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“So he refused her.” He nodded.
“That day I went to Hervey Manor, I just...snapped. I was desperate.”
“You took the jewellery,” he said sympathetically. Though he believed theft was unequivocally wrong, he could see how torn up this woman was by her actions. And she was clearly not just a run-of-the-mill thief. What mother wouldn’t go to the ends of the earth for her child?
She nodded. “They were just sitting out on the hallway side table. I didn’t even think about it. Just slipped them into my pocket as I left. I couldn’t believe what I’d done. The next day, I wanted to return them. I called Cassandra, but she was adamant. The jewellery had already been noticed missing and Cassandra had taken the blame for it.”
He frowned. “You could have confessed.”
“I would have been thrown in prison, Cassandra said. There was Aria to consider.”
He nodded. “So you sold them, and your daughter is healed?” He asked softly.
“No!” She shook her head firmly. She got up and walked over to a canister labelled tea. She slipped her hand inside and fished out a black velvet bag. “In the end, I didn’t need to. The cardiologist called that same day and said there’d been a cancellation. Aria’s operation was here, as an NHS patient, and there were no out of pocket expenses.”
She handed the velvet bag to him. Inside were the ring and the earrings. Some serious bling for a woman living in a small townhouse on the outskirts of London.
“Before she left, Cassandra made me promise I would protect myself. That I wouldn’t ever tell a soul what would happen.” Katherine assumed a faraway look in her eyes. “Nanny Kline, she said to me. Even as an almost-adult, she called me that. Nanny Kline, you mean far more to me than stupid jewellery or anyone else on earth. I’ve already lost so much. I can’t lose you, too. Wherever I am, even if I’m far, far away, knowing that you are here, and that Aria is well, is all I need. Please, Nanny Kline. Promise me.” She sat back down weakly. “I promised her. And then that night, she ran away.”
His fingers wrapped tight around the table leg. If prizes were handed out for arseholes, then he was pretty sure he’d win first place. Cassandra Hervey was even more perfect than he could have believed, and yet he’d hurt her over and over again.
Benedict dipped his head forward, his shoulders were taught with tension.
Katherine began speaking again. “I didn’t know what had happened to her. I thought of her every day, wondering where she was. Hoping she was okay. And then, a couple of weeks ago, it hit the papers, that she’d been found. With you.” Katherine lifted her face to his. “Please, please tell me what to do. I can’t bear for anyone to believe she is guilty for a moment longer.”
Her anguish moved him. “My dear Nanny Kline,” he said kindly, “you do not need to worry for a moment longer. I am sure that Cassandra wishes you to keep this secret though, so please don’t share this information with anyone else who might ask questions.”
“I can’t believe she has protected me for so long.” Katherine said, shamefacedly.
“Can’t you?” He asked slowly.
“Well, I suppose I shouldn’t be surprised. She is the most loyal, loving person I’ve ever known. I guess you must agree with me.” A small smile shaped her face, transformed it into being almost pretty. “It’s serious between the two of you?”
He ran his hand across his stubbly chin. “I hope so.” He muttered. “If I haven’t ruined everything.”
He left the words hanging in the air and then shook himself. He was a man of action. He had what he needed. Now, it was time to plan his next move.
“Katherine,” he took the lady’s hands in his and squeezed them reassuringly. “Thank you for being so honest with me. I promise, this will be cleared up and forgotten. You needn’t worry about it for a moment longer.”
His heart was pounding with blood as he slid back into his car and turned it around, in the direction of the airport. “Marilyn,” He called his assistant from his mobile as he drove. “Don’t let them retire the jet. I need it refuelled and ready to take off within the hour.”
“But... Benedict...” And for once, Mrs Unflappable sounded severely flapped. Despite the stress that radiated throughout his body, he chuckled.
“Don’t worry, Marilyn. You are not required on the trip. Please stay here and oversee matters on this side of the world. I’ll be in touch within a week.”
He disconnected the call and concentrated only on getting to the airport. It was the first step in getting back to the woman he knew he wanted to spend the rest of his life with. If she’d still have him.
He gripped the steering wheel until his knuckles showed white.
Failure was not an option.
Never a man to doubt his chances of success, he was suddenly ripped apart by indecision.
That first night he’d met Cassandra, before he’d known who she was, he’d fallen in love with her. Why had he let himself forget the force of their connection? Why hadn’t he put more faith in his own instincts?
As much as he’d wanted to hate her for what she’d allegedly done to his cousin, he had never been able to. But he’d made himself seem so cold hearted that she probably thought he did.
He stifled a groan. Whereas his business life was an unqualified success, apparently, he was useless at the business of relationships. He ran through the airport, through customs and finally was back on the flight. Every moment he was away from her felt like torture.
