The prince was just as handsome as always. With his black hair and warm blue eyes, Francis had heard women say he looked much like they imagined a prince did in a storybook. He was the last man Francis wished to know about his problems and he wondered how much Morris had told him.
Morris got straight to it. “As you know, I had an appointment with Lavenberg last week.”
“Yes,” Francis said. “And you said it appeared Lord Buckley did invest in his coal mines.”
Garrett nodded. “He did but I’ve come to discover that the profits in his books don’t match the amounts he earns from me.”
“Really?” Francis asked.
Morris nodded. “But they do match the amount of his income.”
Garrett held his glass of port to his lips. “Which means the earl was using my company to hide the money he earned from some other enterprise. Some of the money that he is claiming to have earned from me is coming from elsewhere.”
“And after allowing Calvin to go through the books one last time, imagine what enterprise it turned out to be?” Calvin was the mathematician of the group.
Francis dropped into the chair and sighed. “What enterprise would that be?”
“You,” Morris said with a grin.
Francis narrowed his eyes and looked between men before stating, “I don’t understand.”
“I don’t think Archie does either or he’d have never agreed to show his books to me.” Morris leaned forward. “What I’m saying is, Lord Buckley’s man of business is hiding the profits he gains from you.”
“I understand that, what I don’t understand is why he doesn’t mark them as the debt that they are.”
“There’s only one reason he wouldn’t,” Garrett said.
“And that is?” Francis wanted to guess but he wasn’t ready to hope for the best.
Morris stood and walked toward the sideboard. “It means that there is no debt.”
Francis heard the sound of the liquor hitting the glass followed by the hushed sound of Morris’ footsteps as he walked across the room and handed Francis the glass, but Francis’ mind was everywhere. Morris’ words were exactly what he’d thought the man would say, yet nothing was clear. “That’s impossible. I signed a contract. I am paying a debt.”
“Yes, but it’s for money that never left Lord Buckley’s banks.”
“What do you mean?” Francis asked. “My father owed at least five men a sum of a hundred thousand pounds.” And he recalled every man’s name as though it were his own.
“No, I believe your father owed no one. He was most likely set up by Lord Buckley,” Morris said. “Hugh has been looking for word on these other five men and no one has ever heard of them. No other gentleman of the ton was approached by any of them for funds or investments, which means either everyone is lying, your father was lying—”
“My father was many things but he wouldn’t do this to me,” Francis quickly stated.
“Or your father was set up by a man he called his friend,” Garrett said.
Francis couldn’t believe what he was being told. How long had Lord Buckley been planning his demise and why? He leaned into his hand and rubbed his temple. “Is there any way to get me out of this mess?” He didn’t even care about the money. All he wished for was his freedom.
“We’ll need to find one of the imposters and get them to confess to the crime.”
Francis shook his head and said, “Thank you.”
The prince stood and bowed. “Hopefully, we’ll be able to meet again under better circumstances.” He said his goodbyes and left.
Morris opened a stylish wooden box that sat on the table next to him and pulled out on his imported cigars. He offered Francis one.
Francis waved it away.
A footman brought over a tinderbox and Sulphur match to light Morris’ cigar, the papered end burning bright before smoothing into ash.
Morris looked at the servant. “You’re dismissed.”
The footman left the room and closed the door behind him.
Morris turned to Francis. “What did you want to talk about?”
Francis sighed. “I’m not entirely sure now. I don’t know how this new information affects my plans for the future. If there is a way to free me from Buckley’s contract then that would be best but at the moment, nothing seems right.”
The scent of tobacco filled the room. “What happened at Buckley’s?”
“He knows about Genie and me. Genie agreed to marry Mr. Cross in order to save Lorena’s house and my damned horse.”
Morris lifted his brow. “He threatened to take the horse?”
“Threatened to shoot him not even three hours ago.”
“Hm.” Morris puffed. “Sounds like Buckley suspects something as it pertains to his uncle’s dealings.”
“That’s what I assumed after what you and Prince Garrett shared. At first, I believed him to simply be mad and malicious but now I recall a slight panic in his words, as though he were rushing us to agree with whatever he said.”
“He wants us to stop searching for the men who approached her father most likely. Not even a week ago, he came here to collect his account books in person. I hadn’t thought anything of it until Garrett’s arrival. We could be close.”
Francis nodded.
“What are you going to do about Genie?”
That answer was simple. He’d been through enough to have her and he didn’t plan on letting her go. “I’ll not let her marry Mr. Cross.”
Morris grinned. “Good and I’m sure you know if you need any help, we are here for you.”
Francis looked around the quiet room. “Where is everyone?”
“Hugh and Rollo are returning to London. Emmett and Calvin have gone to visit their women. Will is in the music room entertaining one of the ladies from the dinner last night.”
Francis lifted a brow. “I didn’t hear the piano when I entered the house.”
Morris chuckled. “Then one can only guess what is transpiring. Aaron and Frank are in the fencing room.”
