The Unexpected Heiress

by Kaitlin O’Riley

  “If it were any other family but yours, Simon, I would agree with you and advise you not to say anything. But your family is very special, and they love you. I am positive that they would do all they could to support you and protect you.”

  “Perhaps. . . I’ll have to think about it some more.” He sighed heavily. “Thank you, Meredith. You’re the only person I’ve been able to talk to about Robert. About me . . . and this odd situation I’m in.”

  She reached across the table and squeezed his hand. “That’s what sisters are for. Or so I’ve heard.”

  He smiled at her and squeezed her hand back. “I think I’m going to like having a sister very much.”

  23

  Every Trick in the Book

  “Who did you say was here to see me?” Phillip asked in disbelief, as he closed up the accounting ledger he’d been looking over while working in his father’s study.

  He had taken to helping his father manage some aspects of the estate that he would inherit one day. The Stancliff estate, as well as Devon House itself, was a huge responsibility, and eventually, everything would belong entirely to him.

  And to Meredith Remington, his future wife.

  He and Meredith had been busy making plans for their wedding and had both decided they didn’t want anything extravagant. They just wanted their families with them, followed by a quiet wedding breakfast at Devon House. Planning a grand and elaborate wedding would take too much time, and he and Meredith didn’t wish to wait. They wanted to be married before the end of July, and then they would travel up to Scotland for the summer on a honeymoon. Meredith wanted to set her next book in a Scottish castle, so Phillip promised to take her to see some there.

  Phillip didn’t know he could be so happy. Meredith Remington had changed his life for the better. They had endless talks about how they would live and what they would do together. He felt motivated and inspired by her optimism.

  She was working very hard to finish her book, spending most of her time above the bookshop writing every day. Her goal was to complete it before their wedding and send it off to the publisher in London that Colette had recommended. Phillip was extremely proud of Meredith and more than a little in awe of her too.

  “The Duke of Havenfield is here to see you,” his mother said, looking as surprised as he felt.

  “The Duke of Havenfield?” he questioned, confused. Phillip couldn’t imagine why the man would pay him a call, especially after what happened with Meredith. “Did he say what he wanted?”

  His mother gave him a blank look and shrugged her shoulders. “He only said he has an important matter to discuss with you. He’s waiting for you downstairs in the library.”

  “Thank you, Mother.”

  As Phillip made his way down the main staircase of Devon House, he thought it quite strange that the duke would want to see him. They had no business together or interactions that needed to be discussed, for they had never exchanged more than passing pleasantries before. The duke had no reason to call on him.

  The only thing the two men had in common was Meredith Remington.

  He wondered if the duke was still upset that Meredith had chosen Phillip over him. There wasn’t much he could do about that now, but it was more than a little unsettling that the man would choose to confront Phillip about it in his own home this way.

  With a resigned sigh, Phillip entered the library.

  The Duke of Havenfield stood near the window, his imposing figure silhouetted by the sunlight. He turned to face Phillip when the door opened.

  “Good afternoon, Waverly.” The older man smiled grimly through his neatly trimmed beard, while his hands were clasped behind his back. “I suppose you’re wondering why I’m here.”

  “The thought has crossed my mind, Havenfield.” Phillip pointed to the sideboard where crystal carafes were filled with fine liquor. “Would you care for a drink?”

  The duke shook his head. “No, thank you. But you may need a drink, Waverly. I’m afraid I have some rather unpleasant news to share with you.”

  Phillip raised his brows in surprise and shrugged nonchalantly, wondering what on earth the man was referring to.

  “Please have a seat.” With his hand, Phillip indicated the rich leather chairs before the hearth.

  Once more, the duke shook his head. “I’d rather stand, thank you. What I have to say won’t take long, but again, you may need to sit down, Waverly.”

  The duke was obviously still nursing his wounds and was only there to lash out at Phillip over losing Meredith. Phillip knew all about the scene he’d caused when she refused him. Meredith had confided in him about how upset and angry the duke had become when he learned that she was already engaged.

  Crossing his arms across his chest, Phillip was done being polite. “Out with it then, Havenfield. What have you come to tell me?”

  “First of all, I would like to offer my congratulations on your engagement to Miss Remington. I’ve been remiss in doing so.” The Duke of Havenfield had a distasteful look on his face, not one of felicitation.

  “Thank you. We are quite happy together.” Phillip stared at him. What is the man about?

  “Better you than me, I suppose,” the duke offered weakly. “Now that the truth has been discovered about her.”

  “The truth?” Confused by his words, he stared blankly at the duke.

  “Yes, the truth about Miss Remington and her aunt. I don’t blame you for not knowing. I didn’t even know myself until yesterday, but you have a right to know the truth. That’s why I came to see you today. To lay out the facts for you, which are especially important now that you’re engaged to her.”

  “Listen, Havenfield, my patience with you is nearing its limit. If you have something to say about my future wife, then say it and get out,” Phillip snapped.

  The duke cleared his throat and stared at him. “Miss Remington is a fortune hunter, not an heiress. She is only interested in marrying you for your money.”

