in love with when you were fifteen? Wake up my dear, he’s devoted to only one love, you have the wrong set of equipment.”

“No. That would be you.”

Ethan hauled off and slapped me. “I’m putting a stop to this now.”

He stalked out of the room and went downstairs to confront Brovik. I was momentarily paralyzed. What if all Ethan said was true? I’d been misled once already. Maybe it all was a ploy, and the things Kurt had said to me for years were just lies. I had to find out. I followed Ethan downstairs, where Philip was stirring the fire, and Brovik leafing through a pile of papers Ethan had prepared, our expenses for the trip home.

Ethan waved the letter in Brovik’s face. “So. You promised her the boy. You put him up to writing her love letters.”

Brovik was nonplussed and pushed Ethan’s hand away as if shooing a fly. “I only encouraged him. The words and the sentiments are his own.”

“You manipulated her and deceived me.”

Brovik’s liquid smile flowed once more. “It has worked to our advantage.”

“Well, now that this is out in the open, we can end this little charade.” Ethan turned to Philip. “You had a part, too.”

Philip’s face was troubled. “The child was lonely. I thought friendship with one her own age would be good for her. I never meant harm.”

I appealed to Philip. “Tell me the truth. Was all this all a ploy?”

“Not on my part. I believe Kurt had no part, either.”

“The boy had no part,” Brovik said, not looking up from the figures on the paper. “He genuinely cares for her.”

Ethan was furious. “Isn’t this all so touching? The fact remains that she’s mine and I have no intention of giving her up. She just made me a cool fifty thousand, between my compensation and the painting.”

“It’s my desire she remain with you,” Brovik replied. “I discussed this with her outside.”

Philip was perturbed. “Do you even love the girl, Ethan?”

Ethan’s face gave no clue as he replied to Philip’s question, “Ask Brovik, he knows the answer.”

Brovik looked bored. “This work is important to us all. You two will work out your difficulties. Philip and I have business in Rome. I can’t stay here and argue over hurt feelings.”

“You wreak your havoc and move on, just to get what you want.”

“Remember that Ethan and you’ll have an easier time of it. I didn’t survive a thousand years by worrying about sensibility. I get results anyway I can. We have bigger things to worry about than Mia fancying Kurt.”

I trembled from head to foot with anger. “You used me. You’re as bad as Gaius!”

Brovik grew horrifyingly still. “I won’t have either of you getting in the way of our progress. I don’t care if you despise each other. You’ll do as you are ordered. Philip, let’s go.” He abruptly left the room.

Philip kissed my cheek and whispered into my ear. “Courage, little one— the boy is true.”

I pulled away from him. “You told me never to trust anyone. I guess you were right.”

“Philip, come,” Brovik called from the door.

Philip shook his head, taking one last look at us before he left with Brovik. “Ruthven, old chap, we’ve made a sad mess of things.”

Ethan looked as if I were an insect he scraped off of the sole of his shoe. “Here I thought it was Brovik, but all along he was pandering his paramour to you.”

“Well, that should work for you. Brovik’s bed is a bit crowded. Go on, hit me again, leave bruises. They will fade. I found that out with Dirk.”

“You endured that animal because Brovik promised you an opportunity to rut with Kurt?”

“No, to be free of you and all your misery!”

“Misery, madam? I’ve endured your haranguing for over a decade. Perhaps, I long to be free of you!”

“Go on, throw me out, and lose the best investment you ever made.”

Ethan grabbed my throat. “Don’t tempt me. I can always make a new and improved version of you. Brovik could care less as long as she does as she’s told. What would become of you then? Maybe little Amor would spirit you away, or maybe he’d just let you lie there until the sun rots the flesh from your bones. You are nothing without me. I took you from that wretched theatre and made you a goddess.”

“I never asked to be a goddess. I only wanted you to love me. You should have left me to die. Hell, couldn’t be any worse