“I guess before we go any further,” May-Jewel interrupted, “that I should tell you both that Alex has asked me to marry him, and I’ve accepted.”
“What?” Neal Jameson exclaimed.
Katherine was instantly at her side. “Oh, May-Jewel, that’s wonderful!”
Alex stood with a stunned look upon his face until he realized that May-Jewel had actually accepted him. Then he beamed and shook Neal’s pro-offered hand of congratulations.
“So,” May-Jewel continued, blushing with emotion, “I don’t think I’ll be needing two manors, do you Katherine?”
“No, you don’t need two manors, although I’m sure you could handle both. But,” her smile faded, her eyes grew dark with sadness. “I’ll miss you more than you will ever realize.” Just as the atmosphere of the moment became solemn, Katherine glowed, “Congratulations!” and hugged them both. “And if you are seriously declining your part of Wistmere, May-Jewel, I think it only fair that restitutions be made to you in the form of monies, in agreement with Mr. Jameson, of course. You could call it a wedding gift.”
“Well, if you really want to do that,” her sister purred, “I accept your offer.” She smiled lovingly at Alex, who sat next to her and took her hand into his.
“Then it’s done,” the solicitor exclaimed, satisfied with Katherine’s solution. He pulled some other papers from his portmanteau. “If that’s the case, then Mistress Belwood will have to look over these documents first, then you, Mistress St. Pierre.”
As the papers were read by both May-Jewel and, because she wished it, Alex, Katherine rose and stood at the fireplace, her eyes on her sister’s new beau. Except for trivial matters, she had purposely avoided speaking to him about his incriminating actions. The past, she figured, was better left forgotten.
Alex took his eyes off the papers to see Katherine looking at him. He paused and wondered how he could approach the woman that he had tried to rob, the woman that he had cursed and wished dead? But he had changed, and now he only needed time to prove himself. If he and May-Jewel were going to marry, he would have to straighten things out between Katherine and himself as soon as possible. Now, he thought, was as good a time as any. He winked at May-Jewel, rose, and approached Katherine.
He started slowly, “I… I know that I’ve abused my position as manager of this estate, as well as in the shipping line, and I have no right to ask…”
But Katherine didn’t let him finish. Her words were firm and spoken quickly. “Your position in the Craig Shipping Line hasn’t been challenged, Alex. Whereas I can’t fault a man for his beliefs, I do find fault in the methods with which he serves those beliefs.”
Distress creased Alex’s features. This wasn’t going well at all. He stared at the floor. I’ll not plead, he thought.
“Still,” she continued, a light smile briefly filling her face, “you did a superior job before the emerald affair came up. Perhaps all you need is a gentle guiding hand to help you to rearrange your priorities.” She glanced at May-Jewel.
Following her gaze, Alex replied, “That’s an extravagant hand to support. What I need is assured employment.”
Katherine looked at Alex as if truly seeing him for the first time. His arrogant expression had been replaced by the worried look of a lover, and in spite of the uncertainties of life with May-Jewel, she was sure they would be happy. “Of course you do,” she replied. “Stay with the firm. I’ve been told that long before the battle of Harlaw Hill, the Craigs and the Flemings were family, and it should remain so.”
“Thank you,” he replied and almost hugged her.
May-Jewel clapped her hands with joy.
Laughing, Katherine returned to her chair.
“There is one more thing that I must bring up.” Alex said grimly, all seriousness and sternness suddenly. “In all that has taken place in the past few days, we’ve forgotten about something.”
Katherine frowned, worried that there was more pain and disappointment coming. “What’s that?”
“The bones in the wine cellar. They should be formally attended to.”
“Oh, I totally forgot about them. Of course.” She nodded, greatly relieved that that was all that he had meant. “I believe,” she continued, thinking out loud, “that was what Lady Edythe was trying to do. Which is probably why you weren’t the only one to think that the jewels were buried there.”
“They were an irresistible temptation. I was willing to dismantle the entire place to find those emeralds.”
“Emeralds?” Neal suddenly turned his attention to their conversation. “Are you speaking of Lady Edythe’s fortune? If that be the case, you’re wasting good time and effort searching for something that isn’t here.”
“What?” Came three voices at once.
“Yes, Charles brought the emeralds to my office a half-dozen years ago. Lady Edythe had left them in his keeping with a note that they were to be given to Garth on the day of his marriage. But upon the news of his ‘supposed’ death, I just kept them in the safe. I guess now that Garth has truly passed on that they should be shared by his sisters.” He gazed at them and smiled.
“The emeralds will come to us?” May-Jewel asked excitedly.
“I don’t see why not,”
