things I didn’t know about him…”

Liam dropped his head for a moment, before peering up at his wife,

“Clara, are you all danced out, my love? Time to go?”

Clara stood, nestling herself to his side, her hand over his heart,

“It is, my love. Gang??”

She gave a small comedic salute, grinning widely,

“Goodnight, it’s been… Ridiculous…”

Liam wrapped an arm around her, twirling her in a circle as Clara’s head swung back, her golden hair whipping around behind her, dark eyes shining and her bright white smile illuminating her features as he admired her. Liam bid farewell to his friends,

“Goodnight Drake, Hana, Maxwell, Bertrand… Come on, you!”

—

TBC – VP 💖