summons he spoke of had arrived . If she had received such a pompous request, she would have likely left for Cornwall without first visiting Diana. Ivy remembered the cryptic nature of Diana’s note and prayed the earl did not have a similar version tucked away in his desk.
“I see you are already shadowing my whereabouts . Are you ready to make another offer ? My price has gone up considerably. ” Ivy relished her cool tone, a dramatic improvement from the hoarse whisper of her youth . Nine years ago she could hardly breathe in Darien’s father’s presence, much less speak.
“Then you shall earn it . You got off lightly last time . I shall expect more from you this go around. ” Westhaven studied her beneath his bushy eyebrows . A twitch of his lips hinted that he might have more to lose than she.
“I disagree, but I am willing to hear your proposal. ” Heat flushed her cheeks and a glance at the grate showed a low fire burning in the midst of summer . Strange, but a relief to know that her steeled nerves were not starting to soften . Yet .
Ivy settled in the chair before Westhaven’s massive desk . “State your business . If you know I plan to visit Cornwall, you must know I still have much to do to complete my travel arrangements.”
He grinned and Ivy feared he toyed with her . What if he had known of Melody all along and waited like a vulture for Diana’s imminent demise to dispose of Melody with some distant acquaintance in Ireland . Westhaven was the type to provide for Melody’s basic needs while keeping her isolated, dependent and unloved . She’d want for nothing except a mother and a father . A family who might love her .
“I think my son has other ideas,” Westhaven said, forcing Ivy back to the conversation . He was speaking of Darien, thank God . “He has been outside your town house all morning.”
“As I said, how much do you wish to pay for the breaking of our engagement a second time? ” Ivy met his gaze with a blast of pure hatred . Westhaven had no idea of Melody’s existence or that his long-time lover had died a mere few hours ago . Though it worked to her advantage, the unfairness of it all galled her .
“Thirty thousand pounds . Five thousand more than last time, which I feel is quite generous. ” Westhaven bowed his head and rubbed his brow before he glanced back up at Ivy . “But this time you will agree to the engagement, at least until Arianna and I have married . After that, what you do is your business.”
“Darien does not love me, you know . He only wants to hurt you. ” She shrugged, hating that betraying Darien to his father was the price of saving Melody . If she could, she would spit in his face and marry Darien just to spite the old bugger.
“I think we both know that is not true . About Darien not loving you, that is . But I am sure that minor inconvenience will not stop you from taking my money . You have done quite well for yourself, have you not? ”
“I had the best teacher . Diana sends her regards from Italy.”
He did not flinch . They might have been talking about a complete stranger . But he was always good at covering his sins .
“She was splendid at making a man feel he was the only one in the world. ” He almost sounded wistful until he furrowed his brow . “Though I knew otherwise . Darien is easier to fool . At least by you.”
“I cannot keep him away from you . I am sure of it.”
“But I am sure you can keep him distracted. Since Darien has invited the public’s scrutiny with his outburst, I have decided a sporting house party at Westhaven, culminating in a quiet ceremony is the best way to announce my union with Arianna Maddox . I won’t prohibit Darien from his family home, but you can prevent him from having too many opportunities to cause mischief . We will all pretend as if Darien’s happy announcement is nothing but the truth . We are a family united in our joy.”
“I could not agree more.” Ivy stood, anxious to
“I see you are already shadowing my whereabouts . Are you ready to make another offer ? My price has gone up considerably. ” Ivy relished her cool tone, a dramatic improvement from the hoarse whisper of her youth . Nine years ago she could hardly breathe in Darien’s father’s presence, much less speak.
“Then you shall earn it . You got off lightly last time . I shall expect more from you this go around. ” Westhaven studied her beneath his bushy eyebrows . A twitch of his lips hinted that he might have more to lose than she.
“I disagree, but I am willing to hear your proposal. ” Heat flushed her cheeks and a glance at the grate showed a low fire burning in the midst of summer . Strange, but a relief to know that her steeled nerves were not starting to soften . Yet .
Ivy settled in the chair before Westhaven’s massive desk . “State your business . If you know I plan to visit Cornwall, you must know I still have much to do to complete my travel arrangements.”
He grinned and Ivy feared he toyed with her . What if he had known of Melody all along and waited like a vulture for Diana’s imminent demise to dispose of Melody with some distant acquaintance in Ireland . Westhaven was the type to provide for Melody’s basic needs while keeping her isolated, dependent and unloved . She’d want for nothing except a mother and a father . A family who might love her .
“I think my son has other ideas,” Westhaven said, forcing Ivy back to the conversation . He was speaking of Darien, thank God . “He has been outside your town house all morning.”
“As I said, how much do you wish to pay for the breaking of our engagement a second time? ” Ivy met his gaze with a blast of pure hatred . Westhaven had no idea of Melody’s existence or that his long-time lover had died a mere few hours ago . Though it worked to her advantage, the unfairness of it all galled her .
“Thirty thousand pounds . Five thousand more than last time, which I feel is quite generous. ” Westhaven bowed his head and rubbed his brow before he glanced back up at Ivy . “But this time you will agree to the engagement, at least until Arianna and I have married . After that, what you do is your business.”
“Darien does not love me, you know . He only wants to hurt you. ” She shrugged, hating that betraying Darien to his father was the price of saving Melody . If she could, she would spit in his face and marry Darien just to spite the old bugger.
“I think we both know that is not true . About Darien not loving you, that is . But I am sure that minor inconvenience will not stop you from taking my money . You have done quite well for yourself, have you not? ”
“I had the best teacher . Diana sends her regards from Italy.”
He did not flinch . They might have been talking about a complete stranger . But he was always good at covering his sins .
“She was splendid at making a man feel he was the only one in the world. ” He almost sounded wistful until he furrowed his brow . “Though I knew otherwise . Darien is easier to fool . At least by you.”
“I cannot keep him away from you . I am sure of it.”
“But I am sure you can keep him distracted. Since Darien has invited the public’s scrutiny with his outburst, I have decided a sporting house party at Westhaven, culminating in a quiet ceremony is the best way to announce my union with Arianna Maddox . I won’t prohibit Darien from his family home, but you can prevent him from having too many opportunities to cause mischief . We will all pretend as if Darien’s happy announcement is nothing but the truth . We are a family united in our joy.”
“I could not agree more.” Ivy stood, anxious to
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