Page 86 of When the Rogue Returns
Stark fear showed in his face before he shuttered it. “Yes, but I’m not gaining our daughter only to lose her mother.” He shoved the powder flask into his pocket. “I’ll save you both without risking prison for either ofus.”
A knock came at the door and Victor hurried to open it. Isa heard a footman say, “Mr. Cale, there are three gentlemen downstairs waiting to speak to you. They say they’re from London.”
“Thank you, I’ve been expecting them. Tell them I’ll be along in a moment.”
The footman headed off as Isa said, “Three? Who is the third?”
“Probably my cousin, though I’m surprised they involved him.” Victor faced Isa with a grim expression. “I have to go.” When she walked toward him, he added, “Let me have a few moments alone with them, Isa.”
She blinked. “Why?”
“Because I haven’t told them anything about us yet. And I need to do that without you there to make them nervous.”
Oh, Lord.
I heard that they starved and humiliated him, day after day, determined to make him break down and admit who committed the crime. And he still wouldn’t point the finger at you, poor sod.
No—but he hadn’t forgotten it, either.
Whatever he saw on her face made his expression soften. “I’ll want you to come in afterward and answer their questions. But with two of us telling the tale, it will get too confusing and take too long. It will go more quickly if I prepare them first. All right?”
She gazed at him warily. “I suppose.”
He sighed and closed the door. “Don’t you trust me to save our daughter, Isa?”
“That’s not it.” She searched his face. “The question is whether you trust me.”
A muscle throbbed in his jaw. “Of course I trust you.”
“Then why won’t you let me borrow the diamonds?” she asked. “And don’t tell me it’s because of Lady Lochlaw. You’re cousin to a duke; Lochlaw is a baron. The two of them can prevail if something happens to those diamonds.”
She shook her head. “No—it’s because deep inside, some small part of you still worries that this is just another scheme. That my family and I have found a more creative way to trick you so we can commit another theft right under your nose.”
Anger flared in his face. “That’s absurd. I know you would never steal.”
She smiled wanly. “Just a week ago, you were painting me a master criminal who wanted to steal the diamonds for herself.”
“That was before I knew the truth!” he protested.
“It was also before you found out that I hid your daughter from you.” She softened her voice. “I wouldn’t blame you for not trusting me. Not after what Gerhart told me about what they did to you in Amsterdam. He heard of it from his friends.”
Every inch of him went rigid. “You can’t believe anything Gerhart says.”
“I wouldn’t generally, but I know something happened to you after I left, something that turned you bitter and angry. Something more than my seeming abandonment.”
When Victor turned away with an oath, she added in a whisper, “Is it true the prince’s guard starved you? Humiliated you? That you were in gaol for weeks, being tormented?”
“It’s all in the past. None of it matters now.”
“All of it matters!” She grabbed him by the arm. “It’s still a thorn in your heart, making you wary of me, making you do things like call in your friends without consulting me, and refuse to let me take the diamonds. Because deep down, you’re afraid it will all happen again—Jacoba and Gerhart and I destroying your life, fooling you—”
“Damn it, Isa, that’s not true!” He released a shaky breath, then continued in a more controlled tone, “We don’t have time for this. You’ll just to have to believe me when I say that the only ones I distrust are Gerhart and Jacoba.” He pulled free of her and opened the door. “I’ll send for you when we’re ready for you.”
“Victor—”
“No arguing right now, Isa. I have to go.” He walked out and left her.
You’ll just have to believe me when I say that the only ones I distrust are Gerhart and Jacoba.
