Risking It All: London Calling Book Three (18 page)

Snapping off the stem of a newly emerging flower, she heard her mother behind her.

“Natalie.” Rebecca Enfeld looked down, and Natalie could tell she saw the destruction of her plants and weeds alike. In spite of this—or perhaps because of it—her voice remained soft. “When did you arrive?”

Natalie sat back on her haunches and sighed. “Too early.” She looked around, seeing no weeds, but not as many plants either. “I destroyed your garden.”

Her mother laid a gentle hand on top of her head. “Come inside. I’ll make some tea.”

Natalie tried to blow the hair out of her eyes, but a few tendrils insisted on sticking to her forehead. She hopped to her feet. “Make it iced, and we have a deal.”
 

Her mother stopped, one hand on the door. “That’s new. You like iced tea now? Like an American?” She laughed until she noticed Natalie’s stricken face. Abruptly sober, she asked, “What is it, honey?”

Natalie looked down and scrubbed at the dirt sticking to her knees. Her chin wobbled uncontrollably, and giving up the fight, she raised her face to see her mother anxiously holding out her hand, obviously worried.

It reminded her of Dominic offering his hand even after she refused to take it.
 

Natalie burst into tears.
 

Bustling to her side, Rebecca draped an arm over Natalie’s shoulders to help lead her indoors. Tutting, she settled her daughter on the sitting room settee before sitting down next to her. As Natalie continued to cry, her mother held her, murmuring soothing words of nonsense.

Finally, Natalie straightened, wiping her nose and face with the tissue her mother provided.
 

To her credit, her mother asked nothing, content to wait for Natalie to speak when she was ready.
 

With one last shuddering breath, Natalie moved slightly enough for her mother to take the hint and release her. She so rarely cried. Sniffling a little, she stared at her dirty knees and said, “Thank you.”

 
A long-suffering sigh greeted her in return. “Natalie.” She paused until Natalie looked her in the eye. “You do not need to thank me for being your mother.”

“No, that’s not what I meant—”

Her mother held up her hand, stopping her. “It is exactly what you meant. This may not be the right time, or the best time.” Her mother handed Natalie another tissue from the box at her side. “But we are long overdue for an honest talk.”
 

This time it was Natalie heaving a sigh. “Mum, I don’t think—”

“No, Natalie Ann, that’s your problem. You’re smart as a whip, but sometimes you just don’t think.”

Speechless, Natalie opened her mouth, and then shut it again.
 

Seemingly content to have the floor, her mother spoke. “I can guess what’s wrong with you. A man.” Without waiting for confirmation, she went on, nodding. “I knew this day would come, but I hoped you would talk to me rather than shutting yourself off. Clearly, that was too much to ask, even though we were as close as could be while you were growing up.”

“I—”

“No, you’ve had years to speak up but never did. Now it’s my turn.” Obviously getting into the spirit, her mother shifted on the couch to better face her. She pointed a finger. “I am perfectly aware you looked your father up and went to see him. Sure you would bring it up when you were ready, I waited. And waited. But you never said a word, just walled yourself off instead.”

“I—”

“Natalie, you are nothing more than a coward. It pains me to say it, but it’s the truth.” Her mother didn’t look pained. Rather, she seemed eager to unload her grievances. “Unfortunately, you take after your father in this way.”

Outraged, Natalie snapped upright. “I do not—”

“Well, it certainly isn’t me. I am most assuredly
not
the coward in this family.”

“How can you say that?” Natalie cried.

“Because it’s true. You and your father hide from the world, from love, and from happiness as if it elevates you somehow. Makes you better than everyone else. But all it does is make you
cowards.
”

“I am not a coward! I am nothing like him. Or you, for that matter. And really, Mum, this is all really rich coming from you.” Natalie swallowed, wishing for the tea her mother promised earlier.
 

Her mother crossed her arms over her chest and leaned back against the couch. “Now we’re getting somewhere.”

Natalie failed to notice the satisfied gleam in her mother’s eyes or the way she suddenly allowed Natalie to speak. She slapped her palm down on the nubby upholstery between them. “You are the biggest coward alive! For years, you allowed my father to take advantage of you even though he gave nothing in return. He never committed to you, never really helped support his family. He never even
lived
with us.” She was on a roll, or she might have noticed the way her mother paled. “And you were pathetic. Cooing and simpering whenever he decided to pay a visit. He used you, mother. You were nothing more than a sexual outlet for him.”

Horrified at what she said, Natalie ground to a halt. Sucking in a deep breath, she smelled the slightly drooping roses from a vase sitting nearby. Lemon oil and beeswax hung in the air, remnants from her mother’s recent cleaning and polishing.
 

Rebecca still sat on the settee, but was no longer relaxed. Her face was leached of its color, and her hands lay twisted together on her lap, the knuckles showing white.
 

“Mum,” she croaked, “I’m sorr—”

“Don’t say it.”
 

“But—”

“No. You said what you thought, and I wanted to hear it. But let’s get a few things straight.” Her mother sounded different than usual. Strong and sure. “I have never allowed anyone to
use
me in my life. And your father didn’t
take advantage
of me.” Her mother’s eyes, blue like Natalie’s, pierced her like a knife. “I
loved
him. And unlike you, I have never been afraid to show my feelings. The fact that your father ultimately ran away from us never diminished me.” She stood, facing her daughter. Natalie felt herself shrinking into the settee. “And I will not allow
you
to diminish me with your foul accusations.”
 

