Love and Other Wicked Games (A Wicked Game Novel) (39 page)

God.
Not the brightest bunch. Cal had been right on that front after all, which was probably part of why he’d been able to avoid them for so long. But they didn’t need to be brilliant to give Cal the upper hand against Sean and his lot. And that was all he needed for now.

When the four men finally made their way over, Sean halted his advances and bid his companions to do the same. However, after several awkward introductions and handshakes—Cal had called it perfectly: sons and nephews of his shareholders set to make a fortune when they someday inherited the shares—this intelligent lot of men Cal was ashamed to call his peers decided to carry on as if nothing had happened.

“How long’s it been since you’ve been to a shareholder’s meeting, McAlister?”

“Good question, Cavanaugh. My aunt says it’s been so long it’s putting her in a foul mood.”

“Lady Rivenhall is always in a foul mood,” Cal muttered pinching is nose.

“That’s not the point, McAlister. The point is we have to protect our family’s investments.”

“Yeah, Anderson. That’s right and our future financial security.”

“Very right, Cavanaugh.” The other two men nodded and mumbled their agreements.

“So, if you could just come with us…” Anderson gripped Cal’s arm.

“Fellows, really?”
What a bunch of dim witted fools.
Cal pinched his nose and then laughed out loud remembering how scared his Uncle had been of these men. They could barely string a sentence together. The only danger they ever posed was having him voted out, and now that Cal had his Uncle’s support, none of that mattered anymore.

Cal looked down at Anderson’s hand on his arm and for a moment he thought about causing a ruckus, but they weren’t worth it. Cal shrugged the hand away and stepped to the side, realizing that he’d now positioned himself directly between the two groups. Talk about irony. “You really think right now is the proper time to hash this out?”

“Of course it is. No better time than—” Cavanaugh’s jaw slacked and he pointed, a look of mild confusion on his face. “Isn’t that…”

“It is,” Anderson said his eyes now wide, “but what happened to her?”

Cal turned to follow their gaze and exhaled loudly. Of course,
of course
, this had to be when Ellie would show up. This wouldn’t be his life if things were running smoothly.

He’d expected her to show up sooner rather than later and he should have expected her to have no trouble finding him, but there was no way he could have expected what he was seeing. Soon, his mouth gaped open and shut too as he tried to figure out what to say to her.

“What…
the hell
happened to you?” Cal finally managed to ask as Ellie reached them and stopped running.

Ellie looked down at herself trying to catch her breath. In the heat of the moment, she seemed to have forgotten all about her shocking state of appearance. “Oh, yes. That,” she said. “I can explain.” She frowned as she began trying to wipe away the bits of muck and mud that covered her from head to toe.

“You… you missed some…” Cal pointed to her face.

“Oh… I—I know.” She ran her sleeve along her forehead. “Better?”

“No. Not really…”

She frowned and ran her sleeve along her face once more. “Now?”

“What…” But Cal couldn’t even finish his sentence.

“I wore my jumping out of a carriage dress today.”

“Your what?”

“You remember that first time we were in a carriage together when you took me to that field to tell me your plans, and I asked if you stole the carriage and—and then you asked if that would change anything and I said—well, I said it was too late because I hadn’t worn my jumping out of a carriage dress.”

“Oh. Oh yes. I remember that, now.” Cal took off his jacket and handed it to Ellie who was now shivering. “But what does that have to do with…”

“Thank you,” Ellie took the jacket and quickly covered herself before continuing. “Well, I was in a hurry to come speak to you and I’d already been riding around all day. You weren’t at the pub and then I went to your villa and your ghastly butler wouldn’t tell me a thing but your uncle was there and he said you sent word that you’d be here—” Ellie gulped a breath. “And well, I was in a hurry now that I knew where you were and the driver passed by the street and he wouldn’t stop or he couldn’t hear me or something…” She threw her hands above her head. “And so I panicked and I—”

“Oh. Oh lord.” Cal widened his eyes. “
You jumped out of the carriage?
”

“Yes! I mean… Well, it wasn’t going that fast and I was in a hurry and well…”

“Are you alright?” He took a step towards her, his heart pulling in her direction, but he reigned in the feeling. His hands vibrated at his sides.

