The British Billionaire Bachelor, Act Three (19 page)

Dropping down on the couch Lucinda crossed her arms and hugged herself. She knew when Joseph got back he would spank her for sure, but there was more on her mind than her pending punishment; the words in Belle’s diary were cutting into her heart like a serrated knife.

Mom is completely blind. Lucinda is a nightmare for everyone. Just because she was blessed with talent doesn’t mean she should be able to get away with all the crap she pulls. If there was a way to escape this hell I would. I can’t wait until we go to England. Maybe things will be different there.

Lucinda is worse than ever. Today she started throwing things again, and no-one will do anything to stop her. What a little bitch she’s turning out to be.

I pity any boy who goes out with that horrible sister of mine. He’ll live to regret it, that’s for sure.

I’m really glad to be in London. Lucinda’s so busy being a prima donna she’s hardly ever home. What a relief for the rest of us, though mom seems to have forgotten I even exist. It was my birthday today and no-one even noticed.

Sitting in the empty room, deeply hurt by the diary entries and embarrassed by the events of the afternoon, Lucinda felt the threat of tears, real tears, not the tears she could turn on and off at will, but tears born of pain and grief, of disbelief and humiliation, tears of a hurting heart, and dropping her head in her hands she began to sob.

In Simon’s study, a yellow pad was laid out on the desk and Simon had scribbled some notes. At the top was an address, 4220 Oak Tree Trail, a few lines underneath he’d scribbled the words, twelve million, below it, close deal by Friday, and at the very bottom, call Tyler, verify cash offer details.

“I think that should do it,” Simon declared.

Stepping behind the desk, Joseph pulled out his burner phone and snapped a picture.

“Got it,” he said confidently. “Do you want to do the recording thing now?”

“Yes,” Simon nodded, “but stand by the door so it’s low volume. Can’t be too clear.”

“Right,” Joseph agreed walking away. “Okay, I’m ready, switching it on now.”

“Yes, Tyler, that’s right,” Simon began. “Tomorrow afternoon. Twelve million, all cash, and we transfer ownership by Friday. Thanks, keep me posted. I must have this land, Tyler. You know I’ve been searching for two years, and if I have any hope of keeping this rollout on schedule we have to move fast. Thanks, bye for now.”

“Done,” Joseph smiled, clicking off the recorder.

Moving quickly back to the desk, Joseph pushed in the end of what appeared to be a ball point pen.

“It’s such a nifty device,” Joseph grinned.

“Absolutely perfect for this,” Simon agreed.

They listened to the short recording, and Simon nodded his head.

“That should do it,” he remarked.

“Do you really think Darren will part with that much money just from a photo of a piece of paper and a recording of a short conversation?” Joseph asked, skeptical it would be enough.

“That’s not what will have him jump through the hoops,” Simon explained. “It will be his greed, and his burning desire to screw me.”

“You’re right,” Joseph sighed. “He wants to believe it so he will.”

“Exactly,” Simon nodded. “Call him around 3 a.m. Wake him up and play the recording over the phone, but meet him back at The Black Kettle to show him the picture tomorrow. Let him write down whatever he wants then delete it immediately.”

“Delete it?”

“Absolutely. Tell him you can’t risk the leak being traced back to you when I lose the land.”

“Right,” Joseph nodded.

“After you speak to him, text me, let me know how it went. I don’t want to wake Belle with a conversation but I keep my phone on vibrate and it usually wakes me. Now then, we need a code…” he said pensively.

“A code?”

“Yes, a trouble code. If you sense something’s off when you’re with him tomorrow at the tearoom, text me 711 and I’ll send Ian to collect you.”

“An exit strategy,” Joseph smiled.

“Exactly. I’m probably being too cautious, but I’ve heard so many rumors about this guy and how he operates, I want you to have a Plan B in case you need it.”

“Always good to have a Plan B,” Joseph agreed.

“What about Lucinda?” Simon asked. “Where is she and what are we going to do about her? Belle warned that she was impossible and I thought she was exaggerating. I was wrong.”

“I’m so sorry she got away from my control,” Joseph apologized. “I really thought she was going to watch some TV and wait for me to get back.”

“It's not your fault,” Simon assured him. “As I said, I didn’t listen to Belle and I should have, besides, you can’t change twenty years of behavior with one spanking.”

