Surrender of Trust (First Volume of the Surrender Series) (21 page)

Lucy’s primary goal remained the same. How
was she going to rectify this situation? Unfortunately, Lucy was no
closer to solving their dilemma than when she first confronted this
mess. They still needed money. Her plan to race in the Oaks had
been destroyed. Monique's brother had rebuffed her request for a
loan. How was she going to manage it? The question circulated
endlessly through Lucy's mind.

Lucy glanced at Monique, who continued
perusing her wardrobe. Monique's comments washed across Lucy like
waves tumbling across the shoreline. Lucy made the appropriate
perfunctory replies when expected and otherwise remained quiet with
her own thoughts.

"I still can't believe you asked my brother
for money. What was going through your mind?"

"I didn't think it through. I'm sorry. I
should have known he would never speak to me about monetary
matters. I'm just feeling a little desperate."

"It's a loan, Lucy. I keep telling you, Most
people buy things and conduct business on credit. I really think
you're putting far too much into this. I'm sure there's a perfectly
good reason for this loan. Now that Lucien is getting better, he'll
have it well in hand. We've spoken about this before."

Monique remained unaware of the threat of
blackmail and was therefore unable to understand Lucy's angst over
what she thought was simply a large debt. Lucy envied her friend's
blissful ignorance. Monique's primary concern at the moment was
wondering who would be in attendance for dinner this evening and
what she should wear. Lucy lay across her friend's bed and watched
idly while her friend tried on one gown and then another.

"Why didn't you tell me what you were going
to do?"

"I really hadn't decided to do ask him until
shortly before I joined you in the salon. Besides, I didn't think
your brother would appreciate my involving you. I’m sure it was
pretty obvious to him you were completely unaware of my intentions,
so at least he’s not annoyed with you."

Lucy sat up in the bed. "You should have seen
your face!" Lucy made an exaggerated look of surprise, mocking
Monique, and started giggling.

Monique glared at Lucy with an annoyed
expression. She couldn't remain vexed for long and joined in with
Lucy's laughter. "Did I really look that daft?"

"I'm not saying anything further."

"You don't have to. Your face just said it
all," Monique said ruefully.

"Oh, Monique. You just looked surprised. It
really was kind of funny, especially since you're always so
beautiful and perfect. You make me feel so clumsy sometimes."

"Now you’re the one being funny." Monique
went back to trying on gowns.

Goodness! The woman had a wardrobe.
Lucy rolled over onto her back on the thick mattress and slid back
into her reverie. She had exhausted her options. Maybe she should
pay Perdan another visit. Lucy’s stomach churned at the thought of
him. Maybe it was time to try and save Lucien and their family
name.

Lucy had only exacerbated their problems. Now
she might really be forced to consider the unthinkable. After all,
she could no longer lay claim to being a virgin.

Chalifour squinted against the morning sun
streaming through the window of the bedchamber. The time was far
later than he usually rose each day. A little too much brandy the
evening before had left his brain addled and his eyes scratchy.
Images of Lucy strayed into his mind, like those that had haunted
him the night before. Chalifour shook his head back and forth to
clear it. Now he would get the full measure of Lucy's deceit.

It was going to be a long ride to the Goodwin
residence today. Before he left, he'd better get breakfast.
Chalifour ambled into the dining room and found his sister munching
intently on a strip of bacon. Elizabeth looked up when he
entered.

Elizabeth shoved the remnant of the bacon
strip into her mouth and daintily licked her fingers, "A bit late
for you, isn't it?"

Chalifour shot Elizabeth a baleful look
before sitting. "And you would be concerned for what reason?"

"I would hate for something to happen to you,
particularly before you've paid for my new gowns."A wicked smile
curved Elizabeth's lips.

"I'm touched by your concern for me,"
Chalifour said dryly. He took a large swallow of coffee.
Oh, but
that was good going down
. They finished breakfast in an
amicable silence. Chalifour raised his eyes to glance at his sister
and broke the silence. "Tell me, Elizabeth. What do you think of
Lucy Goodwin?"

Elizabeth looked startled."Why do you
ask?"

"I have my reasons."

