The Determined Virgin
Elizabeth August
FROM VIRGIN BRIDE TO VIRGIN WIFE?Newlyweds Garth and Hesper Lawton had agreed not to consummate their marriage of convenience. But as the groom fought his feelings and desire for his sweet, innocent bride, he grumpily realized she intended to remain a virgin wife forever!With her wedding ring gleaming on her finger, and her love for her husband gleaming in her eyes, Hesper wished she was more than a wife in name only. But how could she tell Garth what could happen if he introduced her to passion? Would he run for the hills? Or would he make their marriage as real as their love had become?
Table of Contents
Cover Page (#ufeccdf96-38d0-5cfb-8fa1-35420f07cb09)
Excerpt (#u97373f84-9d86-595d-8530-91c7dc48689d)
Dear Reader (#u24f95a83-9900-519d-8e72-70b1c90775ba)
Title Page (#u45e5712b-5f4b-5cc0-86a3-79bf422c76de)
About the Author (#u24ec864f-6507-5f19-b891-ee804c50864a)
Chapter One (#ue16c6667-1108-568b-9925-4eb8d19c2c62)
Chapter Two (#u58d7556e-7c43-5432-a8f3-2ce4446c92f7)
Chapter Three (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Four (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Five (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Six (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Seven (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Eight (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Nine (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Ten (#litres_trial_promo)
Copyright (#litres_trial_promo)
Garth lay quietly wondering what he should do.
When the alarm had gone off, he’d woken to discover his wife in his arms. He’d heard her groan of displeasure at being disturbed and lay quietly as she turned off the alarm and curled back up beside him. As she draped her leg over his, the arousal he’d been experiencing grew more intense. He knew she was more asleep than awake and, thus, not really responsible for her actions, but he couldn’t help noting that she was very sexy when her cold shield was down.
She’s your wife in name only, he reminded himself. He’d made a bargain with this woman that he would make no attempt to consummate their marriage—and he was a man of his word. But he was also only human and his control was being seriously tested….
Dear Reader,
The month of June makes me think of June brides, Father’s Day and the first bloom of summer love. And Silhouette Romance is celebrating the start of summer with six wonderful books about love and romance.
Our BUNDLE OF JOY this month is delivered by Stella Bagwell’s The Tycoon’s Tots—her thirtieth Silhouette book. As her TWINS ON THE DOORSTEP miniseries continues, we finally discover who gets to keep those adorable babies…and find romance in the bargain.
Elizabeth August is back with her much-loved SMYTHESHIRE, MASSACHUSETTS series. In The Determined Virgin you’ll meet a woman whose marriage of convenience is proving to be very inconvenient, thanks to her intense attraction to her “in-name-only” husband.
BACHELOR GULCH is a little town that needs women, and the name of Sandra Steffen’s brand-new miniseries. The fun begins in Luke’s Would-Be Bride as a local bachelor falls for his feisty receptionist—the one woman in town not looking for a husband!
And there are plenty more compelling romances for you this month: A lovely lady rancher can’t wait to hightail it out of Texas—till she meets her handsome new foreman in Leanna Wilson’s Lone Star Rancher. A new husband can’t bear to tell his amnesiac bride that the baby she’s carrying isn’t his, in Her Forgotten Husband by Anne Ha. And one lucky cowboy discovers a night of passion has just made him a daddy in Teresa Southwick’s The Bachelor’s Baby.
I hope you enjoy all of June’s books!
Melissa Senate, Senior Editor
Silhouette Romance
Please address questions and book requests to:
Silhouette Reader Service
U.S.: 3010 Walden Ave., P.O. Box 1325, Buffalo, NY 14269
Canadian: P.O. Box 609, Fort Erie, Ont. L2A 5X3
The Determined Virgin
Elizabeth August
www.millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk)
ELIZABETH AUGUST
lives in western North Carolina, with her husband, Doug, and her three boys, Douglas, Benjamin and Matthew. She began writing romances soon after Matthew was born. She’s always wanted to write.
Elizabeth does counted cross-stitching to keep from eating at night. It doesn’t always work. “I love to bowl, but I’m not very good. I keep my team’s handicap high. I like hiking in the Shenandoahs, as long as we start up the mountain so the return trip is down rather than vice versa.” She loves to go to Cape Hatteras to watch the sun rise over the ocean. Elizabeth August has also published under the pseudonym Betsy Page.
Chapter One (#ulink_02b77563-2007-5385-8fc5-4054f8a7e391)
Garth Lawton watched the older model Chevy as it came up the driveway. His was not a passive inspection. It was a trained one. During his years in the military, under the code name of Raven, he’d been involved in undercover operations that had required an acute awareness of his surroundings in order to survive. The habit had become inbred and was now a part of his character.
Since retiring from the service, he’d been working for his former superior, Tobias Smith. From an estate outside of Craftsbury Common, Vermont, Tobias ran a very discreet, very expensive private investigative service. His clients found him through word of mouth and those mouths belonged to some of the most influential people in the world. Normally the ones who came seeking help arrived in limousines, Mercedeses or BMWs, sometimes even Rolls-Royces.
And they were very respectful. Garth had answered when the front gate intercom had buzzed. The female voice on the other end had asked merely for Tobias, not Mr. Smith, and she’d sounded angry and impatient. There had been no hint of the deference he was used to hearing.
Having served as Tobias’s personal bodyguard for the last years of his service, Garth’s natural reaction was to behave protectively toward his employer. He’d reported the visitor to Tobias but advised him not to admit her. However, when told that a Hesper O’Grady was at the gate, curiosity had flickered in Tobias’s eyes, then he’d grinned.
“Well, don’t keep her waiting. Admit her,” he ordered. “I’ll be in my study.”
When Garth had returned to buzz her in, he’d received an icy thanks, letting him know she resented being kept waiting.
Looks like Tobias might find he’s caught a tiger by the tail with this one, Garth thought as the car came to a halt and the driver climbed out. A classy tiger, he amended, noting the gray pin-striped suit with the fitted tailored jacket, pink silk blouse and wide-legged pants. The woman had a nice figure, curves in all the right places. She was medium build, not too skinny. He’d never cared much for skinny women. Practical, black, two-inch-heeled shoes matched her shoulder bag. He judged her height in bare feet to be about five feet seven inches.
The late-afternoon sun brought out the red highlights of her auburn hair. It was long, hanging in soft waves to below her shoulders. Redheads were generally trouble, he recalled. His gaze shifted to her face. Green eyes. Red hair and green eyes were definitely warning signals. And freckles. Carefully applied makeup hid them, but he was certain they were there. Her lips were sensuously full and her nose fitted the rest of her features. If she wasn’t wearing such a hostile expression, she’d be pretty, he decided, not gorgeous but pretty. As it was, he saw her only as dangerous. His body tensed for action.
