Chapter 15
She had to force herself not to tighten her grip on Kenneth's comforting fingers as the two men trained their identical green gaze on her. She had come clean, starting from the beginning and leaving nothing out, even when the humiliation threatened to overwhelm her.
Now she was at the end of the story, she felt anxiety ripping at her.
Kingsley's expression was inscrutable. He had asked if she minded him smoking and when she said no, had picked out a thin cigar from a gold case and lit it.
Fragrant smoke filtered towards the arched ceiling of the large, comfortable den.
He was seated behind a scarred baronial desk and leaning back in the leather chair. His brother flanked him, lounging on the edge of the desk. She had a fleeting thought of being hauled into the principal's office.
"I read the story in detail." Kingsley finally spoke. "Had a few associates." He lifted one broad shoulder in a shrug. "They were caught in the backlash. Lost themselves a hell of a lot of money and were out for blood."
He drew smoke in, narrowing his eyes as it filtered upwards. "I even met your father once at a bankers retreat. Place stunk with lawyers and stiff shirts." He continued to stare at her. "You never knew what he was up to?"
She stiffened and felt rather than saw when Kenneth was about to jump to her rescue. A touch of her hand stopped him.
"It might sound as if I'm na?ve and stupid.
" She had to take deep breaths. "That's what the federal agents implied when they grilled me.
'Ms. Copeland, I understand that you're a smart lawyer, with a lot of success under your belt and you're trying to make us believe you had no idea what was happening under your nose? '"
Shame had her voice hitching. "It took them forever to believe that I was innocent." She lifted her chin. "So, no, I had no idea." Tears were threatening, but she refused to let them spill. Not in front of these two men.
"I spent a long time agonizing over it. I worshipped my father. He was brilliant, the most brilliant law mind I ever known and to me he could do no wrong. It did not matter how he treated me at home or at the firm, I wanted to be like him."
She felt when Kenneth moved closer and wrapped his arm around her shoulders as if to shelter her. His father noticed the subtle movement and ignored the dire warning in his son's gaze.
"I never stole anything from anyone. I never had a part in destroying people's lives."
"You were part of the firm." He pointed out.
"Now look--"
"No." She shook her head and stopped Kenneth's furious words. "He has a right to his questions, and they are ones I've heard many times before."
"You don't need to hear them now." Kenneth sent his father a warning look.
"You have to understand that as soon as the press knows she's here, they will descend in droves, seeking blood." Kingsley crushed the half-smoked cigar into a crystal bowl and stared at his son. "Now that you two are involved, they're going to lick their chops."
"I don't give a shit!" he spat out. "Let them come. I will personally give them a statement."
"We're not against your relationship--"
"Aren't you? Then what the hell is this interrogation for?"
His father smiled slightly. It was strange to see his usually unruffled son chomping at the bit. He supposed defending the woman he loved brought out the fury in him.
"As I was saying before." He cut his eyes to the woman sitting straight, her eyes fixed. "You're involved with my son, and the press are going to feed on that, and everything will be printed and reprinted with glee. Are you prepared for it?"
"No." She said honestly. "I told him I was a bad bet, but he would not listen." She turned her head to look at him and saw the anger there and beneath it, the love.
Here was a man who wanted to do battle for her. But she had grown stronger. She was no longer the beaten-up woman who had spent years in submission. His love for her had given her strength.
"I thought about leaving." She turned around to look at his father and missed the pain on her lover's face. "I contemplated just heading out one early morning and finding another small town or a big one where no one would even bother looking at me. But I changed my mind."
She clung to Kenneth's fingers. "I'm in love with your son, whether you want to believe it or not. The last thing I want is for him or you to become embroiled in this."
"We can take care of ourselves." His gaze flickered over the lovely face and felt as if his beloved wife was standing next to him, cheering on in approval.
He had checked her out of course. He was a father after all and something about her had nagged at him. He had an excellent investigative team on retainer, and they had come through very quickly. Besides there had been something about her that had him believing he had seen her before.
Her hair was different, he mused. She had chopped it off and gone blonde to change her looks, but the shape of her face, her smooth complexion gave her away.
