“You have a potential new ally,” he said with a nod toward Liam. “Oscar has been gathering allies to his side for years. You are the most powerful man in the bank, but you still need Oscar’s cooperation for everything since the other shareholders all believe he has the magic touch. By transferring Theodore’s ten percent back to Liam, the two of you will be a force to be reckoned with.”

Frederick fired back with his own arguments against assigning the shares to Liam, but Patrick neatly countered every one, and Gwen loved watching him in action. His intensity, his confidence. The way he diced, parried, and sparred reminded Gwen of a warrior, but one who fought with words instead of brawn.

The sun began to set. Servants lit torches and brought food, but Patrick never tired as he fought on Liam’s behalf. Each time Frederick scored a point, Patrick shifted and parried again. Pride bloomed in her heart, because her grandfather was seeing Patrick at his finest.

And in the end, Frederick agreed to authorize the transfer of voting shares to Liam.

They moved indoors to sign the paperwork. There was no electricity on the island, and dozens of candles flickered in the gathering room as Patrick drafted an agreement. Her heart swelled with pride as she watched him write out the document, his face tense with concentration, his penmanship precise and sure as he wrote. Even the scratching of his pen sounded like strength and confidence as he crafted the words that would change Liam’s life forever.

“I shall send my butler back to the city with the agreement tomorrow morning,” Frederick said as he leaned down to sign the papers.

Patrick looked up to catch Gwen’s eye, his face flushed with pleasure as she stepped to his side. When his hand closed around hers, it felt like there was nothing in the world they couldn’t accomplish.

Patrick was too wound up to sleep after finalizing the agreement. Gwen had looked at him as though he were a hero out of a storybook, and it could keep him fueled for weeks.

Long after the rest of the household turned in for bed, he and Gwen slipped down to the boathouse, where they could be alone. He wanted to savor the sensation of earning her respect and being worthy of her. He held her sheltered against his body as they gazed out at the darkened sea, hints of foamy white crests on the waves as they rolled ashore.