The Luck of the Bride (The Cavensham Heiresses #3)(89)
He whipped out the withdrawal demands from the household account and his investments, then handed it to her. “Are those your signatures of my name?”
The color leeched from her face.
“It’s an easy question to answer. Did you sign these? Yes or no?” he clipped.
“Michael, you’re scaring me,” she whispered as she searched his face. She turned her attention to the documents and swallowed.
The slight movement in her long elegant neck told him everything.
She’d done it.
He failed to brace himself as a chain reaction exploded inside. His lungs quit working, and he couldn’t move—couldn’t process a thought. As if in a free fall when the ground finally greets you in one crashing blow, his heart shattered. For an eternity, he couldn’t catch his breath. Finally, his body protested, and he inhaled. The effort did little to suppress the need to pound his fist through the wall.
“These are my practice sheets, but I didn’t write the directives to have those funds withdrawn.” Her gaze captured his, and her eyes implored him to believe her lies. “I can explain. Rupert stole these sheets and the seal from my desk—”
“How convenient,” Michael whispered to her. In a louder voice, he announced to the others, “I’d appreciate the courtesy if you’d allow me a private conversation with Miss Lawson.” His eyes never left hers as his siblings and Somerton exited.
What a fool. He’d allowed a beautiful but beguiling wolf under the guise of a simple farmer to devour his heart and soul all the while pretending to guard the proverbial sheep. The startling truth almost knocked his knees out from underneath him.
He’d given her the pistol and the powder to blow his entire world asunder. One word from her about his failings, and he was ruined.
Chapter Twenty-One
March’s pulse pounded in a frantic rhythm as Michael’s whisper accosted her. When the door clicked, he pivoted and stalked to a small buffet table. He poured two fingers of brandy in a glass and downed it one swallow. As if an afterthought, he turned and lifted the glass in the air as if offering her one. She shook her head once. Without a word, he returned his attention to refilling his glass.
Wary, she never once took her gaze from his backside. This was a side of Michael she’d never seen—a man brimming with loathing and ready to explode in an anger she didn’t quite understand.
“What’s happened? Why are you so angry?” Her muffled voice sounded hollow to her ears. She hadn’t felt this terrified since her parents had died, and she alone had carried the responsibility for her siblings.
Gently, he placed his glass on the table and slowly turned to her. “I’ve been given information that leads me to believe that the woman I asked to share my life is stealing from me.” With his broad shoulders and dark visage, he slowly stalked toward her like a panther ready to annihilate her with a single bite.
“Wouldn’t you agree that makes an excellent reason to be angry?” His subdued voice held a wrath that was terrifying.
“Only if it were true,” she whispered. “What makes you think I’ve done that?”
“Your own words.” He stood before her and his blue eyes seemed to radiate fire.
“You didn’t let me finish,” she protested.
“How Lawson is the one behind all of this?” He took a step closer, and she took a step back in retreat. “Come now, I wasn’t born last night.”
“Today I was working at Lawson Court hoping it’d clear my mind. When I passed by Bennett’s desk, I realized I hadn’t given you back your seal. When I opened it, everything was gone.” She wouldn’t let him get a word in edgewise as she had to make him see reason. “Rupert was there and informed me someone from your solicitor’s office asked him to clean out the desk and bring it to him. That same person, a Mr. Jameson, told Rupert to go to Chelmsford and look at the marriage register.”
“Jameson informed me of those facts today.” He lifted one eyebrow and regarded her. “After our first meeting, you used my seal after I told you to bring it back to me.”
She started to pace in an effort to escape the cold desperation that had invaded her body. “I was desperate to keep Rupert from humiliating Faith with the foxtail. I just acted.” She forced herself to stop. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have done it, but I didn’t steal from you. Please, you have to believe me.”
“Why didn’t you bring the seal to me?” Like a vise, the slow cadence of his baritone voice wrapped itself around her heart and squeezed.
She drew a painful breath frantic for some relief from this paralyzing unease. “I didn’t think of the ramifications. I’m sorry.”
“March, every withdrawal instructed the funds be deposited into your new account at Fleming’s Bank.” He rubbed his hand down his face. “By coincidence, you find a culprit who’s stealing five thousand pounds from my accounts. Moreover, it just happened to be last night. Now, I have to ask—how did you know what accounts had errors? There’s no conceivable way you could have examined every account book at McCalpin Manor.”
“Fleming’s? I’ve never stepped foot in that establishment. I don’t bank anywhere else but at Emma’s.” Her pulse raced, and she grew lightheaded. “I told you last night. I’m quick with numbers.”