So did she, from the bottom of her heart.
She’d forgiven him, she realized. His deception had come from a desire to protect his boss, not to trick her, or anyone else. But she wasn’t ready to let him know that she understood.
“Was there anything in his briefcase about the crystal?”
“No. It was all financial paperwork, along with some blueprints.”
“I bet I know what they were for.”
“Oh yeah?” Interest sparked in his dark eyes.
“Word is that Lincoln Kerr is building one of those billionaire bunkers on Maui. The coconut wireless has been buzzing about it. That’s the island rumor mill,” she explained.
“A billionaire bunker?”
“Yeah, you know, a place to hide out in luxury if society falls apart. They want to protect their wealth if the masses decide things are getting a little too unequal. Or a lot too unequal. They’re not always bunkers. Sometimes they’re more like compounds. Marc Benioff has bought up nearly half the town of Waimea here on the Big Island. Mark Zuckerberg is building a ranch with an underground bunker on Kauai. Hawaii is a popular place for that sort of thing because it’s in the middle of the Pacific. Apparently they think the ocean protects them from the rest of society.”
“You know,” Rory said slowly, “I have noticed that Lincoln’s been more paranoid lately. Then again, it’s not paranoia if the danger is real, and he did just get kidnapped.”
“Maybe he knew he was in danger and that’s why he was building the bunker. You saw the blueprint. Is that what it looked like?”
“Could be.” Rory turned off his phone and put it back in his pocket. “That might be why we were going to Maui. But why would he have to keep that quiet?”
“Maybe because of his sister’s lawsuit?” She snapped her fingers. “We should ask Bjorn. He knows all about your—I mean, Lincoln’s family.”
He gave her a rueful smile. “This is hard to get used to, huh?”
“Actually, not really. I’m glad you aren’t being sued by your own sister.”
He laughed. “Don’t have one. But no, none of my family members are suing me, and I hope it’s not just because I’m not a billionaire.”
“No, it’s because you’re a kind person who takes care of the people you love.”
He looked so touched that she leaned closer and dropped a kiss on his lips. What she intended as a brief contact quickly developed into a deep, slow kiss that had them both breathless.
“Does this mean we’re okay?” he asked in a rough voice, after they’d finally pulled away from each other.
“Maybe. Probably. We’ll see.”
He laughed. “I’ll take it.” He got to his feet. “I’m going to do a quick search to see if the kidnappers left any clues behind.”
As she watched him, her heart ached. What did it matter if they were “okay”? Her fate was closing in on her. The Aberdeen Bequest was about to lock her into a gilded cage. Her time of being able to freely move about the world and follow her own passions was coming to a close. Duncan Aberdeen had made it clear that he wasn’t interested in a “business arrangement.”
My dear Mathilda,
It’s quite a holy mess our ancestors have left us in, is it not? We can both agree on that, if nothing else. (And I’m wagering we can agree on plenty more.) My parents have been discussing the Aberdeen Bequest ever since they broke the news to me at age seven. I’ve had years to think about it, which, your parents tell me, is not the case for you.
I’ve come to see it this way.
One of my best mates at Eton was from Goa Province in India. He recently agreed to an arranged marriage brokered by a matchmaker. He claims those work very well because the matchmakers use family connections, astrological charts, and other tests to make sure it’s a good match. The outcome is yet to be seen (and I might have a small wager on it, but don’t tell him), but he makes a good argument for arranged marriage.
If we look at this as a marriage arranged by our ancestors, with a massive infusion of funds and a noble title as wedding gifts, maybe we can make this work well for us. If we start from a basis of mutual goals and values, then we can build from there. In that spirit, my goals are:
1. A stable family, to include children. My parents were ancient when they had me, so I would like to start early to make sure my children meet their grandparents.
2. Use the Marquis of Aberdeen title to promote environmental causes. Your parents tell me this is important to you too.
3. Employ my graphic design skills as a hobby, not a profession. I’m quite lazy by nature, and I admit I like the thought of never having to work for a living.
