“You know there is,” he admitted, then grasped at the first straw he could come up with other than the obvious. “I’ve missed you.”
“We talk almost every day,” she said, regarding him with amusement.
“About business,” he said, sticking to his story. If he failed at subtlety this time around, he was going to retire the tactic and go back to being his blunt, normal self.
“What else is there besides business?” Destiny inquired. “That’s all you’ve ever wanted to talk about. You were never one to tolerate idle chitchat, not even as a boy. I’ve never known anyone more determined to stay on task. Not even your grandfather or your father had that kind of focus.”
“Maybe I’d like to hear how you’re doing,” he suggested cautiously, because she had it exactly right. This was new turf for him.
“Never better,” she said at once.
“I can see that. You’re glowing.” It irked him to no end that Harcourt was responsible for that. There had to be hundreds of more appropriate men in London. Why was it necessary for her to become involved with a man who’d threatened their company, a man who’d obviously hurt her in some way years ago?
“Nothing like a good business battle to stir the blood,” Destiny said. “I’m beginning to see why you’ve always enjoyed it so much. We haven’t lost a contract since I got here, except for that travel company, but I’ve been considering some alternatives. I think we’ll come out okay in the end.”
“I wanted Fortnum.”
“Flexibility is an important business trait.”
Richard could see he wasn’t going to win this round. He wasn’t going to subtly steer the conversation in the direction he wanted it to go. She wasn’t going to admit to anything on her own, not even after being caught on enemy turf. When a strategy failed so abysmally, it was time to retreat and regroup.
“I’m going to the hotel for a nap,” he said finally, waiting to see whether or not she’d insist he stay at her flat. If she didn’t, it was most likely because she didn’t want him underfoot while she cavorted with Harcourt.
“You’re not going to go around and greet everyone?” she said.
Irritated that he’d lost yet again, he snapped, “I’ll do that tomorrow.”
“Yes, I can see it would be best to do it when you’re in a better mood,” she said blithely. “Shall we have dinner tonight, then?”
The invitation was at least something. It suggested that she didn’t have plans with Harcourt for the evening. “Yes,” he said at once.
“Good. I’ll call William and put him off until tomorrow.” She beamed at him. “Unless you’d like to spend some time with him, of course. I know he’s looking forward to seeing you again under less awkward circumstances.”
Richard grimaced at the massive understatement. “No, I would not like to see him. Why are you having dinner with that man at all?” he asked, violating his own rule about not going on the attack where Harcourt was concerned until Destiny’s temper had had time to cool down.
“I told you I intended to stick to him like glue.”
“Don’t you think you might be taking that to an extreme?” he inquired bitterly. “Do you have to sleep with him?”
She frowned at the question. “I’m not a young schoolgirl, Richard.”
“But he’s in love with you,” Richard blurted without thinking.
Destiny’s jaw dropped. Richard waited, not sure if her shock was due to the revelation or to the fact that he knew something so intimate about William’s feelings for her.
“How do you know that?” she asked eventually.
“He might have mentioned it,” Richard said numbly. His goose was definitely cooked now.
“When exactly did you two share this little tête-à-tête?” she asked, her voice like ice. “It must have been before I came downstairs.”
“As a matter of fact, it was.”
“Then you didn’t come there looking for me at all. You came to warn William off. My appearance was a total surprise.”
“More like a total shock,” he conceded gloomily. “You were the last person I expected to encounter there.”
“I see. And you felt you had the right to interfere in my personal life because…?”
“Because I’ve been worried about you, dammit.”
“Because you don’t think I have a lick of sense? Because you think I’m capable of being disloyal to this family? Which is it, Richard?” She shook her head. “Never mind. I think I’ll have dinner with William tonight, after all. You and I can talk again tomorrow when I’m not quite so enchanted by the notion of strangling you.”
“You did this much meddling and worse behind my back,” Richard said in his own defense.
“So I did,” she said mildly. “Then you must recall how you hated it.”
With that, she walked out of her own office and quietly shut the door behind her. Her demonstration of displeasure wouldn’t have been any more emphatic if she’d slammed it and rattled the hinges.
Richard stared after her, knowing that he’d bungled the entire meeting. Destiny had been in charge from the moment he’d walked through the door.
Suddenly the wonder of that struck him and he found himself beginning to grin. He still didn’t like Harcourt one damn bit. He definitely wasn’t crazy about the man’s influence over Destiny. But, by God, his aunt was amazing. If he didn’t watch his backside, she’d take over the whole damn company one of these days and deserve to do it.
It would almost be worth sacrificing his own power and position to see her take on the business world. There wasn’t a corporate executive he’d ever met who’d be a match for her.
He laughed. One of these days, if she ever spoke to him again, he’d have to tell her that.
William frowned when Destiny appeared in his office looking flushed and furious.
“What’s wrong?” he asked at once. “Come in here and sit down.”
“I don’t want to sit.” Proving it, she began to pace. “I have never in all my life been so disappointed with anyone.”
