“And while I was angry with you for not coming after me, not asking me to come home, I certainly could have made some effort. I could have insisted on seeing you. I could have written.”
“Not my smartest moment.” He paused. “That agreement, that is. If I could undo what I have done, go back to the day after our wedding—”
“I wouldn’t,” she said without thinking. Abruptly, the oddest thought struck her. James hadn’t mentioned the kiss that started everything. He began his regrets with after they married. Her heart thudded. Was it possible that he didn’t think that kiss, their marriage, was a mistake? “These six years have been beneficial for both of us. You grew up and learned to be the man Uncle Richard wanted you to be. I grew up and became the woman I wanted to be.”
“Yes, well—”
She held out a hand to quiet him. “However, I do think we’ve wasted a great deal of time.”
“As do I.” He stared at her for a long time. “And I have no intention of wasting any more starting today. I’ll be back as soon as possible.”
“See that you are,” she said primly. “Would you like to come with me this morning? For the reading?”
“Won’t Mrs. Ryland be accompanying you?”
Cleo was no doubt having the same problem getting out of bed as Violet was. “Probably.”
“Then I shall leave you to it. I’m sure there are any number of interesting ways to fill my time.”
“You can scarcely walk down the streets in Athens without stumbling over something ancient and fascinating. And then there are the more notable ruins. Would you like me to make you a list? I noticed there wasn’t any stationery in the desk but I’m sure the front desk—”
He laughed. “No, I don’t need a list. And later, you can show me some of those notable ruins.” He shrugged into his coat, kissed her again, then took his leave.
She slid back under the covers and stared at the ceiling. So this was what joy felt like. She could easily become accustomed to this. And why not? Her husband loved her and after all these years they were finally starting a life together. She sent a silent prayer of gratitude heavenward.
Thank you, Uncle Richard.
VIOLET GLARED AT the sparse offerings in the wardrobe and for the first time in years, really had nothing she cared to wear. Oh, her clothes were all fashionable and quite becoming, but she was firm about keeping their luggage to a minimum and refused to pack more than was necessary. A shame really. She would have liked something special today. To match her mood. Her lavender walking dress would have to do.
It was mid-May in Athens and spring was in full bloom. And Violet was beginning the rest of her life with the man she loved.
She’d no sooner dressed than a knock sounded at the door. Perhaps that was whatever James had arranged to be sent to the room, although in her experience, hotel restaurants were never that prompt. James hadn’t even returned yet. Maybe he had run into Marcus. And Cleo. The very idea made her giggle.
The knock sounded again. A bit louder and definitely impatient.
“Coming!” She hurried to the door, pulled it open and sucked in a sharp breath. “What on earth are you doing here?”
Duncan stood in the corridor, a somber expression on his face. “I have information you need to know.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
THE RESTAURANT AGREED to send breakfast to their rooms and assured James it would be as quickly as possible. He started back to their suite but detoured to stop by Marcus’s room. Violet had mentioned there was no stationery, and James had a brilliant idea. All it required was paper.
His friend was on a different floor, and James found himself grinning all the way to Marcus’s room. What better way to show the woman he loved just how much he loved her than with a love poem written especially for her? In the manner of Byron, perhaps. Admittedly “She Walks in Beauty” was classic and inspired. But then James too was inspired. He’d never attempted poetry before, but really, how difficult could it possibly be to string a few words together and make them rhyme?
He found Marcus’s door and knocked sharply. There was no answer. James knocked again.
“Yes?” Marcus’s muffled voice sounded from behind the door.
“Morning, old man,” James said jovially. “Let me in.”
Marcus said something James couldn’t quite make out but a few moments later the door opened a crack.
“What do you want?” Marcus wore a dressing gown and stood so as to block any view from the door.
“Stationery,” James said slowly, then snorted back a laugh. “You’re not alone, are you?”
“Of course I’m alone.” Marcus scoffed. “I simply slept late, that’s all. Why, I was in bed when you knocked. Alone. I think I would know if I wasn’t alone. I’m completely alone. I daresay I’ve never been more alone.”
James’s brow row. “Protesting entirely too much, are we?”
“For goodness’ sakes, Marcus,” a female voice called from behind him. A very familiar female voice. “Let him in.”
“Come in, then.” Marcus aimed James a warning look, then leaned close and lowered his voice. “Try to be, I don’t know, pleasant.” He stepped aside.
“Good day, my lord.” Mrs. Ryland stood next to a wildly disheveled bed, tying the belt of a kimono very much like Violet’s.
“Obviously, I’m interrupting,” James said slowly. He already knew Marcus was interested in the woman, although he never suspected it had gone quite this far. Still, Marcus should have known better. Admittedly, he had changed every bit as much as James in recent years but few of Marcus’s dalliances had ever ended well. If this went the way of the others—James didn’t even want to consider how Violet would react to Marcus breaking her friend’s heart.
Marcus glanced at Mrs. Ryland and grinned. “You could say that.”
She choked back a laugh.
