“You were happy because you wanted someone to help you be a more successful nobleman, that’s all,” Gareth said. “You just wanted to blend in, to be a member of society. You’re no lord, not even now. And you were only using my sister to try to become a part of this world.”
“You know I wouldn’t have married her if she hadn’t wanted it too,” Reeves said. “She must have told you that. We agreed mutually. She thought it would be for the best every bit as much as I did.”
“Oh, I know what she thought,” Gareth snapped. “She thought she was marrying someone young and handsome, someone who would make her life easier and more pleasant. She thought that by accepting you, she was freeing herself of the risk of being married off to some old man who could never hope to understand her, with whom she wouldn’t have had a moment’s joy. She thought she wasluckyto get someone like you.” Therewas a bitterness in his tone. “She didn’t realize that being with you was going to mean an end to her life.”
Reeves went rigid.
A humorless smile spread over Gareth’s face. “That’s right,” he said. “I know it’s your fault she died, Reeves. I know that she’d still be alive to this day if she had never married you. So, if you want to know why I think Emma should be with me, that’s the reason. She deserves a good life. She ought to be raised by atruemember of London society, not someone who simply fell backward into his title. And she certainly shouldn’t be raised by someone directly responsible for the death of her mother.”
“Rosalie was ill,” Reeves said sharply. “You must know that.”
“She was ill because you didn’t take proper care of her. A man who truly loved her would have done better. He would have made sure she remained healthy, especially in the days following the birth of a child. But you—you were disappointed to have a daughter, weren’t you?”
“I have never been disappointed to have my daughter,” Reeves ground out. The rage coming off of him was so palpable that Bridget couldn’t believe Gareth was still standing in the face of it.
“You were disappointed,” Gareth repeated, as if he hadn’t even heard Reeves speak. “And now you wonder why I think the child would be better off with me. I can’t believe it’s even a question in your mind. Of course, she will be—and you’ll be relieved to berid of her, too. I think it would save some time if you would just admit to it. I’m doing you a favor here.”
He really is mad,Bridget realized.He really believes these things he’s saying. He thinks Reeves is somehow responsible for the death of his wife—that he somehowmadeher ill. He thinks Reeves will be grateful to be rid of Emma. Nothing could be further from the truth!
She didn’t know whether to be more or less frightened of Gareth. His madness certainly made him unpredictable, and there was danger in that. On the other hand, it probably meant that he hadn’t come up with a strong plan. It might increase their chances of being able to catch him by surprise before this was all over.
Reeves regarded Gareth steadily. “I’ve tried to be a friend to you,” he said. “I’ve tried to include you in my life, and in Emma’s, because youareher family, and she has so little of that left. You’re the best connection to Rosalie she has. I would never want to take that away from her.” He paused. “I can understand your anger with me, Gareth. I know you were heartbroken when she died. I know it was harder for you than it was for me, and I know you can’t forgive me for that fact. I wish things didn’t have to be this way between the two of us.”
“This is the way things are,” Gareth said. “And Emma belongs with me. You can’t convince me that isn’t what Rosalie would have wanted. After all, I knew her all her life. You knew her for a year, and not very well at that.”
“You’re right,” Reeves said quietly. “You’re right about that. And maybe you do know something I don’t about what she would have wanted us to do here. Maybe I do need to defer to your senses about this matter.”
Bridget felt it like a dagger to the gut. She had been sure that there had been some plan in place, some way for all of them to get out of this.
But Norman hadn’t moved from his place by the door. If he were here to help, he had given no sign of it. Maybe he had only come as a driver.
And as for Reeves… he sounded serious. He sounded as if he might be believing the dreadful things Gareth was saying to him, as if he were truly becoming convinced that Emma would be better off in the hands of her uncle.
How could he possibly think so? The last time she was with Gareth, he left her bruised and incapable of speech! Reeves might doubt his parenting, but he must realize he’s better thanthat!
She wanted to call out to him, to remind him, but she feared shocking Gareth, mad as he was. If she startled him, he might start shooting. As long as the gun remained unfired, there was still a chance to undo everything that had happened. There was still the possibility that they could all walk away.
Don’t give up, she told herself firmly.Don’t give up on this. There’s still a chance.
“Send her over to me,” Gareth said. “Let’s get this done.”
“Send Bridget to me,” Reeves countered. “That was the agreement—that if I came and met you here, Bridget would be released to me.”
“You’ll get her when I have Emma.”
“No. I don’t trust you enough for that.”
“Well, you can’t expect me to trust you either,” Gareth snapped.
“We’ll send them at the same time, then,” Reeves said. “Untie her and send her over to me, and Emma will come to you at the same time.”
Gareth hesitated, then nodded. “Very well.”
He went to Bridget, pulled her to her feet, and cut her free of her bindings.
“Nothing fancy,” he growled in her ear. “You walk straight to him, and you don’t try anything, or I’ll shoot the girl.”
Bridget was forced to comply. Trembling, she made her way across the room to Reeves, aching as she and Emma passed one another.
