The Letter (22 page)

CHAPTER 18

“
Can we count on your investment sir?” Peter Cochran asked William for the second time, dragging him from thoughts far removed from the moment.

Damn, William thought as he looked up to find himself surrounded by the conference table of questioning eyes and waiting for a response.

It was fortunate that this meeting was only a formality because he had previously conducted his own investigation and analysis and had made his decision based on that information because of his current distraction.

“
Yes, Mr. Cochran, you can count on my investment. I believe your business to be one with future growth and opportunities. I will leave my lawyers to work out the details of the transaction,” William said, smiling at the immediate relief that permeated the room.

They urgently needed money to fund the next leg of their project. It was a sound project, based on good scientific research and a few major breakthroughs that looked promising, so William was willing to take the risk. After all, what was a good investment without risk? He never took risks he could not afford to take. Risk made his blood pump.

“
Now, unless anyone has any questions or concerns, I have some other issues that need my attention today.” Amidst the murmurs of agreement and relief, William stood and gave a round of polite farewells before returning to his office with brisk strides and mentally cursing himself for allowing his thoughts to focus on Victoria rather than business. Victoria, and the erotic encounter in his office earlier that week should already be forgotten, yet it lingered fresh and sultry in his mind.

This sort of distraction had never occurred because everything in his life had a carefully chosen place.

He had first violated a very important rule by inviting her to the office. He had never brought an inamorata to his business world, such blending was inherently foolish. More damning still was that his selfish, obsessive, possessiveness toward Victoria had summoned her for elicit activities in the middle of his reserved world.

It was obvious he needed to purge himself of her and the only way to do this was to have his fill of her. If he fed himself on her like a glutton, he would tire of her. When he tired of her, he could put her into a carefully chosen place instead of the forefront of his world.

He would take her to his vineyards, of course. North of the city, it was about a day’s ride at full measure, maybe a day and a half if things went slow. They could stop at his hunting lodge on the way for one night if need be.

His vineyard was his little secret project. It was something he did for enjoyment, to get a little peace, to think and to rejuvenate. Some day it would be profitable. For now however, it was just and satisfying hobby.

They would ride out to the cottage, and they would make love the entire time.

He would have plenty of time to enjoy Victoria’s sweet secrets, and get her out of his system before he went completely mad.

And in between their carnal enjoyments, he would share with her his vineyard hobby.

William shared this project with few. Faith had been to the vineyard only once with her parents. In between her complaints about the rustic atmosphere and dirty fields, absent even a “layer of pebbles to keep her shoes from getting dusty,” he did not even attempt explain to her what it meant to him or the business aspects of his endeavor.

Somehow he knew Victoria would appreciate his project.

For reasons he didn’t understand, the thought of sharing his dream with Victoria excited him.

By the time he drove up to Victoria’s house in the mid-afternoon, William had resolved all that he could with his business burdens and was impatient to be off.

William was rewarded when Victoria answered the door dressed in a crisp, white apron. Her flour touched hair tumbled from inadequate pins down her back. A fine sheen of flour skimmed her nose and cheek. “I am sorry,” she said breathlessly with a gentle blush touching her cheeks. “I am just preparing a scone recipe that Mandy sent to me…is everything alright?”

“
Pack yourself some things, we are taking a trip.” He picked her up and swung her around in the air.

Victoria squealed her laughter.

Slowly, William placed her dainty feet to the floor again, not pondering what had caused him to do such a ridiculous and foolish thing. Gently, he wiped the flour from her face and to his immense delight, she giggled.

“
Where are we going?” Victoria asked, her dark, blue eyes sparkling into his.

She was so damned sensual, so damned irresistible, even dusted with flour.

“
To the valley where I have a cottage and some vineyards,” he replied, kissing her full on the lips and enjoying the pink flush that came instantly to her cheeks.

“
Vineyards?” Victoria cocked one eyebrow.

“
Yes, vineyards. It’s my hobby. I grow grapes for wine,” he replied, pride filling out his words.

“
You! A hobby?” She laughed. “The image of you puttering around in worn out, old clothes between rows and rows of vines doesn’t quite fit. Now that kind of hobby, on the other hand, would suit me just fine.”

“
What? You think I could not have a hobby…do you imagine that I do not ever dirty my hands? Well, young lady I am here to show you a thing or two,” he replied in mock indignation. “There is a winery as well. Everything is in its infancy, and of course, we are still learning, but it will not be long before we can rival the French. So laugh now, woman, but wait until you taste the wine before passing judgment,” he scolded her, his sensual mouth forming into a breathtaking smile.

“
I suppose you might want to get a bit of work out of me by taking me to these vineyards of yours?” she teased.

William’s eyes went from sparkling humor to a blaze.

“
I will put you to work, that you can count on, but it shall be a task we enjoy together.” His deep, husky voice sent Victoria’s heart running.

He pulled her to him and kissed her long and urgently. The familiar inferno engulfed them for a long, sweet moment. With a ragged breath, William gently moved her from him.

“
If we do this, I will never get us to the winery,” he whispered against her hair.

“
I would love to see your vineyards,” she said, leaning back and catching his eyes, while nervous words tumbled from her lips. “It is obvious you are very proud of your vineyards. I admit, the whole notion sounds quite fascinating. At home I have a little garden where I grow mostly vegetables, a few herbs, and we have an apple tree that grows behind the store. I mean, it doesn’t provide a whole lot, but it does provide a little food.”

