She thought of all that Adam had kept from her throughout their marriage. How he’d changed as soon as he’d recovered his memory, left her this morning for what had always been more important to him. His business, the demanding mistress that she’d never been able to compete with. That she hadn’tthoughtto compete with…until he’d made her believe that she could. That she could hold his attention, his passion, his desire more than power and money.
What a fool I’ve been.
“I confronted Isnard with my findings this morning. The bastard broke down in tears and admitted that Garrity has been pulling his strings for years. Once I’m dead, Garrity apparently intends to take over my bank.” Rage took away her father’s pallor. “Isnard had the gall to beg for my forgiveness—forgiveness, hah! If I wasn’t dying, I’d ruin the traitor worse than your husband ever could. As it is, however, I need to save my energy to get us out of this mess.”
“How will you do that?” she asked dully.
And why did it matter? Nothing mattered if her happiness had been built on a lie. If Adam hadn’t wanted her for herself, if he’d been a fortune hunter after her inheritance. Why, oh why, had she let herself believe that anyone could love her?
Everything that had happened since seemed to disintegrate, her joy smashed into glittering ash. Perhaps it had all been an illusion anyway. Dash it all, she thought with mounting rage, why did Adam have to make her believe that her love was returned? That she was beautiful, desirable? If he’d left things the way they were before his amnesia, she might have found some way to survive.
But he’d laid siege to her defenses. One by one, she’d relinquished theBin of Blissful Ignoranceand her other shields, believing she no longer had need of them. She had no walls left, nowhere to hide.
Which made reality all the more devastating.
“The obvious course of action is to replace Isnard. This has to be done immediately for I haven’t much time.” Papa drummed his fingers against the papers. “I’ve been trying to think of who I can trust to oversee your future and that of Billings Bank. The problem is this man must be so rich and powerful that he would be impervious to your husband’s corruptive influence; that doesn’t leave us many choices.”
“I don’t care.” The words were bitter on her tongue. “Let Adam have what he wants.”
What could Adam do to her that was worse than what he’d already done? Despite her spiraling despair, she didn’t think he’d throw her out on the street. He would continue to provide materially for her and the children the way he always had. But what she truly wanted—his heart—might forever be out of reach…because she wasn’t even sure he had one.
“It’s not just your future at stake: it’s the future of Billings Bank. My legacy,” her father said in outrage. “Isnard admitted to me that Garrity wants to call in the loans secured by De Villier. We’re talking nearly a million pounds; there’s no way De Villier will be able to pay back that amount immediately. Not until his railway venture is fully operational and that could take years. If Garrity gets his way, De Villier will be ruined—as will my bank. I’ve bet heavily on De Villier, and if he falls, I fall. I will not let that happen.”
“What do you want me to do, Papa?” she asked helplessly.
“I want you to take pride, Gabriella. For Billings Bank is your legacy as much as mine.” His gaze was fierce. “You’ve sacrificed as much for the business as I have. Because of the bank, you, a motherless child, grew up without a father, too.”
His recognition resonated through her. And the regret that briefly flashed over his wan features pressed upon her battered heart. She couldn’t let him part this world believing that he failed her.
“Despite all the burdens you carried, you provided for me, gave me the best that money could buy. Sweet heavens,” she said in an attempt to lighten the mood, failing when her voice cracked, “you bought a country estate and hosted the most infamous house party of all time in an attempt to find me a husband.”
“I wanted to land you a fat title. Instead, I got you a shark,” Papa said sourly.
Although she cringed at the aptness of the metaphor, she managed a smile. “Regardless of the results, you’ve always had my best interests in mind. You are the best of fathers.”
“I’m not. But somehow I raised a good girl.” He cleared his throat. “A woman of whom I am very proud.”
“Oh, Papa.” This time, she couldn’t stop the heat from overflowing her eyes. “I love you so. I don’t know how I’ll get on without you.”
“Nonsense.” He reached out, giving her hand an awkward pat. “You got on fine without me all these years, I don’t see why anything should change. You’re a late bloomer, just like your mama. You have her beauty and patience…her quiet strength, too.” His gaze grew faraway, as if he were recalling some sweet bygone moment. “I can’t recall your mama ever raising her voice or being disagreeable. She just went her way, spreading her sunshine, making life brighter for those around her. Truth be told, I look forward to seeing her again.”
Gabby heard the longing in her father’s voice. He’d so rarely spoken of her mother, and she’d believed it was because he was a practical man, one who didn’t dwell in the past. Now she wondered if the opposite was true: if he’d avoided talking about his wife because he’d felttoomuch.
“But before I go,” he said, his eyes flaring with the brilliance of a flame nearing the end of its wick, “I need to find you a new trustee. The devil of it is that I can’t think of anyone who meets all the necessary criteria—”
“I know someone,” she said.
The idea had been germinating since her papa brought up the problem. She knew someone incorruptible, who wouldn’t be afraid of Adam, who believed in doing the right thing. She even thought that he’d help her if she asked.
But could she defy Adam in this way?
The old Gabriella would have never considered it.
It was a bittersweet testament to how the last month had changed her. She could no longer ignore, deny, or spin some cheerful tale to cover up the problems in her marriage. There was only one way left to deal with her troubles: head-on.
You must find out the truth once and for all,the voice inside her said.Does Adam love you…or has everything been a lie? Only then will you know whether or not your marriage is worth fighting for.
“Who?” her father asked eagerly.
