“It won’t be worth hearing,” he said grimly. He caught the eye of their host and made a production of pointing at his phone. The man nodded expansively and had a word with one of their escorts, who stationed herself a discreet distance away. Obviously that was the best attempt at privacy he was going to manage.
It was, as he could have predicted without having to look at his texts, one of his lawyers trying to get hold of him. He didn’t even have to assign anyone a specific ring tone to know which barracuda happened to be contacting him to give him more bad news. He’d already talked to his solicitors in London that morning about his own business. That he wasn’t able to get through the day without something winging its way from Manhattan shouldn’t have surprised him.
He dialed, sighing as he did so. His attorney’s assistantpicked up immediately, which he supposed should have been gratifying. “Suzie, it’s Nathaniel.”
“I’ll put you right through, Nat.”
Well, he couldn’t say he didn’t appreciate that. He closed his eyes and steeled himself for whatever madness he could just imagine was coming his way.
“Nat,” Peter diSalvio said cheerfully. “You’re hard to get ahold of.”
“Don’t remind me,” Nathaniel said with a sigh. “What now?”
“Granddaddy’s making noise about those same bones he’s been gnawing on forever. You know, all that money you have control over that he wants back.”
“That was my father’s money, not Grandfather’s—” He rolled his eyes. “Stop that.”
Peter laughed. “I just love to listen to you repeat yourself endlessly. You know nothing’s changed. He wants you out and himself installed in your place. How’s that bull’s-eye on your back feel?”
Nathaniel didn’t suppose he was equal to describing it. He sighed. “I can’t deal with this right now.”
“You never have time to deal with this.”
“That’s because it’s total bollocks,” Nathaniel said shortly, “which we’ve also discussed forever. It’s my father’s money, I’m the trustee, and Ebenezer will never prove that I’ve mismanaged the trust.”
“He’s added a new wrinkle,” Peter said carefully. “He wants to challenge your father’s will now.”
Nathaniel dragged his hand through his hair. “Five years after the fact?”
“I didn’t say he had a chance, I just said he was doing it. You can’t not at least respond.”
“He can challenge my father’s will until he’s dead but nothing will change.”
“This conversation feels very familiar.”
“That’s because it is, you punter. What’s it going to take?”
“I’m working on it,” Peter said easily. “I wouldn’t want to reveal any strategies on the off chance our conversation isn’t as private as I would like it to be.”
Nathaniel could hardly believe that he might again have to meet Peter diSalvio on a bench in Central Park with hisattorney’s former intelligence service bodyguards keeping an eye on things at a discreet distance, but he had the feeling he was going to be hopping across the Pond sooner than he cared to.
“I’m only calling to get you to book me into your schedule,” Peter continued. “Lord Poindexter has his usual conference room set aside for a mediation session next month.”
“Lord Poindexter,” Nathaniel echoed with a snort. That was the one thing his grandfather didn’t have that he wanted with his entire soul. He’d spent the past thirty years trying to marry himself some sort of English heiress, but all he seemed to come up with were New York socialites. The man was, Nathaniel had to admit, not worth the price anyone would have to pay to live with him.
“I might pop over next week, just to see your place.”
That sounded serious. “If you like.”
“I think I should,” Peter said. “Besides, where’s that famous Highland hospitality?”
Nathaniel sighed. “I’ll dredge some up for you. Give me a couple days’ notice and I’ll come fetch you at the airport.”
“Take care of yourself, Nat.”
“You, too,” Nathaniel said, and he meant it. He couldn’t say he had many things to be grateful for when it came to the business with his grandfather, but having Peter on his side of the table was one of them.
He disconnected the call, put the phone back in his pocket, and took a minute to remind himself where he was and what he was doing. The castle wasn’t exactly grounded in present day, which was a little disconcerting, but the woman standing halfway down the passageway gaping at a tapestry certainly was. He pushed away from the wall he’d been leaning against and walked over to join her.
