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him? Irene was the "other woman" - a woman who'd slept with his father and given birth to his father's child, none of which Stuart had known about until a few days ago. "I haven't played lacrosse since college," he replied with forced cordiality. "But, yes, I did learn that summer. Forgive me, I don't remember you."
    "I didn't expect you to." Putting an end to the tension, Irene headed toward the kitchen. "I'll check on the casserole. You and Lindsey stay in there and talk."
    "Thank you. I'd appreciate that." Stuart waited until she'd gone. Then, he turned to Lindsey. "I didn't mean to be rude. It's just that this whole situation is damned uncomfortable, to say the least."
    "I understand." Lindsey took a gulp of water and perched at the edge of the sofa cushion. "I doubt you came all this way just to introduce yourself."
    "No, I didn't." He cleared his throat, lowered himself to the armchair. "I'm here about the manor."
    "Just the manor, or the money, too?"
    Stuart's bottle of water halted halfway to his lips. Slowly, he lowered his arm, turning to give Lindsey an incredulous look. "You think I want to challenge your claim?"
    "Do you?"
    He shook his head. "It's pretty obvious you're his child."
    "Pretty obvious. To a man as prominent as you, that wouldn't be enough. You'd want definitely. You'd want proof."
    "What I want is to keep this from becoming a field day for gossip columnists. I want my father's name protected."
    "In other words, you'd prefer this stay quiet. My stepping forward with proof would support your father's belief that I'm his daughter, but tarnish his image."
    "Something like that, yes." A pause. "Lindsey, I'll be blunt. I want to buy you out."
    Lindsey swallowed hard, as the impact of what he was saying sank in. "You're not just talking about the manor. You're talking about buying my silence. Your plan is that my paternity stay our little secret."
    Stuart shifted uncomfortably. “I'm sorry if that sounds cold or conniving, but I have to think of my family. So tell me, how much would it take?"
    A cool stare. "I'm not for sale, Stuart. Not at any price. I'm afraid you've driven a long way for nothing." She came to her feet with an air of finality. "If it eases your mind, I don't intend to make any public statements. In fact, I plan to avoid the press altogether. I'm not interested in proclaiming my identity to the world. If people wonder why Harlan Falkner left part of his estate to me, that's their problem. However, if the truth does manage to leak out, I'm afraid that's your problem. I realize you have family to consider, especially your mother. But I have to think of my mother. She's been denied a great deal. I'm giving the manor to her as a gift. Your father... our father... wanted us to have it."
    Lines of tension tightened Stuart's mouth, and he, too, stood. "You mean he wanted your mother to have it. Well, you're wrong. If that were the case, he would have transferred title to her years ago. The place has been vacant for ages. We never use it."
    "Then you won't miss it." Lindsey set down her water with a thud. "I'm sure you think I'm being spiteful. I'm not. But, with all due respect, a scandal pales beside a lifelong injustice. You have a name, financial security, established family ties. You've never done without. Not a day in your life. I have. More important, my mother has. She's scrubbed floors for twenty-six years to make enough money to provide for the child your father helped create."
    "I'm prepared to offer you millions. When you add that to the millions Father left you, you can buy your mother two mansions and a staff of servants for each, then hand her a pension the size of Connecticut. That's a great deal of financial security."
    "You haven't been listening. This isn't only about money." Lindsey hesitated, choosing her words carefully. She wasn't about to divulge the intimate details of her conception. "My mother has a special fondness for that manor. Your father knew that. That's why he