Evening Star (Star Quartet 1)

“I will travel to Portsmouth to the shipyard and see to it personally.”

“You can leave tomorrow, Thomas.”

Drew Mortesson, Aurora’s secretary, stepped quietly into the massive office. He knew that Mrs. Van Cleve’s morning hadn’t been altogether pleasant, what with the Chartists making threats at shipyard owners, and her spoiled little twit of a daughter but adding to her problems. He smiled at the thought of Randall Bennett kicking up his heels in Drew’s outer office. With Mrs. Van Cleve’s mood, the man’s arrogance would soon be dashed. Drew waited patiently for Aurora to recognize his presence. She did quickly, smiling. “Ah, Drew, you have come to rescue me.”

“I think not, ma’am.”

“Mr. Bennett is here, I take it?”

Drew nodded. “I have kept him waiting fifteen minutes.”

Thomas Hardesty grinned. “A fine ploy, Aurora. He is likely gnawing at his fingernails by now. Let us just hope that you can send the blackguard about his business without much further ado.”

Her eyes flashed at the thought of the impending interview, and Thomas smiled, wishing he could be present. Randall Bennett was a fool to tangle with Aurora Van Cleve, and likely he would discover that fact just as many other men had over the years, much to their surprise and chagrin.

“If you will excuse me now, Thomas. Drew, do show Mr. Bennett in, poor fellow. How vexatious that he has had to wai

t.”

Aurora was seated in her high-backed leather chair when Drew ushered Randall Bennett into her office.

She nodded pleasantly. “Do come in, Mr. Bennett. I am terribly sorry that I have kept you waiting, but there was rather urgent business that required my attention.”

Randall bowed solemnly. “I quite understand the demands of business, Mrs. Van Cleve, and someday, soon perhaps, hope to help lift its heavy burden from your fragile shoulders.”

He has the bravado of a man who knows he has but to click his fingers, and all will fall into his lap, Aurora thought. He has spoken again to Giana, seduced her again with his damned charm.

“What a kind and noble thought, Mr. Bennett,” she said, her fury hidden. She rose slowly and walked around the huge oak desk. “No, stay seated, Mr. Bennett. You thought, perhaps, that I invited you here today to show you the domain that you hope will one day be yours.”

He smiled at her winsomely, but said nothing.

“Actually, Mr. Bennett, I asked you here to clarify what I believe to be a misunderstanding on your part. Look about you, sir, for this is the last time you will ever again be allowed into my office or onto Van Cleve property.”

“I hope that that will not be the case, Mrs. Van Cleve,” Randall said smoothly. He flicked a spot of lint from his black sleeve.

“You are very sure of yourself, Mr. Bennett. Unfortunately, your certainty derives, I imagine, from my daughter’s rapt vows of eternal love and devotion to you.”

“You have no other heirs, ma’am,” Randall said quietly. “Giana will marry me, despite anything you have said or will say to the contrary. Come, Mrs. Van Cleve, you have taken me in unworthy dislike. Can you not understand a young man who happens just once, when he is very young, to do something foolish? You must believe that I love your daughter and will do everything in my power to make her the happiest of women.”

“I have rewritten my will, Mr. Bennett.”

He raised a thick blond brow.

“If you manage to marry my daughter without my permission, you will not see a sou until Giana is thirty years old. Think about it, Mr. Bennett. You are already halfway down the River Tick, your creditors hounding your steps even now. Do you honestly believe that they will be content to wait for thirteen more years?”

“You would not let your daughter starve.”

“Indeed not,” Aurora said coolly. “I will provide her with gowns, two servants, and a pleasant place to live, but that is all. You, Mr. Bennett, will have nothing from me. I doubt that you could possibly keep your true face from Giana for very long. She will grow up, you know.”

“And your grandchildren, Mrs. Van Cleve? Will they also suffer from your ridiculous dislike of me? Your daughter is a very responsive girl, ma’am. I only hope that I can keep her from falling into my bed until we are safely wed. I would expect a son or daughter very shortly thereafter, I assure you.”

Aurora felt a flash of fury that he had the gall to flaunt Giana’s loose behavior in front of her, smirking all the while.

“You will have to find another chicken for the plucking, Mr. Bennett,” she said only.

Randall rose gracefully to his feet. “Dear lady, that is hardly a complimentary analogy. Believe me, ma’am, there is no other woman I want.”

She chanced to look him straight in the eye in an unguarded instant and recoiled from the cold ruthlessness she sensed in him. It occurred to her that such a man would not hesitate to remove anyone he thought in his way. She could not help herself, and took a step back. She said slowly, hating to so demean herself, “Mr. Bennett, I will give you ten thousand pounds to leave my daughter alone.”