Page 54 of Lady of Providence
If only her cousin would leave her be. Why he cared so strongly about seeing to her downfall, she had no idea. Was it the money? If so, perhaps she could pay him off. She knew, however, it was likely more than that. It was his pride, and jealousy that she had received what he somehow felt was rightfully his, despite the fact that her grandfather had never promised Henry a thing.
She closed her eyes as she tilted her head back to feel the sun upon her face, but started when she heard the door opening. She smiled as she opened her eyes, expecting to see her grandmother, but her countenance turned to one of great disappointment when she saw exactly who it was.
"Henry," she said warily. "Have we not already traded enough barbs today? I would ask that you give me an afternoon of peace and then we can resume them another day."
"Oh, Elizabeth," he said with feigned affection. "I certainly do not wish to fight with you. I am only trying to help."
"If that is the case, then I kindly ask that you bestow your assistance upon someone else," she said. "I have no need of it."
"You require far more help than you realize," he said, coming to sit on the bench beside her, leaning back against the arm of it, making himself comfortable. "It is a cruel world out there, Elizabeth, particularly for a woman such as yourself."
"What is that supposed to mean?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.
"A woman in a man's world, of course," he said. "One who is subject to questioning and disagreements. It is only fortunate that I have been able to avail myself of a partnership so that I am able to look out for you."
"You stole your partnership, and are only trying to bring about my downfall," she said, no longer veiling her words, for Henry would likely miss any subtle hints. She had to be straightforward with him. "What is it you want, Henry?" she asked, exasperated now. "Do you want money? Do you want a silent partnership? What will it take to convince you to leave me be?"
"Elizabeth, I am hurt," he said, bringing a hand to his chest. "You are my family, and I want nothing but the best for you. In fact, I am here to protect you from others."
"There is no one else who so greatly wishes to bring about my downfall but you, Henry," she said, rolling her eyes. How naive did he think her to be?
"Do you truly think that?" he asked. "There are snakes in the grass, Elizabeth. Ones you cannot see."
“None as venomous as you, Henry.”
"Oh no? Well, you think thatIhave gone to great lengths in order to be close to you? Not nearly as great as another, I tell you."
"And you would know this, how?"
Elizabeth didn't want to listen to him speak anymore, for she knew that nearly all of his words were fabricated in order to cause her to question all that she knew to be right and true. Yet as he was sitting right next to her, she could hardly completely ignore him, as much as she wanted to.
"I have my ways."
"Mmm hmmm."
"It is true. Do you ever wonder how I know your every forthcoming action, and the inner workings of the bank? It is because I am friends with someone who knows you well, Elizabeth, who provides me the information I seek, who is looking forward to you eventually stepping away from the bank even more than I am."
"There is no one close to me who would do such a thing," she said, though her mind began to race, as much as she attempted to prevent it from doing so. Was there any truth to what her blasted cousin said?
"Oh no?" he asked, his smile smug. "Is there anyone in your life, Elizabeth, who has become particularly close to you since good old Grandfather named you his heir, since you decided to take an active role in Clarke & Co.? Anyone who would particularly benefit from your newfound wealth, but not so much your newfound position? Anyone who is smart enough to know and understand just how to convince you to leave the bank by your own decision?"
There could only be one person to whom Henry was referring, but Elizabeth knew that Gabriel would never do such a thing. He couldn’t. Not only that, but he had just spent their entire time within her office encouraging her to continue in her role, to be strong and uphold what she knew to be true.
"Stop, Henry," she said. "You are making a fool of yourself. There is no one who would do such a thing but you."
"Not even your duke? Tell me, Elizabeth, why Clarence's sudden attraction to you, when he left you years ago, yet has remained within the same social circles since that time? What would so greatly interest him after so long?”
"Our paths crossed again," she said simply, folding her hands in her lap, refusing to allow him to see the effect his words were having upon her.
"Theyconvenientlycrossed," he continued. "At the bank. Where, suddenly, the Duke has taken an interest once more."
“Not only are you incorrect as to where we initially reacquainted ourselves with one another, but he had been a partner in the bank for years, since receiving the partnership from Grandpapa."
"Yes, but only recently has he taken an active role," Henry continued. "How do you explain his sudden interest in you?"
"His interest is not sudden," Elizabeth said calmly. "He asked for my hand in marriage years ago, long before there was ever a chance or a thought of me inheriting a fortune or becoming a partner in the bank myself, let alone the senior partner."
"He left you years ago."
