Page 47 of The Gilded Heiress

me nothing to do but look around. I hadn’t noticed as much in the dark the other night, but the place was impressive. I knew

art, and the paintings on the walls were valuable. As were the marble statues and eastern vases. A thief would do pretty well

here.

“Sir?” The butler stood a few feet away. “If you’ll follow me.”

I caught up with him, then followed as he led me into an elegant drawing room. Josie was there, but she wasn’t alone. Mr.

and Mrs. Pendelton were there as well, their expressions wary as I walked in.

Josie stood and closed the distance between us. I soaked in her appearance like a man dying of thirst. Christ, she looked

beautiful, if a bit tired. Hadn’t she been sleeping well here?

I shoved it aside; she wasn’t mine to worry about any longer.

“Hello, Leo.”

“Miss Smith.” I gave her a small smile and bowed over her hand.

When I straightened, I saw the tiny divot between her brows, like my behavior confused her. “Leo, come and meet Mr. and Mrs.

Pendelton.”

Mr. Pendelton, hands clasped behind his back, waited by the sofa. He was older, but just as imposing as I remembered. Mrs.

Pendelton was elegantly perched on the edge of the cushion, her hands in her lap. She regarded me like a speck of dirt on

the bottom of one’s shoe.

Anger sparked in my belly, resentment roiling in my chest. My father’s reputation might’ve been cleared, but I couldn’t forgive these people for what they did. Maybe someday I would feel differently, but being in this house only reminded me how unfairly my father had been treated.

I decided not to shake hands but went for a nod instead. “Sir. Ma’am.”

Josie said to them, “May I present Mr. Leo Hardy? Son of Steven Hardy, your former head gardener.”

No one spoke for several seconds. Josie sighed. “You both promised.”

I didn’t know what that meant, but Mr. Pendelton said tightly, “Hardy.”

Mrs. Pendelton gestured to a chair. “Won’t you join us, Mr. Hardy?”

Sit? Here? What was this about? I looked over at Josie. She gave me an encouraging nudge toward the chair. “Sit, Leo.”

I walked toward the chair and lowered myself down. Josie reclaimed her seat at the other end of the sofa, which meant the

Pendeltons were now staring at me. I let them stare. I had been summoned here, not the other way around. I’d be damned if

I let them see me sweat.

I focused on Josie instead.

Her soft green eyes, wisps of blond hair. Creamy skin and full lips. God, I miss those lips. A weight sank in my chest, making it hard to breathe. I’d poured my heart out the other night to her, yet it hadn’t been

enough. She would never forgive me for what I had done.

My god, you two are awful, despicable humans.

Josie’s words cut deep, even two days later. Maybe she was right. Maybe it was too late for me to choose another path. A rotten

apple, with no hope of redemption.

“Leo, thank you for coming,” Josie said. “Mr. Pendelton? Have you something to say?”

The tycoon cleared his throat. “Mrs. Pendelton and I would like to formally apologize, Hardy, for what happened to your father. It has come to my attention in the last twenty-four hours that he was not involved in the kidnapping.”

An apology? I blinked several times, trying to make sense of it. I hadn’t expected an apology, not even after Freddie’s arrest

yesterday.

“And?” Josie prompted when Pendelton fell silent.

“And we would like to make good on our error.”

“I don’t understand.” My gaze bounced to Josie before returning to Pendelton. “My father is dead. He drank himself to death

after you turned him out with no reference or severance.”

“I would like to offer you his severance now, as well as a bit more in restitution.”

Ah. They were trying to ease their consciences with money. Except they hadn’t done this of their own free will, had they?

Josie had arranged this. I wasn’t sure why, but for some reason the Pendeltons were indulging her.

I turned my hat over in my hands, watching them for signs of sincerity.

I found none.

Mr. Pendelton appeared reluctant at best, hostile at worst. Mrs. Pendelton’s lips were pinched, her expression conveying her

disapproval and dismay.

And Josie.

The way Josie looked at me was perhaps the most disappointing of all. She watched me eagerly, happily, as if she’d solved

all my problems.

And maybe in the past it would’ve been true. Money did solve a lot of problems.

But not this time.

Didn’t she understand? I wanted her, not a bank roll.

My god, you two are awful, despicable humans.

Mr. Pendelton withdrew a bank check from his inner coat pocket. He held it up with two fingers, like he expected me to leap over the sofa and grab it from him. “I think you’ll find this is more than fair.”

I didn’t move.

“Leo,” Josie prompted softly when I continued to sit there. “Take the money.”

I sat perfectly still.

The moment stretched and my responsibilities sat like a stone in my stomach. For my mother, I should take the bank draft.

For my sisters, my father. The Hardys needed that money, desperately.

But I couldn’t do it. Josie was trying to do something noble, but I didn’t want her nobility. I wanted her forgiveness.

And I knew if I accepted this money, I’d never receive it.

If I walked out with that check, I was proving correct every terrible thing she thought about me.

I swallowed. Hard. “No, thank you.”

Pendelton’s arm lowered, while Josie let out a huff of air. “Leo, what are you doing? It’s a lot of money. Take it. Take it

back to Boston, to your family.”

I rose and faced the older couple, my father’s former employers. “The apology is enough. I don’t need your money.”

“Don’t be ridiculous,” Josie said, also coming to her feet. “You know you do.”

“Joséphine, please,” Mrs. Pendelton admonished. “If he doesn’t wish to accept the money, then we mustn’t force it on him.”

Joséphine? Were the Pendeltons buying into her stage persona?

Josie angled toward Pendelton. “Sir. Mr. Pendelton. Leo was left to look after his mother and five sisters from a young age.

They haven’t had an easy time of it. Please, make him accept the money.”