Elizabeth lifted her eyebrows questioningly
at him. Chalifour remained silent and she finally answered, "I'm
not sure I know her well enough to answer. What exactly so you want
to know. Are you asking if she's pretty, cordial, smart? What do
you want to know?"

"Elizabeth, you're very good at discerning
things about people. Your perceptions are generally quite accurate.
So I'm asking you, what do you think of Miss Goodwin's character?
Would you trust her?"

Elizabeth looked nonplused by the questions.
She stared off into space for a moment, then back at him. "Yes, I
think I would trust her."

"Do you get the feeling there is any great
character defect in her? Or she is of questionable morality? Is she
trustworthy?"

"As I said, I don't really know her well
enough to answer these questions. However, my instincts tell me she
is honorable and trustworthy."

"Thank you, that's what I needed to know."
Chalifour rose from the table. Walking past his sister, Chalifour
leaned over to kiss her forehead.

Chalifour's introspection preoccupied him for
the better part of the ride to the Goodwin residence and the trip
seemed faster than Chalifour would have imagined. Arriving at the
residence, Chalifour sat in the coach, delaying. He almost dreaded
what Lucien might tell him, but he wanted to know the truth.
Chalifour's thoughts couldn't escape this woman. He kept
remembering Lucy's head resting on his chest, her incredible mouth
curled in a sleepy smile. Chalifour needed to know where things
really stood.

After being admitted into the Goodwin house,
Chalifour was ushered into the salon. Occupying the same chair as
on his previous visit, Chalifour continued to ponder how best to
approach the subject with Lucien. Chalifour had played and replayed
this meeting in his mind during the trip here.

A servant who identified himself as Alistair
came to escort him upstairs. Entering Lucien's bedroom, Chalifour
noticed the windows had been opened wide to accept the cool spring
breezes. His gaze moved to the bed and Lucien. Chalifour stiffened
and froze in the doorway, speechless.

Although Chalifour was now aware Lucien and
Lucy were twins, he was completely unprepared for the likeness. The
similarity between the two was hard to reconcile in his mind. He
could have been looking at Lucy, except for the shorter hair and
some indefinable masculine quality in Lucien's face.

"Lord Chalifour! My word! I had begun to
despair we would ever meet! I appreciate your journeying here to
see me. As I recall, we were to have met several weeks ago, before
my accident."

Chalifour shook himself. "Yes, that's right.
We were. I apologize. I tried to visit you earlier, but you weren't
receiving visitors, understandably. However I must say, you look
like you're recovering nicely."

"I'm on the mend, all right," Lucien said
with a cocky grin.

Lucien's smile was infectious and Chalifour
found himself smiling too. In the few minutes he had known Lucien
in person, he was enjoying the man's company.

"Well, I suppose we need to get down to
business about the contract. There is one concession I must have
this year. I need the rights to sell our spring foals," Lucien
said.

Chalifour's stomach dropped and ice crept up
his spine. That was it, then. Lucien didn't know about the
contract, which meant the unthinkable. Chalifour could hope Lucien
had signed the document while delirious, but he was grasping at
straws. Chalifour stood on the precipice.

He could probably convince Lucien he had
signed the contract while stupefied and under the influence of
laudanum. However, if that wasn't true, Chalifour would then be
guilty of collaboration in the crime too. That was something he
would not do, even for this woman that he ....
What exactly did
he feel about Lucy?
He pulled himself away from his thoughts
and looked at Lucien.

Lucien's cool green eyes appraised him,
waiting for a response. Chalifour couldn't very well hide the fact
he possessed a contract purportedly signed by Lucien. His horses
were in the process of being transported here. In essence, they had
already begun operations together and the only person who didn't
seem to know was Lucien. Chalifour returned Lucien's stare.

Though he was still disoriented looking at
Lucy's twin, Chalifour needed to get this over with. He breathed
deeply and exhaled before speaking. "Mr. Goodwin, I must profess
some confusion. I already have a signed contract."

"Come again?" Lucien's face registered
puzzlement.

