In a household where staff couldnt technically use half the doors, her waking up in the youngest sons bed and still working at Easterly was a total non- starter.

Ah, yes, she thought. The good ol days of dating him, when shed exhausted herself trying to keep everything a secret.

Anywhere, he said. One of the cottages. I dont care.

Lane. Listen, this is not" were not going back to the way it was before, remember? I dont know why I did what I just did, but it doesnt mean"

He came at her, pulling her in for a kiss, his tongue penetrating her mouth. God help her, after a moment, she kissed him back.

Even as her head was telling her no, her body had its own ideas.

It matters, he said against her lips. This matters to me even more { 195 }.

than my family. Do you hear me, Lizzie? You have always, and will al- ways, matter most to me.

On that, he left and went to the door, pausing to level a stare at her over his shoulder" the kind that was a vow if shed ever seen one.

Sitting down on the foot of his bed, she looked over at the wall theyd had sex against. The oil painting on the floor was utterly ruined, the canvas scratched and torn, but she didnt go over to try to assess the damage. She just sat there and tried to convince herself it wasnt a sign from God.

It was a while before she left his room, and she was careful over by the door, listening for voices or the sounds of footsteps before cracking the panels and peeking out. When there was nothing except silence, she all but leaped into the middle of the corridor and started walking fast.

Chantals room was across the hall and down a little, and as she passed it by, she could smell the womans expensive perfume.

Such a good reminder" not that she needed it" of why she should have left after that first interruption.

Instead of taking it to the next level at a dead run.

She had only herself to blame.

{ 196 }.

T W ENT Y- T WO.

A s Lane jogged downstairs, all he could think of was how much he wanted a drink in his hand. The good news"

probably the only he was getting" was that when he arrived in the parlor, Samuel T. was helping himself to some Family Reserve, the sound of bourbon hitting ice needling Lanes own craving into a full- blown addicts claw.

Care to share the wealth? he muttered as he slid the wood- paneled pocket doors into place on both sides of the room.

There was so much he didnt want anyone else to hear.

My pleasure. Samuel T. presented him with a healthy share in a squat crystal glass. Long day, huh.

You have no idea. Lane clinked his rim with the other mans.

What can I do you for?

Samuel T. drank his bourbon down and went back to the bar. I heard about your controller. My condolences.

Thank you.

You found her?

Thats right.

{ 197 }.

Been there, done that. The attorney turned back around and shook his head. Rough stuff.

You dont know the half of it. Listen, I dont want to rush you, but"

Are you serious about that divorce?

Absolutely.

Do you have a prenup? When Lane shook his head, Samuel cursed.

Any chance she cheated on you?

Lane rubbed his temple and tried to pull out of what had just hap- pened with Lizzie . . . and what he had seen on that laptop. He wanted to tell Samuel T. to get with him tomorrow, but the problems with Chantal were going to be waiting in the wings, whether or not his family was going down in flames financially.

In fact, it was probably better to get that ball rolling rather than sit on it in light of the stuff with his father. The quicker he got her out of the house? The less insider information she could sell to the tabloids.

Not that he couldnt see her becoming a talking head to the lowest common denominator if things went badly for the Bradfords.

Im sorry, he said between sips. What was the question?

Has she cheated on you?

Not that I know of. Shes just been in this house for two years, liv- ing off my family and getting manicures.

Thats too bad.

Lane cocked a brow. Didnt know you had such a jaundiced view of marriage.

If she cheated on you, that can be used to reduce alimony. Ken- tuckys a no- fault state for divorce, but misdeeds like affairs or abuse can be used to mediate spousal support.

I havent been with anyone else. Well, except for Lizzie just now, upstairs" and about a hundred thousand times before that in his mind.

That doesnt matter unless youre seeking support from Chantal.

Not a chance. A clean break is all I want from that woman.

Does she know this is coming?

Ive told her.

But does she know?

{ 198 }.

Have you got papers for me to sign now? When the attorney nod- ded, Lane shrugged. Well, then, shell be aware of how serious I am as soon as she gets served.

Once I get your John Hancock, Ill go directly downtown and file this petition. The court is going to have to conclude that the marriage is irretrievably broken, but I think, given that the pair of you have been living apart for about two years, that will not be a problem. I will warn you" there is no way shes not going to hit you for support. And theres a potential that this is going to cost you, especially because her standard of living has been so high here in this house. Im guessing some of your trusts have kicked in?

