‘Oh, there’s no need for that,’ Arnold said. ‘We can say all that needs to be said here, in the open. Among friends.’ He handed Rome his sherry. ‘I take it there’s something you want to ask me? Something of a personal nature?’
Rome’s brows drew together sharply, but he kept his voice cool. ‘Yes, there is, although I hadn’t planned to do it in quite this way.’
‘It was to be over the brandy and cigars, perhaps? When I was feeling mellow.’ There was a faint smile playing round the older man’s mouth. A smile that held neither humour nor warmth. ‘Well, say what you came here to say, Mr d’Angelo. I’m listening.’
‘Very well.’ Rome spoke levelly. ‘The truth is, Mr Grant, that Cory and I love each other. I’ve come to ask formally for your blessing to marry her.’
‘The truth?’ Arnold said meditatively. ‘As in the whole truth—and nothing but the truth?’ He shook his head. ‘I don’t think so.’
‘Grandfather,’ Cory protested angrily.
‘Sit down, my dear.’ His voice was marginally kinder. ‘I’m afraid I have an unpleasant shock for you. You see, your suitor is not quite what he seems. I’m sure you already know that he’s not Italian, but are you aware that d’Angelo isn’t his real name—just the one he took from his stepfather?’
‘Yes,’ Cory said. ‘Yes, I am.’
‘But did he tell what he is really called—the name he was born to? I think not. Perhaps you’d like to enlighten us now—Mr d’Angelo.’
There was real venom in the older man’s voice.
Groaning inwardly, Rome met his gaze, then turned to Cory, who was looking bewildered.
He said gently, ‘It’s Sansom, mia cara. My mother was Sarah Sansom, Matt’s younger daughter.’ He glanced at Arnold, his mouth hard. ‘Is that what you wanted to hear?’
‘Part of it.’ Arnold nodded. ‘And please believe this gives me no pleasure. My grandchild is very dear to me—as of course you know already. I never wanted her to be hurt, but I fear it’s unavoidable now.’
The room was overheated, to suit Sonia’s taste, but Cory suddenly felt icy cold.
She said, ‘I don’t understand any of this. What are you talking about?’
‘About an illusion,’ Arnold said heavily. ‘An illusion created by a vengeful man and carried out by his grandson. Your lover was bribed, Cory, to set you up. Matt Sansom gave him a loan for that vineyard of his, and then threatened to foreclose unless he managed to seduce you. And I was supposed to pay him to go away. Isn’t that the way of it, Mr Rome Sansom? Wasn’t that the unholy bargain you made with that old devil?’
Rome stiffened, but his glance didn’t waver. ‘Yes.’
‘No.’ Cory’s cry of pain and disbelief pierced the room. ‘No, Rome, it’s not true. It can’t be.’
‘Yes,’ he said steadily. ‘It was true, every word of it, in the beginning. But not any more. Not for a long time. Not after I fell in love with you. You have to believe that.’
‘Believe it?’ Her voice broke. ‘When you’ve lied to me from the start? When it was just money—all over again? How can I believe anything about you—now?’
She turned away, her body rigid, covering her face with her hands, and Sonia jumped up, placing a protective arm round her.
‘Why don’t you go?’ she hurled at Rome. ‘Why don’t you just get out?’
Rome turned back to Arnold Grant. ‘I’d intended to tell you all this myself tonight, but not in front of Cory. Not like this. You could have spared her.’
‘She has the right to know the kind of man you are. The filthy deception you’ve practised.’
Rome said quietly, ‘You can’t call me anything I haven’t called myself. But it makes no difference, because the deception stopped a long time ago—and my grandfather knows it. I’m still going to marry Cory—with or without your permission.’
‘Over my dead body,’ Arnold said with a sneer. ‘You’ll have to look for another heiress to bale out your sinking vineyard.’ His smile was thin. ‘You gambled heavily on tonight, I think. You’d won my girl. You hope to do the same with me. To use my affection for her to persuade me to trust you. Only the deck was stacked against you in a way you could never have imagined.’
He walked across the room and opened a door. He said curtly, ‘You’d better come in now.’
Matt Sansom walked slowly into the room, leaning on a cane.
Rome stood motionless, his attention totally arrested.
Then he said softly, ‘So that was how Mr Grant was so well informed. Congratulations, Grandfather. You’ve actually managed to surprise me. And had your moment of triumph into the bargain.’
Matt looked at him with contempt. ‘Did you really think I’d let the fact that you’ve gone soft spoil that for me? I wanted to see the look on his damned face when I told him I’d offered my bastard grandson money to seduce his precious girl, and I did.’ He laughed hoarsely. ‘And it was worth every penny I’ve got to see all his worst fears confirmed.’
Cory said very quietly, ‘Why do you hate me so much, Mr Sansom?’
He swung round, looking for the source of the intervention. She was very white, and there were tears glistening on her eyelashes, but she was in control again, standing straight, her head high. Rome’s amethyst glittered on her hand and Matt’s eyes went straight to it, and then, sharply, to her face.
He gasped harshly and took a step back, his own face blanching. ‘That ring,’ he said hoarsely. ‘Where did you get it?’
‘Aunt Kit gave it to me,’ Rome said. ‘For the woman I love.’
‘She had no right.’ Matt was ashen, fighting for control. ‘I gave that ring to my Elizabeth.’
‘And she gave it back,’ Rome said quietly. ‘When she decided to marry someone else.’
‘It was the ring that gave you away,’ Arnold said grimly. ‘Beth was wearing it when I met her, and I’ve never forgotten it. As soon as I saw it I guessed who was behind all this.’ He sent Matt a look of frank loathing. ‘And he was only too happy to confirm it.’
‘But he misjudged his man. You can tell who you damn well please about this filthy plot of yours—if you dare—but you’ll not see a penny of my money. And you’ll never have anything to do with my granddaughter again. She’s going to Miami with her mother.’
Rome was looking at Matt, too. He said slowly, ‘You gave the ring to your wife—to my grandmother—but she hated it, didn’t she? Because she guessed it had belonged to someone else—someone you’d loved in a way you’d never cared for her.’
‘There was never anyone else in the world for me.’ Matt’s voice cracked. He took a step forward, putting out a shaking hand to where Cory stood, pale and straight in her aubergine dress. ‘It could be her,’ he muttered. ‘Her eyes—her gentle mouth. Beth—oh, my Beth…’
‘No,’ Rome said, his voice like ice. ‘My Cory—the girl I love.’
‘You dare to say that?’ Arnold almost exploded. ‘After what you’ve done. The way you’ve treated her.’
‘I’m not proud of the way I’ve behaved,’ Rome said curtly. ‘When I first saw her I was obeying instructions, and I admit it. But after that I was following my heart, because, with her, I put out my hand and touched paradise.’
He threw his head back. ‘I agreed to do what my