Treasure of the Celtic Triangle Read Online Free PDF Page A

you will thank me one day. And during this time when I am in charge, Steven Muir is helping me.”
    “You trust him above me?”
    “I did not say that. It would really make this easier if you did not misinterpret and overreact to my words. You were gone. I heard nothing from you. I had no idea when you would be back or what your plans were. Steven has shown himself to be reliable and trustworthy and capable of handling my business affairs.”
    “What do you mean, handling your
business
affairs?” asked Courtenay almost mockingly. “I knew he was helping out Radnor as an assistant groom. But how could a groom know anything about business?”
    “He is more than my groom, Courtenay. Tilman Heygate is gone. I am depending on Steven Muir now.” “He’s nothing but a shepherd.”
    “He
is
more than that, Courtenay. Not that there is anything demeaning about being a shepherd. I believe kings occasionally come from shepherd stock. Steven is more educated and knowledgeable than you realize. He has proved himself capable even beyond what I anticipated. The people love him. That is good for everyone. When your father was gone, and after you left, I had to make a decision. You asked me if I trust him above you—during these past three months, the answer is
yes
. Where were you if I needed you? You left almost without a word. How was I to know if and when I would see you again? There was much to do in your father’s absence. Therefore, I made the decision not only to keep Steven on at the manor but to hire him as my factor.”
    “Your
factor
!” exclaimed Courtenay, incredulous at the very idea. “That is the most preposterous thing I have heard in my life. He’s a complete nincompoop!”
    “Nevertheless, I have no intention of changing my mind.”
    “Well, unless you do change your mind, things will not go well with you, Mother, once I am in control—no, and not well for the fool, Stevie Muir, either. Don’t forget, in a year and a half, I will be sitting where you are sitting now. I will be in control, and you will have nothing to say about any of it. My first order of business will be to evict Muir from that cottage of his.”
    “He and his mother are living at the manor now.”
    “Good! That will make them the easier to evict! You will pay for your interference in my affairs, Mother.”
    Courtenay spun around, his face red, and strode toward the door. He saw Florilyn standing just inside it. “And
you
!” he spat. “You knew all about this and said nothing to me? I thought you were my friend!”
    “I thought so, too, Courtenay,” Florilyn shot back. Her face, too, was red, though from a much different kind of anger. “It has been a great grief to me to see how changed you are. No friend of mine would speak so rudely to my mother,” she added heatedly. “Only a bounder would speak so to his
own
mother.”
    A suppressed oath escaped Courtenay’s lips of such nature as the mother and sister of a gentleman should never hear. He continued on his way, brushed past Florilyn with a look of contempt and scorn, and left the house with his temper at the boiling point.
    Florilyn walked to her mother, who was by now in tears, and sat down beside her. “I’m sorry, Mother,” she said softly.
    Katherine forced a smile as she wiped at her eyes then sighed again. “He is right, you know,” she said. “Courtenay could make our lives miserable. A dowager viscountess and her unmarried daughter do not command a great deal of status in this world. I can hardly imagine how changed everything will be around here when Courtenay, as he so pointedly put it, is in control. If I refuse to give him whatever he wants, he would have no qualms about doubling the rents on everyone for miles. Your father had compassion and cared for the people, though he often did not have money to do everything he might have wished. Beneath his impersonal exterior, he was a good man. I doubt Courtenay will think twice about his