“You’re doing this for your former nanny?”

“Nita wasn’t just my nanny. She was far more, and she still is. She’s family.”

“So that’s who Nita is.”

Yvonne frowned at Ruby. “Have I mentioned her name before?”

“Just in passing,” Ruby said quickly. She wasn’t going to admit she’d snooped in Yvonne’s study and had found the check made out to Nita in the very week she’d moved in.

“Well, she’s in some financial trouble,” Yvonne continued. “I want to solve her money problems once and for all. Pay off her family’s debts, her house, send her kids to college. Make sure she’s set for life.”

“That’s so generous of you.” Ruby couldn’t deny her surprise.

“Don’t get the wrong idea, I’m not doing this just for her. I’m keeping most of my inheritance for myself. I lost some money in investments recently, so I need to rebuild my portfolio.”

“Well, it’s sweet of you to want to help Nita. She must be really special to you.”

“She is.” A small smile crossed Yvonne’s lips. “Perhaps I should introduce the two of you. I think you’d like her.”

“I’d love that. I am already meeting the rest of your family, after all.”

Yvonne’s smile faded. “About that. I’m going to think of some way to get you out of it.”

“Why don’t you want me to go?”

“You don’t understand my family. They’re toxic. And did I mention my inheritance goes to my brother if I don’t claim it?”

Ruby nodded.

“I have no doubt that Nicholas and my stepmother are going to feel threatened and resentful now that I’m stealing the money out from under them. At best, they’ll simply spend the whole night interrogating you, trying to expose you as a ‘gold digger.’ At worst, my brother will use the opportunity to try to prevent us from getting the inheritance, and he’s not afraid to play dirty. If he finds a hole in our story, he’ll take advantage of it.”

Ruby touched Yvonne’s arm reassuringly. “Then we’ll have to make sure there are no holes in our story. Didn’t tonight prove how good I am at playing the role of your wife?”

“It’s not you I’m worried about,” Yvonne muttered.

“If your family is that bad, why are you going at all?”

“It was my father’s dying wish that his family get together once a year. And because he likes pulling the strings, even from beyond the grave, he wrote it into his will. My inheritance is dependent on me going. Spouses are supposed to attend too, but I’m going to get you out of this. It’s simple enough just to pretend you had some kind of emergency.”

“Yvonne, it’s fine. I can handle it.” Ruby crossed her arms. “I’m coming, and that’s that.”

Yvonne narrowed her eyes. “That’s that?”

Ruby felt herself flush under Yvonne’s intense stare. “Yes. That’s that.”

Before Ruby could blink, her Mistress was above her, pinning her back to the bed with nothing but her gaze.