“Then there is the matter of your money. Given the fact that he was caught so soon after running away, I doubt he had a chance to do anything with the document you signed.”
She linked her fingers together and straightened her arms. Every muscle in her body was sore and moving was painful. “As I told you in the cave, he never had any access to Zander’s money. Of course, you chose not to believe me. You thought I was lying.” His lack of faith in her rankled. She was used to people doubting her but somehow any criticism from Langdon hurt her pride.
He crossed his arms and lifted his chin, the material of his jacket pulling at the shoulders. “You are a convincing liar. How was I supposed to know you were telling the truth when you weren’t forthcoming to begin with?”
She opened her mouth, snapped her jaw shut, and willed her temper back. “I told one lie to you. Once. One time, and I spent the last hour explaining my reasons. You, however, have not given me the same courtesy.”
At his lifted brow, she nodded. “You lied to me twice on our first meeting.”
He leaned forward in his seat and a tilt appeared at the corner of his mouth. “I beg to differ. I never claimed to be Stanton. I just never cleared up your assumption that I was Stanton.”
“A lie by omission is still a lie.”
“What was my second lie?” he asked, the smile becoming more pronounced.
Her animosity towards him began to thaw and she tried to hold onto her anger. “You said you were a government agent, then you let it slip that you were part of the Tenet, which means that you aren’t technically a government agent.”
His amusement faded and a more serious light entered his eyes. “How do you know about the Tenet?
“My father is, um, he had always been bitter about my uncle and his place in the club. He spoke of the Tenet with spiteful jealousy, because he was only granted general membership status and couldn’t be elevated to the same position as my uncle.” Elizabeth had no idea what that position was, nor was she about to disclose that bit of information to him. She wanted answers to the mystery that had been plaguing her. The way she figured it, if he was mad at her already, she might as well add another thing to his list.
“Very few men obtain guardian status. Did you know Stanton was part of the Tenet or was it simply a coincidence you contacted him?”
“I had no idea of his association with the Tenet until Idle came to visit my uncle with a note from Stanton. Then I asked my aunt if my cousin worked for the government. She confirmed he hadn’t. Yet you told me he notified Farnsworth of the investigation into Randell’s dealings on the coast. Either Stanton was careless, or my cousin worked for him in a different capacity.”
Langdon closed his eyes, inhaled, and hissed out a long breath. “A select few members of the Tenet assist the government in investigating crimes committed by the nobility. It feels futile at times because they are rarely brought to justice, but we have to try.”
“I am grateful for your help in trying to bring him to justice.” Misery settled in. She stood and went to the sideboard to pour another glass of whisky. No matter who was in charge of the investigation, she was glad the truth had been uncovered. She had been aware the entire time that the chances of Randell facing any consequences were almost null. “But it does not negate the fact that you lied to me. It is rather hypocritical of you to judge me, when you yourself are guilty of the same thing.”
“You are right. I am just as guilty of deception as you were. We both had good reasons for what we did,” he said.
“You were trying to protect the country. I was trying to protect the villagers. Zander’s endeavors have enriched Upper Waverly and the surrounding counties. Randell and his band of miscreants tried to ruin all that I had built.” She pulled the stopper from the decanter. “All would have been lost, if not for you, and for that, I will be forever grateful.”
“How grateful?” he asked, coming to stand behind her.
“Eternally.” The heat of his body infiltrated her dress. Elizabeth inhaled the woodsy scent of his soap; a fragrance she would forever associate with him. She gripped the neck of the decanter, her stomach a jumble of nerves.
She owed him her life and desperately wished to tell him how she felt about him. The past had been revealed, but if he resented her, then all hope was lost. Her future, however, was up in the air until she could speak to Stanton.
“Eternally is a long time.” He slipped his arm around her waist and rested his chin on her hair.
The way he cradled her body weakened her knees. Every time he touched her, she melted. A giddy rush of relief shot through her, and she leaned back into his strength. He had come to her and the gentle way he held her offered her hope.
Langdon turned her around within the circle of his arms. He lifted her chin with his knuckle and stared deep into her eyes. “I would like to spend an eternity with you.”
Had he not been supporting her jaw it would have dropped open. She rested her hand against his hard chest and felt the steady beat of his heart.
“I love you, Elizabeth.” He drew her into his embrace, the heat of him beckoning. “I would like to spend my life showing you how much.”
“You love me, despite everything I put you through?” She smiled through the tears that had begun to fall without her even realizing it. Her chest expanded with love for him, and she wrapped her arms around his neck. “I am sorry, Langdon. So sorry for lying to you, I—”
He used the pad of his thumb to brush across her mouth. Warmth rested in his eyes. “I owe you an apology for our first meeting. I had no right to mislead you, but you tempted me then and you tempt me now.”
“I am irresistible,” she said with a tongue-in-cheek grin.
“You’re very irresistible.” He kissed the tip of her nose before moving slowly towards her mouth. “Annoying, bull-headed, and stubborn, but irresistible.”
“I am all-the-above, plus more. In love. I am madly in love with you.” With a brush of his lips, she clung to him, her arms tightening around his neck. She kissed him with every bit of pent-up love she carried in her heart. He held her tight and she melted into him.
