nineteen
KEITH CLENCHED HIS fists hard enough to hurt his palms. He strode out of the dining room, wishing he’d said something more clever instead of standing there like an oaf. Perhaps Nigel had a point.
Violante followed him as he marched towards the front door and outside. He headed for…he wasn’t sure. He only needed to clear his head and don’t think about Nigel’s words.
The tall hedges of the maze in the middle of the garden cast their shadows over him, a fitting metaphor for how he felt.
“Keith, wait. You’re too fast.” Her quick footsteps sounded closer.
He slowed his pace as he turned around a corner of the maze to find himself in a long green aisle covered in gravel. His chest ached with hurt because deep down, he believed what Nigel had said. He stopped, unclenching his hands.
Violante swept into view like a ray of sunlight breaking free of the stormy clouds. “Why did you make that scene?”
He wished he were in his training hall, boxing and being with people like him.
“Keith.” She searched his gaze.
Damn. “I apologise.”
“It’s not me you should apologise to.” She put her hands on his biceps. “Sir Nigel was trying to provoke you.”
“I’d say he succeeded.” His voice sounded rough to his own ears.
“Who cares about what he thinks? I’m sure it wasn’t the first time he’d provoked you.”
“The count cares about what Nigel thinks, obviously. He doesn’t care about my project and thinks I’m a savage. Perhaps I truly am a savage.” He resumed walking. “We’ll leave now. There’s no point in staying here.”
“You’re giving up so easily.” She matched his strides. “Do you want to help those children or not? We must stay.”
He came to an abrupt halt, digging a groove in the gravel. “Do you want to stay because you believe in me or because you want to get money from Paul? He made a mistake, but he took that money because he was desperate. Move on, Violante. Leave the past behind. If you need money, I’ll give it to you.”
She gasped and stepped back from him, staring at him in horror. “You know nothing of me if you think that greed is my only motivation. I thought you understood me.” She marched down the aisle, heading for the way they’d come.
Shit. He was a bloody idiot. He rubbed the bridge of his nose and chased her. “Violante.”
She rounded a corner, speeding up.
“I’m sorry.” He went faster.
She didn’t stop.
“I really am. That was uncalled for.” He overtook her and stopped in front of her, blocking her path. “I was upset. I wasn’t thinking. Forgive me.”
“Papa always said that when people are upset, they say things they don’t have the courage to say when they’re calm.” She jutted out her chin. “You do think I don’t believe in what you’re doing to help those unfortunate children and that I place getting mymoney back from Paul above everything else. You’re wrong and unfair towards me.”
“You’re right.”
“Glad we agree on that point.” She sidestepped him.
“I was upset,” he said again because he didn’t have any other excuse aside from his foul temper.
“If you leave now, your chance to make a deal with the count will be lost forever, but that’s not the worst of it.” She marched on with determination. “The worst of it is that Sir Nigel will build his exclusive hotel, kicking poor people out of their houses in the process and creating more desperate people. All because you couldn’t let go of a provocation. What a shame.”
“In my defence, I had a good reason. Didn’t you hear what Nigel said?” He exhaled. “The nerve of him. He refused to travel with his father for work because he considers anyone who lives outside England a savage. Well, he considers even those who live in England savages. I worked with Sir Howard for years while Nigel enjoyed his soirées, parties, and horse races. He has never worked hard in his life, but he feels the need to preach to me about being civil. He spouts judgements on everyone he considers beneath himself when he’s the real beast.”
She stopped next to a lovely bush of begonias that matched her pink gown. “I understand he struck a nerve, but that’s what he wanted. You played his game, and quite honestly, you seemed unhinged.”
“I just wanted to say something that shut him up, but I couldn’t think of anything. I’m not as clever as you are. Nigel is right about that.”
