All That Glitters (Landry 3)

we loved and could have a full relationship with, the

other would not prevent it."

He nodded. "What a dreamer I was when I

made those vows with you on your grandmere Catherine's gallery. "Oh well," he continued with a wry smile, "I'll finally be able to do something that will make you truly happy." His eyes suddenly brightened with an additional thought. "Even more than you and Beau would expect." He paused, his face

tight with determination.

"What?" I asked, breathlessly.

"When you call Beau, tell him we'll bring

Gisselle here," he said.

"What?"

"He's right. What difference will anything make

to her now? You and I will go to the ranch after lunch

tomorrow. I have some important business to conduct.

We'll pretend we're going for a short holiday and then

I will return with Gisselle and give out the story that it

is you who have suffered the encephalitis. I'll fix a

comfortable place for her upstairs and we'll have

nurses around the clock. Since she has lapses of

memory and is confused and semiconscious most of

the time, it won't be difficult."

"You would do that for me?" I asked,

incredulous. He smiled. "I love you that much, Ruby.

Maybe now you'll really understand."

"But I can't do this to you, Paul. It would be too

hard and unfair."

"It's nothing. In this big house, I wouldn't even

notice the arrangements," he said.

"I don't mean only that. You have a life

to live,

too," I insisted.

"And I will. In my own way. Go on, call Beau." He had such a strange look in his eyes. I sensed