Shaking her head, Katherine lifted her finger to her lips to quiet her sister.
Flustered and growing desperate, Alex rushed toward the stairs, blocking Garth’s further advance into the manor. “You can’t claim this estate just on the ramblings of a senile old man! A letter to the solicitor will expose you. If I were you, I wouldn’t unpack those bags.” Turning, he flew up the stairs, and stormed into his quarters, slamming the door behind him.
* * *
Has the impossible happened?
Locked within his chamber, Alex paced the expanse of the room in long angry strides. The man has to be an impostor! Of that I’m sure. I knew him when we were boys, and he doesn’t look anything like the Garth I remember. Garth Craig is dead, has been for years.
Alex had built his plans on that one concrete fact. He had controlled the estate for a long time and needed to continue to do so. Manipulating two illegitimate daughters was child’s play in light of this new development. His pace grew slower.
What if it’s true, and this is Robert’s son? What then?
His mind whirled, and he remembered the time when he and Garth were children. They had been friends but then came the turbulent doings that separated them forever. The years did nothing to release Alex from the guilt he bore. His behavior toward Garth had become alien even to himself, and only after hearing that his friend was dead did Alex feel released from that guilt. Now it came back, twice fold, waving over him and gripping his stomach.
He walked to the window and looked out across the fields to the moor that lay beyond. All seemed quiet and peaceful there. He took a few deep breaths to calm the chaos of his mind and decided upon the only stand on the issue that he could take… denial of what might be the truth. He must be an impostor. He must be! Well we’ll see who wins out in the end. And how could that old fool Charles say he recognizes Garth when it’s been almost two decades since he saw him last? Then another thought entered his mind, a black, dangerous one. As if speaking to the man downstairs, Alex threatened, “And don’t put your hopes in that old man vowing for you for he is, indeed, old and might not live much longer.”
* * *
The strange quiet in the great hall had left the heiresses no proper means to escape without drawing notice to themselves.
“Always was a rude fellow,” Garth said glancing after Alex. Then moving toward them, he stated. “There doesn’t seem to be anyone around to introduce us. You’ve heard me say who I am, but I don’t know who you are. Whom do I have the pleasure of addressing?”
May-Jewel stared at him with the same intolerance that Alex had displayed. “We’re the daughters of Robert Craig,” she stated, squaring her shoulders and trying to look down her nose at the man who stood above her.
Garth’s black eyebrows rose. His gaze darted from May-Jewel to Katherine. There it lingered. “My father, it seems, was… a very busy man. What are your names… sisters?” He smiled.
“I’m May-Jewel Belwood Craig,” she answered, her face in a defiant pout.
Katherine remained silent, her green eyes riveted on the face of the stranger. Though his manner was sure and his speech arrogant, she saw uncertainty in his stormy gray eyes. An electric current raced through her. His nearness disturbed her in a manner with which she was unfamiliar.
“I’m Katherine St. Pierre,” she finally answered.
“What, no ‘Craig’?” he teased.
“I won’t have ‘Craig’ added to my name.”
Although she tried to keep the bitter tone from her words, the man apparently noticed for his smile disappeared. Then he reached forward and plucked a black cobweb from her shoulder.
A tiny gasp fell from her lips as she looked down at her attire. She had forgotten about being in the wine cellar, forgotten the dirt and dust that must have soiled her clothing and hair.
“Are the daughters of Robert Craig employed as maids?” He blew the cobweb from his fingers.
Katherine felt the heat of embarrassment rising to her cheeks. Then the man lifted her be-smudged hand to his lips. His sudden touch awakened something in her. Feeling suddenly quite vulnerable, she pulled her hand from his grasp. A disconcerting smile spread across his face as his bold eyes took possession of hers. But Katherine looked away.
Watching the discourse between the two, May-Jewel couldn’t believe how her sister suddenly became like putty in the man’s hands. A disgusted frown creased her face.
Suddenly the man’s tone grew somber. “I hope Mr. Fleming isn’t attached to living here for I fear I might have to evict him. I get the impression that he’s trying to arrogate to himself ownership of this manor.”
“He is quite bossy,” Katherine replied. “And at times he takes everything too seriously, including himself.”
“He was Robbie’s partner,” May-Jewel added stamping her foot and frowning at Katherine. “And still holds partial ownership in the shipping line.”
“My father’s partner? What could Father have been thinking?”
This time Katherine frowned. “Surely you, as Sir Robert’s son, would have known of the partnership?”
He didn’t hesitate as he answered, “If we had had a normal father and son relationship, I suppose I would have. As it stands…” He didn’t finish but simply bowed slightly and smiled, adding, “Ladies, until later.” He headed up the stairs.
Watching him leave, Katherine feared that this truly was Robert’s son. And… she was strangely drawn to him. Fear and attraction; they were a dangerous combination, especially in her who was not familiar with either.
“Is he really Garth?” May-Jewel whispered, glancing up the stairs.
Her sister’s question broke