As Hesper O’Grady approached the short flight of marble steps leading to the door of the three-story brick colonial-style home, her gaze traveled over the man standing on the landing above watching her. She judged his age to be somewhere in his mid-thirties. Under other circumstances, he might have intimidated her. Six feet, maybe an inch or two more, tall, he was dressed in a well-cut dark blue suit. The jacket was unbuttoned revealing a flat abdomen. And she was certain the broadness of his shoulders was not due to padding. There was a firmness in his stance that left no doubt in her mind that should Tobias need protection, this man could provide it. His hair was black and cut in a conservative style. His eyes were dark and his chiseled jaw was set in a grim line. There was no welcome on his face, only an expression of cold formality. Well, she’d asked for that. She hadn’t been in the best mood when she’d arrived. She still wasn’t.
A gust of wind blew the jacket of the suit more fully open and she caught a glimpse of leather. He was wearing a shoulder holster! Well, Tobias did run a detective agency, she reminded herself. And that was about all she knew about her granduncle. He had gone his own way, to her knowledge, having little or nothing to do with the family. In fact, she’d been surprised when Eloise had suggested she seek him out.
“Mr. Smith is waiting in his study.” Garth opened the door, then stepped aside to allow her to enter ahead of him.
Pausing inside the foyer, she glanced around. “Which way?”
A woman who looked to be in her fifties seemed suddenly to appear from nowhere. Wearing a plainly cut brown plaid, midcalf length, short-sleeve dress and low-heeled functional shoes, she was tall and lean and carried herself with authority.
“I’ll show Miss O’Grady to the study, Mrs. Gibbons,” Garth said with dismissal.
“As you wish,” the woman replied already on her way back to wherever she’d come from.
Clearly the dark-haired man didn’t trust her, Hesper mused. When he’d insisted on remaining her escort, she’d caught the look that passed between him and the woman…a look that said he wanted to keep an eye on their visitor until he was certain Tobias was safe. Again she couldn’t fault him. She was feeling hostile and too tired to hide it.
“It’s the last door on the left.” Garth’s gaze never leaving her, he motioned for her to precede him down the wide central hall that ran from the front to the rear of the house. When she’d passed him on the porch, he’d made a visual search for weapons. He hadn’t seen any, but she could have one in her purse or, with those loose pants, one could be strapped to one of her legs.
As Hesper reached the door to which she’d been directed, Garth stepped forward, knocked to announce their arrival, then opened it and again stepped aside to allow her to enter ahead of him.
Inside she saw an older man she knew to be in his early seventies. He didn’t look his age, though. The wrinkles were there along with a bit of sagging of the jowls, but the relaxed, friendly expression on his face and the gleam of interest in his eyes gave him an air of spryness. He was on the stout side, causing the vest of his expensively tailored, three-piece suit to fit snugly but not unfashionably so. The silver handled cane on which he leaned added an extra touch of elegance to his appearance. He was clean shaven and his thick white hair was cut in a conservative style. Distinguished was the word that came to mind.
Tobias smiled and made a shooing motion toward Garth. “I’ll speak to my grandniece alone.”
A relative, Garth mused. He should have guessed. She had Tobias’s commanding air.
Hesper saw her grim escort’s eyebrow raise slightly as he left, then he was forgotten and she turned her full attention to Tobias. “I appreciate you seeing me. I wasn’t sure if you’d even remember me.”
“Of course, I remember you. But it has been a long time. Fourteen years, perhaps. It was at your mother’s funeral, I believe.” He motioned toward a chair in an unspoken invitation to sit. “You look like her, rest her soul.”
Too tense to relax enough to be seated, Hesper remained standing. For all practical purposes this man was a stranger. The few times in her youth when they’d met had been brief encounters. But she was desperate. “I realize my coming here is an imposition, but I didn’t know where else to turn. Aunt Eloise said you might be able to help me.”
Tobias again motioned toward the chair. “And how is Eloise?”
Hesper continued to remain standing. “She has finally found peace.”
A plea entered Tobias’s eyes. “I was taught it was impolite for a gentleman to sit while a lady remained standing. I beg of you, take pity on an old man.”
Feeling as if she’d stepped back in time at least three generations, Hesper recalled that her Aunt Eloise had said his manners were impeccable. “Please, don’t remain standing on my account. I drove straight through from New York. I really need to stretch my legs for a while.”
For a moment Tobias studied her thoughtfully, then eased himself into a leather wing chair. “I assume your problem is urgent.”
Her gaze locked on him. “Aunt Eloise said you knew of the…the affliction that torments the women of my lineage.”
He looked surprised by her choice of words. “It is not supposed to be considered an affliction. In generations past, it was a boon.”
The frown on her face deepened. “It was much easier for my ancestors to choose the right mate. Their choices were limited and, although I’m not certain I believe it, it is said they had the ability to sense who was the right match. If so, that ability has obviously vanished with time.”
“Perhaps the women of our family have simply stopped listening to their inner voices.”
Hesper had begun pacing. Now she stopped and faced him. “I did not come here for a philosophical discussion. I came seeking help.”
He smiled a fatherly smile. “I’m a man who likes to help others when I can.”
For a moment embarrassment caused her to hesitate. There was no turning back, she reminded herself. Either she sought his help or admitted defeat before she’d even begun the battle. “I turn thirty soon.” Her legs suddenly tired, she sank into the chair he’d offered earlier. “My mother didn’t trust my stepfather to look after me. It was not until Peter had managed to gain control of most of her assets that she realized marrying him had been a mistake, that it was her wealth and control of the company he’d been after, not her.” A bitter taste filled her mouth, causing her to pause.
“Please, continue,” Tobias prodded when her pause threatened to lengthen into a silence.
Swallowing back the bile, Hesper obeyed. “At the time of her death, all she had left in her name was the fifty thousand she’d inherited from my father’s insurance. She’d put it in a trust fund for me, to be used for my education. If any was left, when I turned thirty, I was to receive it, in full. After she died, Peter was naturally named executor. I’m sure my mother thought the money was safely guarded for me and it was. Peter couldn’t get hold of any of it for himself, but I had to go to him for every cent.”
“That must have been difficult for you,” Tobias said sympathetically.
Hatred flashed in Hesper’s eyes. “He made my mother’s last years a living hell.” With her words hanging in the air between them, she again fell silent.
“You were telling me about your inheritance,” Tobias coaxed.
Hesper forced her mind back to her current dilemma. “By the time I’d graduated from high school, I knew I’d inherited my grandmother’s knack for investing. I talked my stepfather into allowing me to invest what monies I wasn’t in current need of for my education. Since he couldn’t get his hands on the funds, I think he assumed the sooner they were gone the better. Then he could be rid of them and me. But I didn’t lose them. Instead, through the years I have increased them. There is now a little over a million in my account.”
Tobias smiled appreciatively. “I’ve always admired women with a head for finance.”
