They had talked briefly the night before. She’d stopped by her mother’s place and explained the situation. Before her mother could argue, Sylvie had announced that she had to prep for the movers in the morning and left. She should have known her mom wouldn’t let this happen without registering her opinion.

“Mom, I told you that in confidence. We agreed to keep the truth quiet,” she said with a frown as she packed away the contract.

“Gertie is your assistant, and a trusted one. That means she’s always your coconspirator. Besides, everyone in town is going to know. That cousin of his has been running around telling anyone who will listen that he’s taking over the company. It’s common knowledge that their great-aunt Roberta has a problem with Rene’s unmarried state. She’s been on him to marry since he got out of college. She’s even asked me if I could help.” Her mom strode into the room.

“I forgot she’s into the mystical arts,” Sylvie said with a grin.

“She’s very much a believer in the old ways,” her mother agreed. “Is Quaid trying to get you to sign away all your rights? I can call his mother.”

And she would. Her mother did not mind meddling. “I don’t have any rights, Momma. And mostly that contract is about Rene trying to pay me to help him out. It’s pretty standard. You know he has to protect himself.”

“Not from you he doesn’t.” Her mom crossed to the desk and took the contract out herself.

“Is Charles trying to browbeat Rene into giving him more money?” Gertie asked. “All those do-nothing cousins of Rene’s do it. Why that boy hasn’t walked away, I have no idea. He could. He doesn’t live off his salary, that’s for sure. His mother brought most of the money he has into her marriage. He could walk away from the company and not ever have to work again.”

“I don’t think it’s about money. His great-grandfather started the company,” Sylvie pointed out. “He feels a responsibility to it and to his family.”

When he’d spoken about it, she’d felt the weight on his shoulders. He’d had that weight for years, and then one tragedy after another had added to the burden.

And when she’d told him yes, she could practically feel some of that weight lifted. His eyes had sparkled like she hadn’t seen in years. It should have been a warning to her that this was a desperate man who would say almost anything, do almost anything, to get what he needed—including marrying a woman he could never love.

Instead it had made her want to put her arms around him and hold him close and promise him he wasn’t alone anymore.