A Curse of the Heart

He pushed the thought far from his mind and focused on the anger he knew would resurface with his next comment. “Two men broke into Rebecca’s house last night and used a knife to slash the painting of her mother. Thankfully, she managed to escape before anything untoward happened.”

Wellford almost shot out of the chair. “What the hell,” he whispered, yet the words conveyed vehemence. “Was she hurt? Where is she now?”

She was at the museum, as he had been stupid enough to let her leave without him.

“She’s fine,” he said in an attempt to convince himself. “Naturally, she is upset but insisted on returning to the museum. My man Higson is with her for the time being.”

Wellford’s eyes widened. “She’s gone back to the museum? Heavens above, I have never known a woman so stubborn.”

“In that we are agreed,” he said, remembering how she refused to move from his front steps. Remembering how her tenacity made him hard with need. “Do you happen to know where your brothers were last night?”

“Alex and Freddie?” he replied in a tone of disbelief. “Surely you don’t think they had anything to do with it?”

“They have a motive,” Gabriel shrugged. “Who else would ignore valuable antiquities to destroy a painting?” Only someone out for vengeance, he added silently.

Wellford fell quiet for a moment. “Alexander is in Italy. He dreams of being a great painter and has been away for months. Freddie was probably so inebriated he slept in his clothes. I will speak with him this evening.”

“Rebecca will not take kindly to your involvement, so it is best if you refrain from charging over there making ridiculous demands.”

“Well, you can’t expect me just to sit back and do nothing.”

Gabriel winced, knowing Wellford would be furious with his next suggestion. “Then you are going to have to trust me because if I cannot persuade Rebecca to leave the museum, I will be forced to stay there with her.”

Wellford did shoot out of his seat. “Like hell you will.”

“Sit down. You’ll make yourself ill if you keep jumping up like that.”

Wellford flopped back down in the chair. “It occurs to me that this is all very convenient. Maybe you slashed the painting yourself, as a ploy to get close to her.”

Gabriel tried to suppress a look of guilt as he recalled how deliciously close they had been. “I shall pretend I didn’t hear that. Rebecca doesn’t trust anyone. My only concern is keeping her safe, her reputation unblemished. She lives in an Egyptian museum for heaven’s sake. A hundred people must pass through there every day. No one will notice me entering.”

Wellford stared at him, his gaze intrusive, assessing.

“It was my idea to seek you out,” Gabriel added. “I wanted to be honest with you, to ask for your support.”

A faint smile touched the corners of Wellford’s mouth. “What choice do I have? Rebecca will refuse to see me, and I cannot leave her alone. So I am forced to concede. I concede because I believe you’re in love with her. And because your involvement has dragged you out of your Egyptian tomb, out into the daylight. I am hoping your influence will encourage her to do the same. Perhaps you could take her to Vauxhall or riding in the park. My father trusted you, Stone, and so I am trusting you.”

The words cut deep as Gabriel had already abused his trust, already fallen foul to temptation, to the weaknesses of the flesh and so all he could manage in reply was, “Thank you.”

“However, I do ask one thing in return.” Wellford’s tone had grown more solemn now.

“I can hardly wait to hear it.”

“Should anything untoward happen. I want your assurance, as a gentleman, that you’ll marry her.”

All the air suddenly escaped from Gabriel’s lungs. “Marry her?” he repeated as the words family, home and marriage pecked away at him like the crow of death.

How could he make such an oath when he’d sworn he would never marry? How could he agree to marriage when he believed it to be an institution for deception?

He was overreacting. Nothing would go wrong. As a partner in the museum, his presence could be easily explained. “I give you my word. I will make her an offer, but I cannot guarantee Rebecca will agree.”

Wellford chucked. “I am astounded that a man of your intelligence cannot see what is right in front of his nose. I trust you to protect Rebecca and in the meantime, I will go in search of Freddie and will inform you should anything arise.”

Gabriel stood and offered a respectful bow.

“At least stay and finish your coffee.”

Gabriel shook his head. He would feel safer in a cage of starving lions. “If my uncle finds me here I will be bombarded with invitations for the next six months. He will hound me until I am forced to bury myself away in my tomb and scratch a curse on the door.”