7. Eliza

7

ELIZA

T hree weeks after I returned to Edinburgh, I received a message from Niven, asking me to contact him when I had a few minutes to talk. Since I was in the midst of a lecture when it came in, I waited until the end of class to ring him.

"Eliza, thanks so much for getting back to me so quickly."

The tone of his voice was so different from the last time we spoke that I feared he was calling with news that Harper was no longer part of his life.

"Is everything all right?" I asked.

"It's about your father."

I gasped.

"My apologies. He's fine. What I mean to say is his health is okay."

"What's this about, Niv?"

"What I'm about to tell you isn't good. Are you somewhere you can speak freely?"

My stomach dropped. "In my office." Since it was connected to the hall where I usually taught, I'd stepped in before placing the call.

"His reason for wanting to sell the cottage has come to light. Your father is heavily in debt, Eliza. Once he learned the property in Alfriston was worth upwards of a million pounds, he saw it as a means to pay some of it off."

"Did you say some ?" I was flabbergasted. "How in the bloody hell did he manage to get himself so far in the red?"

"I've discovered he and your mum have been living far beyond their means for a number of years. In the last two, though, his spending has increased significantly."

"The foreign-secretary position," I muttered.

"That's right, not that the position pays enough to get him out of the fix he's in."

I understood. It was all about power for my dad. "How long has this been going on?" I asked.

"They've lived far beyond their mean for at least thirty. However, eleven years ago his income was no longer enough to cover his expenditures."

"Oh my God," I gasped, and my eyes filled with tears. That was when Margaret, Niven's mother and my aunt, passed away. She must've been supporting my parents prior to her death. I was equally mortified and ashamed.

"What I've learned is my mother?—"

"Please say no more." I choked on my tears. "My God, Niv. I am so sorry."

His voice softened. "This is not in any way your fault, Eliza. You've nothing to be sorry for."

"You needn't worry. I'll cover the debts."

"I can't allow you to do that. Better said, the solicitor will not."

My humiliation turned to anger. "What do you mean?"

"Here's my plan."

I sat at my desk, head in my hands, as I listened to my cousin's intentions. First, he'd purchase the cottage in Alfriston for its full market value. That money would be used to pay the debt.

Since I had already relinquished my claim, there'd be nothing in the way of Niven purchasing it, although I didn't understand why he would if the title decreed my uncle would be required to, in essence, give it to him. "Explain why, Niv."

He sighed. "My intention all along was to purchase it."

"You're doing this for a man who's treated you abhorrently your entire life."

He was quiet for several seconds. "I'm doing this for the good of the family. That includes Harper."

The tears I'd managed to stop returned in full force. "I'm happy for you. More than that."

"I know you are, and that means the world to me."

"What happens after you purchase the cottage?" I asked.

"They will relocate to a more modest home, given I've also learned my mother purchased it for them."

"Bloody hell, this keeps getting worse."

"I intend to offer them a budget of five hundred thousand pounds, which I will provide. From that point on, he and your mother will have to live within the means afforded to them by his position as foreign secretary."

I couldn't help but imagine my father's reaction to all this. Frankly, I doubted he'd agree to any of it other than Niven purchasing the cottage to settle his debt. "Wait, how will what you're doing prevent him from ending up in debt again?"

"I thought about that. The home will be held jointly in my name and yours. Upon your parents' death, you will own it free and clear. However, if I learn he is trying to manipulate you in any way, I won't hesitate to turn him out to the street. I'm sorry, Eliza, but this is all of his own making."

"Please do not apologize. What you're doing is far more generous than he deserves. I have but one question."

"Go on," he said.

"Why can't I help? I have plenty of money, as you well know."

He was quiet again for several seconds. "If you do, he'll want more in the same way a blackmailer would. He will know in no uncertain terms that I will do nothing more for him. He won't dare to even ask."

"Understood. But can't I reimburse you?"

"I have something else to ask of you."

"Name it."

"I want you to come and stay with Harper at the cottage. I know it's inconvenient timing, but it's important."

" Inconvenient ? God, Niv, you're saving my parents. Whatever you need me to do, I will."

"There's a bit more."

"Niven, please get to the point. You're beginning to frighten me."

He sighed. "I've been temporarily reinstated at MI6. This means two things. First, the chief has agreed to look the other way and not mire the family in scandal by revealing your parents' predicament. In other words, he'll bury it on my behalf, and your father will be able to retain his position. Second, I will be taking on a mission. One that might require I be gone for some length of time. Or?—"

" Do not say it!"

"Eliza, it's a possibility we must allow for."

"Allow all you like; just don't speak of it to me." I could not permit myself to consider a world without my cousin in it. Just the idea brought me back to tears.

"What I'm asking is for you to stay at the cottage with Harper for as long as needed."

"Done."

"As far as timing?—"

I interrupted him again. "I'll be there by the end of the week."

"I understand you'll need to make arrangements for someone to cover your classes. Are you sure you don't need more time?"

"Positive."

Niven cleared his throat. "One more thing."

I'd not steal his thunder, but I had a good idea of what he was about to say.

"I proposed to Harper, and astonishingly, she accepted."

"Congratulations, Niven! That's wonderful news, and it isn't surprising in the least. It is obvious you are both very much in love."

"She's my life, Eliza."

"And you are hers. I can't wait to get there and celebrate with you both."

"We're going to marry before I leave."

Like earlier, I'd not allow myself to think about why. Instead, I'd do everything I could to make this a beautiful and special wedding regardless of its haste.

