Free Count Toussaint’s Pregnant Mistress by Kate Hewitt Page B

certainly now felt like a different person from the girl or even the woman she’d been. ‘He poured all his love of piano into me, as well as all of his ambition. I never wanted to let him down.’ The long days of mindless work here in Cornwall had caused her to relive her own life’s history in her mind, making realizations and connectionsthat had never occurred to her before. It hadn’t been the most comfortable of times, but it had been good. Necessary.
    ‘That may be,’ Luc said eventually. ‘But your talent is obvious, and undoubtedly surpasses your father’s. That’s not something that can be forced.’
    ‘Perhaps not,’ Abby agreed. ‘But talent and desire don’t always go hand in hand. At least, the desire to perform professionally.’ Yet to play—to feel the music emerge and dance under her fingers—was just as much of a desire and even a need as it had ever been. ‘Anyway,’ she continued, suddenly feeling restless with the discussion about herself, ‘who knows? Perhaps I’ll play again, if I’m given the opportunity. By the time I’m ready to go back, the world might have latched on to some other piano prodigy.’ She made a face as she spoke her own despised nickname.
    ‘I doubt it,’ Luc said evenly. ‘But if you wanted a break, why not go to a resort or hotel? Have a proper holiday, instead of—’
    ‘Working like some skivvy?’ Abby laughed. ‘This is like a holiday for me, Luc, of sorts.’
    ‘You certainly have the money—’
    ‘Actually,’ she cut him off, ‘I don’t.’ She turned to rinse her mug in the sink. She hadn’t meant to divulge that little fact, but Luc somehow had the ability to wring the truth from her, no matter how unpalatable or humiliating. He took a step towards her; she could feel his tension.
    ‘Abby, what do you mean?’
    ‘My father was in charge of investing all my money,’ Abby said, her back to him. ‘I always had what I needed, and I never thought about it much, frankly. Anyway…’ She took a breath, let it out. ‘Right around the time I felt burned out—’ the night you left me , she couldn’t help but think ‘—I discovered he’d lost virtually all the profits from seven years of playing. Riskystock-investments and a downturn in the economy.’ She shrugged. ‘He’s a musician, not a banker.’
    Luc swore under his breath. ‘What about continued royalties from the albums you’ve made?’
    ‘There are only two, and, years on, they’re not big sellers. It provides a little bit, that’s all.’
    ‘You could sue him.’
    ‘Oh, Luc.’ Abby turned around, shaking her head. ‘Do you think I want revenge? He’s my father. Besides, he doesn’t have any money to pay for a settlement. I feel sorry for him, to tell you the truth. I think he was more invested in my career than I was.’
    ‘What is he doing now?’
    Abby shrugged. Her father had been disgusted by her choice to live in Cornwall and work like some common drudge. They were hardly ever in touch, and the only time he called was to implore her to return to the music scene. ‘Probably in London, trying to drum up some work for me. The last offer was playing somewhere in Brighton for pensioners.’
    ‘And what about your mother?’
    ‘She’s pursuing her own career. My parents have lived virtually separate lives since I started to tour. She offered to have me come live with her in Manchester, perhaps teach piano to children, but I didn’t want that. I needed to make my own life, and I have.’ She paused, and when she spoke again there was an edge to her voice. ‘I can tell you don’t think much of it, but it’s mine, and amazingly enough I’ve been happy here.’
    Luc was silent for a long moment. ‘If you need money…’
    She drew herself up, her breath coming out in a hiss. ‘I don’t.’
    ‘I won’t have you working here like a skivvy simply because—’
    ‘You have no choice, Luc. You have no control over my life.’
    Luc’s eyes flashed brilliant