“
We will have to share some growing techniques and discuss soil,” William said joining her levity. “I would be interested in your thoughts on such things.”

“
Of course, I would love that. Mandy is a dear but she has no interest in that sort of thing.”

“
Alright then, I need to go home for a few moments, then I will return within the hour, so be ready to leave. It’s at least a day’s ride from here,” he told her, smiling.

A few minutes later, William left her to her own packing so he could take care of his own preparations to leave.

William arrived at his home to find his mother impatiently waiting for him. He had not time to ponder how she knew he had left the office before she launched her attack.

“
How could you?” His mother accused. Her looming frame filled the doorway of his house, forcing William to stop just under the eave.

Stepping aside she let him pass then marched after him into the house.

“
Let us not have this conversation in the middle of the foyer, Mother,” William said in a mild voice that he knew would only agitate his mother more.

As he moved toward the library William allowed a mental sigh while his mother followed, huffing her displeasure behind him.

“
You must be speaking of Ms. Riley,” William offered.

It was most unfortunate that it didn’t take longer for his mother to put together the Victoria Riley mystery. She had her own investigators frequently poking into his business so he should have anticipated she would immediately start working on finding out about Victoria. Most of the time, he didn’t care, but this time, it did matter.

When the library doors were safely closed behind his glaring mother, she launched her attack; her eyes shooting ice splinters. “How could you carry on an affair with
that
woman?”

“
I wasn’t aware that you wanted or needed to approve my mistresses,” he replied.

“
You know I don’t care about what you do with your mistresses, William, but I can’t believe you would bring that woman here, not when you know how much humiliation I suffered because of her trashy mother!”

His mother hadn’t really loved his father and it was no secret she had refused him affection for many years. As long as William could remember, his parents had been cold to one another. Perhaps it was because of Patricia Riley, perhaps not. But undoubtedly, Eunice had suffered the pain and humiliation of knowing his father desired another woman. Her feelings were well founded.

“
I understand and sympathize with your feelings,” he said, turning to stroll across the room to the window with his hands behind his back. “I know something of the old scandal. But you must understand, I have my reasons for being with Ms. Riley, and rest assured they are very good reasons, but do not wish to discuss them now.”

“
But I am your mother, and I think I deserve a full explanation,” Eunice’s voice cracked slightly. William turned again to face her. “How did you ever come to know that woman, and what is she doing here?”

“
I am sorry,” he said, moving toward her reaching out his hand. “You wouldn’t have known anything about her if you hadn’t had your hounds out poking into my business.”

His mother did not acknowledge his outstretched hand, any more than she had acknowledged his child’s outstretched arms seeking to be held.

“
It doesn’t matter how I found out. It doesn’t change anything,” she replied, her face was set in stubborn line.

“
I didn’t do this to hurt you,” he started to explain, dropping his hand.

“
Really? Well what did you expect to happen when I found out that your new mistress “Victoria” was really Victoria Riley, the daughter of Patricia Riley?”

“
I can assure you mother, I didn’t intend for this to happen. But she has something I need very much.” William raked a frustrated hand through his hair. “I suppose you might as well know since it could ultimately affect you. You see father left her mother shares in Worthington Bank, a great many shares, in fact. Upon Patricia Riley’s death, the shares went to her first-born child. Victoria Riley is the first born child.”

Eunice gasped, her face rapidly losing color.

“
How could he do such a thing?” Eunice’s voice pitched high with fury and hurt.

“
You know father, he did what he wanted,” William replied, suddenly gripped by sympathy for his mother.

“
He loved her,” Eunice whispered, voicing the obvious truth.

His father’s actions clearly confirmed how he felt about Patricia Riley. Apparently for years his father had pined after Patricia. He had looked after her in his own way, and in the end, he had given her part of the empire that he always wanted her to have. He gave her part of that empire she had so carelessly rejected when she married Charles Riley.

If Patricia Riley was anything like her daughter, he could understand why his Father had harbored such strong and lasting passions.

“
Now I have to get the shares back. She has some power with them and combined with someone else, she would have considerable voting power.”

He paused for a moment then added, “I could still defeat her, but it might get messy, expensive and very aggravating...not to mention the scandal and possible scare to the bank depositors if the news got around.”

“
How are you going to get the shares back?” his mother asked quietly, her face drawn.

“
She doesn’t seem to know that she owns them, and they will soon revert back to the family if she does not claim them,” William replied.

“
So why make her a mistress then?”

“
Because I can control her, because here she is less likely to become aware of the shares.”

“
Surely there are other ways that are not so…so intimate.”

“
Because I want her,” he answered, his words bringing a flush even to his jaded mother’s face. Though William knew his mother indulged in discreet, casual affairs from time to time, it was certainly not a topic they discussed.

“
She is a lot like her mother,” Eunice said searching her son’s face for a clue about his feelings.

“
That I do not know, but she certainly tends to the Irish of her father with those eyes and hair.”

“
Do you love her?” Eunice asked her voice uneasy. “Because I wouldn’t want you to forget who you are no matter how beautiful you think she is,” Eunice reminded him gravely.

“
Most certainly I do not love her. I will not forget who I am mother, and I don’t need you reminding me. I made her a mistress, thus, there is no danger of her becoming my wife,” he answered, holding his temper in check. As if he needed anyone to remind him of his duties. His Worthington duty followed him everywhere. Now, it seemed his duty was even following him right into the bedroom.