Annie suspected the latter. Being a woman in the City had its problems, not least of which was their inability to walk into a coffee house and sit with the men, discussing business and making deals. She had people to do that for her, but they had proved unavailable, or unable to help her.
Stephenson had locked the City up tight. He meant to have his pound of flesh. She knew she had angered him when she’d called off their match, but she’d never taken him for a vindictive man.
She could not approach Gerald. He was a married man now. She could not blight his marriage and his life by presenting him with the prospect of a bastard. While she hated keeping the news from him, because surely a man deserved to know about his child, she could not do it.
Could not stand in the same room with him, knowing he was never to be hers. Perhaps in a few years she might find the courage to do so but not yet.
Petit stood there, smiling. “Ma’am, you have a letter.”
She looked at the long cream document fastened with a solid red seal with misgiving. Was this her official notice to quit? “Are there men to go with this?”
“Just one.” Smiling, Petit returned to his desk and picked up his quill, commencing to scratch at his ledgers.
Annie slit the letter open, careful to keep the seal intact, although it bore no identifying mark. She liked to be neat. Inside, she found a sheaf of papers. A smaller sheet of paper fell out, a cream-lined piece of expensive notepaper. Her hands shaking, she opened it.
My dearest Mrs. Cathcart,
You may recall that some time ago we had a bargain. It has been remiss of me to let the paperwork slip through my hands, but I enclose them now, with the prayer that you make good use of them. You may note the property is made out to your oldest son, and not yourself; you are merely the trustee. That is because you told me you wished to keep your business separate from your husband’s. Now you are to marry again you might wish to keep the property separate, too, although there is provision, should you wish it, for you to take ownership of the house if you prefer.
You may be interested to know the results of an investigation I set in train weeks ago. I confess the results were borne of jealousy, but they have been interesting and very fruitful. I wait with the results, which are of a sensitive nature.
Then there was a gap, and when she read the next part, she understood why he’d done it that way. She could cut that part of the letter out and keep it separately, or destroy it if she preferred.
Annie, I miss you. After weeks without seeing you, I still go to sleep dreaming of you. I fear I will always do so. For that, and for other reasons, I have decided to curtail my agreement with Lady Elizabeth. The bargain would have been unfair for both of us. That does not mean I will return to pester you. You must tell me if you wish that to happen, but I will not set foot in the house without your invitation. When you marry, I will leave you alone to enjoy your new life.
Think of me from time to time. That is all I ask. Be happy.”
Flinging down the paper, she shoved back her chair and got to her feet, racing through to the hallway, where he stood. Without hesitation she flung herself into his arms. They closed around her.
For the first time in weeks, Annie felt as if she was coming home. Lifting her head, she gazed at his dear face. He lifted one hand to her cheek. His fingers were trembling. He wiped away the tears she was unaware she was shedding, and then, with a muffled groan, lifted her. Their lips met.
He ravaged her. Annie flung her arm around his neck and ravaged him right back, clinging to him with all the strength she was capable of. How long they stood there, in that hallway, she had no idea. She lost herself in him, wallowing in his taste and the feel of that hard body under the scratchy, fashionable clothes.
Their lips parted. His eyes shone, the creases at the corners witnesses to his happiness. “Annie, my love, what is this?”
“I’m not marrying Joseph and I told him so. He wants me out of this house by tomorrow.”
“What?”
She’d probably gabbled the information. She repeated it slowly.
“You’re not marrying Stephenson?”
“No.”
“That’s the important part. We can cope with anything else.” He lowered her to the ground, but kept his hands on her waist.
“He wants me and the business out of here by midnight tomorrow.”
“Then you can make use of the other house. How long will it take to organize everything?”
“Weeks!” she wailed.
Maud’s voice came from the top of the stairs. “Nonsense, child! Now put him down, we don’t have time for that. We have a lot of work and not much time to do it in. Where are we moving to?”
Before she could answer, Gerald said, “Bunhill Row.” He kept an arm firmly around her.
“Then I suggest we get our priorities in the right place and start with the workshops.” Maud clattered down the stairs, lifting her skirts. “Petit! We must make haste!”
Gerald’s eyes were alight with laughter. “Be warned, madam. I’m not letting you go now.” He dropped another kiss on the top of her head, and took her hand, drawing her back into her office.