“Do you think Morgan knows of their existence?”
“I doubt it. I’m guessing her intention was to sell the two girls to make a few fast millions and throw Tiffany to the wolves just for the hell of it. However–”
He takes a deep breath and drains the final remnants of bourbon in his glass and sighs heavily.
“I heard word she is refusing to leave the convent at all, which makes Joesph’s task a difficult one. Short of breaking the door down and abducting her, he is kicking his heels, waiting for the bird to fly the nest.”
“Which may never happen, and the keys remain in the Order of the Holy Mother of God.”
He nods, and I tap my fingers on the table to aid my thoughts as my mind races. Jospeh has a hard task ahead of him because it’s possible that Tiffany will spend her twenty-fifth birthday locked in the convent and nobody gets anything.
We still have two years by my reckoning, but they have been there a lot longer than that. If Tiffany takes the vow before God,it’s game over, no matter what Joseph does to mess with that. She must marry and be with child, and that is an impossible task for any man who has had the convent door slapped firmly against his face.
CHAPTER 42
ALICE
Iam excited as we pull in through the huge security gates of an estate in Washington. Rose lives here with her husband. She is now both my sister and sister-in-law, and I can’t believe this has happened at all.
I gaze with delight at the beautiful mansion that appears like an apparition and turn to Simeon with an excited smile.
“So, my sister gets the palace while I’m down and dirty in the shadows.”
Simeon chuckles because I have done his home a disservice. It’s more than enough, and I love the homey vibe rather than any luxury brand, and he raises his eyes. “You could live like this; you only have to say the word.”
“No,” I shake my head slowly. “I wouldn’t want this over what we have.”
His hand finds mine and, as ever, the contact of his skin on mine causes ripples of pleasure to pass through my body like a soft breeze on a warm, balmy day.
We come to a stop, and for some reason, tears spill from my eyes when a figure races out of the open door like a whirlwind—then again, she always has been.
“Alice!”
Her shriek is deafening, and as I sprint from the car, I waste no time in falling into my sister’s open arms.
“Oh my God.”
She sobs on my shoulder, and I repay the favor. For some reason pent-up emotion, I never realized was there, spilling free as I cling to my younger sister.
“Are you okay?” Her muffled sob causes my voice to quiver as I whisper, “Yes, are you?”
“I am now.”
I glance past her and notice a man watching us with an amused grin, and my heart shudders. It’s obvious this is Julius, Simeon’s brother. The resemblance is too similar to make any mistake about that.
“Is that…”
“Julius, my husband.”
She peers at me with a guilty expression, and I smile my reassurance.
“It’s okay, Rose. I kind of made my decision too.”
I jerk my head toward Simeon, and Rose stifles her grin. “I don’t blame you if he is anything like his brother.”
“You’re happy then.”
“Ecstatic.”
