Handpicked Husband (Love Inspired Historical)

by Griggs, Winnie

  Reggie clasped her hands tightly in her lap. “So, you don’t hate me?”

  The judge leaned forward and took her hands. “Reggie, my dear, I could never hate you, no matter what. You and Jack are my family and always will be.”

  “Oh, Grandfather.” She threw her arms around his neck, her eyes watering. She related the whole sordid story then, and when she was done, her grandfather gave her a hug then leaned back against his desk.

  “I’m sorry you had to go through such heartbreak alone,” he said. “But it pleases me tremendously that you finally trusted me with your secret.”

  She sniffed. “You can thank Adam for tweaking my conscience.”

  “As well he should.” He handed her his handkerchief. “That’s much too heavy a burden for you to carry alone. Which is why I set up this whole matchmaking scheme in the first place. I figured you would either turn to me with the truth, or to Adam when you selected him for your husband.”

  Her head jerked up at that. “But how’d you know I’d select Adam? He wasn’t even in the running.”

  The judge smiled smugly. “Who else would you select? I’ve thought you and Adam would make a fine match for some time. But he would never have seen it on his own, thus the unorthodox but brilliantly conceived nudge.”

  Proud of himself, was he? Well, she supposed he had reason.

  Then he leaned back. “You are both happy with the match, I trust. I’d hate to discover my actions resulted otherwise.”

  Happy? “I couldn’t ask for a better father for Jack,” she answered carefully. “The two have grown close over the past weeks—I think the relationship has been as good for Adam as it has for Jack.”

  His keen gaze didn’t relent. “That’s good to hear, of course, but it’s not what I asked. Are you happy in this marriage?”

  “I truly love him, Grandfather.”

  “And how does he feel?”

  “He’s been very kind and respectful, and he wants to make this work.”

  “But?”

  She wanted no more lies between them. “But he can’t forgive me for what I did.”

  Her grandfather stiffened. “He blames you for what that villain did to you?”

  “No. For my giving Jack to Patricia and Lemuel.”

  “I see.” He rubbed his jaw. “Because of his mother—I should have realized.” Then he patted her hand. “I’m sorry, my dear. Perhaps, in time—”

  Reggie stood and moved to the window. “Don’t worry, he’s really been quite the gentleman. And we’re both determined to make life as pleasant for Jack as possible. It’s not his fault that he can’t give his heart to me, too.” The instances when Adam looked at her with that hard edge in his gaze were getting fewer but they were still there.

  She turned back to her grandfather, a bittersweet smile on her lips. “I’ve been spending more time with my Bible these past few weeks. You know the passage in the book of Philippians about the peace that passeth all understanding? I’ve been clinging to that verse and it has helped me find that promised peace in my situation.”

  She moved back to her grandfather and took both his hands in hers. “Be happy for me. In a lot of ways, I’m so much better off than I was before. After all, it’s much more of a family life than I ever dreamed I’d have.”

  Before he could respond, Reggie heard some familiar voices in the hallway. “That sounds like Jack and Adam now.” She linked her arm through his. “What do you say we join them?”

  When they stepped out of the study, Judge Madison disengaged his arm and moved to Jack. “Have I ever showed you my stereopticon?”

  “No, sir.”

  “Well, come along then, I have some slides of the great pyramids that I think you will enjoy.”

  As they walked away, Adam led her into the parlor and sat next to her on the settee. “How did your talk go?”

  Better than the one I had with you. “Quite well, really. It turns out Grandfather already suspected much of what I told him.”

  Adam smiled and nodded. “Not much gets by him.”

  “Thank you for helping me see this needed to be done. I feel as if an enormous burden has been lifted from my shoulders.”

  He gave her arm a gentle squeeze. “I’m glad.”

  His hand remained on her arm and there was warmth in his smile that she longed to respond to. But she knew she was reading emotions there that didn’t exist.

  She withdrew her arm on the pretext of smoothing her skirt, then changed the subject. “Do you mind if I ask you something?”

  * * *

  Adam eyed Regina cautiously. Was that tightness about her due to the conversation she’d just had with her grandfather? Or was something else causing it? “What would you like to know?”

  “Now that you’re back in Philadelphia, do you have a plan for how you’re going to go about clearing your name?”

  Her question caught him off guard and he stood, moving to stand near the fireplace.

  “If you’d rather not talk about it, I’ll understand.”

  “It’s not that. I just don’t want to say anything yet, not until I’m certain.”

  “Certain?”

  “I had a lot of time to think about this while I was in prison. And every time I went through it in my mind, who stood to gain, who knew my habits, who had access and opportunity—it all kept coming back to one name.”

  “You mean it was someone you know?”

  He’d been such a blind fool back then, too trusting by far. “Like I said, I’m not saying anything until I’m certain.”

  “Is there anything I can do to help?”

  “No.” From the expression on her face, he realized that had come out more harshly than he’d intended. “This is something I need to do myself,” he said in a milder tone.

  “Of course.” She rose and moved to stand in front of him. “And what is it you want to accomplish?”

  What kind of question was that? “Clear my name, of course.”

  “I guess I’m asking if it’s justice you want, or vengeance?”

