CHAPTERTEN
The Gallaghers
“Mr. Gallagher, is Mr. Browning still the estate agent?” Cassie asked, pulling Mr. Gallagher’s attention away from the front door Lakehurst closed behind him.
“Yes, and no, my lady.”
“Yes, and no is hardly an answer, Mr. Gallagher. Explain please,” she said. “Come, let’s sit in the study.”
“No!”
Cassie frowned at him. “What do you mean, no?”
“It’s just that is such an uncomfortable room and hasn’t been warmed in eighteen months. It would not be comfortable, my lady.”
“I assume you would say the same about the library?” she asked, suspicious.
“Yes, my lady.”
Her lips pursed as she considered his manner. “Please see that those faults are rectified throughout the castle. We will have a houseful of people in a couple of days, and the condition of the house is not conducive to guests.” She walked toward the parlor, Mr. Gallagher following her.
“A houseful?” he asked.
“Yes, I am expecting my brother, his fiancée Ann Hallowell and her stepmother, Mrs. Hallowell, Mr. Stillworth, who you well know, Mr. and Mrs. Tidemark, and Mrs. Tidemark’s brother, Harrison Farrow. Far fewer people than Richard entertained; however, it is more than this castle is currently ready to entertain. Am I not right, Mr. Gallagher?”
“You said Mr. and Mrs. Tidemark are coming?”
“Yes.”
“But they haven’t been here since they married,” he protested.
She tilted her head to the side as she regarded him. “I am aware of that,” she said slowly. “As I told your wife, he needs to take a greater interest in the estate for my son’s benefit. Mr. Tidemark’s father is long dead, and any dissatisfaction he felt with Mr. Tidemark’s choice of bride is moot, would you not say?”
“Yes, yes. Of a certainty, my lady,” he hastily agreed, his face taking on a pinched expression.
“Good. Then we understand each other. If Lord Lakehurst or Lady Guinevere request you to do something, you can consider it a request from me. Is that understood?”
“Yes, my lady.”
“Good, you may go now.”
“Excuse me, my lady; may I be so bold as to say you are different than you were eighteen months ago.”
“Eighteen months ago, I had a living husband,” she responded. She stared at him until he grew fidgety and left.
She took a deep inhale of breath when the parlor door closed behind him.
“You know you will have to get rid of him and that wife of his,” Gwinnie’s voice said from the other side of the couch.
Cassie started. “Oh, I didn’t know you were here!” she said.
“You didn’t see my feet hanging over the end of the couch?” Gwinnie said, peddling her feet up and down.
“No, I did not.”
“First time in my life I’ve been invisible!” Gwinnie said as she sat up and swung her legs to the floor. She turned and leaned over the back of the couch, resting her chin on her arm.
Cassie laughed. “I dare swear, Gwinnie, that no matter your height, your personality would keep you visible.”
