Crispin andGwen watched Piers go and then he turned to her once again. “I’mnot sure I like the idea of you running off with that clown.”
Gwen couldhelp the bubble of laughter at his choice of words. “Oh, Crispin!That’s your uncle you speak of.”
“Uncle or not, I still don’t like it. I’ll kill him if triesanything.” As much as he appreciated the time alone to think, hecouldn’t shake the sense of foreboding that came overhim.
“Crispin, he’s a perfect gentleman,” Gwen said, determined toset him at ease. “I’m sure.”
“Right, well, he just better watch his step,” Crispin grumbled.“Seriously, Gwen, I would have loved to go with you today. But in away, I think you’re right. I think I need to spend the day here. Ifanything, I need get to know the place where my mother grewup.”
“Aww… Crispin, your poor mother. It breaks my heart to imaginewhat she must have gone through. So young… to be sent away fromeveryone and everything familiar to have her babyalone.”
Crispin wincedat her words. “Stop it, please. This is hard enough for me as itis. Allow me some dignity. If I’m going to cry, I’d rather not havean audience,” he said, blinking back the moisture from hiseyes.
“Oh, I’m sorry,” Gwen said with regret. “Now I no longer wantto leave your side.”
“I’ll be fine, Gwen,” Crispin straightened at the sight ofPiers’s return.
“Right then, shall we?” Piers said, standing a few feet behindthem, dangling a set of car keys from his hand.
“Go on, I’ll see you later,” Crispin encouraged her, leaningin, giving her a kiss.
“I’ll miss you,” she whispered as he pulled away.
“Don’t make me change my mind,” he said with a pout.
“Gwen?” Piers interrupted, “Shall we?” He held out hisarm.
“Very well, let’s,” Gwen said, looking one last time over hershoulder at Crispin before tucking her hand into the crook of theeager man’s elbow.
“See you later, Crispin,” Piers said. “Jones will be along anyminute to point you in the right direction.”
“Wonderful…” Crispin muttered despondently.
Chapter 34
Standing in thegarden, Crispin took a deep breath and looked around him. No doubtabout it, Harlow Manor was a gorgeous sight, from the architectureof the main house to the surrounding splendour of greenery. Hecould not help but be impressed. To think he might have grown uphere caused a wince in his heart. His life would have been sodifferent to the one he had experienced. For one thing, he wouldn’thave gone without for anything. Like his uncle Piers, he would havehad the world at his fingertips. He wouldn’t have grown up infoster care. He wouldn’t have wondered why he had beenabandoned.
Yet gazing athis supposed real family’s land, he found himself missing his lifein Kingston, even on the verge of longing for it, for itsfamiliarity, its simplicity, and comforts. If he had grown up here,he wouldn’t have gone to Kingston University. He wouldn’t have metKell, Keegan, Dorian or Becky. He would never have met Gwen. Thosereasons alone were enough to abolish any further regrets. What wasdone, was done, and there was no point in dwelling on what-ifs. Hisonly concern, going forward, was what to do with all this suddenwealth. This land, this house. Did he even want it?
Of course, hedid. He wasn’t a fool or too proud to dismiss its value. Troublewas, what to do next. Should he remain here? In a way, it wouldmake sense. Surrounded by all this grandeur, he might never feelthe need to return to Canada and all things familiar. After all,hadn’t that been his goal in the first place, to prove to himselfhe could make it on his own, to prove he could survive the absenceof his friends?
Only now, herealized it didn’t have to be that way. Hadn’t he spent his entirechildhood alone? Hadn’t he already proven he could survive it?Question was, why would he ever choose to be alone when he didn’thave to? Being alone was overrated. As far as he was concerned,he’d had enough of it. He hadn’t been in control as a child. As anadult, he had a choice. What he wanted now, was love, and tosurround himself with those who loved him, not run away fromthem.
First andforemost, he was in love with Gwen, and knowing she loved him inreturn, that she wouldn’t abandon him, well, that feeling was whathe had been searching for his entire life. She had filled thegaping big hole in his heart just when he needed it most, and hewasn’t too proud or daft enough to deny it. In her, he had foundhis soulmate, of that he had no doubt. Whatever decision he madewould involve her, therefore he had to make it the right one.
“Pardon me, Master Crispin, would you like to begin yourtour?”
Jones’s voicestirred Crispin from his thoughts and he smiled at the kindly oldman. “Yes, good idea, I suppose we should. Lead the way,Jones.”
***
If anything,Crispin learned that Jones knew everything about Harlow Manor andits surrounding grounds. He showed Crispin the impressive kitchens,introduced him to the staff. He then introduced him to the headhousekeeper, who happened to be his wife Iris. No doubt, the mantook great pride in working there. It was all he had known,apparently, and he didn’t mind sharing his concerns about Piers’sdesire to hand it over to the National Trust.
“Who knows what would happen. I fear they would retire us offand hire younger staff at a lower rate. Most likely, the privateapartments would also be opened up for tourism. My wife and I wouldlose our livelihood and be forced to retire.”
“Is that really such a bad thing?” Crispin inquired as Jonesescorted him up yet another staircase. “Aren’t you both tired ofcoming here? Haven’t you dedicated enough of your lives to thisplace?”
“This place is all we’ve known, sir,” Jones responded. “We bothtake great pride in working here. Not only that, I fear we wouldhave to find another place to live. You see, we’ve had theprivilege of residing on the premises for most of our lives. Wewouldn’t know where to begin.”
“Oh, I do see,” Crispin said pensively. “So,
