Louisa blinked. “What?”
“Love you. He told me he doesnae. But then, Max has never loved any woman.” She laughed again. “Not even me.”
*
“South Shields isbarely keeping up with demand.” Maxwell, seated at his desk eyed the report again. “And I don’t see any sign of that demand dropping in the near future. We need to take a look at increasing output. An expansion of the current location, possibly, or a completely new site. Something to put past the shareholders at the next meeting.”
The responding silence drew his attention to the window, where Finlay stood, looking out over the garden.
“Any thoughts, Fin?”
Finlay shifted on his feet. “Aye, I think you should come and take a look at this.”
“Sounds ominous.”
“I suspect it might be.”
“What is it?” Maxwell rose and went to the window.
Finlay gestured. “Not exactly sure,” he said. “But I’m fairly certain you won’t like it very much.”
Maxwell looked out across the lawn to where Louisa stood in apparent conversation with another woman. “Who’s that with her?” he muttered, even as a sickening recognition crept into his mind.
Finlay scratched his head. “Well, I sincerely hope I’m mistaken, Max, but I do believe it’s—”
“Flora.” Shock, like an ice-cold hand, squeezed his stomach. “What the bloody hell is she doing here?”
“Good question,” Finlay muttered. “I assume you didn’t actually tell her where you lived.”
“Of course not.” He scrubbed his jaw. “Christ, I don’t believe this.”
“What are you going to do?”
“To echo your comment, good question.” He blew out a breath. “I have to get out there. I have nothing to hide, Fin. I haven’t seen the lass since April.”
“I know that, but I’m not sure if Louisa will believe it. Depends on what’s been said, I suppose. Want me to come with you?”
“God, no.” Maxwell went to the sideboard, half-filled a glass with whisky, and downed it in one gulp. “I’ll handle it.”
*
Louisa clutched ather shawl when she saw Maxwell striding toward them. If she felt anything at all, it was fear, for she was about to face a terrifying moment of truth. An affirmation that Maxwell knew this woman, and that they did, indeed, share an intimate relationship. And, if that were the case, Louisa’s life with Maxwell, her belief in theirperfectmarriage, would be forever destroyed. Surely, he could not be that deceitful, thatcruel. Yet already his swift pace across the lawn seemed to indicate some kind of foreknowledge.
Her teeth began to chatter and she bit down to stop it.
The direction of Louisa’s gaze obviously alerted Flora, who turned and, at the sight of Maxwell, smiled and fiddled with some of her curls. “Och, but he’s a braw man, aye?”
Louisa said nothing, but kept her gaze fixed on Maxwell, trying and failing to gauge his demeanor. But then, he was an expert at hiding his true emotions, which did not bode well, either. The thought that she’d been fooled this entire time was utterly nauseating.
He drew near, his gaze fixed on Louisa before it shifted to Flora. “What the bloody hell are you doing here, Flora?” he demanded.
The woman’s name on his lips was like an arrow to Louisa’s heart.
“Well, obviously I’ve come to see you, Max,” Flora replied, pouting. “I believe you owe me some money.”
And still, Louisa needed to hear him say it. “Do you know this person, Maxwell?”
“Aye, I do,” he said, scowling at Flora. “And I owe her nothing.”