Chalifour reached into his coat and withdrew
the document, passing it silently to Lucien's outstretched hand.
Lucien unfolded the papers with care and his eyes scanned the
pages. Lucien remained mute, his eyes never displaying the inner
turmoil he must be feeling. If Lucien could maintain such tight
control over his emotions and facial expression, Chalifour best
remember not to play cards against him. Lucien folded the pages and
handed the document back to him, all the while saying nothing.

Chalifour had to offer Lucien a graceful way
out of this mess. "I can't hold you to this. It's obvious you don't
even remember signing this contract."

"That's because I didn't," Lucien said
defiantly.

It was Chalifour's turn to stare appraisingly
at Lucien. After a moment's pause, he said quietly, "Your sister
brought it to me."

Shock and disbelief flooded Lucien's
face.

Judging by Lucien's face, it would have been
kinder if he had simply fired a cannon fusillade at the man.
"Lucien, if I may call you that, we obviously need to speak
candidly."

Lucien looked up at him, a blank expression
on his face. Lucien could have been fresh from the battlefield with
his shell shocked appearance. "I am reasonably sure Miss Goodwin
forged the contract. The question is why. Do you have any
idea?"

Lucien's head shook slowly from side to side.
Lucien's voice clouded. "There's something else."

"What?"

Lucien hesitated. "I'm not sure why, but I
seem to be missing some cheque paper."

"What do you mean you're missing cheque
paper?"

"I have one unaccounted for. I don't know
where it is or what happened to it."

First the forged contract and now the missing
cheque paper. Blind fury rose within Chalifour. His mind exploded
and his vision blurred. Chalifour's lips tightened and his fists
clenched involuntarily. He stifled the urge to pummel the wall. Was
Lucy in some scheme to defraud both him and Lucien? What had she
hoped to gain by forging their agreement? What happened to the
cheque? Had Lucy forged that as well? Had she stolen money from her
own brother?

Was Perdan involved? Chalifour wouldn't put
anything past that man. Was Lucy involved in this blackmail scheme
with Perdan to ruin her brother? Chalifour was aware of at least
twice Lucy and Perdan had met. Were they lovers? A spear of
jealousy pierced him.

Chalifour gripped his hands behind his back
and paced the room. He wanted to strike something, anything.
Lucien’s green eyes, disconcertingly similar to Lucy’s, followed
him across the room. Chalifour didn't know what game Lucy was
playing at, but he would not be derailed from attaining his goal.
He would not allow Lucien to be ruined for some undeserved scandal.
He and Lucien were going to breed winning thoroughbreds.

"Chalifour, what are you thinking on?" Lucien
asked after the silence had lengthened.

"I think your sister is playing at something
with Lord Perdan. I just don't know what."

Lucien looked surprised. "Why would you think
that?"

Chalifour stopped his pacing and stared at
Lucien. "It's obvious. She's forged our contract. You have cheque
paper missing. And I've caught her meeting with Lord Perdan several
times. Perdan's morals are about as pure as an alley cat in heat
and your sister’s behavior is not that of an upstanding and
forthright woman."

"No. No, that can't be right. Lucy would
never do anything to hurt me. She wouldn't."

"Why? Because you're twins?"

"Yes, and I know she loves me. I'm sure
there's got to be an explanation for this."

"Are you aware she tried to impersonate you
and race in your stead in the Oaks a few days ago?"

"What!" Lucien fairly shouted before his
shoulders sagged and he looked down at his hands. "I don't
understand any of this." Lucien's eyes raised to meet his with an
uncomprehending gaze.

"It appears your sister has been trying to
raise money by any means available. Are you in desperate financial
straits?"

"No. Maybe."

"I'm afraid you'll need to explain
yourself."

"Lord Chalifour ... "

Chalifour interrupted. "You may refer to me
as a familiar. Call me Chalifour. I believe we will have a close
relationship in the future, but we've gotten off to a rocky start.
Let's try to mend that."

Lucien gave a brief nod and continued,
"Chalifour, I'm not sure how to even tell you this, particularly in
light of your position in the Jockey Club and your stance on
cheating and scoundrels within the sport of racing ... " Lucien's
voice trailed off and he looked down again.