“Not a nightmare, I’m afraid. Just your uncle Piers.” Withoutso much as a flinch, he held his hand out for Gwen. “More like adream come true for me. But I can see why you would say that. I’vebeen known to strike fear in the hearts of many.” Flashing adisarming smile, he took her hand, gazed curiously at the braceleton her wrist before giving her knuckles a suave kiss.
“Piers Harlow at your service, young miss.”
For all of asecond, she froze at his use of the same phrase Crispin had usedwhen he had first introduced himself to her back at the café. “I’mGwen Mathewson, nice to meet you.”
“Lovely indeed.” He gave a slight bow. “I see my dear nephewhas wonderful taste.”
Gwen couldn’thelp but blush. At the same time, she felt Crispin’s silence wasgetting concerning and a bit awkward. She couldn’t blame him,really. But in a way, she felt the need to say something.“Crispin?” Gwen gave his elbow a squeeze to get his attention. Witha mere glance her way, he refused to speak, choosing to stay silentas if words eluded him.
Noting this,Piers took the lead. “Shall we sit? How about a stiff drink?” Piersgestured to the chairs by the fireplace. “Please, before you passout from shock, dear boy.”
Taking hisadvice, Gwen led Crispin to a set of wingback chairs and sat down.Both she and Crispin watched as Piers made his way over to a drinkstrolley with the grace of thousands of years of good breeding, andpoured them each a shot of brandy. He then returned and handed oneto Gwen, then offered another to Crispin, which surprisinglyenough, he took, and immediately swigged back, giving his head ashake.
“Oh my, perhaps you’d like another?” Piers offered before hesat across from them.
“No, I’m good,” Crispin finally spoke up.
“Wonderful, it’s probably best to stay sober until after wetalk,” Piers said, gazing curiously from Gwen to Crispin. “Speakingof which, what finally brings you here? After all these years, Ihad started to give up hope.”
At his choiceof words, Crispin squared his shoulders and narrowed his eyes.“You’ve got to be kidding me?” he spat. “How dare you speak oflosing hope? Out of the blue, you send me one letter, and weresurprised to never hear from me? Try spending your entire life asan orphan with nothing to your name, to then discover at sixteen,you actually have living relatives. Relatives who apparently didn’tgive a fuck. And now, here I sit, in this fucking place surroundedby wealth beyond anything I could have imagined! Are you fuckingkidding me?”
“Dear me,” Piers sat back, clasping a hand over his chest.“Such venom.”
“Crispin…” Gwen reached out her hand for him but he refused toacknowledge her at that moment. When she glanced apologeticallyfrom Crispin to Piers, she caught the slightly offended yetdisturbingly handsome man studying the bracelet on her exposedwrist once again. Strange, she thought, self-consciously foldingher hands on her lap. Why would Piers Harlow be interested in herbracelet?
“Never mind, dear,” Piers said with a curious smile. Sittingback in his chair he waved off Crispin’s hostility. “He has everyright to be angry.” From his posture, Gwen might even guess Piershad been expecting a certain amount of conflict. But at theunwavering smile on his face, she could also tell he was genuinelyhappy to have found Crispin at all.
“Angry? Oh, I am angry and disgusted all at once.” Crispin wastruly at a loss. When he had started out that day, he had no cluehe would end up in this place, sitting across his so-called uncle.None of it made sense.
“You must have many questions, Crispin,” Piers said after alengthy silence. “Fortunately, you’ve caught me at a moment when Ihave plenty of time to answer them. I’ve been looking forward tothis day, actually, if you must know. Tell me, how long have youbeen in England?”
“We’ve just driven in from Windsor,” Gwen answered for Crispin.“Before that, we spent a few days touring London. We’re spendingthe next couple of nights in Bath at a B&B before we head backto Canada. We thought we should stop in and meet you.”
Piers noddedpensively. Directing his attention to Crispin, he spoke, “I wishyou would have called or written first. I would have had a roomreadied for you and your wife, or is it fiancée?” He paused. “Thisis your home after all. Still, I could probably have a roomprepared within the hour.”
“I’m not staying here,” Crispin said through grittedteeth.
“Oh, and we’re not… I mean we’re not even engaged. This isactually our first trip together,” Gwen felt compelled tosay.
“Oh dear, forgive my presumption. I assumed since you arewearing Cassandra’s bracelet that you two were serious.”
“Cassandra’s bracelet?” Gwen repeated, confused.
“We are serious! Not that it’s any of your business,” Crispingrowled, reaching for Gwen’s hand, swiping his fingers over thebracelet in question. “And I’ve no idea who this Cassandra youspeak of is.”
“Of course not. Once again, forgive me. Perhaps we should startover.” Piers gestured to the painting, “Cassandra Harlow, she wasyour mother, my beloved sister.”
“Was?” Gwen repeated warily.
“Unfortunately, she is no longer with us,” Piers saidforlornly.
Gwen winced asCrispin’s grip on her hand loosened significantly at the news.Looking at him, she watched him turn an ungodly shade of pale. Fora second, she feared he might even pass out. Her heart ached forhim. Had he expected his mother to be alive? From his reaction tothe news, she surmised he must have gotten his hopes up.
“I’m so sorry, Crispin,” she whispered, giving his flaccid handa squeeze.
Piers’s voicesnapped them from their thoughts. “I’m afraid I’m all that’s leftof the Harlow line. Well, since you’re here, Crispin, we now haveeach other.”
“What makes you think I want anything to do with you or any ofthis?” Crispin bit back, unwilling to hear anything at thatmoment.
“Because at the end of the day, Crispin, this has everything todo with you.” Piers gestured around the room with his hand. “Thisplace, this house, this land, all this wealth, it’s yours and youhave a right to know where you came from.”
“Wow… ” Gwen spoke for both. Sensing Crispin’s inability tothink straight, she took
