“Back in Paris when I said I would make the situation with Gleason better than your expectations, I meant it. Gigi and I finally decided what to do with my mother’s collection. On my way here, I got a call from your partner, Guy. Gleason agreed to financially sponsor an exclusive exhibition and reception at La Tempera of my mother’s work and promised to organize an invitation list as well as to reach out to his patrons and collectors.”
“My God ... William! This is ... I don’t know what to say. No one has been able to find any of Anne’s pieces.”
“Exactly. Every art magazine and newspaper will likely cover the unexpected, monumental showing of the year. Several ofMom’s larger pieces, I suspect, will sell for at least three hundred grand. La Tempera will get fifty percent of the proceeds, and fifty percent will go to my mother’s foundation, earmarked for emerging talent and full sponsorship of your dream of student quarterly showings at La Tempera and whatever student supply needs that come with it.” He shrugged. “Maybe something like a scholarship fund, which Gigi would like to manage.”
Her chin dropped. “I ... I don’t know what to say. You and Gigireallywant to do this? To sell all your mom’s artwork? For me?”
“Yes, for you,andthe foundation,andfor Mom. They’ve gathered too much dust in my father’s study, and I don’t want her gift to the world to be shut away anymore just because she’s gone. It’s been selfish of me to want to keep her all to myself.”
“Not selfish, not at all, but I can understand why.”
“It was time. Thanks to Gigi turning her studio into a dance room and ‘With Love’ hanging so prominently in your gallery, you both opened my eyes. Mom deserves a legacy and, maybe the Fitzwilliam in me needs Gleason to acknowledge that he wasn’t the premier tempera artist of all time. He wouldn’t be where he is if my mother had not taken precious time to take him under her wing.”
She threw her arms around him, hugging him tightly. “Thank you! It’s my honor to show her work to the world! I agree, Anne finally needs an everlasting moment in the spotlight.”
He took a cleansing breath, then, setting her back, said. “There’s more good news. Beanz. It’s over between us.”
“My, you’ve been busy this morning, Mr. Darcy!” she laughed. “Over. Is it wrong to say, I’m sorry, but I’m not sorry you broke off your wedding?”
“It’s okay to speak your heart.”
“How did she take it?” She grimaced. “I feel so ... so guilty, so terrible for her heartbreak. She probably hates me now.”
He laughed. “Beanz is perfectly fine. There was absolutelynoheartbreak involved. You see, my other confession is ... you weren’t the only one to enter into a marriage of convenience.”
“What?”
“She and I had a very lucrative marriage contract drawn up three months after you and I broke up. It was meant to shelter us both from getting hurt again. I told you I drank a lot. It was more than a lot, and after a bad, emotionally unstable night for us both, she and I made a huge, regrettable mistake in hooking up. The next day, I had Charlie draw up the agreement—a sort of what-if scenario if we were still single six years later.”
“So, youdon’tlove her?”
“We’re just friends.”
“Jeez, you could have told me in Paris and saved me days of feeling like trash!”
Taking her hand in his, he took a brave breath. “I wassoembarrassed. Caroline and I never had a romance or anything other than a lifelong friendship and that one-night stand. I was already having cold feet about marrying, and then, I saw you at the wedding. That was the first time I drank since that regrettable night with her because seeing you again upended my plan to protect my heart. Then, when I saw you waiting at the Vendôme, I was gone—totally yours, once again. There was no going forward to Caroline and no going back to a life without you.”
Flabbergasted, she sat back, then squeezed his hand. A smile and a wave of relief washed over her. “So, we didn’t cheat, after all.”
“Not really. I just lost a shitload of money, but it was the best money I’ve ever spent—apart from our Seurat and your commission, of course.”
“Wow. Throughout the years, I thought of you so often. I never stopped loving you, but whenIsawyouwith her in the Hamptons, you looked so perfect together and seemed so in love. I had to be happy that you moved on and found someone special, even if I hadn’t.”
“She is special, just not your one-of-a-kind special, which is the only special I want or need. Everything you saw between us was an act, not just for you, but for everyone. Charlie, Gigi, and my cousin Rick are the only ones who know the truth. I only told my sister before leaving for Paris when I confessed my hoped-for outcome beyond securing the Seurat, and Rick found out after I left for Paris.”
“Then ... did Carrie put us together on purpose?”
“She did. I swear, she never ceases to surprise me. Just when I’m convinced she’s the materialistic, vapid, opportunist her brother tells me she is, she goes and does something completely selfless.”
“It took significant grace for her to risk losing so much.”
He nodded. “And true friendship. So, that brings me to the last issue.”
“Whew. You’re laying a lot on me, but okay. Afterward, we are definitely going for coffee and you’re buying!”
William’s smile faded, and he abruptly stood, raking his fingers through his dark waves. “I ...” He struggled to speak, turning his back to her, then walked to the tree. Bracing herself, she considered all the terrible things he could say next. Something about George? Maybe about the legit investigation into his predatory debauchery? Maybe Jane had done something horrible. As William had instructed, she waited in silence until he was ready.
Turning to face her, he knit his brow at seeing her worried expression, then took a deep breath. “I promise, it’s nothing bad, just let me say it.”