“I’m not sure I can, Josie.” Then Pendelton narrowed a suspicious gaze on me. “Are you hoping for more? Because I can promise

you this is the best I’m prepared to do.”

My muscles tightened, my hands nearly crushing the derby in my lap. I’d heard enough.

“Thank you for the apology. I’ll pass the sentiments along to my mother.” I put my hat on my head. “I bid you all a good afternoon.”

With a nod of farewell, I started across the plush carpets toward the door. The sooner I left here, the better. I may be a

despicable, awful human, but I was working on changing that. And though it hadn’t been easy, my family had survived since

leaving New York. We’d find a way to keep going. Somehow, I’d manage it.

I was in the hall when she caught up with me.

“Leo, wait!”

I stopped, unable to refuse her. If all I had were these last few minutes with her, then I wouldn’t waste them by storming

out.

“Leo.” Josie grabbed my arm and towed me into a side room. “Explain to me why you won’t take the money.”

“You look tired.” It wasn’t what I’d expected to say, so the comment surprised us both.

She ducked her head and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “Such a sweet-talker.”

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean you look terrible. Quite the contrary. You’re beautiful, Josie.”

Her mouth hitched. “Thank you, but I haven’t slept much. You wouldn’t believe the last twenty-four hours I’ve had.”

If it kept her here, talking to me, I’d believe anything. “Try me.”

“First, tell me how you found the letter in the carriage house.”

Ah, so she’d put that together. I guess my involvement wasn’t so fantastical, considering. “Potted plant. Old thief trick.

No one ever checks there.”

“Goodness. How clever.”

My lips curled upward slightly. “At least my background is good for something. Now, tell me why you can’t sleep.”

“Tell me why you won’t take the money.”

“Someone told me it’s all I’ve ever cared about. Maybe I’m trying to be better.”

“That’s ridiculous. You know I was hurt and angry when I said that. Don’t refuse the money to spite me.”

“It’s not about spite. Maybe I’m trying to prove something to myself.”

“Leo, this is not the time for principles. Think of your sisters, your mother.”

She was wrong. If this wasn’t the time for principles, then when would be? “I have to start somewhere, I suppose. But back

to why you can’t sleep. Are they not treating you well?”

“Who, the Pendeltons?” She shook her head. “They couldn’t be nicer, actually. But do you know what was found in those letters

you led the police to?”

“No, but I can imagine, based on the only one I read before going to the police.”

“The baby nurse had a friend in Boston. The plan was to take the child out of New York and stay in Boston until the ransom

was paid.”

“Yes, I read that. It made sense, knowing the Pendeltons would turn this city over to find their daughter.”

“But, wait.” She pinched the bridge of her nose between her thumb and forefinger, a small laugh escaping her mouth. “You won’t

believe this.”

Was this more about the letters? “What is it?”

“I have that stuffed rabbit, remember? The one from when I was a child.”

I nodded. I always thought it was cute, that she still had the memento from her childhood.

“Mrs. Pendelton believes... That is, she’s sure that toy is the same one she gave her daughter a few months before the

kidnapping.”

My body jolted, my feet rocking back on my heels. “I beg your pardon?”

“I know. It’s positively unbelievable. But she seems certain.”

“Mrs. Pendelton believes what? That you are her missing daughter?”

Josie bit her lip and stared up at me. “A shocking turn of events, wouldn’t you say?”

My jaw dropped open and all I could do was gape at her.

She gave a little giggle, her arms flopping at her sides like she didn’t know what to do or say. “It doesn’t seem real. Wouldn’t

I know if it were true? Wouldn’t I feel it in here?” She put her hand on her heart.

“How could you? If it’s true, you were taken from here at such a young age. You wouldn’t have any memories from that time.”

“I suppose. But I still can’t believe it.”

I stroked my jaw. “It would explain the resemblance. And you were left at an asylum in Boston around the same time, so that

also fits. What happened to the baby nurse?”

“We don’t know yet. Mr. Pendelton has every Pinkerton in Boston working on finding out.”

I had no doubt. This was the biggest development in the case in nearly eighteen years.

Josie, the missing Pendelton heiress. Who would’ve guessed it?

“You know what this means?” Josie asked. “If it’s proven true, you can collect the reward money, since you found me on that

street corner in Boston.”

My heart sank.

We were back to this, the question of how much money I could pocket.

She’d never see me as anything but a moneygrubbing grifter. A confidence man and thief, out to make a buck.

A despicable, awful human.

I couldn’t fault her. Someone as decent and honest as Josie? She knew right from wrong, good from bad. I’d skated over those

lines so often they were murky, indistinguishable. Maybe someday I’d be worthy of her, but I knew it wasn’t today.

And now she was a fucking heiress.

Who was I kidding? I’d never be worthy of her.

I leaned down and kissed her cheek, my heart squeezing like there was a fist in my chest. She smelled like flowers and sunshine,

a life of possibility. A life of wealth and refinement. A life beyond my reach.

“I’m happy for you,” I said through the lump in my throat.

She wrinkled her nose, like she didn’t understand. “I’m happy for you, too. This will change everything for you and your family.”

It changed nothing, but I didn’t bother saying it. She wouldn’t understand.

While I didn’t have her memory, I tried to put every tiny detail into my brain as I studied her. I never wanted to forget

her or our time together. She’d given me so much, more than she realized.

Finally, it was time to go. I touched her chin gently. “You’re a remarkable woman, Miss Joséphine Pendelton. I wish you every

happiness your heart desires.”

“Leo—”

She tried to grab my arm, but I stepped away. There was nothing more to say, nothing more between us. Her place was here and

I needed to return to Boston.

Before I could do or say anything foolish, I edged around her and left.