“I just needed paper and thought you might have some.” He nodded cordially at Mrs. Ryland, grabbed Marcus’s arm, pulled him toward the door where they could have a modicum of privacy and lowered his voice. “Do you really think this is wise? How do you think Violet is going to feel when she learns you seduced her closest friend? And if this does not end well...” He shuddered. “She’s going to be furious with you and no doubt me, as well.”
“Why would she be angry with you?” Marcus’s tone was entirely too casual for the matter at hand.
“Because I’m your friend!” James snapped. “Beyond that she probably doesn’t need a reason. This is bad, Marcus, this is very bad.”
“Is it?” Doubt sounded in Marcus’s voice.
“Good God, yes!”
“I’m not sure I agree, but I do see your point.” Marcus crossed his arms over his chest. “What do you suggest I do about it?”
“I don’t know.” James huffed. “But you’ll have to think of something.”
“I could marry her, I suppose,” Marcus said mildly.
“I suggested that months ago and you were not at all amenable to the idea.”
“I believe I said I had no desire to marry anyone simply to make your life easier. However, I may have had a change of heart. Making your life easier is probably the least I can do as your friend and solicitor.” He stepped back and raised his voice. “Cleo, will you marry me?”
“What? Again?” She arched a brow. “Do you think that’s necessary?”
Marcus shrugged. “Sorry. She doesn’t think it’s necessary.”
James shook his head in confusion. “What?”
“James, allow me to introduce Mrs. Cleona Cecily Davies.” Marcus chuckled. “My wife.”
“Pleasure to meet you, my lord,” Mrs. Ryland—Mrs. Davies—said. Marcus grinned and moved to her side.
James’s gaze shifted between the two of them. “Your wife?”
“I believe that’s what I just said
.”
James stared in disbelief. “You’re married?”
“Damn difficult to have a wife without being married.”
“We can prove it if you’d like.” Mrs. Davies smiled up at her husband.
“That won’t be necessary. It’s just something of a shock. I never imagined...” He drew his brows together and addressed his friend. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I was protecting you.” Marcus shrugged. “And I fully intended to tell you, I simply haven’t had the chance.”
“What do you mean—you were protecting me?”
“I knew you’d see my marrying someone who didn’t like you as a betrayal of sorts. And I—” he cast a completely smitten smile down at his wife “—we thought perhaps you would get to know her a little better during our travels, although I daresay it hasn’t turned out that way.”
“I’ve been too busy to trying to get my own wife to like me.” James paused. “And I don’t dislike her exactly. But she doesn’t like me.”
“It scarcely matters whether or not I like you, does it?” she asked. “All that really matters is how Violet feels about you.” She sighed. “However, I did promise to try to like you.”
Marcus nudged his wife. “He’s very likable, really.”
“Thank you, Mrs. Davies,” James said. “I shall do all in my power to earn your friendship.”
“We shall see, my lord.” She cast him a reluctant smile. “And I am Cleo to my friends.”
“And I am James.” This might work out well for everyone. Indeed, it was much better to have Cleo as Marcus’s wife rather than as Violet’s constant companion. His gaze shifted to Marcus. “And I don’t need protection.”
“Of course you do, you always have,” Marcus said. “I’ve protected you for years. It’s my job.”
“I don’t think so.”
“Do you remember when that woman claimed—”
“Yes,” James said quickly. “But that was years ago.”
“Very well.” Marcus ticked the points off on his fingers. “More recently, I’ve protected you from any number of financial disasters by staving off frivolous lawsuits.”
James frowned. “I don’t remember anything like that.”
“Because I don’t tell you.” Marcus sighed. “There are things that come to my attention as your solicitor that I don’t mention to you. It’s what you pay me quite handsomely to do. I rarely bother you with minor difficulties with contracts or licenses or possible legal actions. It’s for the best, really.”
“How is keeping me in the dark for the best?”
“For one thing, it leaves you free to concentrate on more important matters. For example, if you knew the way to escape the stipulations of the will was with an heir—”
“What?” James stared.
Cleo’s brow furrowed. “What?”
Marcus’s eyes widened as if he had just realized what he said. “What?”
James narrowed his eyes. “What are you talking about?”
“Nothing,” Marcus said quickly. “A slip of the tongue, that’s all. Complete nonsense really. My mind is obviously muddled by wedded bliss. I would disregard it entirely if I were you.”
“That’s the clause you didn’t want to tell me about, isn’t it?”
Marcus winced. “Possibly.”
“You’re right,” James said slowly. “Violet cannot know about this. Especially not now.”
“Absolutely not.” Marcus nodded.
“If she hears about this, she’ll never believe last night—”
“Last night?” Marcus asked.
“You’re not the only one whose mind is muddled by wedded bliss.” James ran his hand through his hair. “We’re agreed, then.”
“I beg your pardon, James.” Cleo crossed her arms over her chest. “I haven’t agreed to anything. I think Violet needs to know about this.”
“She’ll think everything that has passed between us—”
“Last night,” Marcus murmured.
