"He thought nothing of killing me simply to protect himself and the few thousand pounds he had stolen from the company."
"There are men who will kill for a glass of whiskey."
But her husband was not one of them. He had made his own fortune and had never stooped to nefarious means to get it.
She kissed his flat male nipple and smiled when he shivered. "I think it's time for me to keep my second promise to my mother."
Drake's hand gently cupped her shoulder. "Do you want me to send word inviting Jared to join us here?"
She leaned back and looked into the rich depths of his eyes. "No. I want to go to Langley's town house."
"Are you sure?"
She nodded. "I'm sure."
Thea dressed in one of her new gowns for the confrontation with her father. Its deep blue muslin brought out the blue of her eyes and contrasted nicely with her dark hair. At least that's what Melly said. The high waist accentuated her womanly curves, and Drake's eyes darkened with appreciation when he saw her. "You look lovely, Thea."
"Thank you." He looked quite wonderful himself in his black evening clothes, and she told him so.
He helped her into her cloak and led her out to the carriage. The ride to the Langley town house was too short for her to brood much over the coming confrontation. It seemed as if one moment the carriage had started and the next they were stopped before her father's house.
The butler showed them into the drawing room without announcing them when she told him that Lady Upworth expected them. Drake put a protective arm around her waist as they entered the room, and she leaned into his body for comfort.
A woman of middle years, who had to be Jacqueline, sat on a chair by the fireplace, tatting lace.
The other occupants of the room sat around a small table playing cards. Lady Upworth faced the door, opposite a tall man with dark, almost black, hair. Jared. Irisa sat to her aunt's right, and Langley sat opposite his daughter.
Lady Upworth raised her gaze from her cards when they entered and gave them a warm smile of greeting. "Thea. Mr. Drake. How lovely that you decided to join us. Now we are truly en famille."
Langley's head shot up and his gaze locked on Thea and Drake. Irisa also set her cards down to peer at the new arrivals. Her smile was every bit as warm as their aunt's.
Langley's eyes widened with recognition and he turned to his aunt. "You did not tell me that you had invited Mr. and Mrs. Drake to join us."
Lady Upworth shrugged, apparently unconcerned by the censure in his voice. "I wasn't sure they would come. I did not wish to set your hopes up."
Not waiting for her nephew to reply, she turned her attention to Irisa and Jared. "Children, I would like you to meet your sister. Thea Drake, nee Selwyn."
Jacqueline's voice rose from her place by the fire. "Geoffrey, you mustn't allow this woman to make false claims. Have her thrown out at once," she exclaimed.
Thea wanted to throttle her aunt for her bluntness, and yet the truth was out now. She let her gaze shift to the woman who had taken her mother's place in Society. Thea felt a surge of pity for her. The future held unhappy revelations.
Langley shook his head at his wife. "We can't hide the truth any longer. My aunt is determined to expose all."
As her father's words registered, Thea realized that he had already revealed the truth to his wife. At least part of it.
Jared stood and turned around to face Thea. The scar that marked his face stood as a reminder of all the things they had missed in one another's lives. His eyes were filled with wariness. His gaze slid past her and met that of her husband.
She felt Drake stiffen beside her.
She wished she knew what Jared was thinking. She had been waiting for this moment for her entire life. Did he want to know her? Would he ever want to know her?
She lifted the books she held in her arms toward him. "These are our mother's journals. I promised her as she lay dying that I would bring them to you. She wanted you to know how much she loved you."
Jared made no move to take the leather volumes. "My mother died soon after my birth."
Thea's eyes filled with tears. "No. She didn't. Your father"—she looked at Langley knowing the accusation she felt was in her eyes—"our father took you from her and told her that she would never see you again. He didn't know about me, and she feared that once he did, he would steal me away, too. She fled with me to the West Indies, where she died."
Jared's eyes narrowed and he turned to Langley. "Is she speaking the truth?"