Hesper briefly smiled back, then her expression darkened once again. “My stepfather took another look at my mother’s will. She had wanted to insure I received the fifty thousand so she was very specific about that particular amount, actually quoting it in her will. My stepfather now claims that all monies beyond what is left of the original fifty thousand, with my college expenses deducted, is his.”
Tobias nodded his understanding. “And depending on the wording of the will, the law could be on his side.”
Hesper rose and began to pace again. “Even if he loses, he’ll have tied up the money for years. His demand was simply another of his gambling forays. He knew I’d fight him and he doesn’t want the money tied up any more than I do. Once he’d made the initial overture, he softened it. He said he’d settle for half.”
She stopped. Her shoulders squared, she again met Tobias’s gaze. “I refused. It isn’t the money. It’s the principle of the matter. I will not add to that man’s coffers!”
“Sometimes you must compromise.”
Again hatred flashed in Hesper’s eyes. “Never where Peter Lowell is concerned!” The hatred disappeared, replaced by cunning. “He cannot resist a gamble. So I made a wager with him. If I find a husband and marry before my thirtieth birthday, I get all the money. If not, he gets it.” A plea entered her eyes. “I need your help to find the right man.”
Tobias frowned with uncertainty. “I’m not a matchmaker.”
Hesper’s jaw firmed. “I don’t want a real husband. I refuse to take a chance on making a mistake. I plan to buy a husband for the time it takes to get my money. We’ll go through with the ceremony so that we’re legally bound on paper but the match will not be consummated.”
Tobias’s uncertainty turned to confusion. “If you have all of this planned, why do you need me?”
“My stepfather isn’t stupid. He knew I could find a husband and he probably guessed I’d simply buy one on a short-term basis. So he made a stipulation.”
Tobias’s confusion disappeared. “And it is this stipulation that has brought you to me.”
Hesper again sank into the chair. “Grandmama DuPree has to approve of my choice and she’d never go along with my gambit. She doesn’t believe in trickery and you know how she feels about wedding vows. Once said, they should never be undone. She hasn’t spoken directly to Aunt Eloise since Eloise divorced Uncle Edgar more than twenty years ago. If she found out I didn’t plan to stay married, she’d have both me and my husband thrown out.”
“Eloise did compound the offense by marrying and divorcing two times afterward, as well,” Tobias noted. “However, you’re right. My sister can be stubborn about certain things.”
“And painfully honest about her feelings,” Hesper grumbled. Schooling her features into the self-righteous expression Jeanette DuPree assumed when she was about to issue one of her less than complimentary criticisms, she said in a good imitation of her grandmother, “People may not like hearing it, but they need to be told the truth. No lie shall ever pass these lips. To be honest in all things is God’s bidding. If we all lived by his word, the world would be a better place.”
Hesper breathed a harsh sigh and her countenance became hers once again. “For the most part, she’s right. But a little hedging to save another person’s feelings once in a while can’t hurt. Charity is good for the soul as well.”
“It would seem you do have a problem,” Tobias mused thoughtfully.
A plea entered Hesper’s eyes. “Aunt Eloise said that if anyone could find me a husband Grandmama DuPree would approve of, it would be you.”
“Pleasing my sister in even the smallest of matters has never been easy.” Tobias abruptly grinned. “However, I do happen to know of someone I believe might pass her inspection.” He rose, crossed to his desk and pressed a button on the intercom. “Have Garth come to my study,” he ordered when a male voice answered.
A minute later the door opened. Hesper stiffened as the man who had greeted her on the porch entered.
“In case you two didn’t introduce yourselves earlier, Hesper, I’d like for you to meet Garth Lawton, a trusted and valued employee. Garth, I’d like to introduce my grandniece, Hesper O’Grady.” Tobias headed toward the door.
Realizing he was leaving, Hesper felt a rush of panic. “Tobias…”
He turned back and smiled. “I’m sure you can explain your situation to Garth much better than I.” His gaze shifted to Garth. “My grandniece is in need of certain services. If you wish to aid her, I will allow you a leave of absence. In the meanwhile, I shall have Mrs. Gibbons prepare a room for her.” His gaze again turned to Hesper. “It is time we became reacquainted. You will, of course, stay for dinner and the night, at least.” Without allowing either of them a chance to respond, he completed his exit.
Outwardly Garth maintained an air of polite indifference. Inwardly he was holding an argument with himself. He owed Tobias. The career path he’d chosen, both in the military and now in civilian life, was fraught with danger. Twice Tobias had proved to be his guardian angel and had saved his life. For that reason, he knew he should help the woman with whatever problem she was having. But this particular woman had Trouble.written all over her.
Hesper’s gaze raked over him. “You aren’t at all what I’d have chosen.”
Garth was surprised by the sharp jab of rejection this statement caused. He never expected to be everyone’s top pick. Normally a remark like that would have run off his back like rainwater off a duck. Good exit line, he decided. “If that’s your way of telling me to get lost, consider it done.”
Mentally Hesper kicked herself. Just because her first impression of the man was that of a guntoting, cold-blooded goon didn’t mean she couldn’t be wrong. She’d come to Tobias looking for help. It would be foolish of her to spurn it without at least giving this man a chance. Stepping in, front of the door to block his exit, she said, “I didn’t mean that in a derogatory sense. I apologize.”
He didn’t like the idea of her thinking she’d offended him. His skin was a lot thicker than that. “No offense taken. I just didn’t see any reason to waste both of our times.”
“My aunt Eloise seemed to think that Tobias was the only person who could help me and he chose you. Could we, at least, talk?”
The temptation to continue out the door was strong, but he’d seen the hint of desperation in her eyes and couldn’t make himself walk away. “Sure. I’ve got nothing to do this afternoon.”
You got this off to a really terrific start, she chided herself, motioning for him to take a chair.
As Garth eased himself into the twin of the wing chair Tobias had occupied, his gaze again traveled over her figure. Nice shape, he again thought.
Hesper stood several feet away, studying him. She thought she’d seen a look of masculine appreciation in his eyes, then it was gone behind that cool facade. Or maybe his expression wasn’t a facade. “Are you always so cold?”
Garth schooled his features into an expression of sympathetic concern. This one always worked on elderly women he needed to extract information from. “Is this better?”
“An emotional chameleon.” Hesper began to pace the floor. “Grandmama DuPree won’t be fooled by pretense. She’s too sharp.”
Garth relaxed his guard letting his impatience show. “Why don’t we just get this over with? Tell me what your problem is, and I’ll tell you if I think I can help.”
Hesper read the harsh command in his dark eyes and knew she was seeing the real man now. She still wasn’t certain he would impress Jeanette DuPree but she had to admit to a stirring of interest within herself. Maybe Tobias knew his sister better than the rest of the family. Maybe Jeanette DuPree would also find Mr. Lawton intriguing enough to give him the benefit of the doubt. “I need a husband and, if we are successful, I’m willing to pay you one hundred thousand dollars for your time. If we are not successful, I’ll pay you ten thousand.”
