Page 35 of Things We Do for Love and Science
“I need to be honest with you, Lord Renwood, the business case for this house is rather weak, and despite my fondness for the Renwood family, I was initially going to refuse your request today because I assumed you were unmarried.”
Gabriel flinched.
“But,” the banker beamed, “now that I see you have a beautiful wife at your side, I’m willing to reconsider.”
Gabriel gasped for air. “My wife?”
He blinked at Mr. Brady-Greene, but then the penny dropped. Of course, the portrait. Liam had taken him through the portrait gallery, playing on the man’s weakness for all things aristocratic. The bank manager must have seen Delia’s portrait and assumed she was his wife.
Heat flushed through Gabriel at the realization that he was still wearing his father’s wedding ring. Two sentimental and irrational decisions had landed him in this situation, and now he faced a choice: To tell the truth and come across as an eccentric fool, or to play along and chase the shadow of a possibility of saving the Hall. He plumped for the latter.
“With the love and support of a good woman, a man can achieve anything he sets his mind to.Anything,” Mr. Brady-Greene said with feeling. “I must say I’m surprised I did not read about your nuptials in the papers.”
“Yes, well,” Gabriel cleared his throat, “mywifeand I, we had a small ceremony at the registry office. With circumstances being as they are, we wanted to wait with the proper church wedding until we can have it here, at Renwood Hall. In the private chapel.”
“Oh, yes, I understand.” Mr. Brady-Greene gave a benign smile and a nod. “I would love to meet the new Lady Renwood before we discuss the details of the loan, and so would my own wife, I’m sure. Why don’t you two join us for lunch in our home, next week sometime. Would that suit?”
“That would be lovely,” Gabriel said slowly. The question was whether Delia would agree to participate in a bit of amateur theatre for his sake.
Chapter Eleven
“Gabriel,” a nervousgiggle escaped Delia, “the shit will seriously hit the fan once this comes out.” She sat on top of the radiator in the living room of the gatehouse, gleeful terror bubbling up inside her.
“Ifit comes out.” Gabriel paced the room, periodically running his fingers through his hair.
“Notifbutwhen,” she said. “Make no mistake, sooner or later, word will get around that you and I are very muchnotmarried. Renwood is a small city, after all.”
What a mad scheme her friend had cooked up. She’d taken him for a level-headed, serious man. Yet here he was, gambling away his reputation and financial future on the mere sliver of a chance to save his ancestral home. She was no optimist. Things were bound to go catastrophically wrong. But she’d help him, of course.
He stopped his pacing and faced her. “Even if we’re found out, I’ll make sure the loan is in my name only and the required securities pertain to my property.”
She bit her lower lip. “Does this mean there’s no legal repercussion to our lie? Is it only that he’s convinced a married man is more likely to pull off a renovation on this scale?”
Wariness prickled down her neck. Could she get into trouble over this? Ah, whatever. She trusted him to do his best to protect her, and she didn’t have the heart to refuse him.
“Yes, he’s a bit old fashioned, but to be fair, there are some careers where married people are preferred applicants because of their spouse’s emotional support.” He plopped onto the sofa with a sigh. “Maybe he has a point. All we need to do is to keep up the pretense until after he’s signed the documents. I’ll deal with the fallout later.”
