Page 77 of A Caribbean Heiress in Paris
“Cuñada, es todo un placer,” the man said before bending to take her hand as if to kiss it, then he seemed to think better of it and brought her in for a buss on the cheek as was typical between family members in the Caribbean. “He’d been very concerned about his confession resulting in being shot,” Apollo murmured loudly to Luz with the clear intention of further enraging his brother.
Luz directed an unfriendly look toward her husband. “He should be concerned.”
Apollo thought this uproariously funny and threw his head back with a laugh. “I like you, cuñada.” His English was very refined, the only perceptible accent was the way he slightly blurred his consonants; but his Spanish,thatwas from the Caribbean.
“Could you please let go of my wife’s hand before I divestyouof a limb or two?” Evan demanded, as he proceeded to shoulder his brother out of the way and place a very possessive hand at Luz’s waist. They certainly behaved as siblings, and despite the veritable cyclone of emotions passing through her, Luz felt proud of Evan.
“La bella doctora,” Apollo said, turning his attention to Aurora. “Well, this is a serendipitous coincidence. I did not expect to find you here.” The man’s smile was absolutely predatory and achieved its effect beautifully, because Aurora’s face flushed red instantly. She knew the man?
“Fresco,” Luz’s friend huffed, arms tight against her chest. “You may call me Doctora Montalban.” The man’s smile deepened. “You disappeared on me at the Mexican soirée, Doctora. I thought you enjoyed our dance.” Amazingly, Aurora’s faced reddened further, even as she held her chin up.
“You thought wrong.” Aurora bared her teeth pugnaciously at the man, who seemed confoundingly delighted by the gesture.
“I never formally introduced myself, enchanted as I was by your charms.” Manuela spluttered at the man’s choice of words. “Apollo César Sinclair Robles,” he said, extending a hand, which Aurora proceeded to glare at for a full five seconds. Luz decided to interfere before blood was drawn, but Evan reacted first.
“We can take care of introductions at another time,” Evan said, clapping a hand on his brother’s shoulder a bit too forcefully. “My wife and I have important things to discuss.”
“Your wife,” Apollo echoed. “Did she forgive you, then?” He turned to Luz. “I would not presume to tell you how to carry out your own affairs, but don’t let him off the hooktooeasily.”
Luz offered him a forced smile and directed her attention to Evan. “Was it his carriage you got in this morning after we left Mr. Bruce’s office?” Luz realized there were more important things to discuss, but this was a detail she wanted to be clear on.
“Yes,” Evan answered, brows furrowed in confusion.
“Just trying to keep a tally on the number of lies I need to address.”
At least he had the decency to appear remorseful.
“I went to tell him that I would alert you to our plan, that I could not let you attend the ball without knowing what you were walking into.”
“And what exactly will I bewalking into?” She looked between the Sinclair brothers and saw that whatever they intended to do, it was no laughing matter. Evan sent a questioning look toward his brother, who responded with a nod. That’s when it dawned on Luz that by telling her in front of Aurora and Manuela, Evan had egregiously violated his promise to Apollo, and he’d done it anyway.
That had to meansomething.
“We plan to expose my father,” Evan said vaguely.
“I’m making my grand entrance as the prodigal son with the great and the good of Scotland for an audience.” Evan cringed at his brother’s words.
“We plan to confront him about what he did to Apollo’s mother,” Evan continued.
“And to yours,” added Apollo with surprising gentleness, then turned to her. “Luz Alana, I need you to understand that my intention is to destroy my father and his reputation. I will expose his secrets and possibly ruin the family’s name forever. Evan is not only aware of this but has been instrumental in helping me every step of the way.” There was real affection in Apollo’s words, and again Luz Alana felt as though she was juggling more emotions than her constitution was built to manage.
“And you will do this tomorrow, at the ball.” Matching nods from the brothers.
“If you don’t want to come, I understand.” So this had been what his reluctance about her attendance was about. The blasted man could’ve at least told her it was to do with something outside of his control. Evan did love to play the martyr. She would have to divest him of that habit.
“Absolutely not,” she said to her husband. “I want to be there when your father sees the consequences of his actions catching up to him. I want him to see that I knew exactly what you planned to do, what you were willing to lose to set things right, and that I stayed by your side.” She poked him in the chest for good measure. “That you still have what he never will—the love and respect of the people around you.” She gripped the wrist of the hand he’d placed on her face and looked up at him. “I will not be pleased if the Duke of Annan walks away from this thinking he’s bested you.”
“He will be angry, Luz Alana,” Evan insisted.
“I would like to be there with you to see it.” She felt more than heard his rumble of approval at her assertion. “I can’t think of a better time to take my first steps among Edinburgh society than on the night they learn one of the oldest dukedoms in the land will pass to the son of a Black Colombian woman. I would not miss it for the world.”
She thought she heard a mutter from Apollo that sounded very much likelucky bastardand bit back a grin. She would enjoy seeing the duke brought down. Luz only wished Evan had trusted her enough to at least tell her that his aloofness was not to do with her. But she was still not done with obtaining answers, and Evan Sinclair was very far from being forgiven.
“What is your plan after the ball?” she asked, looking between the two men.
“We’ve been acquiring all of my father’s debts. He’s been borrowing recklessly for years,” Evan explained. “If he refuses to recognize Apollo as the heir or allow us to manage the dukedom, we plan to call in all the debts and ruin him. And after, there is much work to do. We need to make the land profitable for the tenants. I’d like to release them from feudal tithes and work together with them to seek more profitable ways to use the land. Apollo wants to use one of the properties to build a hospital for young mothers.”
“Para tu madre,” Luz said to Apollo, who only grimaced in answer.
