Fortune's Secret Husband

by Karen Rose Smith

  Chase laid a hand on Lucie’s shoulder, and she remembered everything they’d done last night. He asked, “Do you want me to stay or go?”

  Lucie studied her mother’s expression, which was cautiously patient. All the feelings Lucie had experienced last night when she and Chase made love, slept and then made love again were careening around inside her. It was really hard to think straight. Having Chase here while she was trying to explain would cause even more turmoil and be even more confusing.

  She dredged up a smile for him and suggested, “Why don’t you go? I know you have to get to work.”

  He looked as if he wanted to take her in his arms again. He looked as if he wanted to kiss her. Yes, she wanted to kiss him, but certainly not now in front of her mother. Certainly not now, when everything was so mixed up.

  Were they having an affair? Where was that going to go?

  Chase went to the kitchen for his hat, which was still on the table there. Returning to the living room, he said, “It was good to meet you, Lady Fortune Chesterfield.”

  “Good to meet you, too, I think,” Lucie’s mother said politely, without a hint of a smile.

  Then Chase was leaving. But Lucie wanted to pull him back inside.

  However, after he closed the door, she faced her mother. “I have so much to tell you.”

  Her mother stared into the kitchen where all the dishes and vegetables were still splayed across the counter from last night. She waved at it. “Your dinner was interrupted last night?”

  “It wasn’t dinner. It was a late-night snack. Keaton took me to a charity function and brought me home, and then Chase came over and we were both hungry—”

  She was rambling and getting all tangled up in events.

  Although her mother was wearing a casual, pale blue pantsuit, she said to Lucie, “Go get dressed. I’ll start cleaning this up.”

  “You don’t have to do that.”

  Josephine waved her away.

  Lucie blew out a breath and headed for her bedroom.

  Ten minutes later, she was back in the kitchen with her mother. Her mum had started the teapot on the burner.

  “You didn’t have to straighten up,” she said, noticing even the counters were empty and cleaned off.

  “No problem. I like to be useful. You know that.”

  Lucie pulled two cups and saucers from the cupboard and set them on the table. “Are you hungry? I can whip up something.”

  “I take it you didn’t have your breakfast?” her mother asked with a wise look.

  “No, not yet.”

  “Then by all means, you have something.”

  “Why didn’t you tell me you were flying in?”

  “Because I wasn’t sure when or where I’d be in. I did send you a text when I landed late last night.”

  Lucie’s phone was somewhere around here, but she didn’t know where, and she certainly hadn’t heard it. “Mum, I’m sorry. You probably wondered what was wrong when I didn’t text back.”

  “Yes, I was a bit concerned, and that’s what I told your doorman, Irv. Apparently he knew who I was from the tabloids, and when I showed him ID, he was definitely certain of that. He didn’t even hesitate to let me come up. Was I wrong to do that, Lucie?”

  Her mother was giving her a probing look, and Lucie felt like a teenager again. “No, you weren’t wrong. Chase and I... That was the first night he stayed.”

  The teapot whistled and Josephine crossed to the stove and took it from the burner.

  “I only have teabags,” Lucie told her mother, “but they’re herbal.”

  Again Josephine just gave her an arched eyebrow. “You really haven’t moved in, have you?”

  “I knew I’d only be here temporarily.”

  Her mother nodded. “Yes, that is the plan. Now, why don’t you start at the beginning?”

  Lucie closed her eyes for a moment, her throat tightening with emotion. The beginning seemed like yesterday, yet so far away, too. She began with falling in love with Chase in Scotland, their days of touring and talking...their attraction. Finally with difficulty, she described marrying him and what had happened afterward.

  She’d never seen such surprise on her mother’s face as Josephine asked, “Why didn’t you tell me? All these years and you’ve kept it to yourself? Didn’t anyone else know? Does Amelia know?”

  “No, no one knew. That was the agreement I had with Chase’s father. He would dissolve the marriage and we’d act as if it never happened. He would get his son back on the track he’d planned for him, and I wouldn’t have a scandal. You wouldn’t have a scandal. He hushed up everything at the school about what happened and you hushed it up at home. You told the press I had the flu and cut the trip short. Just imagine the splash if they’d known I’d married. So I kept to the agreement with Mr. Parker and all went as smoothly as it could.”

  “You were the one who always played by the rules,” her mother said, studying her. “Your father and I were shocked when you were sent home in disgrace. I thought the travel program somehow managed to keep it all quiet. I see now Chase’s father had a hand in that.”

  “I’m so sorry I didn’t tell you. I thought keeping the secret was for the best. I had been so foolish. I loved Chase, at least I thought I did, but I was too young to know what love and commitment were. That episode, my confrontation with his father, all of it taught me to always control my emotions, never act impulsively. It brought home the truth that I should think about the big picture, not just my part in it. I thought I was doing what was best for everyone.” Her voice caught because she realized how much her mother might be hurt by being left out of the loop.

  After a deep breath, she went on to explain to her mother how Chase’s father had intercepted her letters to Chase and his to her.

