Their Stolen Bride (Bridgewater Ménage 7)

She put a hand to her chest. The layers of white ruffles were almost blinding in the sunshine.

“She wouldn’t tell me. But Millard’s house is easy to find. Just go to Granite Street. His is the biggest.”

MARY

“Hello, Father.”

My father looked up from his newspaper and his eyes widened in surprise. He wore his usual black suit, crisp and sharp at any time of day. His gray hair was neatly combed, his jowls still covered his shirt collar. Sitting as he was in his usual wingback chair, his rotund physique was even more noticeable. Perhaps it was my perception of him that changed, being with Sully and Parker, two well-muscled giants. “Mary.”

His tone was neither angry nor happy. He was neutral, as usual. I brought about no inspiration in the man, no happiness. In fact, the only time I’d seen him show true emotion toward me was anger when he’d discovered I’d married without his consent.

“Where is your husband? Don’t tell me he abandoned you.”

Oh. There was the Gregory Millard I knew. I stood before him just as I had all my life. First with a nanny, standing in my nightgown and robe bidding him goodnight. Then older, with my tutor reciting what I learned that day. I always stood feet together, back perfectly straight, chin up, hands clasped together in front of me.

It wasn’t comfortable. It was practically subservient, but it was familiar. If I was confronting him, I wanted to be at ease, at least as much as possible. That was why I chose this time of day. He always read the newspaper before dinner was served at five in the dining room. He did not have a meeting, did not entertain. This was his time to read the news. Nothing else. Except today, when I would confront him for the first time.

“You didn’t think he would have lingered longer than a week? I am a copper heiress, after all. If I remember correctly, you told me I was the richest woman in the entire Territory.”

“You would still be if I hadn’t struck you from my will.”

I shouldn’t have been surprised, but I was. Perhaps it was more by his haste as stripping me from his life than his ruthlessness. I’d always had hope that maybe he’d change his ways, turn into a kind and attentive father. Loving. That would never happen and I had to let go of that. I had Sully and Parker and they were enough. They gave me everything I needed and it was nothing money could buy. It was love.

“Then it’s a good thing that I’m not here for money.”

He folded his paper precisely and placed it in his lap. “Why are you here? You’ve made your bed.”

Yes, yes, I had. I thought of our bed at Bridgewater, Sully and Parker asleep on either side of me. I was naked and both of them had a hand on me, even in sleep. I was sheltered and protected, cherished… and yes, loved. I just hadn’t known what love was before I met them, before Miss Rose helped me see what it really was. With a father like the man before me, I’d never known.

“I’m here about Mr. Benson.”

“Oh?”

“You are aware of his reasons for ma

rrying me?”

“Of course.” He sighed. “Mary, I do run the largest copper mine in the world. Your assumptions belittle your intelligence, not mine.”

His insults were not very subtle, but I pushed through, for this was important to me. To Sully. To all three of us.

“Are you aware that the Beauty Belle mine is dry?”

He laughed and shook his head, admonishing me and shaming me at the same time. “Dry? Impossible.”

I would not be cowed. “Then why did Mr. Benson want to marry me?”

“We are merging the two mines’ businesses to reduce employees and to improve efficiencies. We do not need two medical stations or food depots if we are one organization.”

That was a sound business idea and I could offer no argument.

“Whose medical station would close?”

“His, for it is smaller.”

I nodded slowly, relaxed my hands. I was right. My father was smart, but Mr. Benson was more cunning. “And whose food depot will close?”

“His, for it is further from the train depot. It will cost less to deliver the goods to mine.”