I cringed. But Max was being very calm and collected about this whole business, and he had not beaten Dorian to a pulp. Perhaps it was time to confess and unburden myself so we would not have his spectre hanging over us.
Taking a deep breath, I began to tell him everything that had occurred with Dorian that he didn’t know about.
Half an hour later, my voice was hoarse, but my shoulders felt considerably lighter. The best thing of all was that I was ensconced happily in Max’s lap on the other side of the desk, and he had his arms around me, keeping me warm.
I had confessed all of it, every last detail, including Dorian locking me in my room at Hartmoor, trying to seduce me and ripping my dress with his teeth and how I had threatened to stick him with a letter opener (which Max chuckled at), and even how Dorian had tricked me into kissing him in the parlour (which Max did not chuckle at). I had been on a truth-telling roll and did not want any more secrets between us, hence why I had to share that too.
Max was surprisingly good about it and said that he could understand why Dorian would want to kiss me. Then he told me he loved me for telling him the truth andproceeded to kiss me soundly, which erased any lingering memories of the other sordid encounter.
Max stroked my cheek. ‘So that is all of it?’
‘Yes, I can’t think of anything else,’ I said, snuggling closer to claim more of his body heat (it really was chilly in here).
‘You know everything now, including the conversation in the pantry after Dorian chopped the lock with an axe and how he said he wanted me to go to London, then ran off with Freddie. You know that I agreed to go with him only because of Freddie? I hoped you would rescue us before we got that far.’
Max nodded. ‘Indeed, though the gentlemanly conversation I had with him has not led to the conclusion you might expect.’
He shifted in the chair, and I sensed he was feeling uncomfortable and not because of my weight.
‘Max ... What did you agree to?’ I asked suspiciously, knowing how wily Dorian was.
‘Ah, only a couple of things, dearest ... Remember, I am experienced when it comes to business negotiations.’
I closed my eyes and laid my head against his chest. ‘You had better tell me.’
‘Firstly, I made him see reason,’ said Max, his voice a low rumble above me. ‘“With the hours you spendpainting”, I said, “you are in no position to look after a child. You need to think of Freddie’s welfare and not of yourself.” He eventually agreed that the child was better off living here with us. So that was a win.’
‘Go on.’
‘I also used emotional bargaining by saying it would break your heart if he didn’t give Freddie back to you and that if he loved you, he would not contemplate taking him away. He agreed, so that was another win. But then he asked that I reward him for his noble sacrifice.’
I groaned. ‘How much did he get out of you?’
‘Two thousand pounds, and he’ll keep his mouth shut.’
‘It could have been worse,’ I said with a sigh. ‘So that is the end of it?’
‘Not quite. He wants us to come to London so he can paint our family portrait. He felt that since I am paying him a large amount of money, it is the least he can do. And he wants to see Freddie again, which is only fair.’
I shook my head. No wonder Max had been away so long—he had been making bargains galore!
‘A family portrait, all right. And then that is the end of it? We do not have to see him again after that?’
Max shifted again in the chair.
‘Um, I may have agreed to him being Freddie’s godfather.’
Chapter 19
London, March 1801
‘Moo cow, Mama, moo cow!’
Freddie turned to me, eyes brimming with excitement, as the carriage lurched. Fortunately, Max was sitting next to him and had good reflexes.
He caught him as he launched off the seat into the air and placed him neatly on his knee.
‘Whoa, Freddie, you are not meant to go riding in the carriage, unless you are onmyhorse!’
