Chapter 21: The Boatyard Sold

Rosalind's POV

The Crowhurst lawyer came to the boatyard on Thursday at four, in a gray car, with a leather folder.

I was standing on the dock with my sleeves rolled, watching the crew haul a hull out of the water.

I had owned a third of this yard for two weeks.

I still hadn't gotten used to the weight of it.

"Miss Merrow," the lawyer said. "A word."

"Say it here."

He looked at the men on the slip, and at the dockhands with their phones.

"As you like."

He opened the folder.

"House Crowhurst has withdrawn its petition," he said. "Its contract with your family stands."

"Under clause nine, a bride who leaves without cause returns all sums paid. That is eight hundred thousand dollars, with interest."

"It is due in thirty days."

The crew went quiet.

Perry was standing in the office door.

My father stood beside him with his hands in his pockets, gray as the pilings.

"Clause nine," I said.

"Yes."

"The contract says the bride shall not be informed. I wasn't informed."

"You can't charge a woman for leaving a deal she never signed."

"Then the family owes it," the lawyer said, very smoothly. "Your father signed."

"Yes, they did."

I looked at my father.

He looked at the water.

"I'll make it simple," I said. "How much is it with interest?"

"Eight hundred and sixty-four thousand."

"Write it down."

I took a folded paper from my coat pocket.

It was a check drawn on the Verrin House bank.

That morning in Darian's study I had signed the loan paper with my full name and the date.

He had asked three times if I was sure.

I had told him he could stop asking, and he had asked a fourth time anyway.

Keep reading free with an account. Start The Abandoned Vampire Bride Walked Away from Chapter 1, then sign up free to read the rest of this chapter.