“I’m working on it,” Roarke ground out through clenched teeth. “These things take time.”
The taunting pleasure of Philip’s expression faded and a hardness entered his eyes. He leaned closer. “Working on it?” he repeated with a shake of his head. “That sounds like an excuse. Sort of like how so many things in your pathetic life have been an excuse. Are the stakes not high enough, cousin? Because Thomas has given me permission to make them higher.”
“What are you talking about?” Roarke asked.
“Your mother’s caretaker seems a lovely woman. Married, has two children.”
Now Roarke’s breath shortened. “Leave my mother alone.”
“She’s quite unwell, isn’t she? My dear aunt, your sweet mother. I cannot imagine how hard it would be for her if she lost the support of the woman who is her constant companion.”
Roarke drew back. “You’re…you’re threatening my mother’s servant?”
“My brother says we could pay her off to walk away.” Philip shrugged. “But there are other ways to make her leave. Whatever happens, I don’t think you could take care of your mother here. Especially when you lose all your incoming funds.”
“You’ve made your threats clear enough already,” Roarke hissed.
“Not clear enough, obviously,” Philip said. “When will it be done?”
Roarke stared at him, this monster who shared some small portion of his blood. This cruel person who was so focused on hurting Flora that he didn’t care who he destroyed in the meantime. There would be no stopping him.
“I’m seeing her today,” Roarke said flatly.
For a moment, Philip’s rage grew bright again. Then he nodded. “Excellent. Move it along. We want it done before the time runs out on the inheritance clock.”
He pivoted then and left without so much as a goodbye for Roarke. When he was alone again, Roarke sank into his chair before the fire and covered his face. He was in an untenable situation now. One he couldn’t escape. Hurt Flora or hurt his mother. Either way, he would be destroyed.
And he had no idea what to do now.
* * *
Flora felt like she was floating as she entered the park across from Kent’s Row for her meeting with Roarke. She had been pacing her home all day, watching the clock, lamenting how long every minute took to tick by. But now she felt free as she breathed in the cool autumn air and looked around for this man who had taken such a big role in her life as of late.
She found him almost immediately, coming across the park from the opposite entrance. Even from a distance, she recognized him, there was something about the way he moved. But as he got closer, her smile faltered. Was there something wrong? His shoulders looked slightly slumped, and when he caught sight of her as he got closer, his mouth got tight before he lifted his hand and waved. She waved back and crossed to meet him.
“Good afternoon, Flora,” he said, his voice a little rough.
“Good afternoon,” she said back. “We’ve been lucky with the weather the past few days. I’m so pleased we can walk now, as it looks like a storm will be coming soon.”
He looked up at the gathering gray clouds in the distance and nodded. “Indeed. Well, let’s walk, shall we?”
He offered his arm and she took it, reveling in the awareness the simple touch awoke in her. She had been dreaming of touching this man since yesterday and now it felt like a relief to do so.
They walked along the path for a little while in silence. She wished she could say an amenable silence, a comfortable one, but the farther they went, the less easy it became. Roarke sometimes glanced at her then looked away. His mouth was drawn and taut.
“Is there something wrong, Roarke?” she asked at last.
He jerked his gaze toward her. “Why would you say that?”
“I just noticed a few things,” she said carefully. “Your expression is not especially happy at present and you seem troubled in the way you’re walking.”
His brows lifted. “The way I’m walking,” he repeated.
She nodded. “Shorter steps, too fast, you’re certainly not enjoying a stroll. It feels more like you’re going to the gallows. So I wondered if something had happened to trouble you.”
He stopped and stared off in the distance, then shook his head. “Are you always so aware of those around you, Your Grace?”
She worried her lip. “With those I…I care about, certainly.”
