by Amanda Ashby
He’d spoken to several more couples yesterday, and he was sure one of them was close to agreeing. They just needed to convince the in-laws a November wedding could be romantic. And it could be, especially after all the time and attention Bec had put into it.
He grinned.
“The big question is what happens now?” Theo said, oblivious to Lincoln’s private thoughts. “When are you bringing her over here? Assuming you’re not worried your younger, and infinitely more charming, brother might win her over.”
“Not remotely,” Lincoln assured him. Despite how outrageous Theo tried to be, he was a homebody who found the idea of climbing abbey walls and spending the day in the wild abhorrent. Bec would eat him alive. Plus, even though she and Theo were the same age, Bec had wisdom beyond her years.
He took in a deep breath. Theo was going to find out at some stage Lincoln and Bec were going to split their time between both countries. It might as well be now.
“Wow.” Theo let out a long whistle once Lincoln had finished updating him on everything. “The master has become the apprentice. It’s a lot to take in.”
“I’d appreciate it if you took it in quietly. I’ll be home in two days, and I’d prefer if Mother and Howard heard it first from me.”
“Trust me, you have nothing to worry about on that front. No way do I want to be within one hundred miles of the place when you drop that bomb,” Theo assured him. “Because you know it’s going to be nuclear, right?”
“I’m well aware she won’t be happy.” Lincoln shrugged. “It can’t be helped. This is what I want, and it’s the right thing to do for Bec and the baby. Nothing will change my mind.”
“Preaching to the choir. It’s about time you realized there’s more to life than being Lord Ashford,” Theo said in the casual voice of a second son, someone who hadn’t been raised to accept their duty without question. However, since Lincoln didn’t begrudge Theo his naiveté, he just smiled.
“Thanks. I’ll see you in two days time.”
“You sure will,” Theo said before making the sound of fireworks exploding. Lincoln winced. He just hoped that, as usual, his brother was being overly dramatic.
…
“Remind me again why I can’t come with you.” Bec pushed out her bottom lip as she studied Lincoln. He was only wearing a pair of boxers, and it was a crime for him to cover up his body in boring old clothes. Especially when they were clothes he planned to wear to the airport. To think she once liked airports.
She sat up in the bed, not bothering to hitch the sheet around her naked body. If anything could lure him back to her, this would be it.
“Because, as well as finishing the wedding I booked, you have an engagement party at the farm next week and you promised you’d be there,” Lincoln said.
“Okay, so why can’t it wait until after the wedding so I can come with you?”
“Because, as we have discussed previously, I can’t change the date of the investment meeting.” Lincoln dragged on a pair of trousers she hadn’t seen since he first arrived. “We’ve been through this. I’ll be back next week in time for the baby’s sonogram.”
At the mention of the sonogram she let her hands fall to her belly. She still found it amazing to touch the small, rounded swell, not much more than when she’d eaten too many vegetarian burritos. And yet, once Lincoln was back and they went to the doctor, she’d have photographic evidence it was really a baby.
She pushed her lip out some more. “The appointment is seven days away.”
“It’ll go quickly.” He finally turned as he shrugged on a button-down shirt. It was gray, turning his strange eyes more winter than spring. She preferred spring.
“Liar.”
“Okay.” A smile tugged at his mouth as he stopped his dressing and joined her back on the bed. “So it won’t go quickly, but it will go. And think of how much more room you’ll have when I’m not here.”
Far too much room.
An entire Lincoln-size hole.
Her throat tightened as an unwanted memory crashed into her mind—of how she and her sisters had been staying with a cousin when the news had come that their parents were dead. Bec had only been six at the time, and despite what everyone said and did, all she could remember was the empty rooms of their family home. Too much space and one single truth—her parents no longer existed.
The three sisters were in suspended time for weeks before it was decided they’d be moved to Wishing Bridge Farm. And while Emmy and Pepper fell into their new life, Bec never had. All she could see was the shadow of the life that was no longer there.
