Chapter 50

I found her in the drawing room chatting with Elsa and Anne.

“Please excuse me, but may I borrow Bruni for a few minutes?”

Anne and Elsa agreed as Bruni stood up, smoothed her skirt, and told the others she would be back in a bit.

“What’s up?” she asked as we stepped out the front door and into the morning sunlight. A light breeze carried the scent of lawn grass. It was still a gorgeous day, despite my mood. The easy companionship that had started last night was still there, but I knew she was aware that something was on my mind.

“Last night was truly magical,” I said as we stepped off the driveway onto the grass and strolled in the direction of the tennis court.

Bruni stopped, and I did too. She looked me in the eyes. Away from her, I could forget the power of her beauty, but face-to-face, she dazzled me once again. Her eyes sparkled as breezes played with her hair. “It was perfect,” she said, “but that’s not why you got me out here.”

My hurt seemed so acute and justified upstairs with Johnny, but looking at her, it seemed less significant. I wanted to prolong the peace between us, but then again, I couldn’t very well ignore what I had read.

“The direct route is best,” she reminded me softly.

“Yes, but that doesn’t make what I have to say any easier.” I paused again and then continued with just the facts as I knew them: “I read a report on Harold and Boskins. It involved you as legal counsel and a series of trades Johnny and I made. You authorized the actions that caused our partnership to go under.”

She sighed and looked away.

“It’s true, isn’t it? I asked.

She stepped back from me and looked toward the distant line of trees. “I’m in an awkward position. As an attorney, there are things I can’t talk about or even comment on. There’s also a nondisclosure agreement. I have to stand mute. I know it’s difficult, but trust me, if you can,” she said, looking at my face to see my reaction.

“Part of me wants to very much, but there’s also a part of me that feels betrayed and hurt more than I can say.”

She nodded and looked away again.

The more I thought about the wrongness that was done to Johnny and me, the more my upset felt justified. I recalled the shock of the rebuke I had received from Maw and her pointing out that I had failed to stand up for myself. I felt like yelling and screaming, but my intuitive part intervened before I could let myself get out of hand. It told me to stop acting like an idiot. Bruni probably felt as bad as I did, if not worse, given the circumstances. Even if the facts were true, I didn’t know the context, let alone why. Like any other corporate attorney, she had implemented what was decided by others. It wasn’t personal. As she had pointed out, we had never met. Rage can look like courage, but fundamentally, they’re not the same. What I needed was information, not histrionics. More importantly, I had to start living my life on my own terms. My intuitive part pointed out, somewhat sarcastically, that this was a far more useful definition of courage than loudly asserting my status as a victim.

I considered its analysis and had to agree. I had to let it go — at least for now. I took a breath and let the volume of my emotions dissipate. When they had reached a more subdued level, I asked, “Be that as it may, is there anything you can say about what happened that might be helpful?”

She turned toward me again.

“On that subject, nothing. I understand you may feel I’ve been dishonest toward you by not revealing what I know, but as I said, there are constraints. There will likely be other matters I cannot speak about. The fact is our lives became intertwined well before we met. We each have an image we present to the world. Relationships are built by allowing each other glimpses of who we truly are, and often it is not who we wish we were. It takes time. Just understand that today I do not mean you harm. In fact, quite the opposite. Can we continue under those conditions?”

“Can you?”

“I must, if we’re to be friends. And you?”

“I can try. Two days ago, I would have said no way, but much has changed since then. I know you better, at least I think I do, and I’d like to know more. So, yes, I’m going to have to live with the possibility of more surprises.”

“That’s a relief to hear. For my part, I’ll try to be as candid as possible. All I ask is that you talk to me.” She paused and came closer. “I knew you were upset the moment you entered the room.”

“I was. I came downstairs determined to have it out with you. Now, all that seems far less important. What was done happened long ago. That can’t be changed. I’ll just have to make the best of it. Besides, I doubt I can remain upset with you for very long either. I guess I’ll have to live with that too. All I ask is that you don’t take advantage of it…at least not too much.”

She took my arm. “I’ll keep that in mind.”

We walked some more.

“Shall we sit on the steps?” I asked as we approached the drop off to the tennis court.

She nodded, and we sat down. The light slanted down onto the court and lit the leaves of the trees that sprang up just beyond the grass verge that ran around the fence. I wondered if Alice, or even Lord Bromley, had played tennis here.

“Have you ever met any of Alice’s former husbands in your travels?”

She didn’t answer right away, so I turned to look at her. Her cheeks had turned a slight shade of pink.

“You have.”

“Yes.”

“Tell me.”

“I suppose it’s only fair. I met Lord Bromley. He’s the reason I became so interested in Johnny’s aunt, by the way.”

“Really? Now, you definitely have my attention.”

“Yes, well, that’s the problem. It wasn’t my best moment. Besides, it’s personal, and I don’t do personal very well — particularly if it doesn’t show me in a flattering way.”

“I can understand that, but someone once told me the direct route is best, so you might as well tell me the story.”

