Page 93 of All For You

I made soothing noises. From our calls this week, she and Wills seemed rock solid. But for the rest? I wanted to contradict her, but I couldn’t. This image was exactly what newspapers and websites needed to up their views. I could see how her school would view that as bad publicity.

Tabitha’s breathing went shallow. Darcy looked increasingly angry.

“Bloody evil bastard,” I muttered. “I thought I couldn’t hate him more.” I needed to create a plan. But I couldn’t think straight. I’d call the local lawyer on the train. For now, I had to get to my sister, be with her, and find out all the facts.

“I’ve been such a fool, such a stupid, naive fool to trust him,” she said. “He got me to sign some papers while everyone was watching, waiting for the shoot. I signed it quickly because I didn’t want to keep everyone waiting.”

Oh God, she’d signed a contract.

“I’m getting the next train home,”I said. “Do you have a copy?”

“Lizzy, I’m not sure there’s anything you or anyonecan do. I feel so selfish dragging you home like this. You needed this break away. I wanted to talk to someone sensible, and Mum is not that person.”

Mum. She must be out of her mind with worry, but she was not good in a crisis, always freaking out.

“Sit tight,” I said. “I’ll be there as soon as I can.”

“But there’s nothing to be done.”

Her half sobs of despair had been replaced by a deep sadness and resignation in her voice, which absolutely killed me.

“We’ll find a solution to this, don’t worry,” I said. Even as I spoke those words, I didn’t quite believe myself. He owned the photos. She’d consented to having them taken—but not used in this way. “I love you, and as soon as I get on the train, I’ll charge my phone and we’ll talk more about the details.”

We rang off, and I quickly glanced at Darcy.

He no longer looked angry. He looked tense. Oh God. Was he hiding that he was appalled? Was this disdain for my family? It was hard to say. I searched his features for sympathy but found none.Was this more evidence he thought my family was a mess? Was he thinking Wills should end any association with Jane again?

“It seems an impossible situation,” I said.

Tabitha pressed her forehead. “Poor, poor Jane.” She tapped into her phone. “I’ve called you a taxi, coming in a half hour. I’ll go with you to the train station.”

I checked Darcy, expecting him to protest that he would take me instead. He was still silent, staring into space, as though thinking intently.

Abruptly, he faced me. “I have some urgent things to do. Help yourself to anything you need in the bathroom. It’s fully stocked. I’ll let you have your privacy. I’ll use the bathroomnext door to mine.”

He had urgent things to do?Was he brushing me off because my family was getting caught in a scandal? I shook myself. I didn’t have time to worry about that or us now.

I needed to be with Jane.

After the quickest shower in history, even for me, heart pounding, my mind racing, still sick to my stomach, I pulled on fresh clothing, packed hastily, grabbed my purse from the drawing room, and met Tabitha and Darcy in the foyer. He had wet hair, wore jeans, and his feet were still bare.

“Goodbye,” I said, standing awkwardly.

Should we hug? It would seem odd not to after last night. But he didn’t make a motion toward me. He seemed uncomfortable and even glanced toward his office, eager to get back to work, likely.I deflated. Was this how he processed? Over the Amor Inn weekend, he’d shut down when things had gotten tense on the Friday night and during the cooking competition. When I’d challenged him about how he was influencing Wills, he was defensive. Concern and uncertainty flooded me seeing this behavior of his again.

Or maybe I was wrong, and this was how he attacked problems—focused, ignoring everything else but the issue athand. Whatever the cause of his distanced demeanor, I didn’t have time to talk it out with him.

He nodded tensely to me. “You’ll make the eight-thirty train if you hurry.”

CHAPTER 42

Darcy

Iclosed the doors behind Tabitha and Lizzy. No time to lose. I hurried back to my office. I couldn’t have Lizzy here for the call I needed to make. There was only one person I knew who could fight for Jane. No—fixthis for her. And calling that person would take all my fortitude.

Wills had called and texted numerous times. Maybe Jane had told him already? I ignored his calls. Cold, but that was the way I solved problems. I had to act now. Too tense to sit, I stood at my desk and searched for a particular London law firm. I had only one chance of helping Jane, besides kneecapping that vile ex-boyfriend of hers.

The hardest thing I’d ever have to do.