Remembering the way she’d cried made his throat hot and scratchy.
Her happiness was everything to him—he’d fight for it, lay down his life if necessary.
The thought stopped him. Maggie’s happiness…itwaseverything.
Then why in bloody hell was he here, proposing marriage to another woman?
Realization prickled through him like awareness returning to a sleeping limb. As his detachment began to dissipate, he saw that it hadn’t cleared his head—quite the opposite. The numbness had been a panicked response, a fog that had obscured his true path. He’d beaten a hasty retreat rather than advanced as he should have.
He should befightingfor Maggie—for the family that she, he, and Glory were meant to be.
The truth freed his brain from paralysis. Devil and damn, hedidhave options. He could go to Tessa; she was devilish and cunning…perhaps she could help him deal with Sweeney. He could even beg her and Kent to lend him money to ransom Glory. The Kents were decent people—surely they wouldn’t let a child come to harm? And there must be a way that he could get word to Tessa without Sweeney knowing…
“Are you listening, Your Grace?”
Miss Sharpe’s shrill voice pierced his inner flurry.
Distracted, he looked at her. “Pardon?”
“I asked you if we are in agreement that we will go our separate ways after the birth of the children,” Miss Sharpe said. “I hope my candor does not disquiet you. I prefer clarity in communication. Words can have so many nuances, and I want there to be no misunderstandings between us. Especially as it pertains to our future.”
Something she said struck his newly awakened brain.Words can have so many nuances…
Nuances were meanings…words can have so many meanings…
Even…Chinese words?
The realization flashed like lightning. Bloody hell, why hadn’t he thought of it before? What if the Chinese characters “Plum Forest” referred to something other than the restaurant? True, they’d asked around about other businesses…but maybe there was some hidden meaning to the characters they didn’t understand.
Or, he thought with escalating excitement, what if the two symbols could bereversedin order like the anagram they’d solved earlier…and lead them to a different place?
What if the trail wasn’t cold? What if he’d simply goneon the wrong trail?
“Are we in accord, Your Grace?”
His gaze jerked to Miss Sharpe, who was regarding him with a tilted head. Her slight smirk conveyed that she thought she held all the cards, that she had him where it counted: by the purse strings.
He realized that she represented what he’d allowed himself to become. The man whom Horatio had rightly said had lost the joy of adventure…the love of living. The love that Maggie and Glory had brought back into his life.
I am not my father. I will not hurt the woman I love. I won’t give up on Maggie…or our girl.
I’ll find a way to deserve their love—or I’ll die trying.
The truth whipped through him like a storm. It tore off the shutters of fear and panic. He stared straight into the ferocious squall—and didn’t flinch.
“I have to go,” he said.
“What?” Miss Sharpe exclaimed.
“Pardon for the inconvenience. Best wishes on finding a title to wed.”
He took off toward his future, praying he wasn’t too late.
On Rhys’s way over to the Kent residence, he took steps to ensure that he was not followed. He dodged through crowded streets and buildings, keeping close watch behind him. When he arrived, luck was on his side: Tessa was at home, Ming with her. Rhys was led into the study where she sat at the desk, flanked by her husband and the Chinese guard.
“To what do we owe this surprise?” Tessa lifted her brows. “If you’re here to thank me for Glory’s present, no need. The pleasure was all mine.”
During his journey over, Rhys had debated his best course of action. He knew the present one had its risk: Sweeney had threatened to harm Glory if Rhys told anyone of the kidnapping. Yet if Rhys’s past had taught him anything, it was that silence gave evil men their power.
