Heir To Glengyle

He said, ‘I noticed you admire it, so I bought it for you.’

‘Thank you, that was very kind—but of course I can’t accept it,’ she said regretfully.

‘Why not, for heaven’s sake?’ he rasped.

‘Because I feel it’s a bribe to persuade me to do whatever you wish me to do. You can take it home, and I’m sure your wife, or your girlfriend, or whoever, will appreciate it.’ She then spread the paper carefully, rewrapped the paperweight and handed it back to him.

CHAPTER TWO (#ulink_c3afe53f-e51d-5484-8988-03cded35a430)

BAIRD took the square parcel from her and tossed it on to the back seat, where it landed with a slight thud. He then gritted from behind tight lips, ‘For your information, I am neither married nor engaged.’

‘But you must surely have a girlfriend,’ she pursued, suddenly feeling unaccountably interested in this question.

‘Well, it’s possible. What about yourself?’ he asked, sending a swift glance towards her ringless fingers. ‘Are you a free agent?’

‘Definitely—and I intend to remain that way,’ she declared in a firm voice. ‘At least until—’ She fell silent, annoyed with herself.

He sent her a quick glance. ‘Until what?’

‘Until I’ve achieved my goal—which is no concern of yours.’

‘Shady business, is it?’ He grinned. ‘Something which must be kept secret, or under wraps, as they say.’

‘Of course not,’ she snapped, irritated by his suggestions. Then she gave a sigh of resignation as she admitted, ‘If you must know—I’m interested in antiques. Some day I hope to own my own shop.’

‘That’s your goal? Have you come to the UK on a buying spree?’

‘Heavens, no—I’m a long way from that happy state,’ she said, laughing at the mere thought of it.

Unexpectedly he said, ‘You should laugh more often. It lights up your face.’

She was startled by the remark, wondering if it was supposed to be a compliment. Or had he scratched about in his mind, searching for something nice to say—and all he’d been able to come up with was a hint that her previous expression had been anything but attractive? Not that she cared one iota for his opinion of her appearance, of course, and to prove this point she dragged her mind back to the subject of her great-aunt.

‘I presume the suggestion of a visit to New Zealand has been put to Amy?’ she queried.

‘Yes. But her response has been a complete lack of enthusiasm. That’s why I’m asking if you’ll use your powers of persuasion.’

‘What makes you imagine I have any?’

‘The fact that she was so delighted to see you.’

‘She’s probably like Gran, strong on family ties—which makes me wonder why she’d need to be persuaded to come to New Zealand.’

‘I think the main problem lies in the assistance she needs because of her arthritis. You probably don’t realise that she needs help in having her shower and in getting dressed. Here she has Elspeth to turn to during difficult moments, but in New Zealand she fears she would be a burden to somebody.’

‘Poor Amy,’ Cathie said softly, her voice full of sympathy.

He went on, ‘She also feels nervous about the length of the flight. Thirteen hours from Heathrow to Changi Airport at Singapore, where we’d have a night’s stopover, and then another ten hours or more to Auckland.’

‘It’s a long way to the other side of the world,’ Cathie sighed.

‘I’ve tried to convince her that the Singapore Airlines air hostesses will give her all the assistance she needs. They really are the most charming girls.’

‘Not only charming, but beautiful as well,’ Cathie agreed. ‘But that’s only on the main flight. What happens when she reaches New Zealand?’

‘We’ll catch the first available domestic flight to Palmerston North—’

Cathie cut in, ‘And that’s where my parents and Gran will meet her and take her to Levin where we live. Gran has a flat built on to our house.’

His jaw became set in a determined line. ‘On the contrary, she will stay with me until she gets over her jet-lag, and until my parents have come from Taupo to meet her. Don’t forget that my father is her stepson, and I’m unable to see the necessity to send him an extra thirty miles to Levin.’ He paused, then added, ‘Also, I’d like her to see my factory.’

Cathie’s brows rose as she sent him an inquiring glance. ‘Factory?’

‘It’s just one that Dad and I started years ago. When he retired he took Mother to live at Taupo where they spend most of their time fishing on the lake.’

She waited for more explanation about the factory, but it did not appear to be forthcoming. Then, as she had no intention of prying, she changed the subject by asking carefully, ‘There would be someone in your—living quarters—to care for Amy?’

‘I live alone in the house I took over when my parents went to Taupo—but there’s Lola next door. She works part-time, which enables her to keep an eye on my place.’

‘You mean, as a housekeeper?’

‘I suppose you could call it that,’ he replied nonchalantly. ‘At least, the place always looks clean and tidy, and I’m never short of a clean shirt.’

‘But if she has a part-time job her hours might not fit in—especially in the mornings,’ Cathie pointed out, visualising a comfortably built woman, possibly about her mother’s age.

‘I’ll talk to her,’ he said, as though that was all it would take to make Lola change her work schedule.

Cathie took an unobtrusive peep at the classical lines of his profile, which featured a strong jaw, a straight nose and a well-shaped forehead. This man knows what he wants and is determined to get it, she decided. He knows where he’s going and is sure to get there. Yet there’s a tender side to his nature. He’s concerned for Amy. He’s even concerned about the problems his long-dead ancestors had to face. Not that he can do anything about those people or events, but the knowledge frustrates him. Nevertheless it all adds up to the fact that he’s one who cares for other people.

His voice cut into her thoughts. ‘So you’ll do it?’

She was momentarily nonplussed. ‘Do it—? Do what—?’

His frown indicated impatience. ‘You’ll do your best to persuade Amy that the trip would not be the traumatic experience she imagines. Isn’t that what this conversation is about?’

‘Yes—I suppose so. When would you expect to leave?’

‘As soon as Elspeth can pack a couple of suitcases for her—and before she changes her mind about the entire project.’

‘It’s a pity Elspeth couldn’t go with her—’ Cathie began.

He cut in, ‘As I’ve already explained, it’s quite unnecessary. But apart from that fact Elspeth would not leave her husband. He works in Crieff, cares for the garden at Glengyle, and they’ll look after the place while Amy is away.’

‘So my added persuasion appears to be all you need.’

‘That’s right. Nothing more, nothing less.’

A sudden thought caused her to ask, ‘I presume you will have checked that Amy has a passport?’