Chapter Thirty-Eight
Heath was waiting for Sharon at Jarrod's office, a week after he had overheard her crying. That night he had not slept well, and the next day he went over to his house. He liked the quiet and calmness of the place, and wished he were living there, instead of at the Big House.
As he spent time there it was easy to see Sharon and her children in the house. She would love the space to garden, Tara could have a pony, and Sean would not have to worry about a scholarship. Heath was sure too, that while she put a good face on, it had to be hard on Sharon to work all day on her feet. It came to him that if they were living there, Simon could come live with them.
Even as he had that thought he pushed it aside. Heath had no interest in courting, and even if he did, he was not sure that Sharon would be interested. The idea of being turned down again was not something he was going to risk. He also did not want to court her under false pretenses. Heath did not want a romantic relationship, and would not fake one, even if it would help Sharon and her children.
The solution had come to him in the early morning hours; at first, he had pushed it aside. The more he thought about it though, the better it seemed. It would solve Sharon's problems, his problem with Simon, and save her pride. That evening he had sat down in his room and detailed out the financial details. It was going to cost him a great deal of money, but Heath could admit that he did not have anything else to spend it on. If it meant Simon living with him, in his house, the money would be worth it.
Sharon approached Jarrod's office, very curious as to what this business proposal Heath wanted to talk to her about. It had been several days since her talk with Priscilla; it had made her feel slightly better about Elspeth helping. When she had overheard Sean and Tara call her Granny Elspeth it had taken her aback. Sharon spoke to Elspeth, and the woman explained she had told them to call her that. Her feeling was that they were honorary grandchildren, which had touched Sharon's heart.
When she arrived at Jarrod's office, she knocked on the door, noting the heavy mahogany door frame, frosted glass, and heavy gold lettering. Sean had told her all about the building, and the door. Her son was impressed with Jarrod and had said he wanted to be a lawyer so he could work in a fancy office. Sharon was glad he had high aspirations, but she knew it would mean a great of schooling – which cost money – if he pursued the idea. That thought caused sadness inside her, because of her limited means.
"Hello, please come on in." Heath answered the door, a serious look on his face. Sharon noted the light grey suit, white starched shirt, and a dark grey tie. She suddenly felt underdressed, as she had just come from the café. He had not said this was a formal meeting, but now she wondered. Turning her mind from Heath's clothes, she looked around the office, and could see why Sean had been awestruck.
"Thank you. Is Jarrod here?" Sharon had thought it odd that Heath's note had said to meet at the office. She had reasoned though that since it concerned business the lawyer would be involved.
"No, he is up in Sacramento, because the legislature is in session. Nick and I have keys to the office, and we use it for business affairs." His voice was very matter of fact, impersonal. Sharon felt like she was seeing a side of him that she had not been aware of and she was not sure how she felt about it. As he escorted her into a small conference room, she reminded herself that Heath had said it was a business matter.
The room had wainscoting; the walls were painted a dark crimson and hung with pictures. One was of an old map that showed California when the Spanish ruled the country; two others were landscapes of the area. The table was square, made of a highly polished dark wood. The chairs were covered in a dark red interwoven with blue, which echoed the red and blues in the rug.
"Tis so grand." Sharon observed, noting the richness of the room. It reminded her of the master's study in the castle of Ireland. She noticed Heath look around, as if he were noticing it for the first time.
"Jarrod just had it redone. My ex-wife had decorated it last, and Jarrod said he wanted no memories of the woman." Heath spoke like he was talking about the weather. Sharon found it interesting that Jarrod felt so strongly against Sarah and sensed a story there but was sure she would never know the details.
"Why don't you sit here" Heath indicated a chair to the right of the head of the table. She saw folder in front of the chair at the top of the table; he held the chair out for her before he sat in the head chair.
"What is this business proposal you want to talk to me about?" Sharon had taken off her pelisse, and now regarded Heath intently. She watched as he took a deep breath, and for a moment she saw a fissure of worry in his blue eyes.
