Free Rules of Murder by Julianna Deering Page A

understand her reasons for keeping it out of that sort of scandal.”
    “If she wanted the name kept out of scandal, she should have kept herself out of scandal.”
    “There really is nothing more to discuss here,” Mason said, his voice taut. “I mean to honor what your mother wanted. As her husband, it’s my place to protect her interests.”
    “Hers or your own?” Drew said, the words barbed. “It’s humiliating for a man to have to admit he’s been cuckolded, I’m sure.”
    Mason pressed his lips together and did not answer.
    “I’m sorry, sir,” Drew said after a moment. “I sometimes say more than I ought.”
    Still Mason said nothing.
    “We like to believe the best of those we love,” Drew added,hating that he had hurt the man. “I know it isn’t easy to accept it when they aren’t always what we think they should be.”
    Mason peered at him. “No. No, it’s not.”
    “But knowing the truth doesn’t mean we can’t still love them.”
    Mason nodded. “So you would rather have the truth, would you? Even when the thing is past and done and changes nothing?”
    “I would.”
    Again his stepfather peered at him. “How old are you now, Drew? Twenty-four?”
    “Yes. Why?”
    “So you know why she was being blackmailed, do you?”
    Drew nodded, suddenly not as sure as he had been.
    “Tell me why,” Mason urged.
    “I don’t mean to upset you, sir, but I’m sure you’ve known as well as anyone.”
    “About?”
    “About her and Lincoln. I’ve no doubt he was taking money to keep quiet about their affair two years ago.”
    Mason shook his head. “I’ve told you time and again. There was no affair.”
    “And I thought you were going to give me the truth now,” Drew said tightly.
    “Will you listen to me, or have you already decided you know everything?”
    Drew bit back a hasty retort. Mason had the calm air of a man who was sure of his facts.
    “I’ll listen. Of course.”
    “You know Lincoln’s father was partners with me and Rushford and with your father when we started the company, back in ninety-eight. Connie and your father had been married only a few months. He was like many young men, then and now, eager to build his empire and his great name. He did ittoo, and, as usually happens, paid the price for it. By the time the company was on its feet, he and Connie were practically strangers, and she had no interest in intimacy with a man she rarely saw.”
    He peered at Drew again and then continued.
    “He poured himself more and more into the business, no doubt hoping she would relent in time and be proud of his success.” Mason smiled a little. “Being ‘in the right,’ of course, she held her ground and kept her distance.”
    Again Mason paused.
    “You know your father was a good man, Drew. I’d never dispute that with you.”
    Drew merely looked at him, feeling a growing uneasiness inside himself, a feeling that he had pressed too far into what he did not truly want to know.
    “But he was a man, no more than that,” Mason said. “Even the best make a false step now and again, especially when things aren’t going well at home.”
    Drew frowned, less out of displeasure than from the desire to keep his lips from trembling. “What are you telling me? That it was my father who was unfaithful?”
    “It was not long after your grandfather died, and I imagine your father was still in need of comfort on that score. He stopped into a little hat shop on the Rue de la Paix one night, when he was in Paris on business, thinking to bring Connie back some sort of peace offering. The girl there was sympathetic and kind. He told Connie later that she had a sweet, simple way about her that made him feel he could confide in her.”
    Drew’s frown deepened. “Then Mother knew about her. Soon after, I suppose.”
    “He and the woman were together only a week. He came back and told Connie everything, begged her forgiveness, andpromised never to stray again. As far as I have ever known,