And that’s what it feels like now.
“Hey.” He frowned as he reached out to touch her chin. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine.” She pushed back her panic and let herself wallow in the luxury of his touch. Their decision for him to come and go from the farm had seemed like a good idea when he’d been lying in bed naked with her. But seeing him in his suit, wearing it like armor, she realized she’d underestimated what it would be like. And this was just for a short trip. She never had liked sharing. “Just hurry back, because I’m going to miss you.”
“Nothing’s going to keep me away.” He leaned in and kissed her, his mouth hot against hers. Her body exploded with longing, and Bec lost track of everything else.
…
“I see.” Lincoln’s mother got to her feet and smoothed down her perfectly smoothed skirt. It was a habit Lincoln had grown up with. It meant she needed to reflect on what he’d said before she was ready to comment. He stretched in the old leather armchair he and Theo had turned into a tank when they were younger. After three weeks of living in Sunshine, the Savile Row trousers he wore at home sat like a weight around his legs, while the collar of his shirt chafed his neck.
“I know it’s a surprise, but it’s what I want. We’ll spend some of our time here and some of it in America. I’ve worked it all out. There’s no reason the investors should have a problem with it. I’ll make sure Snowden Manor’s safe.”
“While the eleventh Lord Ashford is living in some American town that sounds like a cartoon,” his mother cut in before closing her eyes. When she opened them again, she let out a soft sigh as her shoulders dropped. “I’m sorry. It’s not my place to comment, and if this is what you want, then I’m happy for you. But you’ll have to excuse me. I have a headache.”
“Of course.” Lincoln jumped to his feet and waited until she left the room. It wasn’t as ornate as the gold room his mother had shown Bec, but with its high ceilings and elaborate cornice, cracked and in need of repair, it still felt big and empty. He turned back to where Howard was sitting. With a shock of dark hair and matching eyes, he was in his early fifties and had been as much a feature of Lincoln’s life as Snowden Manor itself. “Did that go as badly as I think it did?”
“I’d say it went about as well as you could’ve expected,” Howard said in the same pragmatic voice he used for everything. “She’ll come around. It’s been a trying day.”
“Why?” Lincoln asked in a sharp voice as he took the estate manager’s pale face. His mother wasn’t the only one who was looking tired. “Okay, someone needs to tell me what the hell’s going on.”
“I’m sorry, Lincoln.” Howard ran a hand through his graying hair and sat down. It looked like it had been a long day. Longer than most. “Your mother had a phone call from the investment group this morning. Tomorrow’s meeting has been cancelled.”
“Cancelled?” Lincoln frowned. “So we reschedule. Though it’ll need to be before January because that’s when the bank’s deadline is.”
“No, you don’t understand. They’re withdrawing their interest.”
Lincoln’s jaw tightened. “What? Why? Did they give a reason? Was it because of Bec? The baby?”
“No, nothing like that.” Howard gave a quick shake of his head. “They’ve had some downsizing in their foreign investments, and the timing just isn’t right.”
“That’s why
my mother went to lie down? Because she’s worried it’s all over?” Lincoln’s mind whirled as he tried to sift through other options, but the truth was that until their investors had come along, other options had been in short supply.
Which means now there’s none.
No wonder his mother had looked so distraught. She’d been fighting to hold back the enemy half her life, but now they were finally surrounded.
“She loves this place, but she loves you more. She’ll come around,” Howard insisted. “You just need to give her time.”
“Of course,” Lincoln said as he got to his feet. Unfortunately, time was the one thing he didn’t have.
…
“So what if we start a GoFundMe campaign?” Bec said as she sat cross-legged on the old sofa that had been in the cottage for as long as she could remember. Lincoln had Skyped her last night with the news, and it was obvious by the fine lines gathered around his mouth, he was in shock.
“Didn’t you say Lincoln’s family tries to avoid talking about the fact the manor is falling down?” Coop clicked his chopsticks together like an alligator. Normally it was funny, but tonight all she could focus on was the fact Lincoln’s investors had pulled out.