Was she one of those women who felt her biological clock ticking, making her impatient for a child but not for a long-term husband? Garth wondered. He had to admit that the thought of taking her into his bed did appeal to him. It appealed to him a lot. But what did her grandmother have to do with this?
Hesper saw the brown of his eyes darken with masculine purpose. Embers deep within began to glow warm. No! her inner voice screamed. A few moments of physical pleasure weren’t worth a lifetime of agony. “The marriage will not be consummated,” she continued curtly. “However, other than Tobias and Eloise, you and I are the only ones who are to know that.”
No biological clock involved here, Garth mused. Just as well, he concluded. He’d already labeled her as trouble. With the biological clock eliminated, that left the grandmother. “Can I assume we’re getting married to satisfy a dying woman’s final wish and that there is an inheritance involved?”
“Not exactly.” Her tone businesslike, she told him about the deal she’d made with her stepfather. Wanting to protect her mother’s memory, she mentioned her only as the one who had left the trust and did not elaborate on her reasons for disliking her stepfather. “I’m simply trying to hold on to what is rightfully mine,” she ended.
Garth had to admit the thought of meeting Tobias’ sister, was intriguing, but he questioned the wisdom of involving himself in Hesper O’Grady’s scheme. His instincts warned him that she wasn’t telling him everything. However, he was certain Tobias wanted him to help her. Again, he reminded himself that he owed the man. “I’ll do my best to aid you.” As he made the commitment, in spite of his suspicions about her, the sudden thought that he’d like to do a lot more for her than she was asking flashed through his mind.
Again Hesper saw the flicker of lust in his eyes. And once again the embers within her began to heat. Her jaw firmed. “There’s one thing I want to make very clear. I’ve taken a vow of celibacy. I intend to die a virgin. If you force yourself on me, you’ll have to die.”
Startled by this pronouncement, Garth studied her mutely for a long moment. She wasn’t joking. She meant what she said. He owed Tobias, but not enough to marry a woman whose sanity he was beginning to question. It was time to get out before this went any farther. “I’ve never forced myself on any woman,” he replied coolly. “And I don’t like being threatened. But more important, I don’t think this is going to work. You and I will have to, at least, appear to like each other and that’s looking more and more impossible by the moment.”
Realizing the impression she’d made, Hesper breathed a tired sign and sank into a nearby chair. “I’m not a nut case.”
“That thought did cross my mind,” he confessed, finding himself believing her.
“I have very strong personal reasons for having taken the vow of celibacy. I apologize for threatening you. I simply wanted you to understand that I was not speaking lightly.”
Garth told himself he’d be smart to walk away right now. But he knew he could trust himself to adhere to her wishes. If she went looking for a husband on her own, she might get something she hadn’t bargained for. That he was feeling protective toward her shocked him. Hesper O’Grady didn’t need his protection, he assured himself. Still, he heard himself saying, “All right. You have my word, I won’t touch you except in the line of duty.”
“Then we have a deal?” She rose and extended her hand.
“We have a deal,” he confirmed, rising to accept her handshake.
His touch was like fire, sending flames streaking up her arm. Startled, Hesper jerked free.
“This isn’t going to work if you find touching me so repulsive,” Garth growled, her reaction causing a bitter sting of insult.
Hesper took a calming breath. “It wasn’t you.” She stared down at her hand. “You felt so warm, I was surprised.” Concern entered her voice. “Are you ill?”
“No.” He’d noticed an unusual heat himself just before she pulled free. “Maybe you’re running a fever.”
She felt her forehead. “No.” She gave her shoulders a shake. “But I am overwrought Tension can make a person more sensitive, I suppose.”
“It does heighten the senses,” he agreed.
She held out her hand once again. “Please accept my apology.”
“Apology accepted.” As his hand again closed around hers, Garth felt the warmth once again. It traveled up his arm and sparked a fire within. Attraction… blatant animal magnetism was what it was. And strong, too. He found himself wondering if he could change her mind about remaining celibate. Recalling the sincerity in her voice, he frowned at himself. Keep your mind on business! he ordered.
Hesper had prepared herself in case the heat was still there but even steeled against it, she could not ignore the way it traveled through her, this time igniting the embers she worked so hard to keep cold. The thought that perhaps Garth Lawton was the right mate for her played through her mind. Or maybe this was merely a physical reaction induced by hormones frustrated by neglect. She reminded herself of her mother and her aunt Eloise. It’s not worth the risk! she again told herself.
Breaking the contact with polite decorum, she said, “Are you free to begin tomorrow?”
“Tomorrow,” he confirmed, a part of him again questioning the wisdom of this. But he’d given his word and he would not turn back now.
As the door closed behind him, Hesper sank back into her chair. The feeling she was treading on precarious ground pervaded her. Maybe she should have simply split the money with her stepfather. Anger flashed in her eyes. She would never allow Peter Lowell to win without a fight!
Chapter Two (#ulink_a6edbabb-31d0-55d5-8136-2b6a85a530a7)
Hesper looked at the ring on her finger. Tobias had insisted she remain as his guest and he be allowed to make the arrangements for the wedding. It had been a small but very elegant affair, hastily accomplished. The only ones from her side of the family who could arrange to attend, other than Tobias, were Aunt Eloise and her son, Hagen. Although Tobias had kept his distance from others in the family, Hagen worked for him, making her cousin another who was privy to the truth of the arrangement.
As for Garth, he had no living relatives.
Now she and her new husband were on their way to her apartment in New York and from there to visit Jeanette DuPree. The elderly woman had sent her regrets that she was not well enough to travel to the wedding, but requested they come visit her as soon as possible after the ceremony. Trying not to think about what lay ahead nor the man beside her, Hesper studied the simple gold band. Garth had a matching one and Tobias had insisted on having their wedding date and their names engraved inside.
The ring sparked memories of the wedding. There had been no kiss. But just having Garth slip the gold band on her finger had caused her to feel shaky, then again a fire had ignited within her. Until now, denying her sexual urges had been easy. But this man she’d married aroused her passion with a strength she found difficult to fight. However, she was determined not only to fight it but to win.
Again attempting to direct her mind to a neutral subject, she glanced around at the interior of the car. Her vehicle was still at Tobias’s. This sporty BMW belonged to Garth. Clearly Tobias paid him well. Or maybe he was a spendthrift. The realization of how little she knew about him nagged at her. “I suppose we should get to know each other better. My grandmother will expect me to know something about you,” she said, assuring herself she was only asking because she needed the information to win the bet. “Tell me about your childhood.”
Childhood? Garth thought cynically. What childhood? Aloud, he said, “My past is none of your concern. I’m financially solvent and not wanted by the law. I joined the marines when I was eighteen and retired a year ago to work for Tobias. That’s all you need to know. For the rest, make up whatever story you think your grandmother will like best.”