She walked to the doorway of the sitting room. “I love you too, Natalie. Because of you, I could never regret anything I felt for your father. You were his gift to me, and you’ve been the joy and light of my life for all these years.”

Natalie couldn’t speak for the great lump in her throat, choking her silent.
 

“But I want you to leave now.”

Natalie’s head jerked up to see her mother gesturing to the entry hall.
 

“I’m disappointed and upset to realize you’ve become a mean person. There’s no excuse. It may not have been ideal, but you were raised with love and tolerance. If nothing else, you and I were a team.”
 

Natalie stumbled to her feet, reaching out. Her mother ignored her, turning her back.
 

Natalie walked out of the sitting room, numb with disgrace. As she reached the front door, her mother stopped her.

“Natalie?”
 

“Yes Mum?” Maybe she could fix this rift she’d torn between them.

“Don’t come back until you’ve grown up into the woman I know you can be.”

Choking back sobs, Natalie heard the door slam behind her as she ran down the path, back to her car. Firing the ignition, she drove like a fury down the lane. When open fields unfolded on either side, she pulled to the side of the road.
 

Laying her head on the wheel, she cried as if her heart would break.

CHAPTER NINE

S
EBASTIAN
KNEW
EXACTLY
who Madeleine Price was.
 

In addition to her face and body gracing every major magazine, she’d been a fixture on the runways of Milan and Paris. At one time, he nearly made contact to attend a show together.

But she disappeared from the fashion scene, suddenly and entirely. After a brief bout of disappointment, Sebastian chalked it up to fate. It was all too likely she fell victim to drugs, alcohol, or any of the countless vices he saw on display in Europe’s elite social circuit.

Yesterday, when he looked up to see her sitting alone at the restaurant, desire fought a brief but losing war to disappointment. She was still stunning, possibly even more gorgeous with the passing years. With the plump skin from childhood all but gone, her facial bone structure stood out, lending a haunting loveliness. The bright red hair had also matured. Brilliant like a sunset, the russet waves twined and curled down her back, long and lovely.
 

As a lover of beauty in all its forms, Sebastian consoled himself with the fact she glowed with good health. Whatever suddenly ended her skyrocketing career must surely be in the past. If only she hadn’t showed up in Jersey, he might have been interested in meeting her.

There was no way to know for certain, but Sebastian encountered far too many women for far too many years who set their sights on him as their next great opportunity. Filthy rich, single, and counting his years in the thirties, he recognized he was a good catch. His parents, healthy and happily matched, still served as the best example for what a good marriage offered.

Generational wealth combined with successful business expansion made Sebastian the target of financial predators his entire life. He absently rubbed his chest, remembering one particularly painful effort to make him into a meal ticket.
 

No matter. Whether Madeleine Price set her sights and followed him to Jersey or she was only there by coincidence, it was clear he caught her eye. She tried, not very adequately, to hide her interest in him at the restaurant.
 

He couldn’t have that. Not now, when things were at such a delicate point with the work he was doing alongside Angeline. A meeting had been set up here, and if luck held, they’d make their biggest breakthrough in years.
 

The people they were dealing with were easily spooked. Worse, they were dangerous. No matter what her intentions toward him, Ms. Price didn’t deserve to be mixed up in that kind of mess.

He stood up and stretched, bare chested and broad in the sunlight reflecting off his lap pool. Barefoot and wearing only a loose pair of cargo shorts, he popped the button and let them drop to the ground. Magnificently naked, he dove in the water and immediately set a brutal pace swimming the butterfly.

He could better think in open spaces, an old holdover from his childhood. London was a challenge he suffered, as it was ideal for meeting the right people and setting the stage for his important work.

Once he realized he could make a difference where it counted, he adopted what he liked to think of as his real occupation. Without exaggeration, he considered it the true purpose of his life, helping others as he’d been helped. His other business concerns became secondary, handed off and delegated to a team of talented professionals.
 

From Club Hobart, he made preliminary contacts and laid the groundwork. When the time was right, Angeline would take over the reins, working from his family estate in Jersey. As a tax haven between England and France, it was ideal for attracting the type of people they were looking for.

He continued to power through the clear water, but switched to a slower breaststroke as his thoughts drifted back to Madeleine.

He hadn’t liked seeing the fear in her eyes when he blocked her exit from the restaurant. He wasn’t a man that scared women, not ever. But seeing her famous face on Jersey, then realizing she was watching him, made him more forceful than he’d intended. If she continued to show up uninvited, she could well run into people she shouldn’t.
 

She could act as a catalyst, bringing the whole operation down on their heads. At best, Madeleine was a wild card, an unknown quantity with an undetermined ability to wreak havoc on their plans.

No, she had to go. But that didn’t mean she had to depart in fear. In fact, if it was money she was after, then he’d send her to a spa or somewhere nice. He’d get her off the island, but make it a treat.

He knew a great place in Central Europe.

He pulled himself out of the water and wrapped a terry cloth towel around his waist. Padding inside, he was heedless of the water dripping on the marble floors. His household staff would take care of it tomorrow before Angeline arrived to work. Today, he’d given everyone the day off.

He went upstairs to the spacious and minimally appointed master suite. Looking out the windows, he saw St. Aubin’s beach stretching out far below. Light aqua blended to darker blue waters as they met the horizon. A few fluffy clouds dotted a clear sky overhead.

Sitting on the edge of his bed, he reached for the landline phone on a nearby side table. Dialing one of his assistants, he arranged tickets for Madeleine to go to a high-end mineral spa situated in the Austrian Alps. A week ought to do. As an afterthought, he added, “Send them with flowers. Something nice.”