out of the house and just get rid of him. Erase him from my life. Start again as if I never met William James Peter Spenser, never married the bastard.”
“That can be arranged,” said Graeme drily.
“Then I want you to help me find a suitable husband, Daddy. Somebody who isn’t such a moron, who understands me, who loves riding as much as I do. Somebody who’ll be a good father to my baby.”
“I’ll get Legal to arrange a good solicitor for you, Louisa, but surely you don’t want to rush into another marriage?”
“Daddy, I want my baby to have a father who is a good example for him. It’s going to be a boy, I decided to find out...and I don’t want William near my son.”
“Sweetheart, it’s his baby as well, and you know his family will be determined to be involved.”
“Well, I want them involved as little as possible. And I want to be remarried before he is, to a rich, handsome man who will stick in William’s craw.”
“I doubt William will rush to the altar again, Louisa,” said Olivia gently.
“He’s so stupid he’ll probably marry the little slut,” said Louisa. “I couldn’t bear it if he married her before I had somebody else. Somebody super who is besotted with me. Somebody who likes doing the things I do.
“The only thing William and I have in common is sex, and he isn’t very good at that anymore, he drinks too much.”
Graeme smiled thinly. He was not impressed with his daughter’s attitude. Louise was so shallow. He’d never seen her like this.
But perhaps that was his own fault, he’d spoiled her from the minute he met her, always fixed her problems, always given her what she wanted.
No wonder she expected him to instantly produce a stellar second husband for her.
He sighed. Well, he’d do his best, but he would either have to find a very strong man to take over the care and guidance of Louisa, or teach her how to stand on her own feet.
On reflection, finding a very strong man to take care of his headstrong youngest daughter would be easier.
And he was relieved that William would no longer be his son-in-law. William wasn’t bad , just weak and stupid. Well, who could really blame William for what he was when he was John Spenser’s son and had that example to follow?
“So you want to divorce him and save face at the same time, Louisa. Aren’t any of your horse crowd suitable second husbands?” asked Olivia.
“Not really, ’Livi. I’m not attracted to any of the available English ones. They aren’t impressive enough to live up to me. I think Daddy knows so many businessmen, there have to be one or two handsome, rich hunks who will tolerate my ambition to ride for England in the next Olympics. Who like horses, who can look after my best interests.
“You know, ‘Livi, at your wedding I watched William drink far too much, and listened, really listened for the first time to the nonsense he was spouting.
“He’s not capable of managing Twenty Pounds, let alone the Twenty Million in my trust fund. And when I realized at that dinner where Julia and I met ‘Livi that William was even thinking of selling our present house, well!
“I mean, we’ve been married nearly two years, he signed the pre-nup, he surely realized that house is in my name only, but here he was thinking he could sell it and put the money in the stock market! The investments he’s made for us so far have all taken a nose dive, Daddy. I’m sure if he wasn’t working for his father, William would be unemployed. I married in haste, and now I’m repenting at leisure. God I’m glad you insisted on the pre-nup.”
The waiter brought their food. As soon as the plates were on the table, Louisa continued her monologue.
“So, do you have anyone in mind for me, Daddy? Too bad your friend Michael isn’t interested in riding, isn’t it? I know he’s a bit older than me, but he is rich and handsome.”
Olivia smiled. “And he’s engaged,