Strange Bedfellows
~ ch. 14, continued ~
Dara followed Stefan from the
library. In silence they walked
side by side down the hallway to the conservatory.
“The judge ruled against
you.” Nikolas’ voice was heavy
with disappointment. He rose from
the ornate bench on which he’d sat waiting the past hour or so.
“Yes, Nikolai.
My arguments were for naught.”
“Did you use all the
arguments we discussed?” Dara asked Stefan. Only yesterday in the little clearing on the island she and
Stefan had formulated and analyzed possibility after possibility.
The afternoon had flown by unnoticed, so caught up were they in the pleasure of
stimulating mental give and take.
Stefan met Dara’s eyes.
“Yes. All.”
“I don’t understand,”
Nikolas interjected.
When Stefan hesitated, Dara
shared with the young man the meaning of their conversation.
“When Stefan first came to me about the position of Trustee, the
situation was a lot different than it is now,” Dara explained.
“The magistrate in charge of the case had a known history of liberal
rulings, and we were convinced that he could be persuaded to consider me for the
position if I pretended to be… involved with your uncle.”
Nikolas’ eyes widened at
Dara’s confession. His uncle had
shared some of the details of his alliance with the former Assistant
District Attorney, but he had definitely not shared that particular
detail.
“It was to be a gradual
involvement that culminated in an engagement.
An engagement,” Stefan elaborated, “that would have spanned the
period until you came of age and no longer required an appointed trustee to the
family’s fortune. At which time,
Miss Jensen and I would end the charade of betrothal.”
Dara sighed.
“Unfortunately for us, the original judge was offered a presidential
appointment. When he left the case,
it was handed over to a new magistrate and a new hearing date was set for
today.”
“And this judge won’t
accept your ‘engagement’ as reason enough to appoint you?” Nikolas asked.
“No.”
“We are left with no option
for success but the unthinkable,” Stefan remarked.
“Marriage between Miss Jensen and myself.”