“Two actually,” Joseph remarked.

“Really? Well, regardless, I think Lucinda is not just spoiled and self-involved, I think she’s complicated,” Simon said thoughtfully. “Of course she must be held responsible and experience the consequences, but it’s going to take some finesse. I can give you some suggestions, some things that might make an impression,” Simon offered.

“Please. Any advice would be most welcome,” Joseph gratefully replied.

“Have a seat,” Simon said, sitting down himself, “and I’ll tell you what I think you should do.”

Upstairs in her suite Belle and Theresa had moved through the rooms, and finding nothing out of place they were about to leave, but halfway to the door Belle paused.

“What is it?” Theresa asked.

“I just thought of something,” she replied. “Just give me a second.”

Hurrying back to her closet she moved to the island dresser and began checking her drawers. Everything seemed in order, and when she pulled out the third drawer, the one containing her treasured pink box and diaries, it appeared to have been untouched.

Carefully lifting the slightly battered box, she put it on top of the counter, lifted the lid and stared down; her heart sank. Lucinda had been there and had probably read every one of her journals.

Her sister had carefully put the books back in the order she’d found them, but following Amaranth’s invasion of her privacy, Belle had come up with a simple but effective way of knowing if anyone had been snooping. She’d placed two inches of transparent thread, virtually impossible to see, across the cover of the top book; if it was picked up the thread would fall off.

Searching the box thoroughly she discovered it hadn’t fallen inside, and dropping to her knees she searched the thick carpet, determined to find it. Theresa, waiting in the living room, walked back to find out what was keeping her, and just as she entered the closet Belle stood up, holding something between her thumb and forefinger.

“Found it!” Belle exclaimed. “That sister of mine. Wait until I get my hands on her!”

Carefully placing the thread back on top of the book, she put the box back in the drawer, and was heading out when she heard Simon’s voice.

“Belle?”

“In here,” she called.

“Hi, Theresa,” he smiled. “Thanks for calling Ellen. We’d still be searching.”

“You’re welcome, Mr. Sinclair, I just wish I’d thought of it sooner.”

“Would you excuse us please?” he requested.

“Of course. I’ll head back over to City View,” she replied, “with the black parka.”

“Who’d have thought that collecting a parka would create such drama,” Belle remarked. “I’ll talk to you tomorrow.”

As Theresa headed out Goldie turned to follow, then looking back at Belle trotted over to her.

“Simon, look, she chose to come to me,” she declared.

“You did just spend an hour riding in the car with her,” Simon grinned.

“I guess, but still,” Belle beamed.

“Do you want to go back to City View or stay here tonight?” he asked.

“Lord, I’m so tired,” she yawned, “and I haven’t told you the latest.”

“The latest? What?” he frowned.

“Lucinda went through my diaries, she’s probably read them all. I’m so angry.”

Simon stared at her, the simple joy bestowed by Goldie instantly wiped away as she’d relayed her sister’s nosiness and lack of respect.

“I’m sorry, Belle,” he sympathized. “I think it’s time we got you a lockable container for those books of yours.”

“That, Mr. Sinclair, is an excellent suggestion,” she agreed.

“Back to my question, do you want to stay here or go back to City View?”

“I don’t know,” she groaned. “I think if I see Lucinda I’ll lose it, but driving back to City View, I don’t want to do that either. What do you think?“

“I think we should make the effort and leave. You can take a long hot bath when we get there, and when you wake up in the morning you won’t have to worry about running into her. If it’s not raining you can take Goldie for a walk through the grounds.”

“Perfect. Does it work for you?”

“It does. Tomorrow and Tuesday will be all about Hardcastle, and that was one of the reasons I wanted to stay at City View. Which reminds me, I have to instruct Henry that my whereabouts be kept confidential.”

“City View it is,” she smiled, “now where did Theresa leave Goldie’s leash?”

Wandering out into the living room, they spied it sitting on the coffee table.

“I think we need to buy more leashes,” Simon remarked, a wry grin crossing his face. “I have two rambunctious ladies to keep in line now, and a leash must always be close at hand.”

“Speaking of which,” Belle sighed, picking it up and attaching it to Goldie’s collar, “what are we going to do about Lucinda? She had the house in an uproar, not to mention she had the nerve to ferret out my journals and read them.”