“—was only because of Uncle Richard’s will. She’ll think I used her for my own purposes.” He shook his head. “It’s taken me this long to win her trust. That trust will shatter if she learns about this.”
“I’ll simply tell her I was present when you discovered this,” Cleo said.
“Do you really think she’ll believe that I didn’t know about something this important? That Marcus never told me?” James shook his head. “Even if she does believe you, there will always be doubt.”
“Regardless, she is my dearest friend in the world. How on earth can I not tell her about this?”
“This revelation will ruin everything. It will ruin us.” He met Cleo’s gaze. “Bloody hell, Cleo, I love her. I can’t lose her.”
Marcus inclined his head toward his wife. “Have you ever seen any man more sincere? He really is a good sort. And this is all my fault. I would never forgive myself if I was the one to ruin my best friend’s future happiness. Especially when I am so blissfully happy myself.”
“That’s not the least bit fair, Marcus.” She glared at her husband.
“I know.”
For a long moment Cleo didn’t say a word. “Very well, then,” she said at last, “I won’t tell her.” Her firm gaze met James’s. “But you must.”
His preference would be that Violet never know about this at all. Oh, certainly, someday in the far distant future, when their children were grown perhaps, then he could tell her. Why, she might even laugh about it, although he doubted it. It would be an entirely different matter if he had told her before last night. Now, however... Apparently, he had no choice.
“Agreed.” He nodded. “Will you at least allow me to tell her when I think the moment is right?”
Cleo hesitated. Marcus nodded hopefully at his wife. She sighed. “Yes, I suppose.” She met James’s gaze. “But I would not wait too long, if I were you. The longer it takes you to tell her, the more awkward it’s going to be.”
“I realize that.” Relief washed through him. “Thank you.”
“I suppose this is the sort of things friends do for each other.” She cast him a reluctant smile.
“Don’t muck it up,” Marcus added.
“I shall try not to.” He turned to leave, then turned back. “Oh, I came for paper.”
Cleo picked up a few sheets of stationery from the desk and brought it to him. After all, the poem was still a brilliant idea.
“Thank you.” Again, he turned toward the door and again he turned back. “One more thing.” James smiled at his old friend and perhaps his new one. “I forgot to offer my congratulations. I wish the two of you every happiness.”
“Thank you, James.” Cleo smiled.
“Good luck,” Marcus added.
James thanked him and took his leave.
The smartest thing to do would be to tell Violet at once. Get it over with. Be completely honest. Tell her exactly when he found out about this clause. The fact that it was after they made love was definitely a point in his favor. If, of course, she believed him. It appeared her declaration that she trusted him was about to be tested.
And the stakes in the game they played had never been higher.
JAMES DREW A deep breath, opened the door and stepped into the suite. And pulled up short.
“Welles?”
Viscount Welles stood engaged in what appeared to be a discussion with Violet, who was visibly upset. What on earth was he doing here?
Welles nodded. “Ellsworth.”
James glanced at Violet, then back to Welles. “Always a pleasure to see you,” he said slowly, placing the stationery on the desk. “I had no idea you were planning to be in Greece.”
“Oh, I’ve been to Greece before.”
“I see.” With Violet? He ignored the thought. Trust apparently went b
oth ways.
“Duncan had something he thought was imperative for me to know.” Violet clasped her hands in front of her.
“And a telegram was not sufficient?” There was something going on here. It hung in the air above them like a dark fog. And apparently James was the only one who didn’t know what it was. “You came all the way to Greece?”
“I thought this information best delivered in person.”
James raised a suspicious brow. “You don’t write poetry, do you?”
“No.” The man had the nerve to look indignant.
Violet cast him an annoyed glance, then turned her gaze to James. “Duncan tells me there is a clause in Uncle Richard’s will that if there were to be a child on the way, we no longer have to abide by any of the stipulations. And you get your inheritance. All of it.”
James dismissed the immediate urge to ask Welles how he’d uncovered that information. That would reveal his own knowledge and did not seem wise at the moment. He wasn’t sure he had many cards in his hand at this point, but he’d rather hold back the ones he had. “Go on.”
“I want to know if you knew about this?” Violet asked.
He started to respond. Without warning the truth hit him and he stopped. He chose his words with care. “You said you trusted me.”
She nodded. “I did say that, yes.”
“Then trust me now.”
She frowned. “I simply want to know if you knew about this or not.”
“Before last night, you mean.”
“Last night?” Welles asked.
James ignored him. “Because if I did, last night was nothing more than a ploy on my part to get my inheritance. And last night meant nothing.”
Violet hesitated.
“If you trust me, you shouldn’t have to ask.”
“It’s a simple question, James. Why won’t you answer it?”
“Because I’m tired, Violet. I’ve had enough. I’ve done everything I can to win your trust. And I have just realized, if you don’t trust me now you never will.” Weariness washed through him. “And I no longer wish to play this game.”
The Lady Travelers Guide to Happily Ever After Page 31