  Her question felt like a slap. “In this case they’re the same thing.”

  “Are they? Will you take pleasure in seeing your nemesis be punished?”

  “It’s what he deserves.” Why did he suddenly feel so defensive?

  “Just search your heart, and make sure, whatever you do, it’s for the right reasons. Remember, God reserves vengeance as His province. And besides, revenge never tastes as sweet as you think it will. In fact, sometimes it can be pure poison.”

  Then she smiled self-consciously. “I’m sorry. That was awfully melodramatic and I certainly didn’t mean to read you a lecture. Come on, let’s find Grandfather and Jack and see if they’d like to go for a ride in the park.”

  Adam mulled over her words as he followed her out of the room. She was wrong. He was after justice, clearing his name, nothing more. But if getting justice resulted in a bit of vengeance at the same time, there was nothing wrong with that. He’d waited to long for this to stop now.

  The ride to the park never materialized. Adam and Regina had just joined Judge Madison and Jack in the library when the housekeeper handed Regina a telegram.

  Adam watched her expressive face as she read the missive and closed the distance between them when he saw her dismay. “What is it?”

  “The Peavys were in a carriage accident. Doc Pratt thinks they’re going to be okay, but neither one should be up and about for the next few weeks. Myrtis has been looking after them, but she’s due to go out of town in a few days.” She turned to her grandfather. “I’m so sorry to cut my visit short, but I really should be there for them.”

  “Of course. Go see about your friends. You can come back and finish your visit when they’re better.”

  Adam took her hand, trying to comfort her with a squeeze while he addressed the judge. “Do you know the train schedule?”

  “The next one headed that direction is early tomorrow morning. I’ll have Hodgkins take care of th
e tickets.”

  “Just two tickets,” Regina said.

  Adam frowned. “I’m going with you.”

  She shook her head. “No, you’re not. You need to stay here and finish your investigation. Jack and I will be fine for the next few weeks.”

  He couldn’t do that. “I’m not—”

  She pressed a finger to his lips. “I’ve quite made up my mind. Take care of this business so you can come back to Turnabout with your spirit free.”

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Judge Madison insisted Adam stay at his home, and Adam was happy to oblige. He missed Jack and Regina more than he’d have thought and it was good to be around someone else who knew them.

  Just before she’d gotten on the train, Regina had pulled him aside.

  “I can’t leave without telling you two very important things,” she’d said. “I want you to listen carefully, and I don’t want you to try to respond.”

  She definitely had his attention. “Very well.”

  “First, I need you to know that no matter how this quest of yours works out, it won’t change how I feel. I know you are innocent, and whether or not you prove it to the rest of the world, you don’t need to try to prove it to me.”

  Something warm settled in his chest at those words. Did she know what a gift she’d given him?

  “And secondly...” Regina fiddled with her collar a moment, then straightened and looked him right in the eye “...I love you.”

  Adam went very still inside, not certain what he felt. He couldn’t remember anyone ever saying those words to him before. “I—”

  She placed a finger to his lips. “No, don’t say anything. I didn’t say that to make you uncomfortable or to try to force a similar declaration from you. And I don’t expect it to change anything between us. I just said it because it’s how I feel and I wanted you to know.” She stepped back with an overly bright smile. “Now hurry and get this investigation over with and come home to us.” With that she’d turned and walked away.

  He still wasn’t sure how he felt about her declaration, wasn’t certain anymore what his own feeling were. So instead of thinking too much about it, he threw himself into his investigation. At the end of two weeks he had the proof he needed—at least proof enough to convince himself that he finally knew the truth. Lawrence Hadley—a man he’d called friend, who’d moved in the same circles, worked at the same law office, visited in his residence—was the real culprit. Not only had he stolen that money, but two months after Adam was sentenced to jail, he’d married Emma, Adam’s former fiancée. He’d not only stolen the money, he’d stolen Adam’s life.

  With a keen sense of anticipation, Adam climbed up Hadley’s front steps that afternoon and knocked on his door. As he waited for someone to answer, he cynically admired the impressive facade in the expensive neighborhood. It seemed Hadley had done well for himself since Adam had last seen him. Had he only committed extortion the one time, or had there been other cases?

  A servant opened the door and took Adam’s name, asking him to wait in the entryway. Would Hadley refuse to see him? No matter, Adam would not be turned away.

  But when the servant returned, he indicated Adam was to follow down the hallway. Within moments, Adam and Lawrence Hadley were alone in the man’s study.

  Hadley remained seated at his desk, a cautious look on his face. “Hello, Adam. You’re looking well.”

  “As are you.” But not for long.

  “I must admit to being surprised to see you here. If you are looking to get your old job back—”

  “I know.”

  Hadley tried to cover his wince with a cough. “You know what?”

  “I know it was you who stole that money and framed me six years ago.”

  “You’re wrong.”

  “Oh, no. I have someone who saw you make those false entries in the books, and who’ll swear to it in court.”

  This time Hadley’s face paled. “Even if that were possible, no one will believe him after all this time.”

  “Perhaps, but why don’t we let the courts decide?”