“Richard?”
“Yes.”
William sighed. “What’s he done now?”
“He’s just being a completely bullheaded horse’s behind.”
“About me?”
“Yes.”
“Then let me fix the problem,” he suggested. “Tell me where to reach him. Let me invite him to my club. I’ll sit him down with a cigar and a drink and tell him exactly how I feel about you.”
“Apparently, he’s already gotten that particular message. He says you shared it earlier today.”
“Ah,” William said, gathering that his revelation that he loved Destiny had upset her almost as much as it had her nephew. “Would you have preferred it if I’d lied to him? Told him that we were simply having a mad fling?”
She scowled at him. “There’s nothing wrong with two adults having a madcap fling. We did it rather successfully for many years, in fact. There were no complications to that.”
He bit back a grin. “Never said there were. I’m not sure Richard would take much comfort in it, though. I wouldn’t if I were in his shoes.”
“But if he concludes we’re serious about each other, he’ll assume that means marriage.”
“A lot of people would leap to that conclusion,” William agreed. Destiny was apparently the only female on earth to whom the idea seemed to be incongruous.
Destiny gave him an impatient look. “I’m sure in my nephew’s view, a marriage between the two of us would be the very worst thing that could happen.”
“Because I’m the enemy and likely to take you and the company for everything I can once I get my hooks into you,” he concluded.
“Well, can you blame him?”
“Not entirely,” William admitted. “That’s all the more reason for me to sit down with him and explain exactly how things are. I could point out, in fact, that the last real skirmish was the one he himself initiated when he tried to buy that w
oolen manufacturer in Scotland.”
“He doesn’t want to see you,” Destiny said glumly. “I suggested dinner and he blew a gasket. Even if he relented, he wouldn’t be happy to be reminded of an incident that caused me to threaten to have him removed from his position. Besides, in his mind, it’s the acquisition of Fortnum that proves you’re still up to no good.”
“Then what do you suggest we do? Stop seeing each other entirely?”
To his relief, alarm immediately registered on her face.
“No, absolutely not,” she said at once. “I’m not sixteen, for goodness’ sake. I won’t let him dictate to me who my friends can be.”
William frowned at her response. “Is that the only reason?”
She paused in her pacing and stared at him. “What do you mean?”
“Am I some bizarre form of midlife rebellion for you? Am I your way to prove your independence to your nephews?”
“Don’t be ridiculous,” she said.
“Pardon me, but I think you might take a look at this from my perspective,” William said quietly. “It seems that everything you’re saying and doing is a reaction to Richard. Shouldn’t it be about what you truly want for the rest of your life? Once you’ve made up your mind about that, it might be a whole lot easier to convince your nephew to stop interfering. I have little doubt that right now he senses some sort of ambivalence on your part. I sure as hell do.”
Destiny stared at him with obvious shock. “What are you suggesting?”
“That if you waved an engagement ring under his nose, he might begin to take us seriously.”
“I thought we’d decided—”
William cut her off. “You decided. My offer’s still on the table.”
She sank onto a chair. “This has turned into such a muddle.”
“It doesn’t have to be,” he told her more gently. “Make a decision, Destiny. Once you have, whatever it is, the rest of us will learn to live with it.”
“I suppose you’re right.”
“You know I am. We’re past the age for taking things by half measures.” He went around his desk and extended his hand to help her up. “Get out of here and think about things, Destiny. What is it you truly want for the rest of your life? Once you’ve decided that, everything else will come easily enough.”
He walked with her outside, then pressed a kiss to her forehead. “While you’re thinking things through, don’t forget that I love you with all my heart.”
She gave him a small smile. “No last-minute pressure there,” she chided.
“Just a reminder,” he insisted. “I don’t want it to slip your mind.”
“As if it could,” she said, her hand soft and warm against his cheek. “I’ll be in touch.”
And then she was gone, striding briskly and purposefully down the sidewalk, blending into the London crowd. William watched her go, his heart in his throat. He’d taken a huge chance by forcing the issue, but it was time. Whether she knew it or not, Destiny was ready to make this decision. She’d had more than twenty years to mull it over.
In the meantime, he had something he needed to do. He strode back to his office and tracked down Malcolm.
“I need you to find out where Richard Carlton is staying,” he told his assistant.
“He’s not at Ms. Carlton’s flat?”
William smiled. “I gather there’s been a bit of a falling-out between those two. I’m fairly certain he’s been banished to a hotel. I’m sure you can find out which ones Carlton executives prefer when they’re in town.”
“Should I ring his room when I find him?”
William considered whether or not the man deserved a fair warning and decided against it. “No, but get the room number. I know it’s something hotels prefer not to give out, but you should be able to manage it.”
Malcolm nodded. “I don’t believe that will be a problem, sir. Give me a few minutes.”
What might have taken an extremely good private investigator a couple of hours minimum, Malcolm did, indeed, accomplish in minutes.
“He’s at the Dorchester, sir. Here’s the suite number. I believe he’s in at the moment.”
