Page 62 of The Gentleman Was Right
Once the words were out, a weight lifted off her chest. She couldn’t deny that she still feared developing feelings for him, but by warning him plainly and explicitly that he should guard his heart, she didn’t have to worry abouthisfeelings.
Unfortunately, her relief only lasted until he spoke. “Your concern for me is sweet, but it’s unnecessary. There is no reason for you to worry about me or my emotional state.”
“Someone has to.” He clearly wasn’t taking her warning seriously enough if he could dismiss it so easily.
“I promise that I’m under no illusions about our marriage.”
“You won’t blame me if you find yourself infatuated?”
He scrubbed his hand across the lower half of his face as if to hide a smile. “I would never.”
She sighed. It wasn’t enough, but it would have to do for now.
He shifted his attention to their feet. “While we’re alone, I do need to tell you something. Basil came by this morning.”
Her eyes narrowed, and her hands found her hips. “Did you send him away?”
“Yes.” He winced and then added, “Eventually.”
She did not care for his response. Her heart was not nearly steady enough for another upheaval this morning, but it seemed she had no choice in the matter. “Explain.”
“Basil…well…he forgot one of his ledgers, so he stopped by the house to pick it up.”
“Whyever would he need the ledger?”
“Because it belongs to him. He claims that taking over your father’s work was not contingent upon your marriage.” He frowned, his eyes searching her face. “He also said that…well…the business was not what you thought.”
“I don’t know what you mean.”
He hesitated. “Your father may not have been entirely aboveboard with his business dealings. It’s still a bit unclear, but it seems as if he—and now Basil—dealt in stolen goods or smuggled goods. Maybe both. Basil didn’t give me very many details, but he told me enough to know that it isn’t what you thought.”
She didn’t believe her father had been a criminal. He’d been honest and—“What about my inheritance?” she asked, more than a little worried about the answer. Without her inheritance, she’d have nothing.
“The house and money are yours,” he assured her. “Basil was very adamant that he had not touched anything your father left to you.” His eyes darted to the side, as if there was something he wasn’t saying.
“What else?” she demanded.
“What did you know about your father’s dealings?” he asked, instead of answering her question.
She stared at him. Her thoughts were racing. “Very little. Basil is a scoundrel though. He won’t hesitate to lie when it suits him, and he’ll do whatever it takes to get what he wants. We must go to him and demand an explanation immediately.”
“Do you know where he might be?” Edward asked.
“I—” Her shoulders sagged. “I don’t.” She rubbed her forehead as the realization of the number of things she didn’t know accumulated in her mind. “My father never talked about his work, and then Basil…”
“What if Basil is telling the truth?”
“He’s a liar,” she said through a clenched jaw.
“That may be, but he seemed genuine and I?—”
“He charmed you?”
Her jaw dropped, and her hands fluttered uselessly at her side.
“He charmed you,” she repeated incredulously, as she collapsed against the tree at her back. It was wet and cold, but she ignored both. “I should have known. I should have anticipated. Of course Basil was not going to leave that easily. He’s a snake. Cut off one head and another appears. He’ll never leave me alone. He’ll always be lurking. Reminding me of my foolishness.” She stopped talking and drilled her finger into his chest. “I do not trust him; therefore, you cannot trust him.”
“It isn’t about trust. We’ll discover the truth. I should have done so already. I’m?—”
