A Deal To Mend Their Marriage. Michelle Douglas
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call me Caroline when you’re cross with me.’
Barbara’s gaze lifted.
‘I didn’t know he was going to do this, Barbara. I swear. I wish he’d left it all to you.’
Her stepmother’s gaze lowered. She fiddled with the napkin in her lap.
‘And if he had left it all to you,’ Caro continued, ‘I know you’d have made sure that I received a portion of it.’
‘Of course—but that’s different.’
‘How?’
‘This money has been in your family for generations. It’s your birthright.’
Twaddle. ‘I mean to give Paul a generous legacy too. He’ll need a pension to see him through retirement.’
‘That man’s a rogue. I wouldn’t be surprised if he hasn’t weaselled enough bonuses out of your father over the years to see him through two retirements.’
‘Even if he has, he’ll have earned every penny.’
The other woman’s gaze narrowed. ‘You and your father—you never could find any common ground. You didn’t understand each other. You never brought out the best in him. And—you’ll have to forgive me for saying this, Caro, darling—you were never at your best when you were around him either.’
Caro opened her mouth to dispute that, then shot her stepmother a half smile. How could Barbara still defend him after he’d treated her so shabbily? ‘Okay, I’ll concede that point.’
Where was Jack at this very moment? Was he in Barbara’s room, scanning its every hiding place? Had he found the snuffbox yet?
The thought of Jack prowling about upstairs filled her with the oddest adrenaline rush—similar to the one she’d had as a ten-year-old, when she’d inched across the mansion’s roof. It made her realise how boring her life had become.
Not boring! Predictable.
She stuck out her chin. She liked predictable.
‘Caro?’
She snapped her attention back to Barbara.
‘You had the oddest look on your face.’
Jack had always had that effect on her. ‘Just trying to work out the morass that was my father’s mind. And yours.’
‘Mine?’ Barbara set her fork down. ‘Whatever do you mean?’
‘If our situations were reversed you’d be happy to share my father’s money with me. Why aren’t you happy for me to share it with you?’
Barbara picked up her clutch purse and rose. ‘I find my appetite has quite fled. I really don’t wish to discuss this any further.’
Caro nearly choked on her sole. Jack! If Barbara should happen to find him in her room...
‘Please don’t go! I—’ She took a hasty sip of water. ‘I’m tired of feeling lonely in this house.’
Barbara’s face softened. She lowered herself back to her chair. ‘Very well—but no more talk about your father and his money.’
‘Deal.’ Caro did her best to eat her new potatoes and green beans when all the while her stomach churned.
Please be careful, Jack.
She glanced over at her stepmother. ‘Paul tells me you’ve barely been out of the house lately? Don’t you think you should get out more? Being cooped up like this can’t be good for you.’
Barbara sent her a tiny smile. ‘On that subject we happen to be in complete agreement, darling. Lady Sedgewick has invited me down to their place in Kent this very weekend. She’s having a house party. I thought I might accept her invitation.’
‘Oh, yes, you should! The Sedgewicks are a lovely family. I was at school with Olivia. Do go. You’ll have a lovely time.’
It was beyond time that Barbara started enjoying herself again.
* * *
Caro tiptoed into her room ninety minutes later. ‘Jack?’ she whispered into the darkness, before clicking on the light.
Her room was empty. She tried to crush the kernel of disappointment that lodged in her chest. He hadn’t said that he’d wait for her in her room. She’d just assumed he would. She checked her phone for a text.
Nothing.
Maybe he’d sent her an email?
She was about to retrieve her laptop when a shadow on the far side of the wardrobe fluttered and Jack detached himself from the darkness. Her mouth went dry and her heart pounded. She tried to tell herself it was because he’d startled her, but she had a feeling her reaction was even more primal than fear.
Dressed in close-fitting jeans and a black turtleneck sweater, Jack looked dark, dangerous and disreputable.
Delicious, some part of her mind pronounced.
She wanted to tell herself to stop being ridiculous, but ‘delicious’ described him perfectly. What was ridiculous was the fact that every atom of her being should swell towards him now, with a hunger that robbed her of breath.
But why was it ridiculous—even after five years? It had always been this way between them.
Yes, but five years ago he’d broken her heart. That should make a difference.
She lifted her chin. It did. It made a huge difference. Obviously just not to her body’s reaction, that was all.
She pulled in a breath. ‘Well...?’
She held that breath as she waited for him to produce the snuffbox. She’d get her snuffbox and he’d get his divorce, and then he could marry this new woman of his and they’d all be happy.
He lifted a finger to his lips and cocked his head, as if listening to something.
Actually, she had serious doubts on the happiness aspect. She had serious doubts that Jack was in love.
Not your business.
Jack moved in close, leaned towards her, and for a moment she thought he meant to kiss her. Her heart surged to the left and then to the right, but he merely whispered in her ear.
‘Go and check the corridor.’
His warm breath caressed her ear, making her recall the way he’d used to graze it gently with his teeth...and how it had driven her wild. The breath jammed in her chest. She turned her head a fraction, until their lips were so close their breaths mingled. She ached for him to kiss her. She ached to feel his arms about her, curving her body to his. She ached to move with him in a union that had always brought her bliss.
His lips twisted and a sardonic light burned in the backs of his eyes. ‘Caro, I didn’t come up here to play.’
His warm breath trailing across her lips made her nipples peak before the import of his words hit her. From somewhere she found the strength to step back, humiliation burning her cheeks.
‘You should be so lucky,’ she murmured, going to the door and checking the corridor outside, doing all she could to hide how rubbery her legs had become. ‘All clear,’ she said in a low voice, turning back and closing the door behind her. ‘What did you hear?’
He merely shrugged. ‘It’s better to be safe than sorry.’
She did her best not to notice the breadth of his shoulders in that body-hugging turtleneck or the depth of his chest. ‘Do you also have a balaclava?’
He pulled one from the waistband of his jeans.
She rolled her eyes and shook her head, as if having him here in her bedroom didn’t faze her in the least.
‘Did you get it?’ She kept her voice low, even though Barbara’s