  Her mother shook her head and frowned as Lucie ended. “Mr. Parker probably thought he was doing the best thing for everyone, too. He was looking at the big picture,” Lucie said as she finished.

  “That’s all well and good, Lucie, but sometimes truth is better than a good public relations spin. Sometimes truth can be liberating. If Chase Parker was here all night, it sounds as if old feelings are all stirred up. What are you going to do about that? You have responsibilities. You have a life of traveling to help the greater world. Certainly you’re not thinking of giving that up.”

  Was she? Without knowing exactly how Chase felt? She did have responsibilities that couldn’t easily be delegated. After all, she was Sir Simon Chesterfield’s daughter. However, she responded honestly, “I don’t know. The lawyers are going through with the annulment.”

  Her mother reached across and took her hand. “Lawyers, annulment, a marriage that was too early to take hold. The feeling in our hearts can’t be dictated by lawyers or due process. You made a foolish decision ten years ago, but you have to be careful you don’t make another one now. You have a lot to think about because you have a lot of responsibilities. I depend on you, Lucie. You know that.”

  Yes, she was the dependable one. She was her mother’s confidante, sidekick, helper. Chase was starting a new life. That ranch would take his attention night and day.

  Trying to shake off last night’s hold on her heart, as well as the vivid, sensual memories from it, she remembered who she was and what her life and her mother’s was all about. Just what part did the feelings in her heart play in this?

  She couldn’t let her mother down, not for a romance that might not have any place to go. “I’ll be flying off to Guatemala in less than two weeks. The annulment is going to go through any day. I’ll be keeping my commitments, Mum.”

  Yet Lucie’s heart felt as if it was breaking. Leave Chase? It was the wisest path to take. Yet it didn’t feel wise at all.

  * * *

  After spending the day with Lucie, her mother had l
eft for Horseback Hollow and her condo there. Lucie felt drained. They had spent a good portion of their time together going over plans for their Guatemala trip and the to-do list once they were there.

  Lucie had cooked them dinner and then her mother had left, her driver picking her up out front. Lucie had accompanied her downstairs to say goodbye and had no sooner returned to her apartment than her cell phone beeped.

  She saw the caller was Florence Parker.

  “Hi, Florence. How are you?” Lucie asked conversationally, but not feeling like engaging at all.

  “I’m fine. I have a favor to ask.”

  Lucie braced herself for whatever was coming. She hoped it had nothing to do with Chase, or her resolve to resume her regular life would weaken.

  “Reverend Stanhope didn’t want to impose on you himself, but I told him I’d call you. He’d like you to attend Family Day at the church on Saturday. You can meet the parents of the children you’re helping with the after-school program.”

  There was no reason she couldn’t do this for the church, and for the Fortune Foundation, as well. Except...”

  “Will Chase be there?

  “Probably.”

  “If he attends, we’ll have to pretend we don’t know each other.”

  “I’m sure he understands that,” Florence said.

  “I’d call him,” Lucie responded, “but I’m not even sure our cell phones are secure.” Her mother had brought up that point, and she was right.

  “I understand, Lucie. Really, I do. And I’m sure Chase does, too. Don’t worry. I’ll make your wishes clear to him.”

  Lucie just wished her wishes were clear to herself.

  * * *

  Had a reporter like Norton Wilcox followed Lucie to Family Day at the church, all he would see would be her enjoying the day with children and their parents. He might be able to dig up the fact that the Fortune Foundation would be funding the church’s after-school program, but that was it.

  When Chase’s mom had called her, asking her to come to this event today, Florence understood full well that Lucie couldn’t be associated with her or Chase in the public’s eye. Lucie was the Fortune Foundation’s representative, and she’d be attending on those grounds. She’d stay only a short time and if anyone recognized her, she’d simply wear her busy public persona.

  Simple. Besides, if anyone did do a story about this, more programs that needed help would come forward and the foundation could select where the money would be best spent.

  Win-win all around.

  At least that was what she thought until she spotted Chase in jeans and a T-shirt, his Stetson tilted at that just-right angle, hauling hay bales onto a wagon. She imagined the minister needed help with all sorts of things, and Chase could provide strong manpower.

  She attempted to keep her distance from him at every turn. She avoided eye contact with him. There were a few awkward moments when she ran into Chase’s mother and father and she made polite small talk. “Isn’t this a wonderful event? It’s a beautiful day. Have a great time.” Then she moved on.

  No one seemed to recognize her, because she was out of her element. She was wearing jeans and an oversize blouse. She wasn’t on the Chesterfield Estate. She wasn’t in a foreign country building an orphanage. She wasn’t dressed in a gown as she had been for the gala. She was trying to be just Lucie for a short while and get away with it. She was fine, really, she was, until one of the mothers recognized her.

  With a wide smile, the woman rushed over to her and said, “You’re Lucie Fortune Chesterfield, aren’t you?”

  Lucie put her finger to her lips. “I’ve tried to keep that under wraps, but yes, I am.”

  “I heard the Fortune Foundation was investing in our after-school program and I put two and two together. I knew you looked familiar.”