“Where’s Julius?”
Morris inhaled on his cigar and released a heavy breath, irritation on his face. “With my mother.”
Francis hung his head to hide his expression.
“Don’t you dare laugh,” Morris warned. “That woman refuses to act like a lady, which means it’ll be up to me to marry a woman who can restore the family name.”
Francis already knew that Morris had plans to marry a very well-bred English lady. Morris took his responsibilities more seriously than any of the rest of them, believing the rules and customs should be upheld while everyone else found themselves in the middle somewhere, dancing on the line that divided the civilized from the savage. “Did any of the women last night catch your eyes?”
Morris shook his head and stabbed the cigar out. “No, perhaps I’ll start looking next year.”
“You could always let the Spinsters find a woman for you.”
Morris’ head snapped to him. “Don’t you even suggest such a thing. They’ll pick the most unconventional lady they can find and I’ll be stuck with someone like my mother.”
Francis grinned. “At least your mother didn’t have affairs while your father was alive. Perhaps you should be easy on her. Life is short.” He thought about Mr. Taylor. The man had been right. “She seems happy.” And he’d been happy when he was with Genie, happier than he’d ever been before. He understood now what Mr. Taylor had been speaking about. How miserable he’d been in his past, to have been nothing more but a receiver of love. Now that he knew what it was like to give, to make Genie smile, to touch her and share the innermost parts of himself with her, there was no going back.
“I’d be happy if the Grand Lynx stopped preying on my friends.” His friend stared at him and whatever he saw in his eyes gave him pause. “You seem in a good mood.”
“I am. I’m going to be with Genie.” He was more convinced of it than ever. He no longer cared what it took to have her. One t
aste of her and everything had become clear. She was his. He’d been ready to give everything up for her anyway. Emmett had the deed to Lorena’s home. Morris owned the Valdeston mansion. Everything else would settle itself once he and Genie were far away. The only person left to see was Lorena.
“You’re planning to take Rollo’s offer,” Morris told him. “You’re moving to America.”
Francis stood and started toward the door. “It’s the only way.” He turned to look at his friend.
Morris nodded and gave a soft smile. “The brotherhood will never be the same without you.”
“Maybe someday we’ll see each other again.”
Morris gave a single nod. “We can only hope.”
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CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
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Francis was shown into Aunt Tilda’s drawing room and Lorena was there to meet him, her face set in anger. She was not alone. Her friends were about her, Maura was doing needlework and looked to be teaching Sophia. Aunt Tilda was reading. Alice and Calvin were standing by a window while Lorena and Emmett sat close to one another on the couch.
It was late evening, dinner was over, and the sun had left the sky hours ago.
Lorena frowned. “If you were hoping to speak to Genie, you should know that she has left,” she told him as she came to her feet.
Francis was surprised. “So quickly?”
Lorena blinked. “You knew she was leaving?”
He went over to her and grabbed her hands. “Yes, she and I both met with Lord Buckley earlier today.”
“You did?” Aunt Tilda put down her book. “Genie didn’t tell us what happened. She simply had the servants pack her things and then left.”
Francis nodded. “It’s all a mess now.”
“What is happening?” Lorena asked. Everyone was paying attention.
Francis felt as though he’d told his story a hundred times but hoped this to be the last. His first plan had been to speak with Lorena alone but since his sister was likely to share everything he said with the others, he thought it best to get the story straight. Also, there were things he wanted to say to everyone.
“I’m in love with Lady Genevieve. I always have been.” It felt good saying it aloud and telling others, these women who cared so much for their friend.
Alice and Aunt Tilda gasped.
Maura covered a sob of joy that spilled past her fingers.
Sophia smiled and Francis recalled that she’d already known.
Lorena seemed to be the only person still angry. “If you love her, then why didn’t you return her kiss? Why have you left her believing otherwise for weeks? Years even?”
He squeezed her hands. “At first, I did, but more recently, Genie and I have been together. We’ve simply kept it secret.”
Everyone gasped, except for Sophia and the men, whose smiles grew wider.
Emmett sighed heavily. “Thank God you’ve told them. It was starting to get hard not telling Lorena the truth.”
Calvin crossed his arms. “Yes, Alice spoke endlessly about her theories about what was really going on between you and Genie. If she were a man, she might have a future with the runners.”
Alice swatted his arm.
Lorena’s mouth hung open. She looked at Calvin, Francis, and Emmett. “You knew and didn’t tell me?”
“Francis and I are part of a brotherhood,” he said casually.
“But I’m your fiancée,” she countered.
He leaned forward and gave her a direct look. “I’m sure you and your friends keep secrets from me.”
Lorena stilled and decided to turn her anger back to Francis. “I can’t believe Genie didn’t tell me. I’ve been so worried for her.” Tears glittered in her eyes.
Francis cupped her shoulders. “She wanted to tell you but I told her not to. She struggled with keeping it from you; that’s why she seemed so distant. She hated lying but it was necessary.”
