Honor watched as Hector blinked in surprise at the barely suppressed vitriol in the other woman’s voice. She herself was shocked, too. The woman hardly acted like a grieving widow. More like an avenging one. Her son Fletcher leaned forward and began to speak.
“Mom, this is going to be complicated enough as it is without you stirring the pot. If you have nothing positive to add, then, under the circumstances, it would be best if you kept your thoughts to yourself.”
“Fletcher, that’s unfair. I am your father’s legal widow. You are his legitimate children. I’m making a stand for what’s ours. For what’s right.”
“Then let’s allow the lawyers to determine this quickly. The longer we take over this, the longer both our businesses and all our lives will be in limbo.” Fletcher looked up at everyone assembled. “Are we agreed on that?”
There were murmurs of assent all round.
Fletcher slid out a business card and passed it to Hector. “If you could let us know exactly what you need from us to prove my mother’s claim, we will advise our lawyers to provide that information accordingly. We will be staying in town tonight before flying back home tomorrow.”
“And we’ll be demanding that Douglas’s body be returned to Virginia when this is all settled,” Eleanor snapped at Nancy.
Honor couldn’t believe the other woman’s unpleasant attitude. Nancy had done no wrong. To her credit, Nancy didn’t lower herself to respond; she merely turned to Hector and thanked him before proving herself the consummate hostess by offering everyone assembled something to eat and drink. Eleanor’s second son, Mathias, refused on behalf of his family.
“If you don’t mind, we’ll make our way back to the hotel. I think you’ll agree this is hardly a social situation that we’d like to prolong.”
“Of course,” Keaton said, standing and offering his hand to each of his purported half brothers and sister. “We all have a lot to process.”
“You can say that again,” Kristin muttered as she rose to her feet as well.
Eleanor merely sniffed as she stood up and led the way to the front door, her children following behind. Honor moved quickly to open the door and show them out. Eleanor didn’t even acknowledge her, but Lisa smiled her thanks as she walked past. Once they were settled in their car, Honor activated the gate and waited until she caught the flicker of taillights at the end of the driveway before closing it again. Only then did she begin to feel her body start to relax.
“We sure weren’t expecting that,” Logan said from behind her.
She turned around slowly, forcing herself to ignore the way her heartrate kicked up a beat at his nearness. “No, we certainly weren’t. Don’t you think it odd that Douglas maintained mirror lives on each side of the country? If what they’re saying is true.”
“Odd isn’t the word I’d choose.” Logan wiped a hand across his face. “What a mess.”
Her heart ached for him. Now that the confrontation was over, for now at least, the strain Logan was feeling was clear on his face. Honor hastened to choose words that might be of some encouragement.
“I can’t help but feel that something isn’t right about it all. Eleanor was so...aggressive, for want of a better word. It almost made me feel as if she was hiding something.”
“You got that, too, huh?”
Honor sighed and reminded herself that while they were on the same wavelength, she could offer him no more than words right now. “This situation is going to make a whole bunch of lawyers very rich, isn’t it?”
“Yeah,” he agreed, his expression grim. “We’re all going to be on tenterhooks until we know exactly where we stand.”
Honor nodded. “Look, you all have a lot to discuss. I’ll call a cab and head off and leave you to your privacy.”
“Are you sure you won’t stay? Nancy wouldn’t object.”
And you? she wanted to ask even though she knew the answer. It was clear in his expression that he was torn. She knew he wanted to include her, but was mindful of what her presence would do to his siblings. No, it was better she went, no matter how much it tore her apart to leave him at a time like this.
“I know,” she said softly. “But it’s better this way. Trust me.”
He took her hand and she instantly felt awareness tingle through her at his touch.
“Thank you for all you’ve done today. I mean it. You gave me strength when I needed it.”
Her throat choked on all the words she wished she could say in reply. She swallowed hard and said, “Give Nancy my regards.”
Then she let herself out the door and closed it firmly behind her.
Fifteen
Two weeks later and they were no closer to a resolution. And, worse, Douglas continued to remain unburied, which was a deep source of distress to Nancy. Hector had advised the family that, based on the information provided by Eleanor’s lawyer, including notarized copies of documents, her marriage to Douglas had indeed taken place prior to Nancy’s, which made Nancy’s claim the invalid one. The shame and sorrow at discovering she’d been deceived for so long had had a huge impact on her health, and she’d been unable to work since Douglas’s death.
“How was Mom this morning?” Kristin asked as she popped into the office that had been her dad’s and which was now, temporarily at least, Logan’s.
“Still the same. I can’t seem to get her interested in anything, and believe me, I’ve tried.”
“Yeah, Keaton said she won’t even leave the house. She’s terrified she’ll bump into someone she knows and she can’t stand to face the questions, or worse, the pity.”
The only bright side of this whole debacle was that it had drawn the siblings closer together. Not only were they dedicated to providing a united front of support to their mom, but also to the staff. So far, they’d managed to continue with business as usual and the three had worked together on major decisions and planning.
