“So, you expect me to just stay here and look after all this? Idon’t know anything about running a Manor House. Why the hell wouldI do that?”
“Not necessarily, I mean with the staff already in place, allyou’d need to do is show up now and then. Spend a few weeks hereonce in a while. Maybe a month or two to take care of any bills orpaperwork required. The ticket sales from tourists pretty muchcover the cost of running the house. Anyway, why not? Think of itas a place to spend your holidays now and again. With you here, Imight even stop in and visit at Christmas. It would be nice havingfamily at Christmastime again,” he added wistfully. “If you chooseso, you could even live here year round. The point is, it’s yours,Crispin. I’m done with it.”
“Wow!” Gwen blurted excitedly. “How wonderful!”
“Wonderful? How so, exactly?” Crispin stared at her inbewilderment until the reason became perfectly clear. “Oh, I getit! This is your dream come true, isn’t it, Gwen?” He growled ather, unimpressed. “You forget one thing, sweetheart. I want nothingto do with this!” He paused, measuring her reaction. “How do youlike me now?”
Gwenphysically flinched at the venom in Crispin’s tone. His reactionshocked her and hurt her feelings. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean…” shestarted to apologize but paused when she didn’t know what exactlyshe was supposed to be sorry for. In fact, she felt quite indignantat the accusation in Crispin’s words. Did he really believe she wasmore interested in the old house than in him?
“Besides, we leave for Canada tomorrow,” he continued. “Haveyou forgotten that small detail? Even if I decide to take thisdespicable place on, where would that leave you?” He didn’t knowwhy he said that and he regretted it the second the words left hismouth. He just couldn’t fathom why everyone was so thrilled withthe idea of him suddenly taking on this role of Lord of the Manor. Did Piers and Gwenforget he had spent his entire life as a penniless orphan? Did theyexpect him to be so grateful for his sudden wealth to forget thesorrows he had endured? Not bloodylikely!
All threestilled when Jones returned with the beverages. Not only until heleft did Crispin start up again, only to be shut down by Gwen’swords. “Excuse me, Piers. Would it be okay if I took a strollthrough the garden?” Averting her eyes from Crispin, she staredblankly towards the flowers, attempting to stifle her risingemotions.
“Alone!” she added when he attempted to join her.
“Yes, of course,” Piers said as he stood, Crispin at his side,watching her walk away. When he attempted to follow, Piers held himback. “Let her be. She’ll be fine. You and I have important mattersto discuss.”
“What part of I don’t want your money, don’t you understand?”Crispin said with a scowl. “You can’t fix this that easily. Youdon’t know the horrors I’ve endured growing up in foster care, theloneliness, the emptiness I’ve carried around.”
“No, I don’t and I’m sorry, truly I am, but please try tounderstand. I was powerless at the time. Now, I only want to doright by you, Crispin. This is your land, your house, yourbirthright. Your grandfather cheated you out of a comfortable life.He sent your mother off to God knows where all alone! It was hisdoing. Please, don’t hate me.”
“I don’t hate you. I hardly know you.”
“Well, let’s change that,” Piers said. “Stay on for a fewweeks. We can get to know one another. Together, we can then cometo an agreement on what to do with the old place.”
“Stay?” Crispin repeated.
“Yes, why not?”
“What about my commitments?”
“Oh come on,” Piers said with a dismissive chuckle. “How oldare you? Twenty-two at the most? What have you got waiting that youcan’t put off for a little while longer? Surely, whatever it is canwait.”
“How dare you?” Crispin frowned. “As far as my commitments areconcerned, you don’t have a say. You have no idea what or who theyinvolve. In fact, you know nothing about me.”
“You’re right and I would love to change that. I want nothingmore than for us to get to know one another. Sit, tell me aboutyourself. What is it you’re about?”
“Fine, since you’re so keen.” With much reluctance, Crispin satdown once again. “I’m currently in university, I have one yearuntil I graduate and I’ve got student loans to prove it. I’m also asinger-songwriter. I currently reside at the House of Goths with myfriends and fellow bandmates. We have a tour lined up and ready togo at the end of the school year and I intend to see it allthrough. Therefore, I cannot simply fluff off my commitments tostay here.”
“Ah, a musician?” Piers nodded, impressed. “Is that what you’restudying?”
“No, I major in art with a minor in psychology. I have manytalents and interests, but being Lord of the Manor isn’tone.”
Piers quirkedan eyebrow. “Lord of the Manor… you make it sound so trite. But Isuppose it can be if you let it. That’s why at an early age Idecided to do what I wanted with my time. I’m not like my father. Idon’t give a fuck about appearances and status. Much to his dismay,I too took an interest in the arts. The performing arts,specifically. Can you imagine the old man’s horror when I declaredI wanted to be a stage actor? He thought I’d lost my mind. The oldguy nearly had a heart attack. First, his daughter disappoints him,then his only son decides to make a public spectacle ofhimself.”
“Really?” Crispin asked, curious. “How did that turn out foryou?”
“Well, in the end, the old bastard was right. I’m rubbish as anactor,” he said with a shrug. “Still, I enjoy the theatre. Only nowas a spectator and a generous patron and investor. You know, withyour newly acquired wealth, you can support your band all you want.The
