Sommersgate House (Ghosts and Reincarnation #2)(51)

“I heard what your mother said,” Julia told him, summoning up all her courage to confront him. His head came up and he looked at her, his face betraying nothing.

“I know you did.”

“If you want me to go, I’ll go. I’ll be happy to go. I just want to take the kids with me. All you have to do is sign over custody –”

“No,” he said flatly and Julia tensed.

“Douglas, I know neither you nor your mother have any interest in the children and both my mother and I will be able to give them a happy, healthy upbringing in Indiana. We can somehow circumvent the will that says they have to be raised at Sommersgate.”

“I said, no.”

It was her turn to shake with fury.

“Why?” Julia asked on a cry. “Why when you obviously don’t care? When you’re more interested in games than your nieces and nephew? When your mother can’t stand the sight of me?”

“Because it’s what Tamsin wanted,” Douglas answered.

“Tamsin wouldn’t have wanted this!” Julia retorted angrily.

For some reason, he smiled. It wasn’t a grin but an all-out, white-flash of teeth against tanned, handsome face smile. Just as quickly as a snap, his fury was gone and he was smiling at her. It was unnerving and it only proved to heighten of her own temper.

“Do you want to tell me what’s going on?” she demanded hotly.

She thought he’d refuse but instead he said, “Yes, Julia, I’d very much like to tell you what’s going on.”

But then he said no more.

And she wasn’t sure she wanted to hear what he had to say at all.

She stared at him and he stared back.

“Well?” she snapped, sick to death of his staring contests and curious beyond what she knew was healthy.

“This is what’s going on,” he stated and started back across the room toward her.

When he was halfway to her, she put her hand up. “I… I’d like you to stay where you are,” she stammered and he slowed his determined gait but he did not stop.

“I told Monique that she could either live with you cordially or move out.”

This was so shocking, Julia gasped. He kept moving toward her but she no longer cared.

“You did?” she asked in disbelief.

He didn’t affirm but moved relentlessly forward and didn’t stop until her still raised arm with its upturned hand hit the hard wall of his chest.

“She won’t trouble you anymore and if she does, you’re to phone me immediately and I’ll deal with it.”

Julia swallowed and nodded, too afraid to say a word, his eyes were so dark indigo, they appeared black.

At that moment, she almost felt sorry for Monique.

Almost.

“I… uh, thank you,” she finally broke the silence.

“Don’t thank me, I’m not through yet.”

She nodded again, stupidly, the heat of his body seeping through her hand.

“As for Tamsin’s wishes, I intend to carry them out to the letter. There was a reason she wanted you here, you and your delectable body and your enticing perfume and your legs that go on forever.” She was stunned by his words and could barely process them before he went on. “My sister was a romantic and she cared for us both. She had very specific intentions for this little arrangement she created and I’ve no doubt she talked Gavin around to her way of thinking.”

He was exerting pressure on her hand and she was finding she needed more and more of her strength to keep him at arm’s length.

“What… what way of thinking was that?” Julia spluttered, thinking, from his words, that he’d gone mad, utterly and completely insane.

What he said next proved she was right.

“She wanted me to marry you and I’m going to do it.”

Julia’s entire body froze.

Then she shouted, “What?”

Her arm failed and Douglas took advantage. He moved the rest of the way and she retreated until she felt the heel of her foot hit the wall. She was caught and he moved close.

“It’s the perfect solution to this mess,” he informed her calmly. It registered that he’d referred to her as a “mess” and her eyes flashed but before she could say a word, he continued. “You’ll have the protection of my name and thus status over my mother, the children will have a stable family unit, you’ll have freedom to live and work in this country as long as you please and –”

“Why?” she cried, the word filled with anger and confusion.

“Why?” he asked calmly, as if he asked women he barely knew to marry him every day.

“Yes, why? I don’t love you, you don’t love me. What if you found someone else and you and I were married, what would you do then?”

“I wouldn’t. You wouldn’t. I’ll have my solicitors draw up a contract. We’d stay married while the children are underage. When Ruby is old enough to leave the house and doesn’t need our guardianship anymore, you can decide to move on if you wish. I’ll be certain throughout our marriage that you have a generous allowance and when, or if, you left, I would give you healthy settlement. So healthy, you wouldn’t need a pension. In the meantime, you can work, if you like, and –”

She could just move on?