Page 49 of Fairy Tale Husband

Randolph didn’t need any further encouragement. Wrapping an arm around Evie, he fled theroom.

“Make sure he leaves without causing any more trouble,” Jake said to Peter. “I’ll talk to you in the morning.”

“No problem. Time I was getting home, anyway.”

Jake turned on Judge Graydon next. “Have you heard what you came for?” he demanded. “Because as far as I’m concerned, you can all go to hell. I’m not answering any more questions, and neither is my wife.”

“Easy, son,” the judge said, holding up his hands. “You and Wynne have satisfied the terms of the will. The property is legally yours.” His gray brows pulled together. “I hope for your sake, however, that Randolph is wrong.”

“Wrong about what?”

He nodded toward Wynne. “This wife of yours is good for you, Jake. You won’t find better. It’s none of my business, but I sincerely hope that this marriage is more than just a sham.”

The muscles in Jake’s jaw tightened. “You’re right. It’s none of your business. My grandfather had no call putting such an unreasonable condition in his will. You can safely assume that any loopholes I find are fair game.”

“He put that marital clause in there for your sake, my boy.”

“Bull! He did it to ensure the continuation of his line. He was obsessed with siring a dynasty.”

“Knowing Weston, that probably played a part in his decision,” Graydon conceded. “But that wasn’t the real purpose. There was another, more important reason.”

Jake’s expression turned derisive. “Yeah, right. Why don’t you tell me what his real reason was? It ought to be good for a laugh, if nothing else.”

Graydon sighed. “He wanted to give you the one thing you’ve never had.”

That gave him pause. “And what was that?”

“Sorry, Jake. I’m not going to make it easy for you.” The judge glanced at Wynne. “Besides, if you don’t figure out the answer soon, then Weston failed and it won’t matter anyway.”

“He wanted to give me a wife?” Jake demanded in frustration. It didn’t make sense. “Legitimate children? Icould have taken care of that myself. It wouldn’t have been difficult to arrange.”

“Oh, Jake,” Wynne whispered. “You don’t just buy those things.”

“No?” He gave a cynical laugh. “My grandfather spent a lifetime demonstrating just the opposite. He took great pleasure in proving you can buy anyone and everything.”

“No, not everything. And that’s what your grandfather finally did learn,” she responded quietly. Arguing with him would be fruitless, she realized then. Judging by the set of his jaw, she didn’t have a hope of altering his stance on the subject. She turned to the judge and offered her hand. “Thank you for coming. Iapologize that the evening got a little heated.”

“Only to be expected.” He gathered her hand in his. “It’s been a real pleasure meeting you, my dear. Ihope to see a lot more of you in future.”

“Time will tell,” she replied obliquely.

With that, the judge left. Jake shut the door behind him with pointed finality. “Quite some party you throw, Mrs. Hondo.”

“It was... interesting,” she agreed. “I suspect it will be the topic of discussion for a long time to come.”

“Around here that kind of discussion is called gossip. And I’m afraid you’re right. If we weren’t the talk of the town before, we will be now.” He thrust a hand through his hair and glanced at her speculatively. “Care for a drink? Idon’t know about you, but I could sure use one.”

“Sounds perfect.”

He led the way into a very masculine library. Steel-gray carpet covered the floor. At one end of the room was a sturdy rolltop desk and a massive captain’s chair, flanked on three sides by built-in bookcases. Opposite the desk, ahuge stone fireplace took up the whole of onewall.

“Do you use that often?” she asked, nodding toward the hearth.

“From Christmas on, Grandfather always kept it lit.” He handed her a snifter of brandy and swept aside the wire mesh screen protecting the grate. “Care for a fire tonight?” he asked, poking at the wood stacked inside. “It hasn’t gotten very cold out, but I’m in the mood for one anyway.”

“Sounds wonderful.” Crossing to the switch by the door, she flipped off the overhead light so the small blaze he’d started provided the sole illumination. “Better?”

“Yeah, much.” He settled on the carpet in front of the hearth and took a healthy swallow of brandy. “Jeez, I’m glad that damn dinner is over.”

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