“Well, yes. I’m fine. I mean I suppose
I’m
not injured in any way, but my dress is an entirely different matter…” Ellie’s voice trailed off as he watched her eyes look around, finally processing her surroundings.

It wasn’t until this point that Ellie seemed to realize, much to her surprise, that they were not alone and that everyone was staring at her. She appeared a bit put off that all eyes were on her but Cal was finding mild amusement in how her mere presence was affecting this entire situation. Yes, she’d arrived unceremoniously covered in grime which was enough to make anyone stop and stare, but the entire mood of the two groups was changing. Cal noticed that not a single one of the men had their fists clenched at their sides anymore and that their posture was much more relaxed.

“Should I—should I come back?” She asked him in a low voice. “I’ll come back. I’ll leave now and let you take care of—”

“Don’t. You. Dare.” Cal interrupted. She looked at him full on, catching his meaning in an instant, and just like that she collected herself.

“What’s the meaning of all… this?” Anderson waved his hand and Ellie gave him a curious stare, then looked to Cal for explanation.

“Cavanaugh, Anderson… their two silent friends…” Cal motioned to the four men. “My shareholder’s first sons. Well, except Anderson here who’s Lady Rivenhall’s nephew…”

“Ahh.” Ellie’s eyes flashed. “So that’s why you were at that party.”

“Yes.”

“But what are they doing here now?”

“Remember the people who’ve been following me?”

Ellie scrunched her nose, unimpressed. “This is them?”

“Yep.”

“Really?” She paused. “Them?”

“I know. A bit of a disappointing lot…”

“Ehhh what do you mean—”

“A… simple bunch,” Cal said deciding on a kinder turn of phrase. “And everything just as I suspected this entire time.”

“Ahh.” Ellie said with an upwards tilt of her chin before answering Anderson. “I have business with Cal.”

“Oh yeah? Business do you? Well, I got business with this fellow too.”

Cal saw the recognition flicker in Ellie’s eyes as she turned towards the voice. “Sean. So nice to see you again.”

Sean only grunted, indicating his annoyance that she too had remembered his name.

“What is this business you speak of?”

“He’s the Duke of McAlister!” Sean spat out.

“Oh, of course. That. I was pretty mad when I found out too.”

Sean raised a brow. “You didn’t know either?”

“No.” Ellie shook her head with a smile.

“He lied to you too?”

“He did. But I forgave him. And you should too.”

“And… why’s that?”

“Because he’s here to help you. To help all of you.”

“Are you mad?” Sean laughed. “He’s the bloody bloke that owns this mill and many others like it. He’s the reason they’re like this to begin with.”

“No.” Now Ellie laughed. “That would be because of his father. And grandfather. Cal’s been trying to work out a way to make improvements to the mills.”

“Then why hasn’t he made any yet?”

Ellie looked to the four men standing by Cal. “Why don’t you ask these…
fine
gentlemen right here?”

“Well, alright.” Sean gestured towards them. “Let’s have it.”

The four men just stared, slack jawed. Cal rubbed his eyes. “Because I’m only
one
of the owners. These men here, their families are the other owners and they’ve been doing everything they can to try and stop me from making changes.”

“We have to protect our financ—owww!” Anderson elbowed Cavanaugh in the ribs.

“Money. It’s about money.” Ellie embellished. “These men and their families want as much of it as they can have and tough luck for all of you that suffer for it.”

Sean crossed his arms and looked at the four men. His eyes grew wide as he took off his hat and threw it to the ground. “Ah, hell. Damn you. It’s true. I can see it in your eyes. That greed… It’s always money with you types…” Sean gave Cal a fierce gaze as he picked up his hat and brushed it off. “I believe you, but that doesn’t mean I’m suddenly alright with you.”

“I wouldn’t expect you to be,” Cal said.

“I wasn’t,” Ellie added with another teasing smile. Lord. He wanted to kiss it off her face.

“But why lie about it at all? That’s what I’ve been wondering. I can’t stand lying. It’s cowardly. A man should just face it.”

“Maybe. Sometimes. But in this case he had to lie.” Ellie answered.

“Is that so?” Sean paused. “Why?”

“Because he knew you’d never give him the time of day otherwise.” Ellie scanned the other few workers who’d been standing quietly about listening to everything that was happening. “Probably none of you would have, no matter what he said he was trying to do, or how he was trying to help you…”

Sean waved his hand. “Ehh! That’s not true!”

