sarcastic sound. "Violet would. She thinks every
woman is as mercenary as she is. I feel sorry for that poor fool she
married."
"She told me they're divorced. She also said she doesn't
trust men."
He laughed shortly. "Mr. Graves is well out of it."
"There was something else, Travis," Susan said
thoughtfully. "I got the distinct impression that she and Curt aren't
happy with the way your grandfather's estate was divided. She didn't
say it in so many words, but I had the feeling that they wanted the
plantation. Isn't that odd? They don't strike me as people who would be
content here, so far away from a really cosmopolitan city, like London."
"They wouldn't be," Travis retorted. "If they want the
plantation, it's only for the price it would bring on a sale."
"But didn't you say your grandfather left them a valuable
stock portfolio?"
"Yes, but the bank and plantation made up well over half
the value of the estate. Harris left them to me because I came home two
years ago to manage them for him. More to the point, he knew I'd
continue to operate the plantation after he was gone, keep it in the
family. That was important to him. But Curt and Violet feel they were
cheated."
"I didn't realize…" The unequal division of the
estate accounted for at least some of the animosity between Travis and
his cousins. "Is that why they're here? Do they want you to hand over
part of your share?"
"They'd like nothing better. I give them three years at
the outside to run through those stocks and bonds, and I've no
intention of providing them with another penny. Susan, if either of
them comes around here again, I don't want you to talk to them. They're
troublemakers."
"I don't really want to see them. They make me
feel… uncomfortable."
Mala and Amii began to serve the meal, and they moved to
the table. The main course was a smoked salmon quiche served with crisp
vegetables and wine.
"Tell me something, Mala," Travis teased as he spread his
napkin. "Why is it I have to get married before you'll make my favorite
quiche? We haven't had this in years."
"I los' recipe," Mala said with a mischievous grin that
made her teeth flash white in the moonlight. "Besides, mon, why I waste
fancy meals on you? You jes eat standin' up, then rush off without
dessert. Sometimes you not eat at all."
Travis reached across the table and clasped Susan's hand.
"Things will be different now."
" 'Bout time, too," Mala retorted as she turned to leave
the veranda.
"I think she's beginning to like me a little," Susan
confided.
Travis chuckled. "How could she help it? That doesn't mean
she won't boss you around, just as she does me. The woman's a tartar,
but don't let it upset you."
"Don't worry. My feelings aren't easily hurt."
He looked up from his plate, his eyes meeting hers with an
odd, fleeting expression. But when he spoke, it was to say something
complimentary about the food. They ate in silence for several moments
and Susan thought back over what Travis had told her about his
grandfather's will and the reason for his cousins' obvious displeasure.
And suddenly she remembered her stop at the boutique that afternoon.
"I almost forgot to tell you," she said. "I met your
friend Kay Harte today. I was in town and happened onto her shop, so I
introduced myself. After she recovered from the shock, she gave me a
cup of tea."
Travis smiled. "Maybe we should send out a few
announcements to pave the way for you before you meet any more of my
friends. We don't want anyone having a stroke."
"Announcements sound like a good idea."
"So, did you like Kay?"
"Very much. She's extremely fond of you."
"As I am of her."
But not in the same way, Susan thought, seeing again the
wounded look that had been in Kay's eyes for a moment when Susan had
said that she was Travis's wife. She also remembered Kay mentioning
that Travis went to Miami to have his grandfather's will declared
invalid. She wondered now if perhaps Kay had misunderstood Travis's
reason for going. He'd
woman is as mercenary as she is. I feel sorry for that poor fool she
married."
"She told me they're divorced. She also said she doesn't
trust men."
He laughed shortly. "Mr. Graves is well out of it."
"There was something else, Travis," Susan said
thoughtfully. "I got the distinct impression that she and Curt aren't
happy with the way your grandfather's estate was divided. She didn't
say it in so many words, but I had the feeling that they wanted the
plantation. Isn't that odd? They don't strike me as people who would be
content here, so far away from a really cosmopolitan city, like London."
"They wouldn't be," Travis retorted. "If they want the
plantation, it's only for the price it would bring on a sale."
"But didn't you say your grandfather left them a valuable
stock portfolio?"
"Yes, but the bank and plantation made up well over half
the value of the estate. Harris left them to me because I came home two
years ago to manage them for him. More to the point, he knew I'd
continue to operate the plantation after he was gone, keep it in the
family. That was important to him. But Curt and Violet feel they were
cheated."
"I didn't realize…" The unequal division of the
estate accounted for at least some of the animosity between Travis and
his cousins. "Is that why they're here? Do they want you to hand over
part of your share?"
"They'd like nothing better. I give them three years at
the outside to run through those stocks and bonds, and I've no
intention of providing them with another penny. Susan, if either of
them comes around here again, I don't want you to talk to them. They're
troublemakers."
"I don't really want to see them. They make me
feel… uncomfortable."
Mala and Amii began to serve the meal, and they moved to
the table. The main course was a smoked salmon quiche served with crisp
vegetables and wine.
"Tell me something, Mala," Travis teased as he spread his
napkin. "Why is it I have to get married before you'll make my favorite
quiche? We haven't had this in years."
"I los' recipe," Mala said with a mischievous grin that
made her teeth flash white in the moonlight. "Besides, mon, why I waste
fancy meals on you? You jes eat standin' up, then rush off without
dessert. Sometimes you not eat at all."
Travis reached across the table and clasped Susan's hand.
"Things will be different now."
" 'Bout time, too," Mala retorted as she turned to leave
the veranda.
"I think she's beginning to like me a little," Susan
confided.
Travis chuckled. "How could she help it? That doesn't mean
she won't boss you around, just as she does me. The woman's a tartar,
but don't let it upset you."
"Don't worry. My feelings aren't easily hurt."
He looked up from his plate, his eyes meeting hers with an
odd, fleeting expression. But when he spoke, it was to say something
complimentary about the food. They ate in silence for several moments
and Susan thought back over what Travis had told her about his
grandfather's will and the reason for his cousins' obvious displeasure.
And suddenly she remembered her stop at the boutique that afternoon.
"I almost forgot to tell you," she said. "I met your
friend Kay Harte today. I was in town and happened onto her shop, so I
introduced myself. After she recovered from the shock, she gave me a
cup of tea."
Travis smiled. "Maybe we should send out a few
announcements to pave the way for you before you meet any more of my
friends. We don't want anyone having a stroke."
"Announcements sound like a good idea."
"So, did you like Kay?"
"Very much. She's extremely fond of you."
"As I am of her."
But not in the same way, Susan thought, seeing again the
wounded look that had been in Kay's eyes for a moment when Susan had
said that she was Travis's wife. She also remembered Kay mentioning
that Travis went to Miami to have his grandfather's will declared
invalid. She wondered now if perhaps Kay had misunderstood Travis's
reason for going. He'd
Similar Books
