Read Online The Heart Queen by PATRICIA POTTER - Free Book Online
Authors: PATRICIA POTTER
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was where he’d been the past several days. Trying to have himself appointed her son’s guardian?
Then, she knew, she could lose Colin. She would never, ever let Reginald and her motherin-law control her son.
She saw the expression in his eyes. He hadn’t meant to tell her that. So he hadn’t been successful yet. But that was the plan. It was written all over his florid face. Or was it just one of the plans? Could last night have been another?
A chill crept up her back. If Marjorie and Reginald had control of her son, they would control Lochaene and its rents. And they could bring up her son as an angry, greedy selfish man, after their own image. She would die before she would let that happen.
But one thing was true. Reginald, as a man and as a member of a family loyal to King George, would have far more influence with Cumberland and the English king than a Jacobite widow. Law meant nothing in the Highlands today.
Reginald turned away. She had no doubt that he and Marjorie had been plotting together and had meant to tell her nothing until they won.
“The books,” she insisted. She was not going to let him get away with his arrogance, not however long she had as countess.
“No,” he said flatly.
“It is my right.”
“Not for long.” He turned around rudely, as if to go back in his room.
“I will go to the solicitor.”
“He was Alasdair’s solicitor and he agrees with me that a woman is incompetent to run an estate.” He went into his room and closed the door behind him.
Janet was so angry she could not move. She stood there for a moment, wondering whether she should pound on the door, demand to see the books.
And if he continued to refuse?
What could she do except look like a fool? She was not large enough or strong enough to take them from him. Nor could she ask any of the servants to risk their positions, or worse, to do it for
her
.
Was he lying about the solicitor?
Fear played havoc with fury. Lochaene was not personally important to her. It was important only because of Colin and her three stepdaughters. And they were everything. If Reginald was appointed their guardian, he could send her away. He could limit her contact with her son. Dear God. She’d believed that once the authorities had not brought charges against her that she was free.
Alone. She was so alone. And she could lose the children.
If you need a friend...
How could she go to Neil? He had made promises before, then had abandoned her. How could she trust anyone who would do that?
Or could he be a part of some devious plan? He had shown up so unexpectedly.
But as she explored her alternatives, she kept coming back to his offer. She detested the idea. She could barely stomach it. How could she ask him for help? The very idea ripped through her pride.
Think of Colin, Grace, Rachel, Annabella
. Think what would happen to them if their uncle gained control over them. In just the past few days, their smiles came faster. The wariness was fading from their eyes.
Pride should be nothing compared to their welfare. At least, it was a chance.
Or should she call on the solicitor first? Mayhap Reginald was bluffing.
Yet every time she reviewed the situation she saw little hope. Could she afford the time?
She went up to the room occupied by the lasses. She had offered to replace her husband’s great bed with smaller ones, but her daughters had clamored to sleep together. They felt safer that way. They were up, eating their morning meal. Colin gurgled happily at seeing her, and she lifted him up in her arms.
The lasses looked up at her with hopeful eyes. “Can we go to the fair?” Rachel asked.
Janet looked toward Clara, whose face flushed.
“There is a fair in the next village. Kevin said he would take us if your ladyship approves.”
Janet raised an eyebrow. “Kevin?”
“Aye, my lady,” Clara said, her blush deepening.
Janet smiled. She remembered how she had felt with Neil, how her heart had pounded and her soul
Then, she knew, she could lose Colin. She would never, ever let Reginald and her motherin-law control her son.
She saw the expression in his eyes. He hadn’t meant to tell her that. So he hadn’t been successful yet. But that was the plan. It was written all over his florid face. Or was it just one of the plans? Could last night have been another?
A chill crept up her back. If Marjorie and Reginald had control of her son, they would control Lochaene and its rents. And they could bring up her son as an angry, greedy selfish man, after their own image. She would die before she would let that happen.
But one thing was true. Reginald, as a man and as a member of a family loyal to King George, would have far more influence with Cumberland and the English king than a Jacobite widow. Law meant nothing in the Highlands today.
Reginald turned away. She had no doubt that he and Marjorie had been plotting together and had meant to tell her nothing until they won.
“The books,” she insisted. She was not going to let him get away with his arrogance, not however long she had as countess.
“No,” he said flatly.
“It is my right.”
“Not for long.” He turned around rudely, as if to go back in his room.
“I will go to the solicitor.”
“He was Alasdair’s solicitor and he agrees with me that a woman is incompetent to run an estate.” He went into his room and closed the door behind him.
Janet was so angry she could not move. She stood there for a moment, wondering whether she should pound on the door, demand to see the books.
And if he continued to refuse?
What could she do except look like a fool? She was not large enough or strong enough to take them from him. Nor could she ask any of the servants to risk their positions, or worse, to do it for
her
.
Was he lying about the solicitor?
Fear played havoc with fury. Lochaene was not personally important to her. It was important only because of Colin and her three stepdaughters. And they were everything. If Reginald was appointed their guardian, he could send her away. He could limit her contact with her son. Dear God. She’d believed that once the authorities had not brought charges against her that she was free.
Alone. She was so alone. And she could lose the children.
If you need a friend...
How could she go to Neil? He had made promises before, then had abandoned her. How could she trust anyone who would do that?
Or could he be a part of some devious plan? He had shown up so unexpectedly.
But as she explored her alternatives, she kept coming back to his offer. She detested the idea. She could barely stomach it. How could she ask him for help? The very idea ripped through her pride.
Think of Colin, Grace, Rachel, Annabella
. Think what would happen to them if their uncle gained control over them. In just the past few days, their smiles came faster. The wariness was fading from their eyes.
Pride should be nothing compared to their welfare. At least, it was a chance.
Or should she call on the solicitor first? Mayhap Reginald was bluffing.
Yet every time she reviewed the situation she saw little hope. Could she afford the time?
She went up to the room occupied by the lasses. She had offered to replace her husband’s great bed with smaller ones, but her daughters had clamored to sleep together. They felt safer that way. They were up, eating their morning meal. Colin gurgled happily at seeing her, and she lifted him up in her arms.
The lasses looked up at her with hopeful eyes. “Can we go to the fair?” Rachel asked.
Janet looked toward Clara, whose face flushed.
“There is a fair in the next village. Kevin said he would take us if your ladyship approves.”
Janet raised an eyebrow. “Kevin?”
“Aye, my lady,” Clara said, her blush deepening.
Janet smiled. She remembered how she had felt with Neil, how her heart had pounded and her soul
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