Save The Date!: The Rebel and the Heiress / Not Just a Convenient Marriage / Crown Prince, Pregnant Bride. Kate HardyЧитать онлайн книгу.
It didn’t change several salient facts. ‘Do you think it’s either reasonable or responsible to order a party load of cupcakes if you can’t afford it?’
For a long moment she didn’t say anything. ‘I shudder to think how many bills my father didn’t pay.’
‘They weren’t your responsibility, Princess.’ And in the meantime people with the wherewithal to pay took advantage of her. He ground his teeth together.
She merely shrugged. ‘You want to know something funny?’
From the tone of her voice he suspected he wasn’t going to find whatever it was either amusing or humorous. ‘What’s that?’
‘Each of those people—’ she gestured to the computer ‘—with the outstanding debts; I thought they were my friends.’
It took an effort of will to keep his shoulders loose and relaxed. Two things were certain. Firstly, these people were not friends and secondly, she couldn’t afford to write those debts off.
‘What you need to do, Princess, is hire a money collector.’
She gazed at him blankly.
‘And, as you currently have me at your disposal...’
She stilled. For a glorious moment her eyes gleamed that extraordinary emerald-green that made him want to kiss her all over again. ‘Ooh, I couldn’t...’
‘You have no choice.’
He’d had experience of money collectors from the other side of the fence—they’d visited his mother and grandmother on a too regular basis. But it meant he knew the grim and forbidding demeanour, and he knew how to come across as threatening without actually threatening someone illegally. He’d threaten this lot with exposure in the local paper if they didn’t cough up.
She shifted from one foot to the other.
‘You worked hard for that money.’
‘I know, but...’
‘Nell, if you don’t have the stomach for this then maybe you need to rethink your plans for Whittaker House.’
She stiffened at that. Without another word she printed off those three bills and handed them to him. He glanced at them and nodded when he saw they contained all the information he needed—names, addresses and amounts outstanding.
‘Please don’t frighten them.’
‘Of course not.’ He crossed his fingers behind his back. After he was done they’d think twice before failing to pay a bill again.
‘I mean...this will be seriously humiliating for them.’
He’d make sure of it. These people hadn’t just humiliated Nell—they’d hurt her, had tried to bully her. They were supposed to be her friends, for goodness’ sake!
‘And just so you know...’ she moistened her lips ‘...the Fenimores have a Rottweiler.’
He tried not to focus on the shine of her lips. Or on the sweet curve of her lower lip and the way it seemed to swell under his gaze. He snapped away.
This attraction between him and Nell was crazy. It couldn’t go anywhere. Acting on it would be a stupid thing to do.
But glorious.
He ignored the insidious voice and tried to concentrate on the conversation. ‘Is he vicious?’
‘Not in the slightest. He’s a big softie. Call their bluff if they...’ She lifted a shoulder.
He almost laughed at that, but it wouldn’t have been a pretty laugh. He didn’t bother telling Nell that he didn’t respond well to threats. He’d deal with the Fenimores.
Before he left, however... ‘Nell, sit. We need to have a tough talk.’
She eyed him uncertainly, but did as he asked. He knew these bills were merely the tip of Nell’s financial troubles. He’d been working on that darn business plan of hers and there wasn’t a bank manager in Sydney who’d lend her a red cent unless she put Whittaker House up as collateral. He told her that now in plain unvarnished English.
‘But—’
‘I’m not telling you this because I want to make your life difficult, but you need to know the truth.’ The panic that raced through her eyes clutched at his heart. ‘Nell, I know you loved your grandmother.’
‘Yes, of course, but...’
But what did that have to do with anything? He could see the question in her eyes even if she didn’t ask it out loud. ‘How badly do you want to save Whittaker House? How badly do you want to turn it into a Victorian teahouse?’
She shot to her feet and clenched her hands so hard she shook. ‘It’s the most important thing in the world to me.’
Because she wanted to honour the memory of the only person who’d shown her unconditional love? Because she wanted to prove she wasn’t useless and that she could make a success of her life? Because she had nothing else in her life? Oh, Princess, you deserve so much more.
The last thought disturbed him. He shook it off. ‘You really want it more than anything?’
‘Yes.’ Her chin lifted.
Stop thinking about kissing her! ‘So you’re prepared to make sacrifices?’
‘Of course I am!’
His heart grew heavy in his chest. ‘You have a source of income that will get you started and keep you out of trouble for a long while. Nell, you need to sell your grandmother’s diamond ring.’ And probably the emerald as well.
The last of the colour leached from her face. She sat.
He found himself crouching in front of her and clasping her hands. ‘It’s not a betrayal of your grandmother.’
‘Then why does it feel that way?’
‘If she were here now, what would she tell you to do?’
‘I...’
‘Did she place more value on things rather than people?’
‘No! She...’ She gave a half-laugh full of love...and loss. ‘She’d just want me to be happy. If she’d ever had to choose between her diamond ring or this house she’d have sold the ring in an instant.’
He waited and eventually she lifted her chin and squeezed his hands. ‘You’re right. It’s time to be practical. My grandmother’s spirit doesn’t reside in a few pieces of jewellery.’
He stood and moved back. Holding Nell’s hand when she was upset was one thing. Holding it when she fired back to life was altogether different.
Different and compelling and bewitching.
‘Besides, those jewels would’ve been more trouble than they’re worth. I’d have had to be constantly looking over my shoulder waiting for my father to try and take them.’
Rick had grown up among people like that, but it made his gut clench that the Princess had experienced it too.
‘For heaven’s sake, look at me! Sitting around here comfort eating and feeling sorry for myself. How pathetic!’
She was a lot of things, but pathetic wasn’t one of them.
He shifted his weight. ‘If someone offered you a pot of gold to get you out of this fix...and it’d mean you’d get to keep your grandmother’s rings, would you accept it?’
She bit her lip and then shook her head. ‘No.’
He breathed easier.
‘I want to do this under my own steam.’
Good.
‘So while you go and play bailiff I’m