Scandal and the Runaway Bride (Heirs to an Empire 1)

“It wouldn’t be right to trounce the earl.”

“No, it damned well wouldn’t.”

They played for a while. Gabi held her own, but Will was more strategic and she was losing ground when Arabella entered, still dressed in her casual pants and the soft green sweater that skimmed her arms to the wrist. “I brought a good, full cabernet from the cellar,” she said, holding a bottle aloft. “Anyone interested?”

“I will, because your brother is about to beat me soundly. Now we can call it a draw.”

“Not if you concede.”

“Hah,” she answered, but grinned at him.

Bella went to a side table and uncorked the wine, then decanted it. “You really do care about each other, don’t you?”

“What makes you say that?” Will moved to get three glasses.

“How you talk to each other. How you look at each other. It’s the real deal.”

Gabi put her hand on Bella’s arm. “That’s the nicest thing you possibly might have said, and I appreciate it.”

“Oh, you still have some explaining to do.” Bella started to pour wine in the glasses. “But at least I believe that you care for each other. Either that or you’re a hell of an actress, Gabi. I mean, we all thought you loved Stephen.” She looked Gabi over with an eagle eye. “But you look at Will differently.”

The three of them settled down together. Gabi took a sip—it was truly excellent—and then took a breath. “Will, I think I should be the one to tell her the truth. After all, I’m the one who ran. I’m the one no one trusts.”

“If you’re sure.”

Gabi looked at Bella. “You’ve been fair so far. If I have to do this again tomorrow, I’d like to at least make a first run at it with someone who is open to listening.”

Bella lifted her glass in a small toast. “Go on, then.”

Gabi took a drink of wine and then laid out the entire timeline, right up until the morning of the wedding. As she got to the part about Will showing up at the hotel, he interrupted. “I told her that her timing left a lot to be desired, but not the decision. It was a crazy plan and I never liked it.”

“You knew?” Bella’s lips dropped open.

“I knew. About Bridget, about his plans for Gabi.” He leaned forward. “Why else do you think I was the one to go clean up the mess?”

Bella sat back on the sofa and sighed. She met Gabi’s gaze. “So you’re double damned. If the family doesn’t know the truth, you’ve jilted Stephen at the altar. If they do, then you were marrying him for the money. You don’t come out looking good, no matter what.”

“Just so.” This time Gabi lifted her glass in a mock salute.

“Except you don’t have Stephen or the money,” Bella pointed out.

“No, but I’ve moved on to his brother. Charlotte pointed that out.”

Bella nodded. “Except this time it’s real.”

Gabi turned her head and looked at Will. He was watching her with such adoration she melted. “Oh, yes,” she agreed. “It’s so very real.”

Bella got up and grabbed the wine bottle, then topped up the glasses. “Will, you are the most honorable man I know. I believe you,” she said firmly. “But, so help me God, if I’m wrong, I’m going to strangle you both. And then throw you to Maman.”

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

THE BIRTHDAY PARTY of Aurora Germain Pemberton was small but a sparkling affair. She would never have it any other way, and William gave one final tug on his bow tie before turning to look at Gabi, who was nervously twisting her fingers as she waited for him.

William wanted to tell her to relax, but he knew it was an impossible request. Tonight she truly was walking into the lion’s den, as Bella had put it. The entire family was here: Aurora, of course, and Bella, Stephen, Christophe and his current girlfriend, Lizzy, Charlotte and of course Will and Gabi. Will hoped that the presence of Lizzy meant everyone would be on their best behavior, but there was no guarantee of that.

Gabi looked stunning, though. The little black dress skimmed her curves beautifully, and her black heels were simple but he recognized the quality. He’d come to notice something about Gabi. She did not have an endless wardrobe but what she chose was high quality and classic. Since those were the basic principles behind his mother’s fashion dynasty, there was nothing to fault in her appearance.

“You are so beautiful,” he murmured, holding out his hand. “I’m the luckiest man in England.”