Read Online The Name I Call Myself by Beth Moran - Free Book Online Page B

’em dead.”
    The marquee burst into applause as I stepped back in, again apologizing with a smile as I made my way to join Perry.
    â€œMorning sickness,” one of the Woodbridge witches hissed as I passed. “That would explain a lot.”
    Larissa pursed her lips, her eyes glittering stones. “If your girlfriend has quite finished serving our guests their coffee, Peregrine, could you please get on with it and make a toast.”
    Perry’s eyes darted back and forth between his parents and me, as the guests collectively held their breath.
    â€œUm, right. Yes. Of course. So, Faith is, well, a very… I mean, I’m very happy to say that, um…”
    Peregrine Upperton, millionaire businessman extraordinaire, floored by the steely gaze of his mother. “Well, Peregrine, what precisely are you happy about?” she asked, with a voice that could crack a walnut.
    â€œHold on a minute.” Eleanor stood up, brandishing her glass at me like a weapon. “You’re not Faith. You’re the staff.”
    My brain tried to scrabble for something to say, but the words were like leaves being tossed along the pavement, always a gust in front of me.
    â€œShe’s an imposter!” Eleanor tried to push her way around the table to where I stood, frozen, my back to the room. Her chair went flying as two hundred guests gasped as one.
    Milton began squeezing round the table to intercept. His wife remained firmly seated.
    â€œWhere is Peregrine’s real fiancée and what have you done with her?” Eleanor ducked her head around Perry, attempting to shake off his restraining hands.
    â€œGood question,” Larissa muttered, smirking at nobody in particular.
    â€œNo, Aunt,” Perry implored. “This is Faith, my fiancée. She sat and ate with us, remember?”
    â€œYes! All part of the scam, no doubt! Look at her, Peregrine. She’s clearly nothing more than a common desperado. Masquerading as a waitress, masquerading as a fiancée!”
    â€œHear, hear!” Larissa made her own personal toast, chugging down the rest of her wine.
    â€œShe’s after the family fortune! Somebody call the police!” Eleanor cried. “What have you done with poor Faith, you evil trickster?”
    â€œStop it!” Milton, reaching his sister, took hold of both her shoulders and gave her a shake. “This is Faith. Who happens to work as an… in… as a, erm…”
    â€œEvents manager,” Perry said.
    â€œWaitress,” I corrected him. “I’m a waitress,” I repeated, to the room at large. “And an excellent one. Usually.” Despite gritting my teeth together so hard I thought they’d snap, it was only the friendly face of Marilyn as she stood up, yanking James with her, that gave me the gumption to hold back the tears.
    â€œAn excellent fiancée, too, isn’t she, Perry?” Marilyn called. “And she’ll throw the best parties.” She raised her glass. “To Perry and Faith. Proving the law that opposites do indeed attract, and adding some much-needed class, beauty, and brains to the Upperton clique. I mean clan . Woohoo!”
    Amidst many murmurings, knowing looks, and Milton’s repeated attempts to reassure Eleanor I wasn’t a con artist hoodwinking them all, the crowd stood to return the toast. I slid into my seat, eyes on the table, and braced myself for Larissa’s onslaught. Perry sat down next to me, taking hold of my hand as he leaned to whisper in my ear. “Do you want to get out of here?”
    I nodded, whispering, “I’m sorry.”
    I saw his smile out of the corner of my eye. “Don’t be. I take fullresponsibility. And I can’t begin to imagine what you’ve been up to this evening, but I’m very impressed. Come on.” He started to rise to his feet.
    â€œOne moment, Peregrine.” A voice like a glacier pushed him back down