“I believe Joseph has that situation well in hand,” Simon replied, “but If you want to give her a good bollocking, I’d say you’d be well within your rights.”

“Not tonight, I’m too upset, but I’m glad Joseph is dealing with her. Let’s get out of here, I’ve had enough Lucinda for one day.”

“You and me both,” Simon nodded, “and yes, I’m glad he’s dealing with her as well.”

And he was.

Joseph had just returned to his suite, and to his surprise had found Lucinda crumpled on the couch crying piteously.

“What all this?” he asked, moving forward and sitting next to her.

“I’m a wretched person,” she sobbed, “absolutely wretched.”

“Lucinda,” he said tenderly, “you can certainly behave in a wretched way sometimes, but you’re not a wretched person.”

“Yes, I am, I…uh…I…”

“You what?” he frowned. “Did you do something else I don’t know about?”

“I found Belle’s dairies and I read them,” she blurted out, “and that’s how I know I’m wretched.”

“Because you snooped?”

“Well, yes, but mostly because of what I read about me. I read about what she thought of me, and what everyone else thinks of me. Everyone thinks I’m horrible,” she wailed, and dropping her face in her hands she broke into a fresh set of tears.

“This could be a very good thing, Lucinda,” he said reassuringly.

“How, how can it possibly be good? Belle probably hates me even more now.”

“No doubt she’s angry with you, of course, and she should be, but you’ve just had a glimpse of how you’ve been seen by others. Not many people get to experience that.”

“So what?” she blubbered.

“Stop crying for a minute and think about it,” he said firmly. “You don’t want to be seen the way Belle described you, right?”

“Right,” she sniffled.

“Then don’t be that way. It’s not rocket science, Lucinda. If you don’t behave like a brat you won’t be seen as one.”

Lifting her head she stared at him, her astonishing blue eyes reflecting a glimmer of understanding.

“You…you…mean, like, stop doing things like I did today?”

“That would be a start,” he replied slowly. “Don’t yell at people, don’t be so impatient and temperamental, treat people with respect. Be courteous, the way I know you can be.”

“Will you help me?” she asked softly. “I don’t know why I get so angry.”

“I’m not a psychiatrist, but yes, I think I can help you a bit,” he smiled.

“I’m really sorry about today, Joseph. I just got bored, and I was mad because you wouldn’t let me come with you.”

“About that,” he frowned.

“You’re going to spank me again, aren’t you?”

“Among other things.”

“What do you mean, other things?”

“For one thing, you’re grounded,” he said sternly.

“I can’t leave the house? For how long?”

“You can’t leave this suite until Wednesday morning,” he declared, locking her eyes.

“What? Why?” she protested.

“First, because the punishment must fit the crime, and your crime was what, Lucinda?”

“I guess, wandering around the vacant part of the house when Simon told me not to, and then breaking into his suite…” she admitted, her voice trailing off.

“Exactly, so, you’re going to be punished by being locked in here until Wednesday. Next, the situation with Darren is moving along quickly and we can’t risk you getting some crazy idea into your head and causing a disruption, so you’re grounded here until Wednesday.”

“Can’t we even go to the dining room for our meals?” she pleaded.

“Nope. You’re being punished Lucinda. Get it through your head. Punishment isn’t pleasant or comfortable, that’s the whole idea.”

“Okay,” she sighed. “I get it.”

“Tonight, tomorrow night and Tuesday night, I’ll spank you and put you to bed, like the naughty girl you are. You will not be sleeping with me.”

“Nooo, Joseph, please.”

“You don’t deserve to spend the night with me, so you won’t,” he said sternly. “I’ll miss you, but that’s the way it’s going to be.”

“This is awful,” she exclaimed.

“What you did is awful, and now you’re facing the consequences, and I’m not finished.”

“There’s more?” she asked, her eyes staring at him in disbelief.

“Tonight, after we’ve had dinner, and tomorrow night and Tuesday as well, you’re going to write a letter of apology to everyone you inconvenienced. Henry, Theresa, Simon, Ellen, Belle, and of course, me. Let’s see, that’s six people. You’ll do two each night. That’s it, any questions?”

“I think it’s a lot,” she pouted.