Im on the first tier. Second tier is triggered when Im forty.

Whats your annual income?

Does that include poker winnings?

Does she know about them? Do you file income taxes on those funds?

No and no.

Then well leave that off the table. So whats your number?

I dont know. Nothing ridiculous, just a million or so? Its like a fifth of the income generated off the corpus.

Shell go after that.

But not the corpus, right? I think theres a spendthrift clause.

If its the Bradford Family Irrevocable of 1968, which I believe it is, my father drafted the terms, so you can bet your best flask no soon- to- be ex- wife is invading anything. Ill need to see a copy of the documents, of course.

Prospect Trust has everything.

Samuel T. ran through various file this, counter that, disclose whatever, but Lane checked out. In his mind, he was upstairs in his bedroom with the door shut and Lizzie fully naked in his bed. He was all over her with his hands and his mouth, closing the distance of the years and going back to where they had been before Chantal had showed up in designer maternity clothes.

Whatever he was facing with his father and the debt . . . it would be so much easier if he had Lizzie with him, and not in just a sexual way.

Friends helped each other, right?

{ 199 }.

Sound good?

Lane replugged into his lawyer. Yes. How long?

Like I said, Ill file everything today with another friendly judge who owes me a favor or two. And Mitch Ramsey has agreed to serve her the summons immediately. Next comes hashing out the marital settlement"

and my guess is, shell get one hell of an attorney on her side for you to pay for. Youve been living apart for more than sixty days, but shes going to need to leave this house ASAP if youre going to stay here. I dont want to trip that wire and delay this two months, thanks to a cohabitating argument from the other side. My guess is shes going to contest everything, because shes going to want as much money from you as possible. My goal, however, is to get her out of your life with the clothes on her back and that quarter- of- a- million- dollar engagement ring you gave her" and thats it.

Sounds good to me. Especially as he didnt know if there was a pot to piss in anywhere else but his own accounts. Where do I sign?

Samuel T. made short work with various pieces of paper, presenting them for a scrawl in blue ink on the corner of the bar cart. It was all over quicker than Lane could finish his first bourbon.

You want me to give you a retainer? he asked as he gave the Montblanc back to his attorney.

Samuel T. finished his own drink; then put more ice and more Fam- ily Reserve in his glass. This is free of charge.

Lane recoiled. Come on, man, I cant let you do that. Let me"

No. Frankly, I dont like her, and she doesnt belong in this house.

Im looking at this divorce case as housekeeping. A broom sweep to get the trash out.

I didnt know you disliked her so much.

Samuel T. put his hands on his hips and stared at the Oriental. Im going to be completely honest here.

Lane knew where things were going just by the way the attorney was gritting his jaw. Gon.

About six months after you left here, Chantal called me up. Asked me to come over" when I said no, she showed up at my house. She was looking for a friend, as she put it" then she shoved her hand down my { 200 }.

pants and offered to get on her knees. I told her she was out of her mind.

Even if I were attracted to her, which I have never been, your family and mine have been linked for generations. I would never, ever be with a wife of yours, divorced or separated or together. Besides, Virginia is a fine state to go to college in, but I wouldnt marry a girl from there" and that was what she was actually after.

Man, he hated being right about that bitch sometimes, he truly did.

Im not surprised, but Im glad you told me. Lane put out his palm.

Ill repay you the favor. Someday.

I am certain you will. Now, if youll excuse me, Ill run these down to the courthouse.

The attorney shook what was offered to him, bowed ever so slightly, and then left with the glass still in his hand.

They can arrest you for open container, Lane called out. Just FYI.

Not if they cant catch me, Samuel T. hollered back.

Crazy, Lane muttered as he finished his own drink.

As he went to pour another, his eyes drifted over to the oil painting over the mantelpiece. It was of Elijah Bradford, the first member of the family to make enough money to distinguish himself from his peers by sitting for a major American artist.

Was he, at this very moment, rolling in his grave?

Or would that come later . . . because where they had all sunk to got even worse.

G in rode a wave of panic down Easterlys grand staircase.

As soon as shed seen the vintage maroon Jaguar pull up to the house, she had changed out of the clothes shed worn to jail, for godsakes, and put on a silk dress that ended well north of her knees.

Shed also taken a moment to brush her hair. Mist more perfume on. Slide her feet into a pair of pumps that made her ankles look thinner than ever.

Going by the closed parlor doors, she knew her brother was talking to Samuel T. about The Situation. Or . . . Situation s.