“Why?” she asked.
“Because Lord Buckley threatened to take everything from us if he got word that we were together, including your home.”
“Archie did this?” Lorena looked astonished.
Francis shook his head. “No, Genie’s father.” He sighed. “Many years ago, our father was in debt and it was left up to me to repay it. Only Genie’s father had the funds to do so and we struck a bargain that I would leave Genie alone until that debt was paid.”
Fury blazed in her blue eyes. “How dare he! I never liked him but I tried for Genie’s sake.” She grabbed his arms. “Don’t worry about my house, Francis. It’s so much more important that you be with Genie.”
He smiled. “I knew you would say so but I’ve already sold it to Emmett.”
She leaned away and swung to look at Emmett. “You can’t own my house. My mother left it to me.”
Francis turned her back around. “Our mother lost the right to give it to you, which makes it legally our father’s. I did what I had to do to protect it. Besides, once you marry Emmett, it will be his either way.”
It was obvious that Lorena did not enjoy hearing that truth. Her independence had always been evident but had grown since their parents’ passing. She looked at Emmett again and said, “We will speak of this when we are alone.”
He smiled boldly at her fury. “I look forward to it.”
She quickly spun back to Francis. “So, what happens now?”
He told her of his meeting with Lord Buckley and Genie. The agreement Genie had struck with her cousin concerning Mr. Cross surprised everyone. “I’m going after her. I love her and I’ll do what I can to be with her.”
Lorena smiled. “Wonderful.”
He touched her cheek and said, “Even if that means we have to leave the country to do so. We may never return, Lorena, and if we do, it could be a long time from now.” She and Emmett would have their own children by then, nieces and nephews he’d never know.
His sister stilled under his hand, her breath growing rapid. Emmett closed in at her back and placed an arm around her. She leaned into him and sighed. “You won’t leave without saying goodbye, will you?”
“Not if I can help it.” He leaned forward and kissed her head. “I have to go to Genie now before she makes plans concerning Mr. Cross.”
She nodded.
They held hands for a moment and then broke.
Francis shared a look with the rest of the room, his aunt, his brothers by every sense of the word except for blood, and the women who would comfort his sister when he was gone, wondering if he’d see any of them again.
Then he bowed and left.
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CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
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Genie paused at the sound of noise in her home. Buckley’s dowager house had been quiet for most of the night except for the scratching of branches against the trees whenever the wind blew hard and the whistling of the trees that accompanied it.
She crawled up further into the chaise lounge, sweeping her legs under her and placing her book on her lap as she listened. Twin fires blazed in the fireplaces on either side of her room, their cracking even louder with her concentration. A chill from outside had crawled into the room and so she remained far from the windows.
She heard the unmistakable sound of footsteps as they drew closer.
The door opened and Francis stood in the doorway, his large shoulders taking up most of the entry. He was dressed in the same dark suit he’d worn earlier that day but his dark hair was windswept, slightly damp, and curled at the ends. Fire flickered over his darkened features, giving just enough light to make out his face.
She took a breath and shivered at the intensity of his blue eyes.
He di
dn’t move and neither of them spoke. His eyes traveled down her body and Genie was aware of her state of undress. All she wore was a night rail, her position by the fire so close that a robe would have made her too warm.
A different sort of warmth settled in her body as she stared at him.
He’d come just as she’d hoped and prayed he would. She’d thought he would have taken his time to get to her and had not planned to receive him so quickly. He started toward her and didn’t stop until he knelt before her, their eyes locked with each other’s.
“He can’t have you,” Francis whispered. “I won’t allow it.”
Genie smiled softly. “I’m so glad you’re finally here.”
His eyes widened and he settled a hand on the chair next to her lap. The other went to the chaise’s arm. “You knew I would come.”
“Yes.”
He narrowed his eyes. “You had no intention of ever marrying Mr. Cross. That was just so Lord Buckley would back off.”
She pressed her lips together. “Actually, I have every intention of marrying him.”
Anger set his mouth into a line. “No.”
She touched his cheek, leaned forward, and kissed his hard mouth. “But I’m not marrying him tonight.”
Francis’ expression didn’t change. “Or ever.”
She smiled and kissed him again with more heat until his mouth gave way under hers. He groaned as her tongue swept between his lips. His hand settled on her hip and her body began to pulse under the promise of completion. “I’m yours tonight.”
“And forever.” He kissed her again and pushed her back on the chaise, crawling onto the long chair and settling over her body. “Only mine.”
“Yes.” She was his even if they couldn’t be together. She would never love another man the way she loved him. He was her soulmate and would always be the writer of the greatest parts of her life. She wrapped her arms around him and breathed in his scent, the smell of tobacco lingered in the wool of his coat. She slipped her fingers under it, needing to get it off him and touch his skin.
Genie’s Scandalous Spinster’s Society (The Spinster’s Society Book 3) Page 19