  Phillip’s head spun. The duke had lost his mind. Everyone knew that Meredith was worth millions in oil money since her father died. It was all anyone talked about.

  “That’s not true,” Phillip said in defense of the woman he loved. Yet an ugly knot began to form in the pit of Phillip’s stomach, and he wasn’t sure why. What could Havenfield be referring to? Why would he say something so dreadful about Meredith?

  “Yes, I’m afraid it is the truth,” the duke declared in an authoritative tone. “Meredith Remington and her aunt are virtually penniless. The only reason they came to London was to try to land wealthy husbands, because everyone in New York already knows the truth about the Remington Oil Company . . .”

  As the Duke of Havenfield paused dramatically, Phillip waited for the rest of his words, already knowing in his gut what the man was about to say.

  “Her father’s oil company is about to declare bankruptcy.” The duke smiled ruefully at him.

  Phillip didn’t know what to think, but whatever the duke was saying couldn’t possibly be true. Meredith would have told him about this. She would never hide something this important from him. The duke had to be lying.

  “Where did you hear this rumor about my fiancée?” Phillip demanded.

  “It’s not a rumor. It is a fact. And I know this because a good friend of mine, the Marquis of Flintwick, has recently returned from a trip to New York City, where he had some business dealings and financial investments. I ran into him at the club yesterday, and we had a nice little chat. When I mentioned Miss Remington’s name, he mentioned Remington Oil, and the truth came out. There you have it.”

  “Have what?” Phillip cried. The knot in his stomach had spread to include a sharp ache in his chest. The duke had to be lying or mistaken somehow. None of this could possibly be true. Could it?

  “Are you so blinded by her beautiful face and those lips of hers? Can you not understand what I’m saying to you, Waverly? Meredith Remington is not an heiress. Her aunt is not a wealthy widow. The girl is on
ly after your money. Well, to be fair, first she was after my money.”

  Phillip stared at him in disbelief, unable to speak. The words were not making any sense to him.

  “Yes, we were both taken in by her pretty wiles, weren’t we? I’d go so far as to say that I was quite bewitched and enchanted by her. It was a remarkable accomplishment for that young girl to entrap me so easily, for I have no interest in or use for Americans. I count myself a very lucky man, for I’m free and clear of her now, because it is obvious that she was only after my money. And now she’s marrying you for your money, Waverly. But you still have time to get out of it. Fortunately for you, you discovered her true nature before you legally wed her. End it now while you still can. You would be wise to heed my advice, young man.”

  He heard the duke’s words, but they didn’t seem to make sense to him.

  Meredith isn’t an oil heiress? But she had told him that she was. Everyone had told him that she was. He and Meredith had once talked about how, because she had money, she had the freedom to go off and live on her own and be a writer.

  How could she have lied to him about something as important as this? Phillip couldn’t care less if she were an heiress or not. The money didn’t matter to him. She lied to him. Meredith had deceived him. Deliberately.

  He had great difficulty catching his breath.

  He suddenly wondered, who was the American girl who had bewitched his family and turned his life upside down? Did he really know anything about her? She appeared in town, and everyone just accepted their story because Lady Lavinia Eastwood said so. Were they all in on the scheme together?

  They had to be. He could imagine Meredith plotting with her aunt Delilah about how they could catch rich husbands.

  “I suppose she just wanted to marry whichever wealthy man asked her first. And you beat me to it. I suppose I should thank you for saving me from the public humiliation of marrying a conniving deceiver.”

  Phillip clenched his teeth at the man’s words.

  He didn’t want to believe him, but he knew the duke wouldn’t make up a story this outlandish, and his source of the news was a credible person. The Duke of Havenfield might still be upset about being jilted, but there was no way he would fabricate a story of this magnitude just to hurt Phillip and Meredith.

  “It’ll be all over town by tomorrow, so prepare yourself,” the duke continued. “Everyone will know that she and her aunt are nothing but a pair of frauds, running around London, trying to snare rich husbands as quickly as they can. I just thought I should let you know first, Waverly, and have the pleasure of delivering the news to you myself.”

  “Get out,” Phillip commanded.

  “Good luck to you, Waverly.” The Duke of Havenfield turned and took his leave.

  Phillip didn’t know how long he stood there in the library, unmoving, after the duke left. He couldn’t think. He could barely breathe. He didn’t know what to do.

  Meredith had lied to him. She wasn’t who she said she was. She wasn’t who he thought she was.

  In a very short amount of time, Meredith Remington had wheedled her way into his family’s life, with her sweet ways and her books and her writing. He had been tricked. He’d been played the fool.

  I suppose she just wanted to marry whichever wealthy man asked her first.

  The duke’s words echoed over and over in Phillip’s head.

  Everything had happened so quickly with Meredith. She was suddenly everywhere in his life. At each social event. At his home. At the bookshop. Yet the duke was still courting her too. Was she playing them off each other? Just hoping one of them would propose first? And it happened to be Phillip, that night she cried.

  He recalled the sweet words Meredith had whispered to him.

  Then make me your wife.

  Phillip hadn’t been planning to get married. He had not even been thinking of marriage until she brought it up that night. She was the one that asked to get married. She was the one who began the whole process. She was the one who wept so prettily and touched his heart. She was the one who asked.

