Katherine nodded in agreement. “Tomorrow we’ll post our own letter to Neal Jameson and ask him what he can find out about Selina, for he’s the only one we can trust. She had to have arrived on some ship at some port. Somebody has to know something about her. And as for the estate, Garth said that he wouldn’t put us out. Tomorrow I’m going to tell him about everything. Maybe he has an idea of what’s going on. Yes,” she smiled and hugged her sister, “if we stay together tonight, we should be safe enough… for the moment.”
With May-Jewel in agreement, they prepared for bed.
“What did you discover about Garth while on your walk?” May-Jewel asked as she slipped under the covers.
“That he wasn’t responsible for his mother’s death, for one thing, and that we can trust him for another.” She hesitated then confessed, “I think he’s truly Sir Robert’s son and… I’m beginning to really like him.”
“Like him, like him?” May-Jewel looked at her sister, and seeing the expression on her face, realized exactly what Katherine was admitting. Her mouth opened in shock. “You can’t really like him, like him if he’s your half-brother!”
Sighing, Katherine said, “I know. But I can’t help it. There’s something about him that is so… so open. He’s so honest about who he really is. And I don’t mean just about his name but about his true self.”
“You don’t think that he could be lying? That he’s not the type of man you obviously think he is. And regardless of his papers, he could still be an imposter as Alex suspects.”
“Or he could be an ally with us against Alex and Selina.” She hadn’t meant to link the two in the same breath again but the look on her sister’s face showed her that that thought had occurred to May-Jewel as well. It was a frightening thought. She ended by saying, “We have to trust somebody. I think it should be Garth. He isn’t the one we have to fear. I’m sure he would never harm us.”
May-Jewel eased back on the pillow. “How can you be so sure?”
Katherine didn’t answer. Garth walked through her sleepy mind and pushed her fears aside. Hugging her pillow, she closed her eyes and drifted into sleep.
* * *
Alex paced the great hall anxious for May-Jewel to come down for breakfast. There wasn’t any doubt in his mind that she was angry. His actions were unforgivable. And as long as there was wine available, his actions were unlikely to change. But he knew that they had to change. He felt sick. The lack of sleep had left him drawn and nervous. It’s useless to wait, he thought. But as he began to leave, he saw May-Jewel coming down the stairs.
Seeing him, she turned to retreat.
“No, May-Jewel, wait! I want to talk with you. Please come down.”
“I don’t want to talk to you,” she replied, her hands tight on the banister, her face hard and cold. She had decided that even in the daylight, she didn’t trust being alone with him. Yet when she saw his look of despair, she wavered. His hair was mussed and his eyes were bloodshot. His usually impeccable attire was rumpled, and his jacket hung about his sagging shoulders as if it were on an old man. But as imperfect as his appearance was, it was refreshing. She preferred this Alex over the dapper but plotting and drunken one.
“All right, I’ll come down,” she said, slowly descending the stairs, “but if you make one move to touch me, I’ll scream and inform everyone, including Mr. Jameson, everything that you’ve said and about your transgressions against me.”
Alex’s tired features hardened. “Those were the actions and words of a man drunk with wine and desire!”
“Those were the actions and words of a man filled with greed and lust!” She responded angrily. “The only desire you have is to own Wistmere. And that you’ll never do!”
He looked as if she had slapped him. “I beg you to forgive me for my indiscretion last night. I’m sorry. Please listen to me,” he pleaded.
May-Jewel silently stared at him. Until that moment, she hadn’t fully realized how strongly she felt about him. “All right, Alex, I’ll listen to you. But it’s unlikely that I will fall into your arms with forgiveness.”
Alex’s eyes narrowed with torment. “I’ll admit it was my intention to take Wistmere from Katherine… and from you,” he said haltingly, “but that was before, before I came to know you. Now I don’t know what I want. I can’t think beyond your face. With my eyes opened or closed, your face is all I see. I’m sorry I have hurt you.” His extended hand stopped within an arm’s reach of her.
“Alex,” she whispered, his plea tearing at her heart. She wanted to tell him it was all right, yet she wasn’t ready to betray her feelings for him, even to herself. “Oh, Alex, could it be possible that you would change?”
“If only you’ll accept my apology. I mean to rededicate my life to you and…”
Weakening, May-Jewel didn’t want to listen. She didn’t want to love him. She felt abused and betrayed by him. Seeking to clear her head, and not wanting to forgive him too quickly, she left him standing there and hurried down the stairs and out of the manor.
Hanging his head in defeat, Alex retreated to his room.
* * *
Having made a
