“But, Aunt Eddy—
“No, Portia. What good is being married to a wealthy man if you don’t use that wealth? We’ll hear from my sister, and it will be soon. Count on it.”
Later, as she lay in bed in Kent’s arms, she tried to tell herself she was all right but knew it was a lie. “Eddy’s going to hire the Pinkertons to find my mother.”
“Is that good or bad?”
She rose up to look into his face. “I’m not sure. On one hand, she made it perfectly clear on the street today that she doesn’t want any contact from me, but on the other hand, I keep wondering what would make a woman abandon her children the way she did. I know she said it was the new man in her life, but there has to be more, don’t you think?”
“I don’t know, darling, but I do know I don’t like seeing you in pain this way.”
She settled back into his embrace. “If we have children, I’ll never do that.”
He kissed the top of her head. “I know.”
Portia thought back on her mother’s plan to sell her virginity, and the horror of who she might have become as a result made her eyes sting with tears. She almost told Kent about it but decided to keep it to herself; she was horrified enough for them both.
“While you and the other women were plotting to take over the world, I got you something.”
Corinne was momentarily forgotten. “What?”
“Hold out your hand and close your eyes.”
She did so and heard a small rustling and then felt him lightly take her outstretched hand. What felt like a ring was gently pushed onto her finger and excitement grabbed her.
“Open your eyes, please.”
When she complied, the thin gold band on her finger sparkled in the light of the lamp. “This is beautiful, Kent.”
“Do you like it?”
She turned her hand this way and that. “I do.” Wedding rings were becoming more and more popular with married couples. “But I don’t have one for you.”
“You can fix that when Carmichael Bookkeeping makes its first million dollars.”
She laughed and threw her arms around him. “I love you so much.”
“I love you so much, too.”
When they arrived home, they were met at the door by a solemn Sylvie, and Kent sensed bad news. “How is he?” he asked.
“Almost gone but I think he’s been holding on until he can see you.”
Inside his father’s quiet room, Kent slowly approached the bed. Oliver was lying so still that for a moment Kent thought Sylvie was wrong and that he’d already slipped away, but his eyes slowly opened and a small smile followed. “Hello, Kenton.” His voice was a whisper. “How was San Francisco?”
“It was fine.”
“Good to see you.”
Heart tight, Kent replied, “Good to see you, too.”
“I’m getting ready to leave here. Glad you won’t be alone, now that you have your duchess. Glad we settled our differences, too.”
Kent knelt by the bed. “So am I.”
“You’ll take care of my Sylvie?”
“Of course.”