  Meredith Remington was a greedy fortune hunter.

  He ran his hands over his face, feeling as if he wanted to cry.

  Everyone would know. They would all think him a great fool to have been taken in by her. They already thought him a fool for being involved with Lady Katherine Vickers. But at least Katherine had been open about what she was and where she was from and what she wanted.

  Katherine had never lied to him.

  Finally finding the strength to move, he stumbled over to the bar area of the library. He poured himself a large glass of scotch from the crystal decanter, some of his father’s finest. He downed it quickly while standing there, letting the amber liquid burn his throat. Then he poured another and drank that in one swift shot as well, relishing the burn.

  Feeling anything other than pain in his heart was preferable at the moment. He refilled a third time, but he brought that drink with him over to a leather chair and sat down. He took a swig and held the glass in his hand.

  He didn’t know if he’d ever be able to stand up again.

  Then make me your wife.

  He kept hearing her sweet voice whisper those words over and over again, taunting him. She coerced him to marry her. And he fell for it completely. He’d looked into those eyes of hers and believed everything she said.

  He loved her. He’d given his heart to her and she took advantage of him. But it was a terrible sham. It was all a farce.

  And she was a liar.

  Then make me your wife.

  How had he been so stupid? How had he fallen for her so quickly and easily and never questioned any of it? Because she was beautiful? And smart? And he saw something special in her? He was such a great fool! He thought he’d found the woman he loved, the woman he would spend the rest of his life with. How had he been so mistaken about her? Mislead by her? Misused by her? How?

  “Phillip, what did the Duke of Havenfield wish to see you about? He seemed to leave in rather a hurry . . .”

  He looked up at his mother staring at him, her expression quite concerned.

  “What is the matter?” she asked when he didn’t respond to her. “Phillip?”

  He finished the rest of the scotch, avoiding his mother’s eyes. Then, staring at the empty glass, he sighed heavily.

  “It seems we have made a grave error in judgment regarding Meredith Remington. It has all been a great lie, and she is not who she claims to be.”

  Phillip realized the duke was correct. It was far better to know the truth now, before he married her. He took a deep breath and looked up at his mother, seeing the confused expression on her face.

  “I will not be marrying Meredith after all. The engagement, the wedding, everything . . . is off. It is over.”

  24

  A Closed Book

  “Phillip, please, let me explain. I wanted to tell you the truth.”

  Meredith couldn’t believe what was happening. Everything had been perfect between them, and she’d been so happy about becoming his wife.

  But now, the cold look of disgust on Phillip’s face left her shaking and frightened. And incredibly ashamed of what she had done.

  “You had more than enough time to tell me the truth. Instead, I had to hear about your deception from the Duke of Havenfield. And now everyone in town knows about you, and they are all laughing.”

  They stood in Aunt Lavinia’s small drawing room. The same room where he had asked Delilah for permission to marry her. And now he was calling off the wedding. Aunt Delilah was sobbing hysterically in her bedroom, the news of the scandal too much for her to bear.

  But Meredith didn’t care what anyone thought. She’d never wanted to come to London and perpetuate this farce in the first place. People’s opinions meant nothing to her. The only person she cared about was Phillip.

  And he never wanted to see her ever again.

  If she could only reach him somehow.... But he seemed like
a complete stranger, standing there so cold and detached. She longed to have him wrap his strong arms around her, hold her, and tell her that nothing mattered but the two of them. She wished he would say that he understood why she had kept such a secret from him and that he forgave her.

  “I can’t marry you now.”

  She stared at him, too stunned and too deeply wounded to even cry. This man she loved wanted nothing to do with her. The loss was like a knife in her heart.

  “I just came to tell you in person, Miss Remington, to give you the courtesy of telling you the truth, so that you wouldn’t have to learn about it from someone else. As I did.” His voice was brittle and cold.

  Her wonderful, handsome fiancé now seemed like a complete stranger, calling her Miss Remington and not Merry. That stung.

  Where was the man who had kissed her so passionately? Where was the man who had said he loved her and held her so tenderly in his arms? Where was the man with whom she had planned their future together? The man who teased her sweetly and made her laugh?

  There was no trace of him at all.

  But she tried to reach him anyway.

  “Please, please, listen to me, Phillip,” she implored him. “I’m truly sorry about all of this. I do love you. I want to marry you, and I never meant for the truth to come out this way. I know it sounds ridiculous, but I was only going along with this charade of being an oil heiress for my aunt Delilah. I never wanted to lie to you—”

  “But you did.” His tone was like ice.

  “Yes, I did. I lied to you. And if I could go back and change things I would, but I can’t. If you would just listen to me, we can move past this.” She took a step toward him. “This doesn’t change our feelings for each other. We love each other. We would be so happy together and—”

  “Enough, Miss Remington.” He backed away from her, as if her touch repulsed him. “I’ve heard enough. It’s all over now. We are over now.”

  She searched his eyes looking for some spark of hope that he might relent, some softening, but there was nothing there. No warmth. No love. Just a hard-edged glint of determination.