So much for that subject, Hesper mused. Clearly the man did not like to talk about himself. “I’ve found it’s better not to lie. I’ll tell her that we met, fell madly in love, got married in the heat of the moment and are just now learning about each other.”
He nodded his approval. “The simpler, the better.” He pressed the button on the CD player and strains of Mozart filled the car. He tried to concentrate on the music and the road but images of the past came back to haunt him. Out of the corner of his eye, he glanced at the woman beside him and wondered how she would have reacted if he’d told her what she’d wanted to know. She’d probably wished she’d never asked.
Seeking a diversion from the memories she’d caused to surface, he broke the silence between them. “If your grandmother does approve of me, how will you prove that to your stepfather?”
“He’s on his way to my grandmother’s as we speak. Since he also did not attend the wedding, it’s only natural he would take the first opportunity to meet his new stepson-in-law.” Hesper scowled. “My grandmother doesn’t know that he mistreated my mother. My mother was too proud to want anyone to know. She never told and she swore me to secrecy.” The scowl on her face darkened even more. “It hasn’t been easy, but I’ve kept my word. Because she believes Peter was good to my mother, my grandmother continues to accept him as a welcome member of the family. And I will admit that when my mother died, he played the stunned, grief-stricken husband to the hilt. Grandmama even appears to respect his judgment. That will give him an edge.”
Feeling that it was only fair to be completely honest with Garth about Jeanette DuPree, Hesper continued. “Of course it’s hard to know exactly what she’s thinking. She’s a very private woman. Some would call her cold. I suppose that’s a fair description. Her greetings and hugs are perfunctory and I, personally, have never seen her bestow anything beyond a nod of approval. Even that was done with a stern expression.”
Her mouth formed a thoughtful pout. “Although I did hear that she actually smiled when Hagen told her he was going to work for Tobias. I wish I could have seen that.”
Garth glanced at her. “She sounds like a very difficult woman. I suppose the members of the family visit as little as possible.”
“On the contrary. Christmas and Thanksgiving are always held at her home. She is the matriarch of our family and, as such, we all pay homage out of respect for that position. Even Aunt Eloise attends, although she and her mother haven’t exchanged a word since Eloise’s first divorce. They communicate through Alfred, my grandmother’s butler. If he isn’t around, a maid or family member acts as intermediary.” Hesper frowned at the road ahead. When they got to Grandmama DuPree’s, he was going to think she hadn’t been entirely honest. “What I’ve just told you is the truth. However, there is more. My grandmother has the same knack for business that I do. She’s worth a great deal of money.”
A knowing smile played at the corners of Garth’s mouth. He was beginning to see the real Hesper and that was going to make keeping his distance much easier. He’d never liked greedy women.
Her jaw firmed. “But the money isn’t why I or Hagen or Eloise continue to visit her. We go there out of a strong sense of family.”
The cynical expression on Garth’s face deepened. “No offense, but, in your case, I don’t buy that. I’m beginning to believe that you’d do just about anything for money.”
She was about to point out that he had no right to talk, but bit back the words. She’d sought his aid. It wasn’t fair of her to criticize. “I can’t blame you for thinking that, but you’re wrong,” she stated flatly.
Surprisingly he found his instinct was to believe her. I’m letting a pretty face rule my judgment, he admonished himself. He’d never thought he’d be that stupid. “You still haven’t told me how you and your stepfather will settle your bet.”
“After my grandmother has met you, she’ll propose a toast at one of our meals or perhaps when she has everyone gathered in the parlor. The toast will be an announcement of her approval or disapproval of the match.” Hesper shifted uneasily. She told herself that Garth Lawton was merely in this for the money. Still, he deserved to be warned. “Her disapproval can prove embarrassing. She speaks her mind very clearly and expects to be obeyed.”
The ominous tone in her voice caused him to glance toward her questioningly.
“She took a very strong dislike to Eloise’s third husband, Homer Hyde. She didn’t even wait for the first course to be served at dinner on the day he and Eloise arrived. She ordered wine poured as soon as everyone was seated, then rose to make the toast. She turned to him, ordered him out of her house and added that she hoped he tripped over his suitcases, which were waiting for him on the front porch, and broke his neck. She then told Eloise, through Alfred, that, despite her horrendous taste in men, which appeared to be getting worse with age, she could remain, but that she’d booked a room for Homer at the local inn and expected him to be gone before the soup was served. Eloise rose immediately to pack and leave with her husband, but Homer simply scowled at Grandmama DuPree and remained firmly seated. Grandmama nodded toward Alfred. He had two of the stable men waiting in the hall. On a nod from him, they entered the dining room, lifted Homer, chair and all, and carried him out the front door.”
Garth was beginning to wonder exactly what he’d gotten himself into. Curiosity killed the cat, he recalled. Still he found himself more interested than ever in meeting Tobias’s sister. “I’ll remember not to overstay my welcome.”
A twinge of guilt worked its way through Hesper. “I should have warned you about all of this beforehand.” A defensiveness entered her voice. “But you are only doing this for money, so you shouldn’t take anything she says or does personally.”
“Don’t worry about me,” he assured her. “I’ve got the hide of a rhino.”
She studied him narrowly. “You don’t let anyone get too close, do you?”
“Only a very select few,” he replied. “Those I know I can trust.”
She nodded her approval.
“What’s to keep your father from revealing your game and exposing me as a cad?”
“If he did that, he’d have to admit to being after my money. Grandmama wouldn’t like that and he’s counting on being in her will.”
Garth smiled dryly. Maybe being orphaned hadn’t been such a bad break after all.
For the rest of the drive to New York City, they spoke little.
Arriving at her apartment, she offered him his choice of the bedroom or the pull-out couch in the living room. Catching the glimmer of surprise in his eyes, she added, “I hope you weren’t expecting more elaborate quarters. I could only use the money in my trust for my education. Since I graduated, I haven’t been allowed to touch it except to manipulate the investments. I live off of my salary as an accountant.”
“It isn’t the smallness. It’s just a lot homier than I pictured. I expected something more stark, more modern… glass-top tables, black and white decor,” he said, his gaze traveling over the plush, upholstered furniture, their flowery prints giving the room an air of cheerfulness and femininity. Doilies protected table surfaces cluttered with assortments of knickknacks and family photographs.
“I have a soft side,” she said stiffly. “I simply prefer not to expose it too publicly.”
He’d nearly convinced himself that the real Hesper O’Grady was a hard, calculating woman with no soul. This apartment proved him wrong. “Your softer side is very appealing.”
A glow of pleasure brought a flush to Hesper’s cheeks and her legs felt suddenly weak—the kind of weakness she’d experienced with her first teenage crush. Those adolescent years had proved to be treacherous. But she’d survived them unscathed. Once past them, she was certain she had her emotions completely under control. Now, suddenly those hormones she’d ordered to remain dormant were vibrantly alive. Reminding herself of the hell Peter had put her mother through, she quelled them. “Do you want the bedroom or the couch?” she repeated tersely, her tone letting him know that she had no intention of exposing her softer side to him.
