“More tea, Saffron?” his mum, Imelda, asked at our first meeting, pouring into my cup before I could answer. Her pearl necklace glinted in the dining room’s soft light as she gave me a tight smile.
“I’m just so happy Arden’s finally settling down.”
“Mum,” Arden said, grabbing my hand under the table.
“What? It’s a nice thing to say!” Imelda replied, sharing a quick look with her husband, Cedric, that gave me chills.
I smiled back, keeping it cool. I’d grown up dealing with people who judged me without knowing me. My parents always said our family’s money was nobody’s business.
“Old money stays quiet,” my grandad used to tell me. So I learned to live my life without flashing my wealth around.
Arden squeezed my hand and whispered, “I’m popping out to meet my mate Rory for an hour. You okay with my parents for a bit?”
“Sure,” I said, giving him a quick kiss on the cheek. “Take your time.”