He flickered a glance to his son. "I believe congratulations are in order. I'm looking forward to hearing the details for the wedding."
"I think this calls for champagne." Kevin spoke for the first time since she started her story, his charming smile flashing. Easing off the desk, he crossed to her.
Pulling her up, he kissed her lavishly on the lips, laughing at the look he was getting from his nephew. "Welcome to the family, darling."
*****
She was flushed with excitement from the lovemaking and the fact that after that awful session at his home where his father had grilled her, they had put aside everything and welcomed her. And had insisted on her staying for supper.
Now that she was no longer hiding the truth, it had been a tension-free afternoon, one she had enjoyed enormously. Kevin was an outrageous flirt and enjoyed getting under his nephew's skin by frequently touching her and inviting her to have dinner with him.
"I'm much better looking." He told her teasingly, green eyes alight with laughter. "And richer. Okay, not richer." He slanted Kenneth a wry look. "But a whole lot more fun. I'm also spontaneous. How about a quick trip to Paris for breakfast? If we leave now, we could be there before morning."
"Then you'd never be able to enjoy the meal, as I would have knocked out all of your teeth." Kenneth said mildly as he helped himself to some buttered asparagus.
"And I'm not violent."
"Kevin, leave the poor girl alone."
Glancing over at his brother, he picked up his wine. "You're not in the least bit concerned that the boy will soon be giving you grandchildren?" he asked with raised brows.
"I'm looking forward to it."
Now they were in bed after making love.
"How about tomorrow?" he murmured, running his fingers up and down her back.
"Tomorrow for what?"
"Moving in with me. I'll help you pack." His eyes met hers as she tilted her head up.
"I have another week--"
"There's no need to stay any longer." He shifted so he could see her better. "My family approves of you and that was your biggest concern. They know the truth now. Nothing else is standing between us."
Ducking her head, she delayed responding by trailing her fingers through the dark hairs on his chest.
"What now?" The impatience in his deep voice had her bristling.
"I have a right to take my time and think things through. You don't understand. For the first time in my life, I am enjoying a certain freedom. I'm my own person, able to make my own decision without being monitored by, by..." Her voice trailed off.
"By your father and that bastard you were involved with." He felt the anger starting. After they left his home, he thought they had crossed the last obstacle, but he was wrong.
Easing her away, he swung his legs off the bed and went to get his robe.
"Where are you going?" She asked in alarm.
"I need some air."
"Kenneth--"
"If I stay, I'm going to say something we'll both regret. I need to cool off."
Sinking back against the pillows, she hugged out a breath. He would not understand, she thought in despair. She had seen the dynamics between him and his family and felt the ache of envy. She never had that.
There had never been teasing conversation at the dinner table in her house. She had been mostly ignored. She had brought up the topic of what she had done in school several times and had been coldly reminded that the dinner table was not the place for such things.
She had been taught to be scrupulously polite and correct. The right protocol had to be observed when eating the meal. There could never be any mistakes.
Using the wrong fork was tantamount to wearing white after Labor Day, it just was not done. She was not allowed to slouch.
"A proper young lady has erect shoulders and regal bearing.
" Her mother had often told her. Even when she was in college and came home, something she had ensured did not happen often, her achievements had not been celebrated.
She spent nights crying herself to sleep.
Her parents did not love her. Over the years she had learned to accept that bitter knowledge.
The ringing of the phone jolted her out of her reverie. Taking a deep breath, she turned it around, relieved and surprised to see the name.
"Amelia? Hi."
"I hope I'm not calling too late."
"No. I'm in bed, but not asleep. Is everything all right?"
The pause was brief but significant and had her feeling alarmed. "I don't know what to make of it."
"Make of what?" She glanced at the doorway as Kenneth came back in. His face looked stony, but she could not think about that now.
"Jack Moore's son."
"Jack Junior. What about him?"
"He came to see me." There was that pause again. She had the phone on speaker and Kenneth was able to hear the conversation. "His father asked him to find you."
She shuddered out a breath. The bed sank as Kenneth sat, facing her. "Why?"