Page 76 of My Highland Rogue
“There’s nothing he can do to me.”
“Do you really believe that he couldn’t hurt you if he wished? You aren’t the most important person in the world. Although you might be the most arrogant.”
“I think this is your doing, bitch. You’ve soured Lauren against me.”
“I haven’t done anything, Harrison. This is all your doing. Or did you think that no one would ever call you to account for your actions? Believe it or not, you’re not better than the rest of us. You’re a deluded, demented human being. One day soon everything you have will be taken away from you.”
“What are you talking about?
She only shook her head. She had no intention of telling him Gordon’s story. Let him hear it in a courtroom. Or however something like that would be resolved. Would the Queen need to be involved? Gordon would discover that.
As she stood there, staring at Harrison, she realized that only one good thing had come from Betty’s actions. Harrison was not her brother. She needn’t claim him as a relative.
Nor would she, after today.
Chapter Thirty
For Gordon, life in London was not appreciably better than anywhere else.
He’d been back in the city for a number of days, but he might as well have been at Adaire Hall. He couldn’t escape his thoughts. Nor was it possible for him to banish the memories that followed him wherever he went.
How did you kill love?
He didn’t have it in him to think of Jennifer as a sister. Not when he’d held her and kissed her and had thoughts that were a sight more carnal. He’d wanted her to be his wife, to share the rest of his future.
With his words, Sean had taken from him the only woman he’d ever loved.
How did he overcome that kind of loss?
The only way he knew how to handle the tumult of his thoughts was by keeping busy. He immersed himself in his businesses, purchased another building on the outskirts of London, and finalized the purchase of land over which he’d haggled for a few months. He met with a potential manager, solved countless complaints, and resolved two important employee issues all whilemanaging to hold off Maggie and her insatiable curiosity.
They’d already argued a few times about what she considered his stubborn refusal to tell her everything that had transpired in Scotland.
“I knew it was a mistake to let you go to Scotland alone.”
He stared at her. “What do you mean, let me go? Since when do I report to you, Maggie?”
“You evidently don’t have any sense when it comes to that woman, Gordon.”
His words were very calm and measured. “And what woman would that be?”
“You know who I’m talking about.”
“My correspondence is none of your concern, Maggie. I pay you to manage the Mayfair Club, which you do quite well. I don’t pay you to manage me.”
She wasn’t the least bit perturbed by his irritation.
“Something happened in Scotland. You’re not the same person. You’ve been short with everyone, Gordon.”
“I will attempt to have a more pleasant demeanor, for your sake, Maggie.”
She only narrowed her eyes at him.
He’d told her about Sean’s death when he returned. Consequently, she smothered him with compassion, making him feel a little guilty. She’d brought him a plate of scones, fetched him tea, and proceeded to cluck over him like a mother hen. He allowed that for a few days before deciding that it would just be easier to avoid her.
Unfortunately, that was proving more difficult every day.
One of the reasons he’d always valued Maggie was her unflagging loyalty. However, she also possessed a frankness that could occasionally be brutal. He wouldn’t list that among her assets.