Honor had insisted she was working out the notice she’d given to Douglas on the day he died and had proven intractable on the subject. Not even a plea from Keaton had swayed her. And she’d gone back to avoiding Logan as much as possible. When they did cross paths, she kept herself apart and kept their conversations short. It was driving him crazy.
Logan leaned back in his chair and swiveled it around to look out the window. He still couldn’t believe his father had managed to maintain two families for most of his life without anyone discovering his deception until now. What kind of man did that?
“You okay?” Kristin asked as she moved over toward the window and stared out at the view with him.
“I guess. I just can’t get my head around what he did and how he did it.”
Kristin shook her head. “I know what you mean. To us, he and Mom were always a tight unit. Totally devoted to one another. Yes, he traveled a lot with work, but no one would have suspected that he lived a double life. I feel so betrayed—I can’t even begin to imagine how this is messing with Mom. He was her entire life and that life was a complete and utter lie.”
“Not a complete lie,” Logan said, trying to reassure her. “He loved Nancy deeply. Anyone could see that.”
“But he loved Eleanor, too. And how he could love that woman is totally beyond me.”
“I think it’s probably fair to say we didn’t see her at her best.”
Kristin snorted. “That’s true. How did she find out about Dad’s death, anyway? Why didn’t she or her lawyers make contact before the funeral?”
Logan sighed. “From what I have gleaned from Fletcher, she saw the notice in the paper and pretty much ordered the kids to book the flights and come with her. I’m not sure she had a plan—she just wanted to stake her claim.”
“Well, she certainly did that. And how’re things with our big brother from the East Coast? Is he champing at the bit to take over here?”
“For now he’s like us. Wai
ting for the appropriate confirmation before any further decisions are made. In the meantime, he’s focusing on business over there, and we need to keep doing what we do here.”
“I hate waiting.”
“We’re agreed on that one. Keaton’s frustrated, too.”
“And Honor? She’s still adamant she’s leaving?”
Logan felt that all-too-familiar twist in his chest when he heard her name. They’d barely seen one another. She’d been busy ensuring her work was fully up-to-date and ready to hand over to her replacement as well as training her assistant and his colleagues on holding the reins in her department until an appointment was made. On top of that, she’d sent her assistant to attend any department meetings in her stead.
“Yeah,” he answered dully.
He really missed her. Not just physically, but he missed her quick wit, her intelligent observations about work—everything. He kept telling himself it was ridiculous. They’d only met at the beginning of December and here they were, halfway into January and he couldn’t get her to budge from his mind. Even in sleep she invaded his dreams, making him wake aching and frustrated and wishing she was there. He’d never experienced anything like it before.
“You know, I think Keaton would be okay now if you and Honor—” Kristin started.
“No. I can’t go there.”
“But, seriously. He isn’t acting like a spurned lovelorn idiot. If you ask me, he got over her far more quickly than a man engaged to a woman should. Dad always said they were a good match but not a perfect one.”
“Like he was an expert on relationships,” Logan commented wryly.
“Yeah,” Kristin laughed. “You’re probably right. But it’s a shame. Honor is a really awesome person. We’ve all enjoyed her friendship and her talents here at the office.”
“Has HR advertised her position yet?”
“Yes, and they’ve had applicants, but none of them are of her caliber.”
Logan closed his eyes briefly. And that was the problem, he thought. No one else was Honor Gould. And no one else had ever affected him quite as deeply as she had, either.
* * *
Honor couldn’t help it. Waiting around had never been a particularly strong suit of hers, and the suspense surrounding the Richmond family situation was beginning to take its toll on everyone around her. Several of her team had expressed concern at the stability of the company with no officially appointed CEO, while others were more concerned about the idea of a total stranger coming from the East Coast to run the place. One or two had even handed in their notice already. While Honor had done her best to try and dissuade them, with her own last day fast approaching, no matter how she phrased things, it came across as hypocritical to try to talk people into staying.
On the few occasions her path had crossed with the Richmond siblings, she’d seen the obvious strain on their faces, and it upset her that Nancy had yet to return to work. She understood they were all grieving, but the complexity of Douglas’s family relationships had created an added burden. The only bright side to any of this was seeing how Logan, Keaton and Kristin had begun to work together as a tight unit. And that made her choice to go worthwhile.
She loved Logan. And loving him meant she was prepared to do whatever it took to ensure he was happy. She understood his need for family, for identity, and she respected that was paramount for him right now. She was the last person who’d expect him to give up everything he’d just gotten back for her. And she knew that it would be a her-or-them situation. That much had been made clear when Kristin, who’d been her closest female confidante, had closed ranks with Keaton against her.