William took the piece of paper and grabbed his coat. “Then you know where to find me,” he said.
“Will you be long, sir?”
“I suppose that depends on just how stubborn Carlton is inclined to be.” He thought about Destiny’s stubborn streak, then added, “It could take a while.”
Malcolm gave him a rare grin. “Yes, sir. I imagine if Mr. Carlton takes after his aunt, I shouldn’t expect you back this afternoon.”
“Wish me luck.”
“Always, sir, but you won’t need it.”
William appreciated Malcolm’s display of confidence. If only Destiny had half as much faith in him.
Or in herself.
24
Destiny walked for hours, her head spinning. William had made it sound so simple. Just decide, he’d told her. The rest would follow naturally.
There was only one problem with that. Since coming to London, she’d discovered she wanted it all—a career, William and her family. No simple accomplishment, given the high emotions on all sides.
What if she couldn’t have it all? she asked herself, trying to face reality. Was she willing to settle for less? And if so, what was she willing to sacrifice?
The job was something new. She supposed she could live without the challenge and excitement of it, but why should she have to? She was good at it. Damn good, in fact. No, she decided, she wouldn’t give that up, not without a fight.
And William? What about him? She thought about what he meant to her, what he’d always meant to her. How could she sacrifice that again? She simply shouldn’t have to. Neither of them deserved to spend another lonely year because of family pressures, first from his side and now from hers. They’d waited far too long for the happiness they deserved.
Which brought her to her family, or more precisely to Richard, who was the instigator of all the problems she was facing. Mack and Ben might be worried, but it was Richard who was stirring the pot and turning a tiny little molehill into a monumental mountain. If she could win him over, make him trust her judgment about William, it would solve everything.
Passing a tea shop, she realized she was starving and instinctively turned in, then realized it was one of the Harcourt & Sons shops. She smiled at the coincidence, then realized that it was a bit like being surprised to find a Starbucks back home just when the thought of coffee popped into her head. There seemed to be one on every block. Harcourt & Sons tea shops were almost as pervasive in London.
She found a vacant table, ordered a wonderfully strong Darjeeling and a scone with clotted cream, then resumed her musings. She was pretty much where she’d been at the outset. She still wanted it all. She simply had to figure out the way to do that.
Again, it came back to Richard. If she could bring him around, the rest would fall into place. Not an easy matter, but she could do it. She merely had to take the first step, and then the next, until he saw things her way. Hadn’t she spent the past two decades molding him into the man he’d become? Surely she could still find some creative way to get through to him.
Sipping the last of her tea, she nodded decisively. That was it, then, and there was no time like the present to begin.
William rode the elevator straight up to Richard’s floor, then knocked on his door. When there was no immediate response, he knocked a little harder. More than likely, the man was sleeping off his jet lag. That could work in William’s favor. Richard wouldn’t be so quick to argue over every little thing William said.
At last, the door to the suite swung open and Richard stared at him, his eyes bleary, his face lined with fatigue and evident dismay.
“You!” he said, sounding cranky and inhospitable.
“May I come in?” William inquired, then walked right past him without waiting for a response.
Richard didn’t argue. He merely shut the door a
nd stood with his arms folded across his chest, glowering. “Make it quick.”
“I don’t think that will be possible. Why don’t you shower and I’ll order up coffee?”
“Dammit, man, you can’t come in here and take over. I didn’t even invite you in.”
“No, but you won’t be rude enough to toss me out, so let’s handle this as pleasantly as possible,” he said mildly. “Want some eggs with your coffee? Or perhaps a sandwich?”
Richard looked as if he wanted to argue—or perhaps tear William limb from limb—but he finally shrugged. “Order whatever the hell you want,” he grumbled, and left the room.
William took it as a good sign when he heard the water come on in the shower. He called room service and was about to order a hearty lunch for two when someone knocked on the door. He took it upon himself to open it and found Destiny on the threshold, mouth gaping.
“I gather you concluded Richard was the key to things, as well,” William said.
“I thought I told you he didn’t want to see you,” Destiny said, brushing past him.
“We don’t always get what we want. It’s a lesson your nephew needs to learn.”
“Where is he? Why are you answering the door?”
“He’s taking a shower and probably trying to wake up sufficiently to toss me out. I was about to order lunch. Care for something?”
She regarded him with a bemused expression. “Have you won him over already?”
“Hardly,” William admitted ruefully. “The only agreement we’ve reached so far is that I wouldn’t be leaving till we’d talked.”
“Amazing.”
William picked up the phone again and dialed. “Destiny, what can I get you?”
“Nothing. I just had tea in one of your shops. The scone was dry.”
He laughed. “I’ll make a point of passing the word along to the bakery.” He ordered a large pot of coffee for himself and Richard, then added two club sandwiches. He doubted either of them would feel much like eating, but it would give them both something to pull apart when things got tense, which they were bound to do once Richard discovered his aunt was also on the scene.
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