Page 72 of The Lady and the Footballer
“Your work is fine,” Lord Harcourt said, leaning back in his chair, his arms crossed over his chest as he studied Colin. “My daughter says you are trustworthy.”
“I believe that to be the case, my lord.”
“And yet…”
Colin waited for him to say that he had discovered him with his daughter, that he knew they were sneaking around, that he would have no choice but to end all ties to him.
“What is this?” Lord Harcourt said, tossing a piece of paper across the table toward him, startling Colin. He and Lily had certainly never sent one another notes or anything that could link them to each other.
“I’m not sure,” Colin said, reaching out and taking it, his heart sinking as he read over the words.
Lose to the Old Estonians. Don’t make it obvious. Miss the goal. Make a bad pass. You will receive half for the attempt and half if you lose.
And on the top of the page was written one name.Thornton.
He lifted his gaze to a very disappointed Lord Harcourt.
Colin wasn’t certain if it was fury or distress that was overwhelming him in hot waves.
“I understand how damning this looks, but please understand, Lord Harcourt, this is the first time I have ever seen this note.”
“It was found in your bag,” Lord Harcourt said, tapping his fingers against the arms of his chair. “When I becameaware that there was at least one traitor in our midst, I hired an investigator. He searched through the belongings of all the players while you were practicing.”
“He can’t do that!” Colin said, outraged at the intrusion, but Lord Harcourt only lifted a brow.
“Are you so angered because you were caught?”
“I wasset up!” Colin countered. “By someone who obviously knew your plans?—”
“That’s not all,” Lord Harcourt said, lifting a handful of paper money bound together. “This is also yours, is it not?”
“I couldn’t say as money is money, but I do not recall ever having that much in my possession at one time,” Colin said truthfully.
“Well, it was found amongst your belongings as well,” Lord Harcourt said with a sigh. “It is all a shame, really. I was willing to overlook rumors because of your value to the team, but this is difficult to ignore. I had so hoped to win the Cup this year and thought you were the key.”
“Iamthe key,” Colin said, fixing his stare upon Lord Harcourt. One thing he could say for certain was that he believed in his abilities, and he hated that this might all be taken away from him because someone had gotten it in their mind to make him appear guilty. “You do realize that you are playing into the hands of those who want to see to your downfall? By blaming me, not only do they continue on with their plan of taking down our club, but you also will be rid of me, losing your top goal-scorer.”
Lord Harcourt sighed, and Colin did see true chagrin on his face – but he had a feeling that it was more to do with his loss of a chance at the Cup and less to do with feeling guilty for blaming Colin for something he had no hand in.
“I have no choice. My hands are tied,” he said. “I must ask you to part ways with the club and with the mill.”
“The mill?” Colin said, his mouth dropping open as he sat upright. “This has nothing to do with the mill. I am good at my job, Lord Harcourt.”
“You are. I will admit that,” Lord Harcourt said. “But how can I trust you with the mill's operations when I know you could easily be swayed to work against me?”
Colin dropped his head in his hands for a moment as everything unravelled around him, and this time, it was through no fault of his own. At least if he had been brought down because of his connection to Lily, it all would have been worth something. But this meant absolutely nothing, and even worse, was only leaving the club open to more attacks against it.
Unless this didn’t have anything to do with Lord Montgomery – perhaps Lord Harcourt was the very one behind it. If he did know about Colin and Lily, he would never admit it, for it would only cause the ruin of his own daughter. Was he using this as an excuse?
“I have one question,” he said, to which Lord Harcourt nodded. “How much of this has to do with a planted bribe, and how much is due to you not wanting me anywhere near your daughter?”
Lord Harcourt’s demeanor and face color shifted so suddenly that Colin immediately knew he had made a misstep, allowing his emotion to overwhelm his better judgment.
“Get out!” Lord Harcourt bellowed. “Get out of my office. Out of my mill. Away from my club. And above all else, stay away from my daughter!”
With a stiff spine, Colin stood. There was so much he wanted to say, so much that he would have gotten off his chest, words that he would have gladly thrown back at Lord Harcourt.
But he wouldn’t.
