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“It wasn’t your money. It’s mine.”
Her father eyed them both. “What money?”
The chairwoman’s head swiveled. “I’m not going to provide financial support to my daughter as she runs away from home and shirks her duty like some spoiled brat.”
“It’s my money,” Lila said. “I earned every dime of it.”
“You didn’t earn millions as chief. You were given dividends as a member of the Randolph family, and your percentage was quite a bit higher because you are my daughter and the future prime. That money comes with strings, Elizabeth. If you can’t be bothered to do your duty, then you don’t deserve any of it.”
“I was a dutiful Randolph daughter for a very long time. I also earned such excesses because I didn’t let a bunch of hackers run off with millions every quarter, or have you so easily forgotten why you allowed me to join the militia in the first place?”
Lemaire cleared his throat. “Bea, this is theft. You can’t just take Lila’s—”
“Don’t you dare tell me how to raise my children. And I do mean raise. She’s almost thirty, and she still acts like a child. It’s your fault she ended up like this. You encouraged her. You hired her for these stupid jobs of yours. You think I don’t see it? If the rest of the country figures it out, you’ll have cast a storm cloud upon her, upon me, upon your matron and your father’s matron. You’ll have dishonored several highborn families with your idiocy, and for what?”
He opened his mouth to answer, but the chairwoman didn’t allow for it. “What were you thinking, Henri?”
“I was trying to protect Saxony and the rest of the country, so people like you can go on, ignorantly believing your biggest threat and obstacle in life is a wayward daughter. I damn sure hope the next prime minister will do as I’ve done. Lila’s proven invaluable. You have no idea how invaluable, and I hope you never do.”
“Lila was the only one who could help? You could have hired any number of people to take part in your schemes. You could have hired Ms. Poole’s boy, John.”
“Max,” Lemaire corrected. “He never would have gotten involved, not when it might help the same people who imprisoned his mother. He has his own set of morals. Lila has those that we taught her.”
“That you taught her.”
“That we both taught her. Lila is good at what she does, and she’s trustworthy. I needed her help. Saxony needed her help, or I wouldn’t have gotten her involved at all. Your daughter is a heroine, and you should be proud at what’s she done.”
“She’s my daughter, and you nearly got her executed, you stupid, arrogant, selfish asshole. If they find out what you’ve really done, they’ll hang you, and I’ll sit in the first row, toast with a glass of Sangre, and clap while you die.”
The words hung in the air.
Lemaire turned away and stared at the floor.
Beatrice nodded as if punctuating the last echo of her words. “I hope your legacy was worth it, Henri. I hope it was worth the trouble you have caused your daughter and my family, because after tonight, you’ll never see them again. I might not be able to keep you from Shiloh, but I can certainly do as much for Lila. If you do one thing, even one hint of a thing to put them in a position like this again, so help me, Henri, I will destroy you. First your career, then I’ll let my blood squad feast upon your body. You know I have the political capital to take down a prime minister, and you know I’m not bluffing. So you watch yourself, you insignificant little prick.”
Standing, she smoothed out her hair and silvercoat. “Elizabeth, enjoy your last night with your father. Say your goodbyes, and don’t you ever trouble him for another visit. It will only prove his downfall.”
“Beatrice. Please.” Lemaire followed her clacking boots to the apartment door and slipped his arms around her. “Don’t go like this, not tonight. I’m begging you.”
The chairwoman wrenched herself away. “Don’t touch me like that ever again.”
The apartment door slammed shut behind her.
Lila sat up on the couch, looking away from her view of the vestibule, looking away from her father, the once prime minister, as he leaned against the door to his suite, doubled over like he’d been punched in the gut.
“I’ve never heard her curse before,” she said when he finally returned.
“I’m not sure if I have, either. I didn’t set up any meeting between you, if that’s what you’re thinking. She stayed after the party and yelled at me for far longer than I thought.”
“It’s Beatrice Randolph. You should have known.”
“I probably should have. She doesn’t know about my retirement yet. No one does. Thanks for not saying anything.” He held out his hand and helped her from the couch, leading her into the dining room. It had been decorated in much the same way as his parlor, with roses and thorny stems carved into the table legs. The chairs had been padded with golden fabric, and silver platters sat before their places. “I held the dinner party a tad early this year. We had lunch instead. I apologize for not inviting you, but I knew you wouldn’t want to come, especially with what is going on between you and your mother and your sister.”
“You chose not to get involved for once.”
“I didn’t want to be trapped in a room full of screaming women. I thought I’d take you in stages.”
The pair sat down.
