Chapter Eleven
Graham
Graham stared atthe papers spread across his study desk, Diana’s neat handwriting with her recommendations staring back at him. Her analysis was brilliant and just what he needed. She’d identified exactly which unentailed properties would fetch the best prices so he knew which ones he’d put up for sale. And with her recommendations for improvements their other properties would yield the highest returns, which would secure their future for years to come and keep Diana in the life she deserved.
And keep him from meeting his end at the hands of Rothwell, leaving Diana to face a fate he couldn’t bear to imagine.
She’d essentially solved his problem for him without even knowing it. And the guilt of misleading and using her that way was eating away at him. But he had to ensure she was safe from the situation his dead cousin had put him in.
He picked up her notes on the Somerset property. Forty thousand pounds, she’d estimated for the current value. That was almost enough to pay Rothwell. And if he sold the eighty-thousand-pound property as well, then he would be able to pay Rothwell, pay off the mortgaged properties and fill his coffers to ensure Diana could implement her improvements for the remaining properties.
But she’d also said they shouldn’t sell, that the properties were worth more as investments. How could he tell her that investmentreturns meant nothing if Rothwell’s men came calling?
The decision had been made. He’d already written the necessary letters and had Mitchell post them. The properties would be listed for immediate sale. And it would solve everything.
A knock at the door made him quickly shuffle the papers into a drawer. “Enter.”
Mitchell appeared. “Mr. Rothwell to see you, my lord. He says you’re expecting him.”
Graham’s stomach clenched. “Bring him here.”
He needed to deal with the man and then get rid of him as quickly as possible. He wasn’t certain how would explain his presence to Diana, and he didn’t want to lie about yet another thing.
“Lord Powis.” The man’s voice was riddled with condescension as he swept into the room. “I thought I would check on your progress.”
“I should have his funds within our agreed upon deadline.”
“The full amount?”
“Yes.” Graham kept his voice steady despite the way his pulse raced. He needed the man to leave before Diana saw him.
“Excellent. And might I ask about your lovely new countess? I trust married life is agreeing with you both?”
Graham shot up from his chair and fisted his hands at his sides at the mention of Diana. “My wife is none of your concern.”
“Everything is my concern until I have my payment.” Rothwell adjusted his gloves. “I am prepared to deduct five thousand pounds from what you owe…if you allow me full access to your wife for a night.”
Graham’s entire body tensed and in that moment he lost control. He flung himself from around the desk and drew back his arm, planting his fist directly into the man’s face with everything he had. “Do not dare to mention my wife again.”
Rothwell wobbled on his feet and then covered his cheek with his hand. Then he started laughing. “So you care about the chit?”
“Leave my house!” Graham roared, his entire body shaking from rage and his desire to rip the man apart with his bare hands. “I’ll summon you when I have the funds ready, and do not return here.”
“You’ve got more fight in you than that sniveling cousin of yours. I’ll give you that,” Rothwell said, starting for the door. Just as he was on the other side, he popped his head back in. “But be certain your payment arrives on time. Or else I’ll make you watch while I have my way with your wife before I put a bullet in your head.”
Then he closed the door.
Graham shifted on his feet, deciding what to do next. His good sense left his body and he charged after the man, ready to take out every bit of his fury on the man’s face. But just as he flung the door open, Diana was on the other side.
“Graham?”
Rothwell was nowhere to be seen. And Graham drank in the sight of her. She was dressed in a soft blue morning gown that made her eyes sparkle from the way she looked at him. And he never wanted that sparkle to vanquish.
He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close, the rage that bubbled within him shifting into fear. All of this was to protect her. To protect what they were building. And himself, if he could at least be honest with himself about that.
She melted against him for a moment before pulling back. “Who was that man who just left? Mitchell said you had a visitor.”
“It was a small matter of business. Nothing important.” That certainly wasn’t the truth and he hated himself even more for it.