“Yes. He called it smoke and mirrors. They put on a good front because it’s the British way. More like very annoying. Okay, I’ll cross GoFundMe off the list.” Bec pushed her lips together before sighing. “I should probably take off bake sale as well. But I’m determined to help him raise money. I still have online entrepreneur and app developer to consider.”
“Both good choices.” Coop gave an encouraging nod. “Plus, you also might want to consider letting me have the last dumpling.”
Bec pushed aside her list. “How will that help him exactly?”
“Okay, so it won’t, but it was worth a try.”
“Have it. I’m not hungry, anyway.” She shrugged, and Coop leaned over to take it with his chopsticks.
“Bec, try not to worry. You guys will figure it out. I might be the most single person on the planet right now, but it’s obvious you’re meant to be together. Nothing’s going to get in the way. Even if he needs to stay in England for longer.”
“What do you mean?” She looked up so fast that the notes in her hand fell to the ground with a flutter.
“Just that it might take him a while to find new investors. Didn’t you say it took years to find this lot?” Coop shrugged as he finished off the dumpling. Then he put down the chopsticks and wrinkled his nose. “Why are you looking so worried? It’s only a plane flight away. He can still come back for visits, and you can still go there. I thought that was the plan all along.”
“It was. I mean it is. Well, in theory it is. We haven’t really talked about it that much,” Bec said. Or at all. Of course, she’d planned to, but talking had seemed so boring compared to running her hands along his chest or daydreaming about what their baby was going to look like. It was a delicious bubble of lust-filled oblivion that had no place for reality.
Unfortunately, without Lincoln in the cottage, there was no bubble. As for going to England—she gulped as she recalled Pepper’s face when her sister had accused them of leaving the wedding work to her. Not to mention there were the sonogram and baby appointments Bec had lined up, or the fact that she was like a fish out of water in his mansion. And to think that once upon a time climbing onto a plane was the easiest thing in the world.
“Okay, well I’m not exactly a relationship expert, but don’t you think you should talk about it?” Coop said in a soft voice as he patted her arm. “After all, once you’re married you’ll need to figure it out. Oh, God. What have I said now?” Coop demanded and Bec inwardly cursed. Obviously, she needed to work on her steel mask a bit more.
“We haven’t talked about that either,” she admitted, swallowing hard. Yes, he’d offered to marry her when he first found out about the baby, but since that had been for all the wrong reasons she’d said no and hadn’t thought about it since.
Besides, she didn’t need a wedding ring. She just needed him.
“Of course.” Coop nodded. “And I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to freak you out.”
“You didn’t. I’m fine.” She reached down and picked up the scattered notes, and they spent the rest of the night coming up with ideas before Coop finally excused himself and headed home.
Once he was gone, Bec was trying to decide whether she should go to bed or work on some wedding plans she’d been neglecting, when her cell phone went off and Lincoln’s name flashed up on the screen for a Skype.
“Hey,” she said as his face came into focus. How could he be so hot with one-day stubble and eyes that looked like he hadn’t slept in weeks? “How’s it going?”
“Slowly.” He rubbed his hand along his chin, causing a shudder of desire to race through her. “But I just wanted to let you know I’ve arranged some appointments in London tomorrow, so I won’t be around during the day.”
“That’s great.” Bec tried to inject enough enthusiasm into her voice to get a smile out of him. “Coop and I have been brainstorming some ways to help. What are your thoughts on developing an app that can become an overnight success?”
“I’m not opposed to the idea, but I’m not quite sure it’s in my skill set,” he said as a reluctant smile appeared. “And I don’t want you worrying about it. It’s going to be okay.”
“Of course it is.” She leaned forward, wishing he was sitting next to her and not halfway across the world. “I just miss you. I want you here so we can talk. I realized we’ve been so busy celebrating that we haven’t sat down and figured anything out. About what our future will look like.”
