“You were very foolish, Veronica,” her cousin said, sitting beside her with a cat’s smile on her face.
She closed her eyes, feeling the sensations that always overcame her when she used her Gift. A warm wave came first, then the essence of emotion from the other person.
What she felt from Amanda wasn’t one emotion but a group of them, mixed to form something that appeared translucent like uncooked fish. It was as if her cousin had not yet decided which way to nudge her spirit, toward goodness or evil. At the moment, Amanda was a little amused, a little excited, a thread of anger woven though her emotions.
She opened her eyes, turning to look at her cousin.
“Why do you dislike me so, Amanda?”
In those next seconds, she watched as Amanda’s face changed. The amusement disappeared first, to be replaced by a watchful expression, one she’d rarely seen on her cousin’s face.
“What do you mean?”
“From the very beginning, you’ve disliked me. Why?”
The expression hardened on Amanda’s face as she glanced around the room. She was no longer so pretty.
“I would’ve had this room but for you. It’s larger than the others, and sunnier. But, no, Veronica must be given the best room.”
“For a room?” she asked, incredulous. “You’ve disliked me because of a room? Why didn’t you say? I would have gladly changed rooms with you.”
Amanda’s eyes narrowed. “No one would have allowed it. Everyone did everything for poor little Veronica, poor orphaned little Veronica.”
Did they? She hadn’t noticed.
“I would have more money in my allowance but for you.”
She felt the first touch of humor since Amanda had entered the room. “Surely you cannot blame me for your profligate ways, cousin.”
“I always had enough money before you came. Now, Father has to plan for you, too.”
Amanda stood, walked to the door. “I know you’re upset,” she said sweetly. “I’ll give you a few hours to think about it. Father was very upset with you. I can make life easier for you.”
Veronica smiled. “I won’t need your help,” she said. “You see, I’m to be married.”
She stood and went to the door.
“And yes, I was gloriously intimate, Amanda. For the entire night. Hours and hours of scandalous, unbridled, shocking, intimate passion.”
Smiling, she closed the door in Amanda’s face.
She’d waited two years to do that.
Chapter 5
Montgomery stared at the sheaf of papers his solicitor handed him.
“All of that?” he asked.
“Yes, Your Lordship. Now that your claim has been recognized by the House of Lords, there are many documents you need to sign.”
“And when I do, you can go home, is that it, Edmund?”
His solicitor, Edmund Kerr, only smiled faintly.
The man was near his own age, neither a boy nor close to doddering. A good thing, too, since he’d expended some effort to find Montgomery in America. The last two months had been spent navigating through the complex legal maneuvers necessary to have him recognized as the 11thLord Fairfax of Doncaster. A thankless duty, all in all.
“Do I pay you enough?” Montgomery asked. Since money was no longer an object, perhaps Edmund deserved an increase in his salary.
