“Leave us,” he commanded brusquely and, as Julia turned into her own room, she saw Veronika, her face a mask of fear, hurry out.
At witnessing Veronika’s expression, Julia’s own fear was subsiding, giving way to anger.
“What on earth?” she snapped when she entered her room and closed the door with a slam.
“It has come to my attention that I’ll be having guests at Thanksgiving,” he announced, looking about her room.
He picked up a framed photo from the writing desk that showed Julia with some friends at Margarita Mayhem Night. He gave it a hard glance and then put it down. She watched him do this and saw his movements were rough with rage.
“Yes,” Julia replied, jutting up her chin and steeling herself for a forthcoming tirade, “I’m an American and those kids are half-American and we’ll be celebrating Thanksgiving. Don’t worry, I’ll buy and prepare the food, and serve it, so you won’t feel a hiccup in the strict Sommersgate regimen.”
“In future,” he stated smoothly, “I would like for you to inform me of these things in plenty of time for me to rearrange my schedule so that I can be free to attend.”
Her mouth dropped open again and then she snapped it shut.
“Of course,” she whispered, surprised. That was the last thing she expected to hear.
“Charlotte informs me you have the opportunity of an unpaid consultancy,” he went on.
She looked at him warily. He was angry about something, what, she didn’t know. However, all the things he said belied his apparent wrath.
“Yes,” Julia agreed carefully, drawing out the word longer than necessary.
“Take it,” he ordered. “Veronika can use the extra money. I’ll increase her pay to cover any added duties.”
Julia clenched her teeth together in an effort not to allow her jaw to go slack again.
She watched him as he turned, surprised he knew any personal information about any of his staff much less an underling like Veronika. He walked across to the mantel and picked up another photo. This was of her and Gavin when they were children; she had her arms wrapped around Gavin’s neck and her leg thrown over his lap. He stared at it a moment and then set it down, his face impassive.
“I heard what your mother said,” Julia told him, summoning up all her courage to confront him. His head came up and he looked at her, his face betraying nothing.
“I know you did.”
“If you want me to go, I’ll go. I’ll be happy to go. I just want to take the kids with me. All you have to do is sign over custody –”
“No,” he said flatly and Julia tensed.
“Douglas, I know neither you nor your mother have any interest in the children and both my mother and I will be able to give them a happy, healthy upbringing in Indiana. We can somehow circumvent the will that says they have to be raised at Sommersgate.”
“I said, no.”
It was her turn to shake with fury.
“Why?” Julia asked on a cry. “Why when you obviously don’t care? When you’re more interested in games than your nieces and nephew? When your mother can’t stand the sight of me?”
“Because it’s what Tamsin wanted,” Douglas answered.
“Tamsin wouldn’t have wanted this!” Julia retorted angrily.
For some reason, he smiled. It wasn’t a grin but an all-out, white-flash of teeth against tanned, handsome face smile. Just as quickly as a snap, his fury was gone and he was smiling at her. It was unnerving and it only proved to heighten of her own temper.
“Do you want to tell me what’s going on?” she demanded hotly.
She thought he’d refuse but instead he said, “Yes, Julia, I’d very much like to tell you what’s going on.”
But then he said no more.
And she wasn’t sure she wanted to hear what he had to say at all.