“And you would have had every right,” Piers agreed with obviousregret. “I had you all wrong.”
“Damn right!” The more she thought of it, of what he’d said, ofwhat he had set out to do, the angrier she got, so much so, shestood up and paced back and forth.
After a fewcalming breaths, she came to stand behind Crispin’s chair, herhands on his shoulders. “How dare you try to separate us? How dareyou assume I would be so easily bribed? You know nothing about me.I love Crispin!” She punctuated the point by giving him a tightsqueeze. In return, Crispin placed a hand over hers.
“I would never just leave without a word, without talking tohim!” she said. “Don’t you understand how awful a person I wouldhave to be to simply leave him on nothing more than your advice?And who the hell are you to pretend you know what’s good forCrispin? You’ve only just met him! You don’t know the life he’slived. If you did, you would never have asked me to abandon him!”By now, she was shaking. She might have even been embarrassed ather outburst, but at the same time, she felt awesome for havingvented her anger. Crispin took hold of her hand, brought it to hislips and gave her knuckles a soft kiss. With a look of appreciationin his eyes and a smile on his handsome face, he helped her backinto her chair.
Had she been too harsh with Piers? For all of a second, she questioned herself. But when Crispinsmiled at her with pride and love in his eyes, she felt validated.When Piers had suggested she leave without a word, she knew if shehad done such a thing, Crispin would never trust her again, even ifhe did eventually forgive her.
“Go ahead, Crispin,” she said when he glanced her way. “I’vesaid all needed to say.”
Crispin couldn’t help but smile. “Well, I believe you’ve justabout said everything Ineeded to say.”
“Again, I apologize to you both,” Piers interrupted. “I onlyhope you’ll forgive me. Obviously, I was wrong. But trust me when Itell you, Crispin, I was only looking out for you.”
At hisunfortunate choice of words, Crispin snapped out of his glow ofadmiration for Gwen. Leaning forward in his chair, he pointed hisfinger at Piers and glared at him. “Trust you?” he repeated as ifthe words left a bitter taste in his mouth. “Oh, you can justforget that, my dear uncle.”
There it was,Gwen observed. One simply does not betray Crispin and expectforgiveness anytime soon. She recalled him telling her of hismistrust of his housemate, Keegan. While he may have forgiven himfor leaving the House of Goths that one time, he hadn’t forgottenit. If anything, Crispin was consistent.
“As for looking out for me, don’t bother. I don’t needparenting at this point in my life. I’ll look after myself justfine as I’ve always done.” Crispin paused, allowing his words tosink in. “You said yesterday, you wanted to get to know me. Well,here it is. It’s real simple. Listen carefully, with your ears thistime.”
Piers noddedand gestured for him to continue. “I don’t play head games. Icommunicate. I told you yesterday of my responsibilities, mycommitments. Yet obviously you came to your own conclusions. Yousee, shit like that doesn’t work with me. That may be your style orthat of your father’s, but it is not mine and it will never be. Ihaven’t the time for it. I don’t care who you are, blood relativeor not. Once you pull that shit with me, you’re on my list.”
“Your list?” Piers repeated warily.
“My shit list,” Crispin explained. “Welcome aboard, dear uncle,enjoy your stay.”
Gwen couldn’tbe more proud of Crispin. Everything he said was true to hisnature. He was a man of his word. The more time she spent in hiscompany, the more she fell in love with him.
“Dear boy, forgive me,” Piers pleaded. “I was a fool. I thoughtI was doing the right thing. Crispin, I’ve wanted to find you forso long. Life hasn’t been easy for me despite all this wealth. Itcan be unbearably lonely at times. When you showed up out of theblue, I lost all focus. You look so much like my dear sister. Iwanted you here with me. I didn’t want Gwen taking you away sosoon. I thought I was doing the right thing, turns out I am nobetter than my father.”
It was hardnot to be moved by his uncle’s confession, but Crispin wasn’t readyto give in just yet. “I don’t even know what to do with all that,”he said, shaking his head. “I can’t just stay here to keep youcompany. The best thing I can do to salvage any possible futurerelationship with you, is to put some distance between us.”
“Is there no room in your heart for forgiveness?” Pierspersisted. “Will you simply turn your back on your responsibilitieshere, refuse your inheritance? You can hate me all you want, butthink of your mother, my dear sister, this was her home, too. Don’thold my actions against her.”
“This has nothing to do with my mother and I don’t hate you. Isimply don’t like you right now and I’m okay with that. As forforgiveness, sure I can forgive you. I just can’t trustyou.”
“What does that even mean? Are you staying or not?”
“I am not staying,” Crispin repeated. “But I’m not leavingforever. I will leave this afternoon with Gwen but I intend toreturn in the near future to look after my responsibilities here.As for my inheritance, of course, I want it. I’m not anidiot.”
“That’s wonderful news,” Piers said, standing up, relieved.“Jones and Iris will be happy to hear of it as well. I appreciatethis, Crispin. Truly, I am happy to finally meet you, to bring youhome, and to give you what’s yours. My sister meant the world to meand I’m grateful for this opportunity to do right by her. She wouldhave been so proud of
