Garth smile was more of a sneer. “That’s Master Craig to you. And I wouldn’t think of leaving you alone in the company of such charming ladies?” He smiled broadly at the sisters.
Alex’s scowl showed that he wasn’t amused. “I suppose you didn’t bring those identification papers you spoke of earlier?”
Pulling a document from his breast pocket, Garth tossed it at Alex. Then, taking the ladies’ arms, he escorted them to their chairs. Moving past Alex, he seated himself at the head of the table, with Katherine on his right and May-Jewel on his left. Alex, usurped, positioned himself at the far side of the table, glaring furiously as he began to examine the papers.
“Well, Alex,” May-Jewel inquired, her eyes on the papers, “what do they say?”
“They’re from Neal Jameson and, according to him,” Alex growled, flinging the transcript toward May-Jewel, “he’s irrefutably who he says he is!”
But Katherine intercepted the legal form and handed it, unread, back to Garth. Unable to hide her irritation, May-Jewel frowned at her and returned her empty hand to her lap.
Feeling triumphant, Garth rang the dinner bell.
The corbie pie was served in an awkward silence. Before returning to the kitchen to ready the second course, Charles bent close to speak in Garth’s ear. Garth nodded in accord at what he heard.
“Was that an apology for serving us this unappetizing dish?” May-Jewel asked, pushing bits of food around her plate. “It doesn’t look very good.”
Garth smiled a broad, patient smile. “Not at all. He simply requested a meeting later, probably to talk about the old days. And if you gave the pie a chance, I know you’d like it.”
Giving him a slight but tolerate smile, May-Jewel returned to playing with her food and glanced now and then at the estate’s new owner. Rebellion soured her appetite. Even if it’s true, she thought, and he is Garth, he’ll have a fight on his hands if he thinks I’m giving up my inheritance that easily. Neal Jameson should have at least warned us that he was alive and was coming to claim the estate. My estate. She looked at Alex and almost felt sorry for him. She could see that his wine-induced mood had darkened further since he had read the papers, and his flint-like eyes never left Garth’s face.
Katherine scarcely ate anything and was anxious for the meal to end. She, too, was thinking of Mr. Jameson. He hadn’t struck her as being an indiscriminate solicitor, one to treat Garth’s reappearance so lightly. He obviously thought Garth was dead as well. Hadn’t he said as much when we were there? She couldn’t remember. She wished she had at least glanced at Garth’s document when she had it in hand so that she wouldn’t now have to ask Alex about it. Even though her actions were one of submission, she had no intentions of accepting Garth’s position as the Laird of Wistmere. She had always fought for what she thought was right, but as she looked at Garth, the fire of her fight diminished to a glow. He glanced over at her, bending the corners of his mouth up into a half smile. She tried to ignore the fluttering in her stomach and the trembling of her hands as his eyes found hers.
Garth was oblivious to Alex’s glares and to his sulky silence. His attention flitted back and forth between the two women. He had never held any woman in high esteem before. None he had known could compare with his mother. He found that most women were just like May-Jewel, wanting position and wealth, and most were also very vain. But he saw that Katherine was different. Her name silently tiptoed through his mind as he watched her sip from her glass. He wanted to be alone with her again. Suddenly, not waiting for the last course to be served, Garth rose from his chair.
“Will you honor me with a stroll through the garden, Mistress St. Pierre?”
His invitation startled her. With a slight flush of embarrassment, Katherine’s first thought was to decline, and she glanced at her sister for support. May-Jewel’s raised eyebrows and affirming nod left little to interpret. Looking up at Garth, Katherine accepted his invite and rose from the table.
As soon as the door closed behind them, Alex’s cool facade crumbled. The plates rang as his fist crashed down onto the table.
“Damn him! Damn that man!”
“Alexander!” May-Jewel cried unnerved by his sudden and violent outburst.
He moved to her side, his knuckles white as he gripped the arm of her chair and leaned close. He spat, “Are we going to let him just take Wistmere away from us?” He spread his arms as if to encompass the estate. “Are we going to let that intruder destroy what I… I mean what Robert and I have worked so hard for? His legacy to you?”
Perspiration dotted his brow, and he cursed under his breath as he straightened up. His unguarded moment of anger had exposed a side of him that he hadn’t intended for May-Jewel to see. All right, he thought, the castling is done and I have to see this move through. He was sure May-Jewel was of the same mind as he. And if she wasn’t, he knew it won’t be too hard to sway her.
May-Jewel nervously fondled her necklace. Alex’s anger and bold declaration had once again revealed his obsession with Wistmere. Katherine had been right. Even if Garth hadn’t come along, she was sure that Alex would soon wrest the estate from them. Wanting to know the full intent behind his words, she baited him. “Whatever do you mean, are we going to ‘let’ him take Wistmere away from us? I’m afraid you’re confused, Alex. He hasn’t any need
