Because We Belong (Because You Are Mine 3)

“Exhausted is one way to put it. Louis and Madeline always extract their pound of flesh. But how are you?” Elise asked pointedly, her brows bunching as she studied Francesca.

“Fine. I’m fine,” Francesca assured. “Just . . . very happy to see you. Both,” she added, looking up at Lucien. She looked down, faltering at the sight of their compassionate gazes. “I’m so sorry for . . . you know . . . avoiding your calls. It had nothing to do with you. It was wrong of me. I know that, now that I’ve seen you two again . . .”

“None of that, now,” Elise chastised softly, taking her hand, the naturalness and elegance of her gesture humbling Francesca further. “We’re friends. Lucien and I know how much pain you’ve been in.”

“Thank you,” Francesca said earnestly, hoping Elise understood the depth of meaning behind the two inadequate words. “Come inside and sit down. I’ll get us something to drink.”

A half hour later, the three of them sat together in a salon, Francesca in a winged-back chair and Lucien and Elise on a couch across from her, their hands lightly clasped together in a prizing, comfortable gesture. Their commitment to each another was almost tangible to observe. She was glad to see them both so happy, but still . . . her chest ached dully at their steadfast, touching exhibition of love.

After Lucien had finished talking, she set down the club soda with lime she’d been sipping and leaned back with a sigh.

“I see. I understand now what you meant yesterday by advising caution. If Noble should default on even the smallest thing in the contract with the acquisition loan company, Ian’s private shares could go into someone else’s control.” Her hands formed into fists as she thought about everything Lucien had just told her. “You’re right, Lucien,” she said after a pause. “Ian was assiduous about the idea of keeping one hundred percent of the shares in his company in private ownership. He wouldn’t like taking the risk, if it could be avoided.”

“Mind you, the chances of a default occurring are very small,” Lucien said fairly. “But as opposed to a bank loan, if there was even a slight default, the acquisition loan company could legally take shares of Noble Enterprises as alternative payment. It’s happened before . . . and sometimes in hostile takeovers. Not that I’m saying anyone has any underhanded or malicious intent in this situation—”

“No, of course not,” Francesca murmured. “As you said, the method is used regularly for quick cash. It might be a viable means to make the Tyake acquisition, if it weren’t for the fact that keeping Noble Enterprises exclusively private meant so much to Ian.”

“Other companies might be willing to take the risk. The potential consequences are negligible.”

“But not in the case of Noble Enterprises,” Francesca finished, meeting Lucien’s stare. “Not in Ian’s case.”

Lucien’s slight nod of his head told her she’d got it exactly correct, in his opinion.

“We should start looking for the money elsewhere then. No reason to keep putting it off,” she said, leaning forward, suddenly filled with a sense of purpose. “Will you come with me and talk to Gerard, James, and Anne? I’ll listen to their rebuttal, of course, but now that I understand your caution, I don’t think there’s much they can say that will change my mind. They probably won’t be pleased, after all the work Gerard has done on this. Anne and James dote on him almost as much as they do Ian. I get the impression he can do no wrong in their eyes.”

“Of course,” Lucien said, helping Elise to stand. “I wouldn’t let you face this alone.”

* * *

She’d been right. Gerard, James, and Anne were concerned about her expressed doubts in regard to the proposed plan and at first argued their points eloquently. But with Lucien’s support and Francesca’s own reports of past conversations she’d had with Ian about his desire to keep the company under his exclusive control at all costs, she eventually won their agreement. Even Gerard, who had put so much time and work into the proposal, eventually conceded that the decision was hers, and said that he’d follow and support her in whatever she chose. He methodically began to list alternative sources of capital and brainstorm with the rest of the board, his affability making her appreciate him even more.

“We have a lot of work ahead of us, and time is still of the essence,” Anne said during a lull in their deliberations. She looked at James worriedly. “And here we are, with Christmas soon upon as and the Anniversary Ball to follow.”

“Anniversary Ball?” Francesca asked, curious.

“Yes, it’ll be James’s and my fifty-fifth on Boxing Day.” Anne beamed first at Francesca and then at James, her radiant expression reminding Francesca of a much younger woman. “We’re having quite a do the night after Christmas. Belford Hall hasn’t seen a party this big in decades. We usually were in London during the Christmas season,” Anne added as an aside to Francesca, who understood her to mean they’d wanted to be close to their daughter, Helen, during the holiday.

“How wonderful. I hadn’t realized. Congratulations,” Francesca said.

Something seemed to occur to the older woman. “But you’ll come! Of course. I wanted you to come all along, aside from all this business, you and—” She trailed off, realizing what she’d been about to say. She gathered herself. “But now, it will be a total necessity for you to be there. The five us should be together while we go through the process of liquidating assets and building capital, Lucien included. It will do you good, Francesca, to get a change of scenery. Belford Hall is a sight to behold this time of year. We’ll spend a quiet Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, just family.” Her eyes suddenly widened as if she’d been jolted by electricity. “I have it! The perfect plan.”