Yes.
But other than a long, expensive court case that he likely wouldn’t survive, he could think of no other way to recoup his investment.
If there was one thing he’d learned in life, it was not to rail against the impossible.
Solange’s, under Bev’s management, was hemorrhaging money at an alarming rate. Hugo was confident that he could not only halt the flow but reverse it.
He had made his deal, and now he wanted to celebrate his future with the only person he was interested in spending it with.
“Good evening, darling.”
Martha’s head jerked up and she immediately smiled, her blue eyes lighting up for him in a way that nobody else’s ever had. It was more intoxicating than a glass of the finest brandy.
“You’re home early.” She glanced out the window. “It’s still daylight.”
As he strode toward her, her eyes dropped to the huge box in his hands.
“From now on I’ll be able to adhere to a much more reasonable schedule, sweetheart.” He set the big pink box on her lap.
“What’s this?”
“It’s for you.”
“Oh, Hugo, you’ve already bought me too—”
“Shhh, I bought this for me. Open it,” he ordered.
Her fingers shook as she lifted the lid and pushed back the layers of tissue paper.
She gasped and looked up at him as she lifted the gown from the box. “It’s the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen. But—but wherever will I wear it?”
“You’ll wear it tonight when we go to the theater. But first, we shall go out to dinner, and I know just the place.”
Her gaze flickered from the yards and yards of pale-yellow silk in her hands to Hugo. “Really?”
He grinned at her enthusiasm. “Really.”
She frowned.
“What is it?”
“It’s just that I’d like Cailean to come—he’s never seen a play.”
“Of course he can come, darling.”
“But I’ve not seen him all day; he’s taken to drifting in right before dinner.
Hugo didn’t like the sound of that. “I’ll talk to him and mention he should be home at a more reasonable hour.” Just listen to him—he sounded like a pillock.
No, you sound like a father.
Hugo ignored the startling thought and said, “If he shows up in time, splendid. If not, then tonight will be just for the two of us.” He gave her a long, lingering kiss. “And this is only the first of many evenings, Martha. I shall be able to spend more time with you and Cailean.” He kissed her again. “Things are going to change from now on—for the better.”
◆◆◆
The days sped by with alarming speed and before Martha knew it, more than a month had slipped away and they were still living in Lady Selwood’s house.
Guilt ate at her. Other than the few hours she spent working on reading and writing with Cailean—he was turning out to be a veritable wizard at both—her only real duty was to find a house to lease, and she’d not done so.
Hugo worked all day, and even some evenings, so he’d entrusted her with finding their new accommodations.
But it was an enormous responsibility, and she didn’t want to choose unwisely and burden Hugo with a house he disliked, even though he claimed he would like whatever she chose.
But it was time—past time—to make a decision.
Martha looked up from her list of possible houses and glanced across at Hugo, who was reading the newspaper. It was just her and her husband in the breakfast room since Cailean had gone out at first light—as usual—although he’d been much better at coming home at a reasonable hour.
Husband. Even though they’d been married for almost six weeks the word still sounded exotic.
Her husband looked exotic, too.
Unlike all the businessmen she’d seen on her trips around the city, Hugo garbed himself almost entirely in black—black skin-tight pantaloons, black linen, and glossy black hessians that even had black tassels.
Martha had been startled the first time he’d come down to breakfast so uniquely accoutered. Surprisingly, she adored his somber wardrobe, which made his rather stark features look stern, dangerous, and mysterious.
Love, pride, and desire welled up in her as she stared across the table at him. Her love for him was so overpowering that she felt a sharp prickling behind her eyes.
Hugo looked up and smiled. “You are giving me a quizzical look … wife.” His eyelids lowered slightly at that last word, reminding her of how he’d looked last night in bed: wild and sensual as he’d managed to shock and please her.
Her cheeks heated. “I’m just thinking about what I have planned for the day,” she fibbed.
“And what is on your schedule?”
“Mr. Duncan will be here around one and he has two more houses for me to look at.”
“Ah, how is the search going?”
“I think I have it narrowed down to three houses, unless one of these today is better.” She wanted to pick a house that wasn’t just comfortable and convenient to the Exchange, but also close to a church where she felt at home. The closest church to Lady Selwood’s house felt more like Rotten Row than a religious sanctuary. Most of the congregants paid more attention to what their neighbor was wearing than what the vicar was saying. And the vicar and his wife had dressed as luxuriously as their wealthy parishioners.
She’d found the entire experience disheartening. Especially when she’d seen the effect of the scene on Hugo, who had come to church with her for the very first time just this past week.
Although he’d been visibly amused watching the crowd, she’d seen the cynicism in his dark gaze. Martha could only hope that he would trust her enough to attend another service at the tiny church she’d recently discovered.
“When shall we go look at them?” Hugo asked.
“Hmm?”
“The houses,” he gently reminded her.
“Oh, you will come look at them with me?”
“Of course, I will, sweetheart.”
“I can ask Mr. Duncan if he can arrange for us to go tomorrow, if that is suitable?”
He reached across the table and took