Once the call ended, I immediately sent my letter of resignation to the head of my department, citing family issues that would preclude me from returning in the foreseeable future.

By the week's end, as promised, I'd packed up my office, studio, and flat, and arranged for everything to be shipped to London and stored. Given the lease on my flat there was about to expire, I contacted the tenant to inform them I'd not be renewing but gave them ample time to find another place since I'd be in Alfriston with Harper.

After landing at Heathrow, I contacted Miss Bardwell. "There's something at the flat I need to pick up," I told her.

"I had a feeling either you or Niven would. I've had it cleaned and made ready."

"I adore you and will see you soon," I told her.

"I'll have lunch ready when you get here."

I laughed and thanked her. The least I could do was give in and let her feed me, knowing it would make her happier.

The days leading up to the wedding flew by, leaving me wishing I could stop time. Once it was over, Niven would leave, and if I could delay his doing so forever, I would.

While I focused on preparing the cottage, the vicar who Harper now worked for, along with the woman who lived next door, arranged to have the overgrown gardens restored to the same beauty I remembered as a child.

The looks on Harper's and Niven's faces when they drove up on their wedding day made all the hard work we'd done worth it.

Unable to hide my excitement, I pulled Harper aside shortly after we came inside. "Come with me," I said, leading her into the bedroom and closing the door behind us.

"What's going on?" Harper asked after taking a seat on the bed.

"While you are the perfect picture of a beautiful bride, there's something I want to show you. If you don't want to wear it, you don't have to."

I pulled the silk wedding gown from the closet and held it up for her to see. "This belonged to Niven's mother, Margaret. When she died, he found it stored in the back of a closet in his flat. He intended to get rid of it, but I begged him to let me have it. What he didn't know was that I gave it to Miss Bardwell for safekeeping."

"It's so beautiful," she whispered.

"It looks to me like it will fit you perfectly." While the decision, of course, was hers, I prayed she liked it.

"I'd love to wear it," she said, perhaps noticing I was waiting with bated breath for her to say something.

When I offered to step out to give her privacy, Harper asked if I'd stay and help her, and I told her I'd be honored.

Once she was ready, I stepped out of the room first.

"She's so beautiful," I whispered to Niven.

Without turning around, I knew the minute she walked out. The look on my cousin's face melted my heart.

"Wait." I gasped when I saw the bouquet of flowers sitting on the dining table and rushed over to hand it to her.

I stood back and listened to the vicar's words, crying through the entire thing, trying hard to push away the question lingering in my mind—would anyone ever love me half as much as Niven loved Harper? I feared not.

At the end of the ceremony, after Niven, Harper, Sterling, a friend of my cousin who served with me as witnesses, and I signed the marriage license and drank a toast. After which, it was time for everyone to leave.

"We'll take the vicar next door," I said, kissing Niv's cheek. "Dinner will be delivered at five, so when someone knocks, put on your knickers and answer the door."

"You are a minx, but I love you, cousin."

"I love you too, Niven."

"Where are you off to, then?"

"I'm driving Sterling back to London tonight, but I'll return as soon as I hear from you. By the way, someday, you'll have to tell me how a man from Texas, who goes by the name of Hammer, ended up as your witness." The expression on Niv's face changed so drastically that I regretted my words as soon as I said them.

"He's also my attorney. There were, um, other things that needed to be signed."

"Understood, and please forgive me for asking."

He kissed my cheek like I had his. "Have I told you how much I appreciate what you're doing and everything you've already done?"

I was in a foul mood on the drive to London. Feeling sorry for myself was more like it. Why couldn't I just be happy for Niven and Harper rather than get mired by the idea I'd probably never marry as well?

After dropping Hammer, which he insisted I call him, at the airport, I drove into town. I thought about staying at Claridge's, but given my mood, I decided not to. Instead, I chose a place on the opposite street. As I looked over at my favorite hotel in all of London, I immediately regretted my decision. If I thought for a moment they'd refund my money, I'd hurry to the lobby. Certain they wouldn't, I got in bed and cried myself to sleep.

Two days later, when Niven asked me to return to the cottage and I watched him and Harper say goodbye, I felt ashamed for my tears the night of their wedding. This was sorrow. My tears were nothing but a pity party.

Four gut-wrenchingly worrisome days later, I received a call from Niven.

"Where are you?" I gasped.

"London, and I've been trying to reach Harper, but she isn't picking up."

"She's asleep, but I'll wake her. Thank God, by the way, that you're back. I mean, you are, right? Not leaving again right away?"

"Not leaving again ever if I can help it. On my way to Alfriston tonight." Saint's voice was weak with fatigue.

"Is it okay, then, if I make myself scarce?" I asked.

"You needn't, Eliza. It's the middle of the night."

"Not quite, and I'd rather. You had little enough of a honeymoon as it is."

"Thank you."

"I'd say it was my pleasure, but I'm sure it will be yours."

"You're a minx, but I adore you."

"As I do, you."

After waking Harper and telling her to turn on her phone, I quietly let myself out of the cottage. Rather than return to the city right away, I took the scenic route through Surrey. By the time I reached Shere, I was too exhausted to keep driving, so I stopped at the only pub in town to get a bite to eat.

After learning there were rooms to let upstairs, I decided to sleep and return to London the following morning. When I peeked out the window right before getting into bed, I saw a group of blokes heading toward the pub's entrance.

In my haze of two pints, on top of my exhaustion, I imagined I saw my mystery man amongst them. When I blinked and looked again, he wasn't there.

"You're ridiculous," I muttered to myself, climbing under the covers.