She laughed. “Yes, someone did, didn’t they?” She paused again, looked down at her feet, and then wrapped her arms around her knees. “Okay, Lord Bromley…I was introduced to him at a party in London long before I became an attorney. I didn’t think anything of him at first. He was an older man, although he was still strikingly handsome. He had very pale skin and jet-black eyes. He was well dressed — urbane is how I would describe him. He also struck me as a lady’s man in spite of his age. He was with two much younger women when we met, who seemed to idolize him. A year later at a fancy-dress ball, he asked me for a dance. His manners were extremely smooth. I found myself agreeing before I could think. The next day, my mother, who saw us together, told me to have a care. I ignored her. I was, after all, no longer a teenager and had achieved some measure of maturity. It was my time, and I was on vacation in London. I love formal parties. I got myself invited to many. I liked the glitter, and I liked ballroom dancing. Lord Bromley was always there, and I found myself dancing with him more and more. He was a very good dancer, which was one reason, but more importantly, he fascinated me.

“He had a way about him that resonated with something hidden inside me. He also had a bad reputation. The business with Johnny’s aunt was only one of many rumors that followed him around like a dark shadow. That didn’t seem to bother the hosts who held such things. He was always invited, and in spite of his unsavory character, I was drawn to him. He asked me out. I refused. He kept asking. Eventually, I accepted, but the day before, who should storm into my hotel room but my mother. She had gotten wind of our meeting. How, I don’t know. Had she not put her foot down, things might have turned out badly. I was young, true, but not that young. The truth was I was ill-prepared against any of his onslaughts. That man has a way with a woman. If he has the desire for her, there’s little she can do. I experienced his magnetism, and I was spellbound. I’m sure that’s what happened to Johnny’s aunt, Alice. We’re kindred spirits in that way.”

“You’re drawn to bad men with dark souls. I wouldn’t have expected that.”

Bruni blushed and held tightly to her knees. For just a moment, I caught a glimpse of what she must have looked like back then.

“I am pulled in that direction, it’s true. It’s one of my…secrets. The only one who knows other than yourself is my mother. After the near miss with Lord Bromley — and it really was a near miss, even though it had barely gotten started — she sat me down, and we had one of the frankest conversations I can remember. She understood me in ways I had not expected and knew more about the inner me than I did. She married my father after all, and that should tell you something. We actually became exceptionally good friends after that and have been ever since.”

“I’m happy it turned out well. Weren’t you a little young for him?”

“Of course I was, but it’s an ancient story, almost a cliché. Young, inexperienced woman is seduced by older, more experienced man. It happens all the time.”

“I guess it does. Lucky for you, I am not so ancient and don’t have a dark side.”

She scoffed at me. “Oh, but you do. You’re just too afraid to show it.”

I looked at her quite stunned. “You must be joking.”

“I’m not…not at all. It’s there. I am well aware of it. It calls to me, and I find myself responding.” She rested her head on her knees and gazed at me in a different way than before. Her hair hid much of her face, but her brilliant blue eyes looked back steadily. I felt myself turn slightly red.

“Well, let’s put that to one side for the moment,” I said rather quickly. “You mentioned being interested in Alice.”

“You won’t get off that easily, but we’ll move on for now. I’ve been interested in Alice ever since that time. Mother also said she was tough as nails, which coming from her was quite a compliment. That alone would have made me curious. Mother rarely speaks of other women in complimentary terms. It’s how she is. She likes the men to herself. No competitors for their attention. Alice was an exception.

“Although I don’t know that much, I do know that there was bad blood between Alice and Lord Bromley that only intensified over time. After the divorce, she got involved in drugs and the occult — a bad combination. She died. It was rumored that he killed her indirectly. I was very young at the time, but Papa and Mother talked about it for years afterward. It occasionally comes up even now. It’s why I wanted to see her bedroom. I’m sure you know more than I, but what I do find intriguing is that Malcolm Ault is still about. He’s another of those men who seems to always be invited but are present when strange things take place. According to Papa, Ault and Lord Bromley are quite close.”

“Do you think Ault had something to do with Alice’s death?”

“I highly doubt it, but I’m sure he knows more than he lets on. So now that you know one of my biggest secrets, I suppose we better be getting back.”

We got up and brushed ourselves off.

“So, who gave it to you?” she asked as she took my arm.

“The report?”

“Yes, the report.”

“Strange as it sounds, I think I must stand mute.”

“Very clever.” She gave me a dig in the ribs. “You don’t have to tell me. It was in the envelope Mrs. Leland received.”

“I’m silent as the grave,” I said.

“Charming.”

We walked along, content to be in each other’s company. I felt better, and although I had resolved nothing, my head was now clear enough to sit down with Johnny. It was a relief.

After a few minutes, Bruni said, “You should know I no longer work for Boskins and Harold and haven’t for years. I left them shortly after that incident.”

“Was that the reason?”

“One of many.”

“Well, I’m happy to hear that, and speaking of dark souls, what about your husband? Is he a dark soul as well?”

“No,” she said stopping me and standing close. “He was a mistake. One that will be shortly rectified.”

She turned, took my arm again, and moved me along before I could respond.