  “Listen, Adam, I—”

  The door burst open and a little girl who looked to be slightly younger than Jack ran into the room. “Poppa, Poppa, we saw a hot air balloon at the park.”

  Hadley scooped up the child, but before he could say anything, a little boy with an irritated expression on his face entered as well. “Alice, you were supposed to let me tell him.”

  “You can both tell me all about it later,” Hadley said, casting a pleading look Adam’s way. “But right now I have company and we’re discussing business.”

  The two children studied Adam with curious expressions, but before they could say anything, Adam heard someone else enter the room behind him.

  “I’m sorry, Lawrence, they got away from me. And I didn’t know you had company.”

  Adam was quite familiar with that voice. He stood and as soon as he turned, she gasped and her hand went to her throat.

  “Adam!”

  “Hello, Emma. You’re looking as beautiful as ever.” And she did. But somehow, her beauty didn’t affect him as it once had. He found himself comparing her elegant features and blond coloring to a more down-to-earth lady with dark hair, blue-green eyes and a smile that could light his world.

  Her gaze flew to her husband’s and then back to him. “How...how nice to see you. What—”

  “Emma,” her husband said firmly, “Adam and I have business to discuss. Would you and the children excuse us for the moment?”

  “Of course.”

  Adam saw the worry furrow her brow, saw the unspoken messages pass between them, the body language that expressed concern, and realized with surprise that these two seemed to genuinely love each other.

  Then the little boy stopped in front of him on the way out. “If you’ve come to my poppa for help, don’t you worry. He’s the best lawyer in all of Philadelphia.”

  As the door closed behind the three of them, Adam wondered what this little boy and his sister would feel when their father was unveiled as a criminal.

  He turned back to his former friend. “Does Emma know?”

  Hadley, who now looked years older than he had when Adam walked in, shook his head. “No one does.”

  “Why did you do it?” Not that it mattered. The man had committed a crime and had to pay.

  “I was madly in love with Emma, but she only had eyes for you. I thought, perhaps if I had money to buy her nice gifts that perhaps I could win her away.” He leaned forward earnestly. “I never intended to frame you. I thought I could pay it back before anyone discovered the money was missing. Then, when the theft was discovered, everything just sort of spiraled out of control.”

  He raked a hand through his hair. “I know I was a coward to let you take the blame, and I’ve hated myself for it ever since.” He leaned back, an air of hopelessness surrounding him. “So what do we do now?”

  Adam couldn’t get the image of those two little children out of his mind. “Have you stolen any more?”

  “No, absolutely not. I learned my lesson.”

  Vengeance belongs to God. “Can you pay back what you stole?”

  “Why, yes, but—”

  “No buts. You need to pay back every penny. You can do it anonymously, if you wish, but it has to go back.”

  At the word anonymously, a small light of hope slid into Hadley’s expression. “Does this mean you’re not going to accuse me publicly?”

  Adam stood. “As long as you pay back what you stole—and rest assured, I’ll know. I’m also going to have my eye on you in the future. If I so much as get a hint that you’ve committed any such crime again, then our deal is off.”

  “Don’t worry, you’ll never have reason to be sorry. I don’t know how to thank—”

  “Don’t thank me. I’m not doing this for you, I’m doing it for your children.” And for myself. “No child should have to grow up in the shadow of their father’s sins.”

&
nbsp; Adam left Hadley’s home feeling oddly off kilter. He’d waited so long to clear his name, and now, when it was within reach, he’d thrown the chance away. Had he done the right thing?

  All his life he’d tried to prove that his mother had been wrong. That he was worth caring about.

  He’d studied harder, worked harder, tried harder than everyone around him. By doing so he’d not only graduated at the top of his class, but had become junior partner in a prestigious law firm in record time.

  He’d taken on impossible cases against tough opponents and had come out the winner.

  He’d pursued the most sought-after woman in Philadelphia and won her favor.

  But as soon as the first whisper of scandal attached itself to his name, all those accomplishments counted for naught. Like his mother, nearly everyone he cared about had turned their back on him.

  Yet Regina had said she loved him. And he’d let her go without responding, because deep inside, he knew he hadn’t done anything to earn that love. And he knew, he absolutely knew, that you only received approval and acceptance if you proved yourself worthy of it in some fashion.

  Regina loved him.

  Something inside him, some weight that had been there so long he’d ceased to feel it, began to crumble, then evaporate entirely. His world shifted from one heartbeat to the next, leaving him with a lost, almost dizzy feeling.

  Then he straightened.

  It was time he headed back to Turnabout.

  * * *

  Reggie strolled down the quiet street, a decided bounce to her step. Adam was due back tomorrow and she couldn’t wait to see him again. There hadn’t been any hint in his telegram as to whether or not he’d cleared his name, but they could discuss that when he arrived.

  She’d have a lot to tell him, too. Things had been happening in Turnabout while he was away. The most startling bit of news was dark and sad. The person who stole the fair money turned out to be Pierce himself, who’d ended up committing suicide rather than facing the music. It turned out he’d been skimming funds from the bank to help support his wife’s expensive tastes and Adam’s talk of looking at the ledgers had made him desperate.