Chapter Thirty

Color took a slow rise up her cheeks. “You want to explain that, Counselor?”

He sighed. “Your contract with Winslow Holdings, which is separate from the will Reginald stipulated, has a morality clause. In reality, it would be hard to enforce it in this day and age, but if the board wanted to, they could try to oust you with a vote of no confidence.” He rubbed a hand across his forehead. “They’re archaic, honestly, but even Reginald was subject to it. If you are kicked off the board of directors of Winslow Holdings, it negates the will entirely. It would be the perfect solution for someone looking for a huge payday.”

“This seems a little too coincidental to me.” Phone in hand, Tracy headed for the door. “I’m going to look into who besides the board knew about the clause.”

Finn walked to Bev. “We will figure this out. Nothing has come of it so far. Right now, it’s just a picture in the paper, like you said.” He stroked her arm.

“Don’t comfort me, Counselor,” she bit out as she slapped his hand away. “I’m not in the mood.”

Meg stood. “All righty, I’m off to bed. Hey, Jules, come with, and I’ll get your phone number.”

“I’ll text a good time to meet for lunch next week.” Meg whispered in Beverly’s ear before she and his assistant left the kitchen.

Joe coughed and poked Reggie. “I think we should head to bed too, Reggie. If we’re all meeting ‘Auntie Serena’ tomorrow, we’ll need our sleep.” Reggie went to the fridge and brought her a glass of milk. She kissed her daughter. “Sleep well, Bevie. It might not be bad. You’ve been doing such a great job; I’m sure the board will recognize it.”

“Love you, Ma,” she answered, her eyes never leaving his. He wondered what she was thinking.

She didn’t keep him wondering for long. “Why does it feel as if I am the last to know everything?”

“I wasn’t keeping this information from you. It hasn’t ever been an issue.”

“Even though we’ve been sneaking around like teenagers? I would think, considering how bad this looks, it should have come up since we started sleeping together.”

“You aren’t being fair. And if the board goes in the direction you’re worried about, we can fight it. You haven’t done anything wrong.”

“Then why do I feel as if I have?”

“Beverly, you have to get past this and you have to do it fast.” He hated sounding hard, but it was necessary. “You have to get in front of this; be ready for the fight if it comes. And try to remember it’s a big ‘if.’ No board member worth their salt will want to hurt the stock prices by going after you.”

She stopped pacing in front of the fridge. “Okay. I can do it. I just hate being backed into a corner. This all feels wrong.”

“We aren’t wrong. I wasn’t deliberately keeping this from you. I wouldn’t jeopardize our relationship in that way.”

“I believe you.”

He let out a pent-up breath. Thank God. “When this is all over, I want you willing to consider something more for us.” He walked purposefully to her. Caught her waist with his hands. He leaned his body into hers, pressed her back against the fridge door. Lightly, he began to trail kisses along her jawline. Stopping just below her ear, he whispered, “Are you willing?”

She swallowed, hard. Blinking up at him with her mermaid eyes. “I’m willing to be with you like this, right here and now.” She reached for him.

He relaxed and took her offered mouth in a kiss. It was enough. For now.

****

She didn’t expect Serena’s visit to be pleasant, so when her aunt arrived at two P.M. the next day, she wasn’t surprised by her attitude. Her mother and Finn joined her in the foyer.

“How dare you summon me like this, Beverly?” Her aunt pulled off gloves and hat and handed them to the butler. “And after the scandal you caused in the paper? Why are you two still together? Shouldn’t you be doing damage control?”

“It’s lovely to see you too, Auntie,” Bev said with sweetness.

“Tell me what you intend to do about this debacle you created.”

“I intend to handle it Monday morning.”

Serena inclined her head like a royal. “And if the board decides to oust you?”

“Then I shall expect you and John front and center as character witnesses.”

Finn stepped in. “That would certainly be the wisest choice for your stock shares, Serena.”

“Fine. Let’s just pray it doesn’t come to that and you fix this with the board on Monday.” Serena looked pointedly at Bev. “What is it you want? Demanding my presence this way?”

Reggie held up a hand. “Cut it out. This visit doesn’t require one of your tantrums. Let’s take this in here.” The group followed her mother into the drawing room.

Serena looked around, raised an eyebrow in Bev’s direction. “This room looks excellent. The new décor is quite lovely.”

“It doesn’t come off as a compliment when you sound surprised,” Bev said. “Why don’t you sit down?” She gestured to a chair. “Coffee?”

“I’m not a giver of compliments by nature. I state facts. The Puritan in our blood holds me back from being overly effusive.” She lowered herself to a lovely brocade settee. “Conroy, I’ll take tea.”

Bev almost rolled her eyes. Instead, she smiled at her butler. “Thank you, Conroy. That would be lovely.”

“If you’re too kind to your help, they’ll begin to see you as equal.” Serena laid her pale blue handbag on the settee beside her. The bag matched her shoes, of course. “Unless they see you as above reproach, they’ll take advantage of you.”

She had no response to that strange dictate. Her aunt continued. “It isn’t as cruel as you probably see it. Staff needs direction, and over-familiarity breeds—”

Bev cut her off. “Kindness?”

“I was going to say chaos,” Serena crossed her legs at the ankles. “But it is your home to run as you see fit.” She took a cup from the tray Conroy offered.

