Vanessa bit her lip and pulled away, upset by Marcus’s mention of her last failed love affair. “I was little more than a child back then, and he took advantage,” she reminded him angrily. “Adrian isn’t like that. He’s a good man.”
Marcus sighed heavily. “I love you like a daughter, Vanessa. You know I just want what’s best for you. So humor me when I say that you were born for the stage. You need the adoration of the crowd. I fear you’ll wither and die as some rich man’s trophy. The rules of that world will smother you.”
Vanessa couldn’t help but think of the horrible engagement party and the way those people had looked down their noses at her. She’d never truly be one of them. The future she imagined for herself and Adrian rested almost entirely upon that night with the cocoa. If she couldn’t make him care for her again, she feared everything Marcus said would be true. She sank onto the sofa and pulled her legs to her chest, burying her face against her knees.
“I’m not an idiot,” she whispered. “I know I’m taking a terrible risk. But I believe he’s worth it, Marcus. I really do.”
Marcus sat down beside her and put his arm around her shoulders, offering what comfort he could. “I hope you’re right,” he murmured. “But I’ll always be here for you if you need me.”
“Thank you,” she told him brokenly. “I needed to hear that more than you’ll ever know.”
* * * *
ADRIAN KNOCKED ON BROOKHAVEN’Sfront door in broad daylight, feeling naked without his mask and the darkness to shield him. His wedding would take place tomorrow, and he was here to finalize his wedding present to his wife.
Not that she deserved a present, considering what she’d done.
Still, the tiny tender part of him she’d awakened couldn’t bear not to provide her with her heart’s desire. If onlyhehad been her heart’s desire. If only she’d felt for him a tenth of what he’d felt for her.
Scrubbing away his rioting thoughts, he forced a neutral expression as the door opened and Christine smiled at him pleasantly. “May I help you?”
“I’m here to see Mrs. Bohannan.”
“Who shall I say is calling?” No spark of recognition lit Christine’s eyes, even though he’d once carried her through the night the way he had Gabriel. He supposed he should be pleased that his disguise had worked, but he couldn’t deny the fact that he had a small need to just once be recognized for the risks he’d taken.
“Tell her Adrian Strathmore is here about an adoption,” he replied, forcing a smile, wishing Christine would meet his gaze instead of staring pointedly at the floor.
“Of course, sir. Right this way. I’ll announce you.”
Adrian followed the girl to the back of the house, to the room where he and Fiona had spent so much time. Would she recognize him? Though he knew it would probably be best if she didn’t, he truly hoped that she would. He was tired of having the two halves of his life so separated. And if there was one person he was certain he could trust, after everything that had happened, it was Fi.
“Mr. Adrian Strathmore,” Christine intoned at the door, her voice squeaking a bit. “He’s here about an adoption, ma’am.”
Fiona looked up from her paperwork and gestured for him to come in, rising to her feet, obviously flustered. He knew quite a few society women dropped by the orphanage, offering both money and time, but he doubted any aristocratic men had ever done so.
“Good afternoon, sir,” Fiona murmured, her green eyes wide as he entered the room. “Please sit down. Can I offer you some tea?”
He shook his head and took the chair she’d indicated, smiling a bit as he watched her straighten some of the hopeless mess strewn across her desk. “I’m here about Gabriel. I’d like to adopt him.”
“Gabriel?” Fiona bit her lip and sank back into her chair, gazing at him with far less welcome. “How do you know of Gabriel?”
“I’m to be wed to Miss Vanessa Bourke tomorrow,” he explained, knowing that was by far the easiest answer. “She’s quite enamored of the boy, and I wanted her to be able to have him with her always.”
“Vanessa!” Fiona’s eyes widened in shock, and then she cleared her throat. “I’m sorry, Vanessa... Miss Bourke... she never told me she was getting married.”
“Well, it’s been rather sudden,” he explained bitterly, wondering again why he was bothering to do this for the woman who was blackmailing him.
Fiona eyed him doubtfully. “Of course, I’d love Gabriel to be with Vanessa, but there are steps we must take... I’m sure you understand. We’ll need to meet with both you and Miss Bourke, have a tour of your home...”
She obviously didn’t believe him and had no intention of letting him take the boy until she checked with Vanessa. A surge of affection rose within him. He suddenly wondered why he’d hidden from her for so long.
“I think you can make an exception in this case, Fi. Especially since I was the one who rescued him, and since I’m the one who puts all the money in your greedy little hands each month.”
Her mouth formed a perfect “O” of surprise. She sank back in her chair, staring at him, at a loss for words for the first time since he’d known her.
Growing uncomfortable beneath her gaze, he forced a laugh. “It’s me, Fiona. Perhaps now you understand why I’ve hidden behind that mask for so long.”
“It’s you,” she finally whispered, getting up again and coming around the corner of her desk to peer down at him. Then she laughed and cupped his face, leaning down to press a sisterly kiss upon his forehead. “You foolish, foolish man. I am so glad to finally see your face.”