"I am going to come straight to the point Sharon; Simon is my son – as you have probably figured out." Heath's voice was deliberate as he made the statement. She could see no hesitation or embarrassment as he made the admission that he had committed the same sin his father had. It made her wonder if all men were really animals in the end.
"Aren't you going to say something?" Heath questioned, after several minutes of silence had gone by.
"Your private affairs are none of my concern." Sharon sat up very straight and tried to think of her lady's mother, the grand mistress of the castle. Inwardly though she was starting to get worried because this did not seem very businesslike.
"Well if you accept my offer, they will have to be at least some of your concern." His voice was clipped, and Sharon could tell that she had not given him the reaction he had been expecting.
"What is your offer? This business?" Sharon wanted to get on with the meeting, to get home. Lupe, who came in to do the rough stuff several days a week was watching Sean and Tara. Lupe only wanted part-time work, and did not want to live in. She was going to talk to Elspeth about finding someone who would live in and help out. It would also relive Elspeth of having to take care of Sean and Tara.
Sharon had been surprised that after the funeral, among the condolence cards she had received were several anonymous ones. They contained generous cash gifts, which Sharon had really wanted to return. However, she did not know who had sent them, and decided that for her children she needed to accept them. After some careful sums of her household account Sharon had realized that she could afford to hire someone, to get through to the end of the school year.
"I have heard that since Mother Flynn died, your domestic arrangements have difficult." Heath regarded her with a knowing glance, and Sharon was appalled that he knew about her situation.
"Who did you hear that from? Priscilla?" In fact, she would have been shocked if her friend had said anything, but why else would he be making the statement.
"Priscilla has not spoken to me about this – I don't know that she would." The statement was delivered in a dismissive tone, and Sharon saw that she had overacted. She knew and trusted her friend; she could see how it would have been an odd conversation on both Heath and Priscilla's parts. It was coming to her that Heath had turned into a cold, unfeeling person. The instinct to flee was strong, but Sharon stayed, hoping his business proposal could generate enough money to stay in Stockton.
"Elspeth is taking care of your children. She comes over early in the morning, makes them breakfast, takes them to school, and then picks them up in the afternoon." He detailed out the schedule and Sharon could see that he had done his homework. What he said next made it very plain that he had a great deal of information.
"I know you very well, and how hard it is for you to accept charity. If there was any way for you to pay someone, Elspeth would not be helping you out." Heath said in a matter-of-fact voice, and Sharon thought back to that long-ago time at the Mercantile. She regarded him, and saw self-satisfaction in his eyes, as he made his observation. It galled her that he knew her so well, and it felt like he was using his knowledge against her.
"For your information, I have someone who comes in to do the rough work – her name is Lupe, and she is very good. She is not available in the mornings but is watching Sean and Tara right now." Sharon sat up very straight and quelling the butterflies in her stomach looked Heath directly in the eye. "Elspeth regards Sean and Tara as honorary grandchildren. She didn't even give me a chance to find anyone else." Removing her gaze from his face she turned to look at one of the paintings on the wall.
"Well be that as it may, it is only an interim solution. I have a longer term one to offer." Heath's voice carried dismissal of what she had said. Sharon felt herself getting very angry at not being heard and was tempted to walk out of the room.
"Do you know what a "white marriage" is?" He asked, opening the folder in front of him.
"Mariage Blanc?" Sharon turned her gaze back towards him, feeling her eyes go wide. She had heard about these arrangements that took place among aristocrats – both parties had something they – or their families wanted. There was no consummation of the event, but it was legally if not religiously binding.
"Is that French?" Heath tilted his head, his eyes narrowing. "I assume it means the same thing?" There was a note of impatience in his voice, and it came to Sharon that the meeting was not going as he had planned.
"You want me to marry you, but there will be no relations between us? I am curious as to why you are suggesting this, and why I would agree to the proposal?" Sharon had never planned on marrying again – once was more than enough. She still bore the scars from that marriage and had sworn that never again would a man have control of her and her children.