“Bec, what’s going on? Are you okay?” he said, the sharp lines around his eyes increasing.
No. I’m freaking out and I want you here. To stop me from feeling alone, like the walls are falling in.
She clamped down on her mouth. He had enough to worry about, and besides, as soon as he was back, everything would be better. She took a deep breath.
“I’m fine. It’s just late, and I’m tired. We can talk properly when you’re here. And it had better be soon, or I’ll chose the baby’s name on my own. Right now, it’s a toss-up between Green Leaves or Blue Sky.”
“Both interesting choices.” This time the smile reached his eyes, and Bec’s pulse thumped with need.
See, it’s all going to be okay. I was just getting worried about nothing.
“I thought it might motivate you. And speaking of motivation…” She grinned as she began to tug at her T-shirt, but before she could lift it, there was a noise in the background, accompanied by some loud singing.
“As ever, my brother has the worst timing.” Lincoln muttered under his breath, and Bec reluctantly lowered her shirt. “I can’t believe I’m about to say this, but I need to take a rain check and get to him before he causes too much trouble. I’ll call you as soon as I’m back from London.”
“Okay.” Bec finished the call and then went and curled up in the bed, hugging the small alligator he’d given her. Well, technically he’d given it to their baby, but she was sure little Green Leaves wouldn’t mind. Even with the toy clutched to her side, it took a long time for her to fall asleep, and when her phone beeped the following morning, she groaned with fatigue.
What was it with people wanting to talk in the mornings?
She groggily opened her eyes and fumbled for the cell. If it was Pepper checking to see if she was awake, then Bec was going to have to swear. Perhaps in four different languages. Lincoln’s name flashed on the screen, and her mood improved as she answered clicked on the Skype account.
“What happened to London?” she asked, and then gulped as the picture on the screen came into focus. It wasn’t Lincoln. It was his mother. Bec rubbed her eyes but the image didn’t change. “L-Lady Ashford?”
“Hello, Bec. I hope you’ll forgive me. I wasn’t sure how to contact you, and Lincoln’s Skype account is here on the large computer in the study.”
“I see.” Bec licked her lips, still not sure what was going on. Why would Lincoln’s mother be calling her? Unless he was hurt. Blood drained from her face. “Is everything okay? Has something happened?”
“No, everything’s fine. My son’s gone to London.”
“That’s right.” Bec nodded while trying to finger comb her hair into some kind of order. Lessons could be learned here. Like not to answer video calls before having at least three cups of coffee and a shower. “He said he was meeting some potential investors.”
“He is. Unfortunately, he’ll fail,” Lady Ashford said, in an even tone that reminded me Bec of a Bond villain. She shivered.
“How can you write him off like that? It’s like you want it to fall through.”
“The last thing I want is for my son to fail. But for eight years, all we’ve done is look for investors. There aren’t any out there.”
Bec’s groggy mind tried to process what the call was about. So far she was coming up blank.
“Are you saying they pulled out because of me? Because Lincoln told me it was due to one of their other investments. And I swear no one has ever seen those photos or found out about my pregnancy. I’d never do something like that.”
Lady Ashford’s cheeks colored. “Forgive me. I didn’t mean to imply it was your fault. I’m not even sure why I’m calling. I suppose I’m desperate. For thirty years, I’ve tried to protect this estate and my sons’ legacies from the damage their father did. The fact it might all have been in vain is hard to accept.”
Bec rubbed her face, willing herself to wake up. “I know you’re worried, but Lincoln’s so brilliant. He will figure something out. I just know it. There’s always another way to do things.”
“I agree.” Lady Ashford titled her head, showing Bec just where her son got his looks. They shared the same focused concentration and strong jaw. But while Lincoln was purely masculine, his mother was dainty—not much taller than Bec, but with much neater blond hair and a crisp blouse and sweater with some lustrous pearls peaking out from under the collar. She was also terrifying. Bec’s spine stiffened.
