Free Glittering Promises by Lisa T. Bergren

Cora. Money equals freedom. The freedom to buy anything you want. And Will has worked so hard. He deserves it.”
    “But I have no more cash. I already borrowed from Lil—”
    “Please,” she said, unclasping her small purse and pulling out a wad of Italian lire. After a quick glance over her shoulder at Will, she carefully passed it to me, hiding it in the folds of our skirts. “You’ll pay me back. Go on. I’ll distract him. Maybe I’ll convince him to buy that hat.” She smiled and squeezed my arm and moved away, leaving me to face the merchant, who eyed me expectantly.
    It’d be the perfect surprise for Will, I told myself, handing the bills to him, even as everything in me screamed it was too much, too extravagant.
    But he deserved it, didn’t he? I wanted something to express all I felt for him. And he’d been through so much… It was the perfect gift.
    I just had to find the right time to give it to him.

CHAPTER 7
    ~William~
    He looked at Cora as she entered the motorcar and smiled as he noted the aura of pleasure about her. Gone was the vague mantle of weariness, worry. In its place was a new confidence in her step. Joy. Hope. Which made him feel worse about his own misgivings. Over her negotiating him out from under his debt holder’s thumb. Over her instant fame—her wealth and position bound to increase her draw tenfold. Over her always and forever earning far more money in a year than he would likely ever earn in a lifetime.
    He was glad for her. Truly.
    It just didn’t… set well with him.
    Add to that his concern that Andrew fairly seethed with jealousy. There was a new potential enemy within the group’s very own ranks.
    Will felt nothing but increasing agitation every time he looked at the woman he loved. And he did love her, with everything in him. Please, Lord, help me find a way, he prayed silently, watching as Felix helped her out of the motorcar. She leaned in to share a secret with Lillian and then laughed. She was so beautiful. So good. So innocent in all of this. Why did he feel any semblance of resentment? More importantly, how could he find his way past it?
    “There you are at last!” Wallace said, emerging from the villa. “I want you all to meet Simon Grunthall.”
    They collectively turned and faced the newcomer, a small, broad-shouldered man in an expensive suit. He had brooding dark eyes that seemed to miss nothing.
    “Mr. Grunthall is the company’s new press secretary, just arrived from New York. He shall manage all correspondence and interviews with journalists seeking an audience with you young people.” Wallace spoke to the group, but his eyes rested on Cora. One by one, he introduced Grunthall to Will, Antonio, the guards, and the Kensingtons and Morgans. Each shook his hand and greeted him. Cora was last. Will came around to stand beside her, and Simon’s keen eyes flicked between them once, twice.
    “So it’s true? You two are courting?” he asked without preamble.
    “Indeed,” Will said.
    “Be prepared for some competition,” the man sniffed, unfolding an Italian paper to an inner page. “News is out about Cora being a Kensington and many presume she is the one who shall prosper the most from the wealth found beneath Dunnigan.” He eyed her. “They say that luck runs in the blood,” he said, and gave her a smile of appraisal, as if considering it. “Add to that, this”—he handed her the newest issue of Life —“and you’ll be bombarded. As soon as they can find you, that is.” He turned to look over his shoulder at the heavily wooded hillside that rose above the villa, then out to the eastern vineyard, as if reporters might be lurking, even here, now.
    “We aim to avoid that as long as possible,” Will said. “Which is why we’re now taking a rather unorthodox route on our tour.”
    “Take whatever route you wish. The Italians can certainly find you soon enough. And they shall sell their stories to the world press.” He looked to