“Bloomsbury Square,” he ordered his coachman as he swung up into his lavishly appointed vehicle.
Adrian had somehow evaded the trap he’d set for him, but Roger’s certainty that his stepbrother was behind his lost business had been confirmed when Vanessa had entered with that boy... Gabriel.
He’d been furious when that boy, in particular, had been stolen from him, as he’d been holding on to him as leverage on another matter. At least he knew where Gabriel was now, and he could put his mind to finding out a way to get him back. Or perhaps he’d just leave him with Adrian for now. That might prove more painful for everyone involved if he ever chose to give Gabriel back to his rightful parents.
He shook his head, filing that thought away for later contemplation.
One day soon, Adrian would find that stealing from Roger had even more dire consequences now than when they were children. Roger would not be happy until Prometheus’s broken body laid before him and he could finally pull that mask away and see Adrian’s hideous scarred face beneath it.
Until then, he would continue to take his frustrations out on Bridget, content with the thought that Adrian’s planned marriage was in shambles.
* * * *
VANESSA HAD JUST FINISHEDwiping the tears from her face when someone knocked discreetly at the door. She took a deep breath, then went to answer it. To her surprise, she found Fiona waiting on the other side.
“You look like hell,” the redhead said, entering the room and then shutting the door behind her. “Adrian told me you might need some help.” She held up a small bag filled with cosmetics.
“Oh, thank God,” Vanessa cried, clutching the bag to her chest. If there was one thing she was good at, it was making herself into something she was not. Today, she would be a happy, blushing bride.
She turned back toward the mirror and began applying a thin coat of powder to her reddened, tear-ravaged cheeks.
Fiona placed a gentle hand on her shoulder. “Are you all right?”
Vanessa nodded, drawing from somewhere deep inside herself to keep from giving into tears once again. “I’m so glad you’re here, Fiona! I’m so sorry. I should have come to you and told you what was going on, but everything’s been such a mess.”
“Adrian came and told me. I was so thrilled when he wanted to adopt Gabriel.” Fiona gave her a wan smile. “You can’t imagine how shocked I was when he finally showed his face to me and told me who he was. I’ve waited for that for so many years.”
“Did he tell you all of it?” Vanessa asked, swallowing dryly, so ashamed of everything she’d done that had led her to this moment but still wanting Adrian with every breath in her body. He had to feel something, or he wouldn’t be going through with this, not after what had just happened.
Fiona frowned. “What do you mean?”
“I found out who he was, and I begged him to take off the mask, but he wouldn’t. And then he stopped coming to see me. So I went to his house and told him I knew who he was and if he didn’t marry me, I’d tell the authorities.”
Fiona’s lovely green eyes widened. “Oh, Vanessa. He must be so angry!”
Vanessa nodded numbly. “That’s not even the worst of it. When we arrived, Adrian’s stepbrother was here. He was the man I told you about. The one from my past. The whole thing was awkward, to say the least.”
“Awkward?” Fiona reached out and brushed Vanessa’s puffy cheek. “I’d say it was a little more than that, love.”
“Adrian’s so hurt. Even though he didn’t call off the wedding, I’m afraid we’ll never work past this.” She deftly ran a stick of kohl across her lashes, bringing out her dark eyes.
“What happened with that man was not your fault,” Fiona said, hugging her fiercely from behind. “You can’t let your past define you. I think Adrian understands that better than most people. He’ll come around. Just give him time. When he came to arrange for Gabriel’s adoption, I could tell how much he cared for you.”
“You were right about him being damaged,” Vanessa admitted softly. “I was willing to go to such lengths to make him mine. I thought I could fix him. But perhaps I underestimated my own... damage.”
Fiona laughed and stepped away. “Don’t sell yourself short. You got him to reveal himself, something I tried to do for nearly a decade without success. As long as you don’t give up on him, I know he’ll never give up on you.”
A small smile curved Vanessa’s lips at her friend’s words, and she realized the girl in the mirror no longer looked as though she’d just been crying. She turned and handed the cosmetics back, the smile lingering. “Have I told you how much your friendship means to me, Fiona?”
Her relief that Fiona had not turned against her too was absolute. She couldn’t have borne that, not on top of everything else.
“Well, you’re important to me, too,” Fiona assured her. “Now let’s go downstairs and get you married to that lovely, troubled man. Maybe the two of you can fix each other.”
* * * *
ADRIAN CAUGHT HIS BREATHwhen Vanessa entered the conservatory on Lucien’s arm. She looked stunning, all signs of her earlier breakdown erased as though it had never happened.
He didn’t know whether to be pleased or frightened by that fact. Truth be told, he hadn’t been entirely sure she’d go through with it.