  Lucie gave her a conspiratorial smile. “I’d like to keep everyone else from doing that. The attention today is on parents and their children, and I’d like to keep it that way.”

  “Oh, I understand completely, except...could I bribe you to sit next to me on the hay ride? I promise I won’t tell a soul, but at least I can say I sat next to Lady Fortune Chesterfield.”

  Lucie didn’t want to make a scene. She didn’t want to prolong the conversation. On a hay ride, children would be scurrying about and their parents would be focused on having them behave. No one would be looking at her.

  “It’s about to take off again.” The woman motioned to the hay wagon. “Come on, please?”

  Lucie couldn’t say no. She followed the mom over to the hay wagon, but then stopped cold. Chase was climbing in. He sat on a hay bale with a small child beside him. The boy must have been about four. When their gazes met, he gave her a shrug and a what can I do? look. Maybe Chase was watching the little boy for his parents.

  What could she do?

  The woman hopped into the wagon in front of her and motioned to one of the large bales, where the two of them could sit side by side. The problem was, it was right next to Chase. She was getting a headache...or maybe a heartache.

  The hay wagon soon filled up with kids as well as adults. As Lucie had predicted, the adults were busy keeping the children in line. No one paid any attention to her, except the woman on the bale next to her. She chatted, “I’ve seen your estate on TV.” In a lower voice, she said, “Does it really have stables and everything?”

  “It does,” Lucie assured her. “I learned to ride when I was small.”

  Her gaze met Chase’s again, and just that contact rocked her. Anybody watching them could feel the electricity between them. She quickly directed her attention to the small child across from her who was trying to scramble into his mom’s lap.

  When her phone buzzed, she wasn’t going to answer it. But she decided any distraction would help. As the wagon bumped along, it jostled her and the woman beside her, making the kids giggle, making her even more aware of Chase.

  She slipped out her phone. The text was from Chase. This is ridiculous!

  She quickly texted back, This is the way it has to be.

  She didn’t look at him. She didn’t dare. She just hoped this was going to be one short hay ride.

  * * *

  Florence Parker had convinced her husband to attend the church’s Family Day. Since his argument with Chase, he’d been sullen and in a bear of a mood. But she was hoping today would change that.

  They’d each picked up slices of homemade apple pie and carried them to a picnic table set in the shade. The hay wagon was just returning from another run. She’d been so glad to see Lucie climbing on when Chase was already on it. Serendipity?

  She hoped so.

  “They’re pretending not to know each other, and that’s fine as long as they don’t look at each other,” she said as she cut off a bite of pie with her fork.

  “It’s the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard of,” Warren said. “But what else can they do?” he muttered. “I don’t think Chase would care about a scandal anymore, but she certainly would. Her family’s hoity-toity with their fox-hunts, royalty for guests and highfalutin parties.”

  “You don’t know Lucie, Warren, you really don’t. I’ve had a chance to spend a little time with her, and she’s nothing like you suspect. I don’t know why you had your mind set against her from the beginning, when you knew how Chase felt about her.”

  “How he felt about her,” her husband scoffed. “He was too young to ruin his life with the wrong woman. They were an ocean apart. You know that never would have worked.”

  “He would have gone over there to live. You know he would have.”

  “And that’s why I had to squelch it. Besides, she was too young to know her own mind.”

  “When she looks at him now, do you think she’s too young to know her own mind?”

  “
She’s not looking at him,” Warren noted, as if he’d been watching their every move this afternoon, too.

  “Every once in a while, they can’t help glancing at each other. Don’t you remember when we looked at each other like that?”

  Warren pushed his pie away as if he’d suddenly lost his appetite. Then he looked at her, really looked at Florence, as he hadn’t in many weeks, maybe even months. “I’m not the man I once was. That’s why we don’t look at each other that way.”

  Was this what her husband had been thinking since his stroke? Was this the reason he didn’t come close to her at night? Florence reached out and touched his hand with hers. “I still see you as the young man I married. I still look at you that way because I love you. You’re the one who sees yourself differently. Is that why you can’t let go of Chase, because you’re afraid you’ll need him again?”

  Warren pulled his arm back, and she was afraid she’d erected a new barrier between them. But then he directed his focus toward the hay wagon. He watched Lucie jump off; then he saw Chase lifting a little boy onto the ground. When their son straightened, his gaze seemed to meet Lucie’s. They were frozen, only for a moment. But as Chase’s father, Warren seemed to recognize what that moment meant.

  “Maybe I am afraid to let go of him,” he murmured. “What if something happens to me and the company can’t survive without him? What if I have another stroke and he’s not here for you or here for me?” he murmured.

  “We raised our son to be a caring man with a good heart. He wouldn’t want to start the horse rescue ranch if he didn’t have a good heart, if he didn’t care. The fact that he still cares for Lucie after all these years tells you something about him, too. Just because he leaves the company, just because he tries to find his own life, doesn’t mean he’ll forget about us.”

  “What if he flies off to England to be with her?”

  “If he’s chosen the right woman, they’ll figure it out, don’t you think?”

  “I planned his life. I separated them so he would find his full potential.”