She watched in fascination as Serena poured and prepared her tea. Precision neatness. “Now, see, Auntie, you confuse me. You’re mean and nasty at our first meeting. Then sullen at the charity ball, albeit with a fake smile. At my office, you were resolute to do right by the Winslow family. And now you’re belligerent about the picture in the paper and complimentary of my decorating skills all at once—although I can’t take credit for that because it’s my mother’s good taste dictating the renovations.”

Serena stirred her tea. “I’m waiting for your question.”

“I don’t understand the back-and-forth. Like I said, you confuse me. Do we have a truce or not? Is it a public façade or is it something else?”

“You’ve been sending mixed signals as well. You ban me from this house—my childhood home. Then, you offer an olive branch but instruct I cannot speak to my sister. Now I am summoned for some unknown reason, and Regina is present along with your boyfriend/lawyer. You have been dictating the direction of this relationship, young lady. Not I. Less than two months ago, my father left his legacy to someone he had never met. Someone who has brought a scandal to the family recently. I am dealing with the ramifications of that as well. Perhaps my belligerence has something to do with that?”

“Point taken. We are all navigating a new course on this. My mother has informed me she can take care of herself. I respect that. Now, Auntie, that leaves you to make a decision.”

“Stop calling me ‘Auntie.’ It is not fitting for someone of my age. ‘Auntie’ is a term reserved for aunts who are beloved or respected. You and I both know that isn’t the case here.”

“Okay, Serena. Now answer my question. Are you prepared to move on or not?”

Serena’s eyes narrowed. “Why?”

She looked over at Reggie and got the nod. “I spent some time with my mother this morning and gave her the emerald necklace you returned. We discussed the possibility of you taking a limited role at the Winslow Foundation, with the caveat you play by the new rules.”

“Which are?” Serena asked.

She looked to her mother. “You can answer, Ma.”

“No more temper tantrums,” Reggie said. “And enough with the spoiled brat routine. The staff hates it. A woman of your age should know better.”

Serena’s lips tightened. “I get things done. My methods work, and I have helped raise millions of dollars for the poor and needy in New England.”

“We don’t operate with those methods any longer,” Bev said. “This isn’t 1950. There is no caste system. I’m not sure if you noticed, but even my grandfather was adopting more open policies. The world has changed. Can you handle it?”

“I have always done what I believed best for the Winslow name. I’m here, aren’t I?”

“Okay. So the only other rule is for us to be totally honest with one another.” Now that Serena had softened a bit, Bev was ready to go in for the kill. She’d discussed her plan with Finn and Tracy and had gotten her mother on board.

“I already told you, I call things as I see them,” Serena said, looking puzzled.

“Good. Since we’ve gotten that over with, there is someone I want you to meet.” She waited as Tracy entered the drawing room. Serena stood as good manners dictated. Bev stood as well and made the introductions.

“Serena Hamilton, this is special agent Tracy Clay with the FBI.” Bev waited.

Serena was quite good. No visible reaction at all, just an extended hand. “A pleasure to meet you, Agent Clay. What can the Winslow family do for you?”

“I have questions with regard to threats made on Ms. Winslow’s life.” Dressed in a conservative black suit, Tracy came off as intimidating. But Bev should have known better than to think Serena would be bothered.

“How does that have anything to do with me?” Serena asked as she sat back down on the settee.

“We’re just covering our bases,” Tracy said. “We take these threats seriously.”

“Again, what does that have to do with me?”

“The FBI needs to know why Reginald Winslow chose Beverly as his heir instead of you.”

Serena lowered cup to saucer, barely clinking the china. Taking her time, she straightened her shoulders then looked directly at Tracy. “I thought that part of the will was private,” she said, eyes on Finn.

“Legally, it is; morally it is not—not when Beverly has been threatened,” he answered. “Everything should be open when someone threatens another person’s life.”

“Well then. Perhaps the reason my father did what he did was because he was an unforgiving bastard,” Serena said.

“Explain that statement, please,” Tracy prodded.

Serena sniffed. “I don’t like being treated as if I am a criminal.”

“Ma’am, until we can find out who is threatening Ms. Winslow, I have to ask many questions people aren’t comfortable with answering,” Tracy said.

“You will keep this discreet, won’t you? I’d hate to think people would believe I would do anything to hurt the family name.” Serena pulled back her shoulders. “I’ve learned my lesson on that front.”

“Stop being cryptic, Serena. Tell us,” Reggie said.

“Yes, of course. We need to clear this up. It involves you anyway, Regina.” Serena shook her head, sighed. “Well, it can’t be helped.” She looked at Tracy. “My father disinherited me as sole heir because of my role in my sister’s disgrace.”

“Lovely,” Bev said.

“I don’t consider you a disgrace, Beverly. Reginald didn’t see it that way either, obviously, since he chose you. However, he was a hard man back then. He was quick to temper and never backed down from a decision.” Serena shrugged. “Once he publicly disowned Regina, it was done.” She turned to Reggie. “I was not a good sister, I know that. I’m unsure I can be one now. But I do regret what I did.”

“Which was?” Tracy asked.

Serena blew out a breath. “Thirty years ago, I paid Charles Devon to seduce Regina.”