Garth studied her with interest. “You remind me of an armadillo. The moment he senses his soft underbelly is in danger, he curls up into a ball, using his hard shell to protect him.”
She met his gaze with defiance. “I have my reasons, Mr. Lawton. Tobias said you could be trusted. I do hope you don’t try to prove him wrong.”
Garth had seen that same cold purpose in the eyes of people willing to die rather than surrender their ideals. He knew he’d be smart never to cross the line she’d drawn between them and he prided himself on being, at least, that smart.
“The couch or the bed?” she repeated.
“The couch,” he replied.
The next morning, Hesper took care of a few business matters, then they left for her grandmother’s estate outside of Wilmington, Delaware, arriving in time for tea.
“Impressive place,” Garth said as they neared the end of the tree-lined private driveway and the huge gray stone manor house came into view.
“My grandfather was old money. It was dwindling when he married my grandmother. He never had a head for business and was happy to turn the reins over to her and concentrate on his horses and his golf game.”
“A smart man knows his limitations.”
She glanced at him dryly. “You’re an Eastwood fan. I should have guessed.”
He smiled and shrugged. “We all have our heroes. Dirty Harry is one of mine.”
His smile caused her breath to momentarily lock in her lungs. She’d seen men smile before, she chided herself. For his to have such a strong effect on her wasn’t reasonable. She ordered herself to forget it. Instead she said, “You have a nice smile.”
He’d been told that by women before, but this time the words seemed to carry a more important weight. It was as if he really cared if she liked him or not. She’s made it clear that she doesn’t want me getting close to her, he reminded himself. Still, she’d been the one to make the friendly overture and he couldn’t resist seeing how far it would go. “Thanks. I like to think I can be likable.”
Mentally Hesper kicked herself. She’d opened the door and she’d better close it quickly. Her reactions to this man made being friendly with him much too much like walking on quicksand. Her tone becoming businesslike, she said, “Let’s just hope my grandmother likes your smile as well.”
The armadillo had rolled into its ball again, Garth noted. No doubt that was for the best, he added and concentrated on his driving.
Alfred greeted them at the door. In his early sixties, dressed in black tails, the remaining circle of fringe on his now nearly bald head cut short and crisp, tall, slender and with his usual staid expression on his face, her grandmother’s butler never seemed to change, Hesper thought as she introduced Garth.
After a slight but deferential bow toward Garth, Alfred returned his attention to Hesper. “Your grandmother has had the white room prepared for you. I’ll have Charles bring your bags up.”
Hesper was not surprised to discover that her grandmother had noticed her preference for that particular room. Most people thought the elderly woman was too engrossed in herself to pay any heed to the likes and dislikes of others. But Hesper knew her grandmother’s eyes were much sharper and her interest in others much keener than she led people to believe. “Thank you, Alfred.”
His expression never changing, he added, “You have fifteen minutes to freshen up. Then Mrs. DuPree expects you to join her and your stepfather in the rose garden.”
“Pleasant fellow,” Garth muttered under his breath as he accompanied Hesper up the wide winding staircase.
“Beneath that frosty exterior is an honest, trustworthy man with a very kind streak,” she replied, keeping her voice low. “When I was nine, I stayed with my grandmother while my parents went to Paris. One night I was late for supper and my grandmother sent me up to my room without allowing me anything to eat. A little while later there was a knock on the door and when I opened it, there was Alfred with a tray. No one else in the house would have had the courage to go against my grandmother’s wishes. But I have discovered through the years that Alfred has a very strong sense of what is right and wrong and when he believes my grandmother has acted wrongly, he lets her know.”
“Your grandmother, obviously, values him.”
They reached the landing and Hesper turned down the hall to their right. “I’ve always thought she put up with him because good help is hard to find, but I think you’re right. I think she does value him more than she wants people to know.” She recalled feeling certain Alfred had enjoyed throwing Eloise’s third husband out of the house. Had he been influential in her grandmother’s decision? she wondered. Mentally she shrugged. No one had liked Homer. Even Eloise had divorced him after barely six months. And while her grandmother might ask someone else’s opinion, she always made up her own mind. Still, Hesper found herself trying to recall any hint of what Garth’s first impression on Alfred had been.
Entering a door on the left, she glanced over her shoulder as Garth followed her inside. He’d been polite but cool when she’d introduced him to the butler. Alfred, she was fairly certain, liked silent, authoritative men. So far, so good, she assured herself.
Garth could easily see why this was called the white room. The walls were white with a decorative white molding along the top. The quilted bedspread on the queen-size four-poster bed was white as were the arched lace canopy overhead and the matching lace curtains at the windows. Touches of blue and pink added a softness to the stark whiteness of the room. Mixed in with the assortment of lace-covered pillows at the head of the bed were some smaller white throw pillows with tiny blue and pink flowers embroidered on them. And the white rug covering the major portion of the hardwood floor also had tiny blue and pink flowers worked into its design. The wooden furnishings were of the highest quality, all of the same dark cherry in a Queen Anne design. Through a door to his right, he could see a private bath. It, too, was basically white with pink and blue accents. “Nice room.”
“I like it. It reminds me of spring. It has a spacious, airy feel to it.” At least it used to feel that way, Hesper amended as her gaze came to rest on the bed. Suddenly that piece of furniture seemed a great deal smaller than she remembered. At her apartment, they’d had different rooms. And while the scent of his aftershave had lingered in the bathroom, arousing a few unwanted embers to threaten to spark into life, for the most part, she’d been able to control her unwanted reactions to the man. In these close quarters, ignoring him was going to be more difficult. Her jaw hardened. However, she could do it.
Noticing he’d followed her line of vision to the bed and was now watching her with an eyebrow raised in a questioning expression, she said coolly, “My grandmother will expect us to sleep together. By not sharing the same bed, we’ll run the risk of discovery. But as long as you stay on your side and I stay on mine, we’ll get along just fine.”
“Yes, ma am,” he replied.
“We don’t have a lot of time,” she said, beginning a quick inventory of the clothing he was wearing. She’d chosen the outfit so that he would not need to change but a sudden bout of nervousness forced her to make a final inspection. His top was a short-sleeve cotton, collared pullover. It fit nicely, not too tightly, still the strength of his shoulders was evident as well as the flatness of his abdomen. Her gaze traveled to his slacks. Definitely a very masculine male, she mused. Again an unwanted heat began to build within her. She forced her gaze to his loafers then back to his face.
“Is there a problem?” he asked curtly. He’d been scrutinized by women before but her gaze had been different, somehow more personal, almost like a physical touch. And the feminine appreciation in her eyes wasn’t helping, either. It had caused an answering response from his own body, awaking the lust he was trying hard to keep dormant. She isn’t making staying away from her easy, he grumbled silently.