There had to be something she could do to make things right for them before she left. She’d thought long and hard about the whole situation with Douglas’s second family, and no matter how she’d looked at it, it simply didn’t feel right with her. There’d been something about Eleanor’s behavior—not merely defensive, but aggressive—that made Honor want to look deeper into her claims. Yes, she knew that Hector Ramirez had received the information that Eleanor’s lawyers had sent through. On the surface everything appeared to be legitimate, so far. But a feeling still niggled at Honor that she was missing something.
Growing up where Honor had, she’d seen and studied at close quarters what happened when people got caught in a lie, and in her experience, they behaved in one of three ways—they capitulated and admitted guilt, they acted like it didn’t matter, or they went head-on at the challenge and their aggression would make the other person back off. Her gut told her that Eleanor’s behavior fell into the latter category.
Judging by the information provided by Eleanor so far, she and Douglas were married on July first, as she’d said. Fletcher’s birth had come seven months later, so Honor was pretty sure that Eleanor had been expecting him already when she and Douglas had married. Not that there was any scandal to that even if they’d just been fresh out of high school. And Fletcher’s date of birth definitely made him around eighteen months older than Logan and Keaton, which threw Douglas’s succession plans for Richmond Developments well and truly into the fire.
Not for the first time, Honor wondered what the heck he’d been thinking. Surely he’d known that when he died his sordid truths would come creeping out of the woodwork, hadn’t he? Had he had such a God complex that he thought he’d be able to keep all his plates spinning and that no one would ever discover the truth? Had he no idea how hurtful and cruel his choices had been?
Honor reached her decision. Even if it meant she had to eat canned soup for the rest of the month, she was going to hire a private investigator to dig up the dirt she just knew to the soles of her feet hung around Douglas and Eleanor’s marriage. She owed it to the Richmonds. To Douglas for always encouraging her, to Keaton to right the wrongs she’d done him and to Logan especially because after all he’d been through he deserved the very best. She might have jeopardized his position in his family, but if she could help to put things right, she would.
* * *
A week later she received the report from the Norfolk-based investigator she’d hired. The woman had set out the information she’d gleaned with crisp clarity and as Honor read through the data, she began to wonder if she’d been wasting both her time and money. Until she reached the last couple of pages, whereupon she felt a sudden spike in adrenaline and a tremor of excitement shook her body. Without waiting another moment, she grabbed the report and headed for Douglas’s office.
“Stella, is Logan in?” she asked the assistant as she all but skidded to a halt on the carpet.
“He is, but he’s in a meeting with Keaton, Kristin and Hector Ramirez right now.”
“That’s good. I need to see them, too.”
Without waiting for Stella to announce her, she pushed open the office door and walked straight in. All four heads swiveled to see who had interrupted and Stella followed hard on Honor’s heels, muttering apologies for the intrusion.
“That’s okay, Stella. Obviously it’s important. Perhaps you could organize someone to bring some coffee in for us?” Logan said.
“Certainly. It will be here right away.”
Honor waited for Stella to close the door behind her before speaking.
“Look, I’m sorry to barge in on you all like this, but I just found out something really important and you need to know.”
“What kind of important?” Kristin asked.
“Important to all of you, and your half brothers and sister. But most of all, it’s going to be very important to Nancy.”
“Well, spit it out,” Keaton said impatiently.
“Hang on. First of all, take a seat, Honor,” Logan suggested and gestured to the only vacant seat in the office, right in front of him.
Honor sat down but could still feel the tension that had driven her to the office in such a hurry holding her in its grip. Logan reached for the water car
afe on the tray on his desk and poured her a glass of water and pushed it in her direction.
“Here, you look like you could do with this,” he said.
“Thanks,” she said with a grateful smile.
Her hand shook slightly as she lifted the glass to her lips and drank half of it in one gulp.
“Right, would you like to share your information with us?” Logan prodded gently.
“From the beginning I felt like there was something not quite right about Eleanor’s claim. I had a feeling she was trying to hide the full truth.”
“What’s she trying to hide? Everything Hector has presented to us here today stacks up as the truth,” Keaton said in a tone that would have stopped her under any other circumstances.
“That’s what she wants you to see. But what she doesn’t want you to see is this.” Honor put the report from her investigator on the desk in front of them. She flipped through to the last page and stabbed at it with her finger. “This is what Eleanor didn’t want anyone to know. She was underage when she and Douglas married.”
Hector leaned forward and read the document. “Yes, that’s true. But in the state of Virginia if you’re under the age of eighteen and have the permission of your parents, you can legally marry.”
“Yes, but Eleanor didn’t have her parents’ permission,” Honor insisted.
“According to the data we’ve gleaned from the circuit court clerk, she did. It states her mother signed the necessary permissions.”
Honor shook her head vehemently. “But her mother couldn’t have done that. She was in Monte Carlo at the time, with her husband, Eleanor’s father. They were on a six-month tour of Europe. Neither of them could have given permission because they weren’t there when the license application was completed.”
“So you’re saying the license is invalid?” Kristin said, leaning forward in excitement.
Seducing the Lost Heir--A wrong brother romance Page 15