Coming to her, he sat beside her, putting his arm around her shoulders.
“He, um, had a thing formuchyounger girls then, and now ... and, also, unbeknownst to me, he recently reacquainted with Gigi. She’s been in a sexual relationship with him for the last three months.”
She gasped again. “I ... oh, my God.”
“I’m so sorry to tell you like this, but I think you’re right, he may be your culprit. Gigi broke it off with him because I told her you two were getting married, and thenyoubroke it off with him. I’m thinking maybe he believes you broke it off ... for me? He wanted her money, and from what I remember at Louisa’s wedding, he seemed intent on acquiring your gallery.”
“It’s true. I learned he was only marrying me for La Tempera and had a string of women on the side. Even my ring was fake, like his interest in me. My parting words were that he could never be the man you are and that you’d always be better, no matter how he tried. He was so envious of you. That explains maybe why he sought out Gigi.”
That took him aback.
Lifting her chin, he gazed into her sad eyes. “He doesn’t know the true treasure he lost. It appears I stumbled back into your life in the nick of time. It’s odd how fate works.”
She softly smiled. “I never wanted you to be my hero, yet you always have been, and showed up when I needed you most, even after everything.”
“That’s what pure, true love is. I only want the best for you, Lizzy, and I will always protect you, whether it’s from cretins like Wickham or your sister. My devotion will never waver.”
“The same here. What should I do about the gallery, William?”
“Leave Wickham to me. He’s my responsibility, and I owe you and Gigi proper vengeance.”
Sighing, she confessed. “I think ... my gut tells me that Jane may be his accomplice.”
“Was she one of his conquests?”
“I don’t know, but ... she’s always been overly fascinated and protective of him. Eww. She goes through men like an assembly line.”
“Then, I advise you to call your father. It’s time for him to get involved. If she tried to ruin you like this, then you need to get away from her, just as you did with your mother, and you’ll need support from someone in your family. In the interim, you should stay at my apartment. We got this, together, Lizzy.”
“Jeez, I should have listened to you years ago about her.”
“You should havemarriedme years ago.” He grinned.
“You’re right, but unfortunately, you never had the chance to ask.”
“Oh, I had the chance. I just never had the nerve.”
He deposited a kiss on her lips. “Get dressed, and I’ll arrange the flight home. We’ll be back in New York by midnight,” he said.
“Thank you.”
“No need to thank me. I always told you that I wanted to shareeverythingwith you, not just your dreams.” He brushed his thumb against her cheek. “I promise you Iwillmake this right for the gallery. I’ll make itbetterthan right and better than you expected.”
She softly smiled. “You’re still an overachiever.”
“That’s probably the only good thing I inherited from my father.”
TWENTY-NINE
Monday, July 7
Battling jet lag from Paris, Darcy sat at his office desk poring through four dozen telephone message slips. None were from Gleason; he was confident the man would remain silent, letting his assistant handle it, even if it meant a sizeable contractual loss. Charlie was already on it, so it wouldn’t be as traumatic a financial hit as Lizzy expected. It may work to her advantage. As for the gallery’s reputation, the fallout damage ended before it truly began, and Lizzy and Guy would recover from the emotional toll famously! He’d see to it.
Back in town for only seven hours, he had yet to speak to Caroline or confront the many situations at hand, and, as one would expect, he was in no mood for lame excuses regarding Wickham, Rick, or sex on the beach. She was due any moment.
“Mr. Darcy, your cousin Colonel Fitzwilliam is here to see you.”
He wasn’t expecting Rick’s presence at the meeting, but was thankful because his cousin wasn’t one to give excuses. The guy was always straightforward, even to the point of insensitivity. Perhaps Caroline was running late.