"I am willing to settle a very generous sum of money on you, in your own name. Further I will give you very generous allowances both to run the household and for your personal needs." Heath looked at her clothes, and Sharon wished she had put on a nicer dress. "Just so you know, as Mrs. Heath Barkley there will be social events that we attend. I will expect you to be appropriately dressed; Audra and Priscilla can help you spend my money." Sharon was put off by his deadpan expression, as he talked about her wardrobe needs.
"Further, I will pay for both Sean and Tara's education, as far as they want to study. Once Sean has completed his schooling, I will pay to set him up in what profession he chooses." Heath paused and for the first time she saw real emotion come into Heath as he smiled. "Tara, after her education will have a dowry enabling her to marry well. In the short term, for both children, I will provide for all their needs, including ponies." Heath sat back with a pleased expression on his face. He passed the papers over to Sharon for her perusal.
Sharon, even without looking at the papers, knew what Heath was offering. If it were not for her children she would have stood up, slapped him, and walked out of the room. To give herself some time she took the papers and studied them closely. The amounts staggered herself, especially her personal allowances, but then she remembered the castle in Ireland. Sharon also thought about Priscilla and Audra, and their households. However, she did not want to give Heath the last word.
"What is expected in return for me going along with this? The sums are high, and I expect the price tag will also be high." Sharon had stayed sitting very straight; yes, he was throwing a great deal of money her way but would expect a great deal in return.
"I will expect you to treat Simon, exactly as you treat Sean and Tara. Further, you need to quit your job at the café. I already had one wife who wanted to be town, and I don't want another one." Heath's voice suddenly had an angry note, and she remembered all the gossip about his marriage before the divorce.
"Most Sundays we will eat dinner with my family at the Big House, but at least once a month I will want to host the occasion. This means you deal with everything." Heath stopped and looked her directly in the eye. "I know you are already involved with the library committee which I approve of. As Mrs. Heath Barkley you will have social obligations and I will expect that you fill them."
Sharon knew that Heath had no feelings for her at all, other than an end to his means. Of course, he wanted his son with him – men and their sons were sacred, as she knew all too well. Her only pleasant time in her marriage had been when she had born Sean. It was barely two months when she was with child again; when Tara had been born Paul had told her what a failure she was for not bearing another son.
"I need to add, that as far as the running of my household, I want us to eat together as a much whenever possible. I will do my best to get home in time for dinner, as my schedule allows." Heath's voice was clipped, and Sharon noticed how tightly his hands were clasped together.
She was annoyed, angry, and mad at all the same time. Heath was using her economic circumstances against her, even as she knew that he held all the cards. She took another look at the figures in the file and saw her children's faces. Sharon then looked over at Heath and had second thoughts about this arrangement.
"What happens if you meet someone and fall in love? What would happen to me?" Sharon asked curiously.
"I have no interest in love or courting someone. Every relationship I have had has ended badly. What we will have is a business arrangement, with all the terms laid out on the table." Heath said with conviction. "If you marry me, I want to make it clear that you will have no dalliances on the side. Otherwise the contract will be null and void, and you will forfeit the money."
"My plans did not include getting married again." Sharon stopped, not wanting to go into the reasons why with him. "Heath, your offer is very lucrative. I am though going to need some time to think about my decision." She stood up, and he went to help her with her pelisse.
Sharon wished it were not so thin, and almost threadbare in places. She knew she should just say yes, for her children if nothing else. However, she knew that she would be trading her freedom for economic security. Even with money being tight, she liked the life she and her children had together. When she thought about what it was like when Paul was alive, she shuddered. Heath was not Paul though, Sharon was sure.
"Oh, one other thing." Heath paused and waited for her to turn around. "If you agree to this, no one – and I mean no one – can know our private arrangement. I know you are close to Priscilla, but this will have to stay between us."
"I don't think this is the type of thing you talk about." Sharon raised her chin as she spoke.
Heath watched her walk out of the conference room, and he heard the outer door closing. He sat back down, and as he reviewed the meeting it came to him that it had not gone as planned. Sharon was certainly impressed with the money, but he had an uneasy feeling that she might turn him down.
