“Put her through,” he said. There was a click. “Hello?”

“Tom.” It was her. And she sounded odd. He’d expected a lot of emotion, but his mother sounded calm.

“Darling, we need to talk.”

“Not about House Massot, Mother—what’s done is done.”

“No, nothing to do with business, darling. It’s about Judy Dean.”

“Mother . . . ,” Tom was firm. “I know you disapprove, and I know she’s a little older, but I must make my own decisions in love.”

She was dating his father’s hated rival. How did she have the balls to nag him about Judy?

“Then make it an informed decision. She’s a wicked person, Tom . . .” Sophie hesitated. “I can’t tell you why. I suppose it would be useless to ask you to trust me.”

“You clearly don’t trust me, if you won’t tell me your mystical reason,” Tom said sarcastically.

“Okay. While I was at House Massot, she befriended me—but lied to me. Judy promoted the cause of Gregoire Lazard, and she told me she was loyal to me. While all the time she was running to you and Katherine to broker a takeover. Just be aware of that, Tom, Judy told me lies—and supported the romance with Gregoire—while it lasted.”

“I doubt you needed much encouragement there, Maman.” Tom’s tone turned sharp.

“She’s a snake, Tom. Sucked up to me and lied to me. Think about it. Would Papa approve of her?”

Ouch. That arrow found its mark, and he was silent.

“I tell you what,” he said eventually. “I’ll give up Judy Dean if you promise never to see Hugh Montfort again.”

As soon as the words came out of Tom’s mouth, he held his breath. He’d surprised himself. But of course it was true. He would pay any price to rescue his father’s name from this dishonour, and his mother from this predatory vulture. Compared to that, Judy was meaningless to him.

On the end of the phone, a little sigh; and with it, all his hope evaporated.

“I can’t make bargains like that, Tom.”

“Then don’t lecture me,” he said bitterly. “And Maman—don’t think to call me again until you sever your relationship with that man.”

There was a long pause.

“Do . . . do you still love me, Tom?”

His mother’s voice was painful, wavering. Tom couldn’t help it, the sound of her unhappiness immediately brought tears to his eyes. But all the pain was her fault. Why couldn’t things have stayed as they were!

She’d ruined their lives.

“I’ll always love you,” he said thickly. “But I’m ashamed of you.”

He hung up, and walked quickly to the window, so that if his secretary came in she wouldn’t see him crying.

Chapter 39

Chapter 39