“Bastard…” Crispin muttered.
“Agreed,” Piers said with a sigh. “Anyway, have you come to anydecisions?”
Crispinfrowned, irritated by Piers’s sudden change of subject. “About whatexactly?”
“About staying on at Harlow Manor,” Piers saidincredulously.
“The only thing I’ve decided is to go on with my life asnormal,” Crispin explained.
“What does that mean?” Piers asked, confused.
“It means, before I commit to anything here, I intend to returnto Canada and finish my education. I’m not saying I don’t want theplace or the money, just that I need to look after myresponsibilities first.”
“You can finish your education here in England at your choiceof universities,” Piers suggested.
Crispin took acalming breath. For some reason, his uncle refused to listen, ormore likely refused to respect his decisions. “Perhaps, but that’snot the point. Right now, I need to consider Gwen. I need to bewith my friends. I have my commitment to the band.”
“Oh, come on, all that can wait.”
“Have you not heard a word I’ve said?” That was it, the laststraw and Crispin’s patience snapped.
“Of course I have,” Piers insisted. “I just think you’re notlooking at this the right way.”
“Are you fucking kidding me?”
“Not in the slightest. I am very serious,” Piers persisted.“And as far as Gwen’s concerned you no longer have to worry abouther.”
“What?” Crispin gasped.
“Yes, I got rid of that little problem for you. In fact, she’sprobably halfway home to Canada.”
“What the hell are you talking about?”
“Come on, you can thank me later. I’ll tell you what I toldher. You’re too young, too rich and too handsome to tie yourselfdown to any one woman. What you need is time on your own to figurethings out.”
“Time on my own?” Crispin glared at Piers as though he wereinsane. “That’s all I’ve ever had! Damn you.” Unable to hearanything else at that moment, Crispin stormed off towards thehouse.
“She’s not there! She’s gone. She took the bribe like thegold-digger I knew her to be and didn’t give it another thought!”Piers said, chasing after him.
Crispin cameto an abrupt stop at his words. “What did you just say?”
“It’s all true. I paid her off and had a car sent for her.” Helooked at his watch. “By now, she’s probably mid-flight to Canadaon my private jet.”
“I don’t believe any of it! You’re full of shit. No wonder youwere so eager to take her off for the day. I swear if you’ve hurther–”
“I never laid a hand on her. I simply sent her on herway!”
“Bull shit! Gwen wouldn’t just leave.”
“Crispin, come on, think about it! This is where you belong.Okay, fine. Maybe I’m being a bit selfish. I want you here. Yourplace is here with me. We’re family, you and I. We should betogether.”
“Is that what this is all about?” Crispin asked. “You want meto stay here just to keep you company?”
“Pathetic, I know. But it’s the truth. I can’t stay here on myown anymore,” Piers confessed. “That’s why I would rather hand theplace over to the National Trust. But with you here, together wecould be a family. Cassandra would approve. I’m sure she would wantus to be together.”
Blinded withrage, Crispin hauled off and the next thing he knew, his fistconnected with Piers’s jaw knocking him on his ass. “How dare you!”Crispin shouted, shaking his head. “You’re just like your father.Can’t you see what you’re doing?”
“Crispin?” Stupefied, Piers clasped his jaw and held up hisother hand to ward off anymore blows. “I’m doing this for you, forus.”
“No! This is not happening!” Crispin spat with disgust. “Thisis real life, my life, and I refuse to play the part of a helplessfictional character from a tragic Victorian novel. This insanityends here!”
Without aglance over his shoulder, Crispin sped off in the rental car. Theonly thing he could think about was getting to the B&B. Eventhough he refused to believe a word of what Piers had said, heneeded to find Gwen, to see her, to confirm what he already knew.She would never have left without him. She would never haveaccepted a bribe. He couldn’t get there fast enough to proveit.
No way, wouldshe have taken Piers’s money! The worst part was, he blamed himselffor trusting him. He should never have let Piers take her for theday. As he gripped the steering wheel and stepped on the gas, hewondered what Piers might have said to Gwen. All sorts ofhorrendous scenarios ran amuck in his brain as he tried hard tofocus on the road.
When he finally arrived, instead of running inside, Crispinhesitated, suddenly paralyzed with fear. What if she had left? What if shewasn’t who he thought she was? Could he survive knowing she hadbeen so easily bought? None of it made sense, but then neither didanything all of a sudden.
With a heartfilled with dread, and feet as heavy as lead, he put one foot infront of the other and made his way to their room. When he reachedthe door, his hand shook as he turned the key. He took a deepbreath and prepared himself for the worst. Expecting to find notrace of Gwen, instead, he was hit with the full force of her body,her arms around his neck.
“Crispin! I knew you’d come for me.”
“Gwen?” Holding her tight, he took a moment to breathe her inbefore stepping back to gaze upon her. “You’re here. You didn’tleave.”
“I would never leave without you. Or at least talking to youfirst.”
Tugging herinto him, he shut the door behind him with his foot and rested hisback against it. They stood there for a good long while before heopened his eyes. Behind her, on the dresser, he saw what he assumedwas a cheque. He slowly released her and made his way towards it.When he got close enough, he noticed it was torn in half, thepieces left beside each other.
“I tore it and would have flushed it down the toilet,” Gwensaid at his side. “But then I stopped myself. I figured I shouldkeep it to show you, just in case he denied it. In case you didn’tbelieve me. I know you have trust issues. I didn’t want to take anychances. Your uncle Piers is a manipulative bastard and I