“It’s not?”

“Noooo…”

“I suppose that’s why you came here looking to knock him out?”

Sean’s face reddened.

“Nothing to be embarrassed about.” Ellie crossed her arms and shrugged. “I know I wouldn’t have given him the time and I told him as much before I knew who he was … and he forgave
me
for that.”

“Ah hell.” Sean said once more. “This is all kinds of messed up…”

Cal cleared his throat. “I won’t disagree with you on that. What I did was a cowardly thing and I’ve made a mess of it all. Even showing up here like this today. I should have thought about it more thoroughly. All I ask now is that you give me a chance to make amends for all I’ve done and for everything my father and grandfather did before me.”

Cal held out his hand and Sean looked at it.

“Ah hell,” he said for a third time as he took Cal’s hand and shook it. “Not as if I have anything left to lose.”

“Hopefully we can change that,” Cal responded.

“Hopefully. And I suppose everyone deserves a chance to fix their mistakes… but I don’t give third or fourth chances. No one ‘round here does. So, I’ll be keeping my eyes on you…” Sean shook his head and then gave an icy glare to the four men by Cal. “And I’ll be keeping an even better watch out for you. Seems you’ve used up all your chances already. And probably goes without saying that you won’t be much welcome around here after everyone finds out who you are and what you’ve done…”

“We’re not leaving without him,” Anderson said pointing to Cal.

“Suit yourself,” Sean called behind him as he walked away and beckoned the other workers to follow him.

“And give my hellos to Caitlin!” Ellie called after Sean.

He held up a hand in acknowledgement.

“I mean it!” She called. “She’ll tell me if you don’t!”

Sean turned around and tipped his hat, smiling. “Don’t I know it?”

“Anderson means it,” Cavanaugh directed towards Cal now that Sean was gone. “We’re not leaving without you.”

Ellie opened her mouth to protest but Cal beat her to it.

“I am not going with you now or ever. And even if I did it wouldn’t matter. My uncle has finally agreed to vote with me, so all of your scheming and spying and whatnot can end now. It’s done with.”

“No…” Anderson shook his head.

“I can assure you he’s telling the truth,” Ellie added. “I was there when his uncle made the promise.”

“No…” This time it was Cavanaugh.

“…but yes.” Ellie said again.

This time all four men shook their heads.

Ellie looked to Cal. “Am I—Am I not speaking clearly? Or I missing something?”

“You’re not missing anything. It’s this lot.” Cal laughed quietly, leaning in. “A few brain cells if you catch my meaning. I’d gather they’ve seen the inside of more pubs than books.”

“Oh. Well then.” Ellie turned to face them with a brisk determination. “Believe it or not but you won’t be discussing it any further with Cal today. I’d imagine the family members who sent you here will be mighty interested in what’s happened today, though. So, off with you!” she added with the wave of a hand and eventually the four men walked off looking lost and confused.

All Cal could do was look at her in awe for everything she’d just done and for everything that she was. He ached to hug her and hold her close against him. Her sweet smile was driving him crazy.

“You’re…
incredible,
you know that, right?”

“I have my moments.” Ellie took only the briefest pause of a breath. “Now, I suppose we can finally get to why I came here in the first place. Shall we?”

Cal took a deep breath. He’d known this was coming, but amongst everything that had happened he’d forgotten, for just a moment, that he’d actually have to defend his decision in person.

“Alright. I—”

Cal put his finger to her lips to silence her but didn’t actually touch her. He couldn’t bear to. “Not here. Come with me.”

“Where are we going?”

“My office.”

“Office?”

“Yes. I have one in here somewhere.” Where exactly, he didn’t remember. He hadn’t been to it in over a year but they needed somewhere private to talk. And after several curious looks focused at both him and the state of Ellie’s dress, someone was finally able to direct them to the correct room upstairs. He ushered Ellie inside and followed after her.

Cal had barely enough time to shut and lock the door before she’d said the words.

“I love you.”

“You don’t love me… You just think you love me.” It was a silly argument, he knew that, but it was the only one he could manage at the moment, especially with her standing so close. Cal went to the far side of the room, as far away as he could possibly be from her, and stood by the chaise lounge in the corner.