“No, you’ll do fine,” she replied hastily, heading into the bathroom to brush her hair and check her lipstick.
A few minutes later, they entered the rose garden at the back of the house. Garth saw two people seated at a table in a gazebo at the center of the circularly laid out beds of flowers. One was a slender, whitehaired, elderly woman wearing a long-sleeve, sky blue dress with a lace collar and lace cuffs. Garth judged the man to be in his late fifties who looked to be in good physical condition, no potbelly and no sag at the shoulders, and was dressed in a short-sleeve, buttondown shirt and slacks. As he rose and approached them, the smugness of his expression bred an instant dislike in Garth. His instincts told him that this was a man who was used to winning and would go to any lengths to do so.
Reaching Garth and Hesper halfway, the man extended his hand to Garth. “I’m Peter Lowell, Hesper’s stepfather.”
Garth smiled a smile that didn’t reach his eyes. “Garth Lawton,” he said, accepting the handshake.
The handshake completed quickly, Peter turned to Hesper, grinned slyly and said in a lowered voice. “On the surface it appears you have made a reasonably good choice. I suppose most women will find him passably good-looking but not really handsome. That’s a mark in his favor. Your grandmother never did like pretty men. And he seems to have decent manners. I suppose I should be worried.”
Hesper caught the hint in his voice that suggested he knew something about Garth that would ruin her chances. She hid her uneasiness behind a falsely confident smile. “You should be.”
Peter continued to grin like the cat who’d caught the canary. “Come along, your grandmother will be angry with me for keeping her waiting.”
Allowing her stepfather to precede them by a few feet, Hesper edged closer to Garth and asked in whispered tones, “Does Tobias know all there is to know about you?”
“Yes.” A curl of guilt wove through him. Maybe he should have told her more about his past. But it was too late now.
“Then I’ll just have to trust his judgment once again,” she muttered as she mounted the short flight of steps to the gazebo. Her grandmother had risen to greet them. Hesper gave her the required, dutiful hug, then stepped back to stand beside Garth. “You’re looking well, Grandmama.”
“The years have been good to me,” Jeanette DuPree replied, coolly. Her gaze traveled critically over her granddaughter. “You’re looking well yourself.”
Garth had ordered himself to relax but his back muscles tensed as the elderly woman’s attention turned to him. He could see the family resemblance between her and Tobias in the blue color of her eyes and the shape of her mouth. But that was where the similarity ended. When meeting new people, Tobias exhibited a friendliness that put them at ease. This woman’s expression grew harsher and bleaker as her gaze traveled over him. She made him feel like an interloper…an unwelcome interloper. He glanced toward Peter Lowell and saw the amusement in the man’s eyes. There was no doubt left in his mind that Jeanette DuPree was aware of his past and clearly did not approve.
“So you’re the man who married my granddaughter,” she said, finishing her inspection.
“This is Garth Lawton, Grandmama.” Hesper made the introduction.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you.” Garth extended his hand to the elderly woman.
“We shall see.” She accepted with a firmness that surprised him.
Hesper heard the challenge in her grandmother’s voice. The gauntlet had been cast.
“Please be seated.” Jeanette motioned toward the two unoccupied chairs at the table.
Instead of obeying, Garth stepped behind Jeanette DuPree’s chair before Alfred had a chance and held it for her.
“I can see my brother has taught you manners,” she said, watching him round the table and seat himself next to Hesper. Never taking her eyes off him, Jeanette performed a small backward wave of her hand toward Alfred. “You’re dismissed.”
As the butler gave his usual, modified bow, then left, she continued to study Garth. “I understand you work for Tobias.”
From her tone he knew this was merely a rhetorical question, still she paused as if expecting a response. “Yes.”
Jeanette poured two cups of tea. The first she handed to Hesper, barely giving her granddaughter a glimpse. The second she handed to Garth, her gaze locking onto him once again. “I spoke to my brother but he was not as helpful as I’d hoped. Still, he did tell me you were in the military for a number of years. You served with the Military Police.”
Again she paused and again he replied with a polite “Yes.”
“And over the years, you were assigned to several different embassies both in South America and Europe,” she continued. “That must have been interesting.”
“They were uneventful assignments.” This was an automatic, schooled response, one all of Tobias’s people had been taught to make.
“I suppose you would have preferred something a bit more adventurous?”
Garth heard the sharpening inflection in her voice and was suddenly aware she was not making idle chatter. Maintaining a polite, unworried demeanor, he shrugged. “I was satisfied with my assignments.”
Hesper’s uneasiness grew stronger as she saw the challenge glittering in her grandmother’s eyes.
“I suppose there were opportunities at the embassies you would not find on a base or on the battlefield.”
Garth knew where the old woman was heading. He glanced over his shoulder to see if any of the stable hands were waiting in the bushes. He saw no one. Refusing to play into her hands, he said, “I did learn a lot about other cultures and picked up some smattering of foreign languages.”
Jeanette DuPree’s gaze became colder. “I do hope, for the honor of our country, that was all you picked up. I would hate to think they came up short on their silver after you left. Or perhaps, some unsuspecting diplomats discovered they’d bought the equivalent of the Brooklyn Bridge?”
The accusations her grandmother was making caused Hesper’s uneasiness to turn to anger. She’d expected a few barbs to be cast Garth’s way, but she had not brought him here to be maligned. “Grandmama. That was unkind even for you.”
Jeanette’s attention swung to her granddaughter. “You don’t know about him, about his youthful activities, do you?”
Hesper’s insides felt shaky. “No.” But Tobias did, she reminded herself. At least, Garth had said he did. Of course, Garth could have been lying. No turning back now; she had to see this through. “But I know he’s a good man.”
“Being good in bed, doesn’t prove a man’s character. I’ve known of some real blackguards who were fabulous lovers but hadn’t an ounce of honor,” Jeanette replied patronizingly.
“I did what I felt I had to do to survive,” Garth said in an easy drawl, covering the defensiveness he felt toward his youth behind a mask of indifference. “Growing up on the tough side of Chicago requires ingenuity.”
“What did you do?” Hesper asked.
He shrugged. “A little of this and a little of that. Nothing I ever got arrested for.”
“If I’m to believe Peter, you began working for a local bookie when you were seven. You were an accomplished hustler by the time you were ten and perfected con artist by the time you were twelve,” Jeanette elaborated. “The only thing in your favor is that you never got arrested, or if you did, no charges were ever filed.”
Hesper had known her stepfather would have Garth investigated. Tobias should have known that, too, she fumed. Next time she needed advice about who she could trust, she wouldn’t ask Aunt Eloise!
Garth faced Jeanette DuPree levelly. “I left Chicago when I was eighteen. I’ve been straight ever since.”
Challenge again glittered in her eyes. “Your parentage appears to have a gap as well. There is no father listed on your birth certificate.”
