The Similars (The Similars #1)(67)

“Emma, about that…”

“Dad?” I say, an idea forming. My father turns to me. He’s been listening to the two of us; I’m sure of it. “We’re switching seats.” I grab my father’s place card and trade it for my own. “Meet your new neighbor, Levi Gravelle.”

“I’m Emmaline’s father,” my dad says vaguely to Levi. As confident as he usually is, I can tell he is thrown to see Oliver’s Similar up close. “Colin Chance.”

“Pleasure,” Levi says, holding out a hand for my father to shake. But my father keeps his own hands by his side.

“You’re the one who allegedly attacked Emma’s roommate, Prudence,” my father says, unsmiling.

“Allegedly,” Levi says, not breaking my father’s gaze, but lowering his hand.

I feel obligated to explain. “Levi was questioned, but—”

“Welcome to the fourteenth annual Darkwood Ten dinner,” booms Ransom, interrupting my impassioned defense of Levi. “You are here because you have climbed to the top of Darkwood’s ranks.” I notice Bianca leaning over to Bob, whispering something in his ear, while Madison glares across the table at Maude. Wait—Ransom has seated Maude at her DNA family’s table too? Just as Theodora is with the Leroys? Why would he do that? Does he think a single dinner might change the Huxleys’ minds about their daughter’s clone? Or the Leroys’ about theirs?

“We also have a great many Ten alumni in our presence,” Ransom continues. “Colin Chance, Bianca Huxley, Damian Leroy, Jaeger Stanwick, and Ezekiel Choate were all Ten members when they attended Darkwood. And Sunil Bhat’s mother was also a student here, though not a part of the Ten.”

“A failure that has haunted me every day since,” she chimes in. I zero in on Sunil’s mom—a petite lady with shiny black hair and flawless skin—and I wonder if she’s joking or not.

Ransom smiles politely. “Oh, and I must not forget Luis de Leon, but he probably doesn’t need introducing, given his visibility on the Hollywood scene as a renowned TV producer. Nor does the esteemed former vice president, Bob Huxley. Though he didn’t attend Darkwood himself, his wife and daughter have convinced him of the school’s many virtues.” Ransom chuckles. “As you can see, being a part of the Ten is not to be taken for granted. It is the highest honor at Darkwood, and some would say, in the nation. The Ten alumni are an influential group, serving as arbiters of taste and culture in our society. They have historically been highly respected patrons of the arts, technology, and education, as well as avid philanthropists.” I look over at my father. I’ve never once heard him speak of the connections he’s made because of this society. Is that normal?

“I hope you keep that in mind as you take advantage of tonight’s company. Here in this room are some of Darkwood’s finest. Please, enjoy your dinners and a night that is sure to be memorable.” Ransom sits back down, and waiters bring soup to the table, leaving us to our own devices.

It’s awkward as we all pretend to be fascinated by the soup. I’m uncomfortable, and not only me—Pippa is too. I don’t know why I thought she wouldn’t be. She’s clearly not comfortable sitting next to Jaeger, not when Pru isn’t here. I notice Pippa exchange a look with Levi. He nods, then says something across the table to her, probably in Portuguese.

I can’t take the weirdness any longer.

“Jaeger? Have you met Levi? He and Pippa are, well… They grew up together.”

“We’re quite close,” Pippa says. “We’ve known each other our whole lives.”

“Just like you and my father,” I say to Jaeger. “Or nearly, anyway. You were in the Ten together, weren’t you? Along with Jake’s parents, and Oliver’s mom and stepdad… Speaking of. There’s a classmate of yours. A member of the Ten, actually, who I’m curious about. John Underwood.”

I glance at Levi out of the corner of my eye, certain Maude told him about Oliver’s birth certificate. It affects him too; after all, it’s where half of his DNA came from. From Jane and from Underwood.

Jaeger shrugs. “Nice fellow. Kept to himself. Maybe Colin remembers more.” He breaks off a piece of roll from his bread plate and starts chewing.

My dad sets down his soup spoon. “We talked about this, Emmaline. That was years ago. Decades in the past—”

“But surely you remember something about his expulsion.”

As soon as I say it, it’s like a bomb has gone off in the room. It can’t be a coincidence—or perhaps it is—but at that exact moment the room goes silent. Everyone has heard me.

“How do you know about that?” Headmaster Ransom asks quietly from his table.

“Doesn’t everyone?” says Frederica Leroy. “It was a huge scandal. Underwood was disgraced. Damian told me all about it.” She pats her husband’s limp hand.

“We remember,” says Bianca in a strained voice, sharing a look with Ransom. Again, I’m perplexed by this sudden closeness in their relationship.

“We were dismayed to see Underwood go,” says Ransom. “He was so sharp. Came here on a scholarship. We hate to see any student make a misstep, particularly those who would not have otherwise had the opportunity to attend Darkwood. Sadly, he passed away. Thirteen years ago, I believe.”