It had been a long time since anyone had questioned him about his birth. He’d thought it couldn’t bother him, but he was wrong. His shoulders straightened with pride. “My mother wasn’t entirely certain who my father was. Even if she had been, he wouldn’t have claimed me. She and I did just fine on our own.”
“Your mother was a prostitute,” Jeanette stated blandly.
Hesper scowled at her stepfather and then her grandmother. They had no right to be so self-righteous. “A person cannot choose their heritage,” she snapped.
Garth turned to her, his eyes cold. “I don’t apologize for my mother,” he said, protectiveness and love evident in his voice. “She was a good woman. Her father abused her and her mother was an alcoholic. She went into the streets to escape from them. She didn’t know of any other way.”
Stunned by this display of emotion from a man she’d begun to think had none, Hesper said quickly, “I didn’t mean anything derogatory toward you mother.” Unable to stop herself, she asked, “What happened to her?”
His expression once again became shuttered. “She died.”
When it became evident Garth was not going to elaborate, Jeanette spoke up. “She developed lung cancer when Garth was eleven and died when he was twelve. His grandparents decided it was their Godgiven duty to take him in. He began running away almost immediately. When he ran away the third time, they washed their hands of him. The next few years are vague, but it appears he went back to his old neighborhood and worked for the local bookie until he was eighteen. At that time he joined the army.”
“An incorrigible child with no morals, who grew into a man who would do anything for personal gain,” Peter snarled.
Garth’s jaw tensed in his effort to control his temper. “I did what I had to do. I won’t claim I was perfect, but I had my reasons.”
“So it would seem.” Jeanette frowned at Peter. “According to my investigator, Garth’s grandparents felt that he had been born in sin and that the evil had to be exorcised. According to an elderly neighbor, they chose beating as the best method to instill their righteous values. There are hospital records confirming that he was brought in twice with sprained wrists, once with a concussion and once with a broken arm, all supposedly accidents that happened in the home.” Her frown darkened as she continued to frown at her son-in-law. “Surely you must have known I’d have checked into Mr. Lawton myself.” Her attention returned to Garth. “Although, I can sympathize with you in some respects, I must also admit, a person of your background is not what I would have chosen for my granddaughter.”
“I guess it’s time for me to make my departure.” Garth was on his feet. “Can I assume my bags are on the front porch? Or perhaps, they were never taken out of the car?”
Hesper rose with him. “I’m really sorry about this,” she apologized while silently promising herself that she would give Tobias a piece of her mind…a very large piece.
Jeanette motioned for them to sit down. “Your bags are being unpacked as we speak.” She smiled encouragingly at Garth. “I simply thought it would be best to get all of the unpleasantness out in the open. Now there will be no pretense and I can get to know the real you.”
Hesper stood frozen, staring at her grandmother. Jeanette DuPree was smiling…actually smiling. A closer look revealed the smile had not gone to her eyes, those were still sharply watchful, like a hawk coveting it’s prey, but the corners of her mouth had turned upward and to someone not looking any further than that, she appeared to be smiling.
“Well, I’m appalled that Hesper would marry someone she knew so little about,” Peter said with harsh reprimand. “I thought she had a more sensible head on her shoulders.”
Jeanette turned to him, her smile gone and in its place a censorious frown. “Sometimes a person cannot help listening to their heart.” Her voice mellowed and she offered him a plate of cakes. “I’m not saying that’s wise. However, I feel to be fair to Hesper, I should not make a snap judgment. Eat something and let me talk to my new grandson-in-law.”
Peter scowled, waved away the cakes and sat back, studying Garth with a critical eye.
Noticing that both Garth and Hesper were still standing, impatience showed on Jeanette’s face. “Please, sit down.” It was an order.
Hesper looked to Garth. “Are you willing to remain?”
A part of him had had enough of Jeanette DuPree and her son-in-law. His life had, many times, depended on him reading people and he’d known that her smile had been merely a polite facade to coax him into remaining so that she could study him further like an animal she found amusing but was not certain she wanted in her zoo. As for Peter Lowell, the man was clearly willing to play dirty to get what he wanted. But as much as Garth would have preferred to leave, a stronger part disliked allowing Lowell to win without a fight. The man was smug and devious and willing to rob his own stepdaughter. “Since we’re here, we might as well remain a while.”
Hesper sank back into her chair. She’d been certain Garth would walk and she’d lose the bet. She still could. It was possible her grandmother was bored and willing to keep them there simply for a diversion. But there was also a chance she could win. Years ago, she’d given up trying to determine Jeanette DuPree’s motives.
Garth waited until Hesper was again seated then eased himself back into his chair. Tobias’s sister was a great deal more like his employer than he’d first thought. He was certain she’d staged this whole business just to study his reaction and Hesper’s.
“Now, tell me about my brother. I understand he’s running some sort of detective agency these days,” Jeanette said, offering him a slice of cake as she spoke. “What type of cases does he handle? Just anything that comes along?”
“Only those cases he finds interesting,” Garth replied.
The elderly woman nodded as if this was what she suspected. “The mundane always bored him.” Interest glistened in her eyes. “And what kind of cases does he find interesting?”
“Missing persons, murders the police have given up on and, once in a while, a theft the authorities cannot solve.”
“And you do his legwork for him?” Jeanette persisted.
“I’m one of his operatives,” Garth confirmed.
“My grandson, Hagen, is another, I believe?”
“Yes.”
Jeanette scowled. “When he told me he was going to work for Tobias, I assumed it was in a legal capacity. He has a law degree, graduated top of his class. He could have joined any law firm he chose. I’m aware my brother has connections in high places. I thought working for him would be a boon to Hagen’s legal career. Instead he has opted to go running around the world at my brother’s beck and call, toting a gun and placing himself in danger.” She paused and her gaze narrowed on Garth. “You do carry guns, don’t you?”
“It’s necessary.”
Jeanette shook her head. “Boys will be boys, I suppose. But the next time you see Hagen, you tell him that when Steward Schuyler dies, I fully expect him to come here and manage my legal affairs. I want someone I know I can trust.”
“I’ll relay the message,” Garth promised, wondering how that battle of wills would end. Hagen was not a man who could be bullied into doing what he did not want to do. But it was equally obvious that Jeanette DuPree was not used to having her wishes denied. However, that was Hagen’s problem, not his.
“How many men have you killed, Mr. Lawton?” Peter asked abruptly.
“A few. I was a soldier. There were times I was called upon to protect my country,” Garth replied.
Jeanette raised a critical eyebrow in Peter’s direction, indicating she was not pleased with his line of questioning. “My brother thinks very highly of Garth and Tobias is not an easy man to please. Even more, I know you must have been worried about Hesper finding a husband. I know I was. We must give her choice the benefit of the doubt.”
Hesper’s cheeks reddened. Her grandmother had made her sound as if she’d been coming close to stepping over the line into spinsterhood. “A great many women wait to marry these days.”
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