Blazing Love: A Hot, Romantic Suspense Series, Book 2 (The Carlisle Sisters) (11 page)

“The usual,” Manette muttered from the window.  She did not bother to turn around.

Hélène looked at Claude who only smiled and shrugged nonchalantly.

“She’s touchy, as usual,” he smirked.

Manette swung around to face Claude.

“I am not…
touchy!
  I was merely trying to be civil with you.  But you could not—”

“Enough!”  Hélène cut her off.  “I will hear no more bickering between you.  It is senseless and non-productive.  I have important news which I must impart to you.”

“Is it Marceau?  Is he worse?”  Claude asked, almost sounding hopeful.

“He is the same,” Hélène said. 

She saw Claude’s animated face fall and felt disgust.  How she hated that man.

“I hear you have guests.  Who are they?”  Manette asked.

“They are whom I wish to speak about,” Hélène began.  “As you know, many years ago Marceau had an enormous dispute with his son, René.  As a result, René left his home and hasn’t been heard from since.”

“This is all ancient news, Hélène,” Claude said in boredom.

“Shut up, Claude, and listen,” Manette snarled.

“We learned that René and his wife, Chantal, were killed in an automobile accident several years ago,” Hélène continued.  “But we could not find their son.”

“René had a son?”  Manette asked in surprise.

“Yes.  We have since located him and he is now here.  His name is Greyson Merrick,” Hélène said evenly.

“Merrick?  He does not carry our name.  How do you know that he is René’s son?  He could be an imposter,” Claude stated.

“He is no imposter,” Hélène stated stoutly.  “René changed his last name when he moved to America.  Doing so made our job much more difficult in trying to locate him.  But Marceau and I have done our homework well.  He is René’s son and he is here to claim his inheritance.  He will sign the documents in two days.”

Hélène was actually not sure of the last part but she wanted to see their reaction.  Her statement had its desired effect.

“No!  He cannot.  He must prove that he is who you say,” Claude exploded.

“One look at his face and you will see that he is a Lemaire.  He is René’s son.  There is no doubt,” Hélène said quietly.

“I do not believe it.  A stranger says he is René’s son and you welcome him in on his word?  It’s ridiculous!”  Claude expostulated.  “Where is he?   I want to see him for myself.”

“He is speaking with his grand-père.  You will have to wait.  When they are finished you may speak with him,” Hélène said. “But I expect you to treat him respectfully.”

“Of course, Hélène,” Manette said.

Hélène left the room.

“Can you believe this nonsense?”  Claude snapped.

Manette looked at Claude contemptuously.

“But of course,” she smiled.  Then she, too, walked out of the room, leaving Claude to smolder with rage.

*****

Marceau sat in an armchair by the balcony doors and looked out at the falling rain.  He loved the rain but that wasn’t what had put a smile on his face.  He was about to meet his grandson and he was overjoyed.  After all of those years of searching they had finally found him.

He heard the bedroom door open and turned eagerly to see who had entered.  He caught his breath as the young man entered the room.  He was tall, broad and powerful; the build of a Lemaire.

But it was Greyson’s face that took Marceau’s breath away.  He felt as though he was looking at his dear, departed son.  Tears flowed down his face as he pushed himself from his chair.  He wanted to be standing to greet his fils.

Grey moved into the room and toward the man that was supposed to be his grandfather.  The man struggled to stand and tilted forward.  Grey ran to grasp his shoulders and steady him.

Marceau clutched Greyson’s strong arms and smiled.  Grey looked into Marceau’s grey eyes and knew that Hélène spoke the truth.  It was like he was looking at an older version of his father.  He could even see his own resemblance to the old man.

Grey slowly smiled.  Marceau cupped Grey’s cheek and patted it several times.  His heart was bursting with love for his grandson.

Grey helped Marceau to sit then pulled up a nearby footstool and sat at his grandfather’s feet.

“How I have longed to see you,” Marceau said quietly.  “I have so much to tell you.”

“I want to hear everything,” Grey responded.

And so it began.  A conversation that would last well into the night.

*****

The next day was one of joy for Marceau and Hélène.  Marceau had left his bedroom and was sitting on the veranda off the small breakfast room.  Hélène sat with him along with Grey and his friends.  They had enjoyed a wonderful breakfast of excellent food and good conversation.

“It feels so good to be out of that bedroom!  The warm rays of the sun feel wonderful on my face,” Marceau smiled.  “
Almost
as good as having my grandson sitting right next to me.”

He reached over and gently squeezed Grey’s hand.

“I feel the same, grand-père,” Grey smiled.

Beth smiled at Grey’s use of the French word.  It was an acknowledgment of his acceptance of Marceau as his grandfather.

“I hate to put a damper on the festivities but I have a question,” Beth said.

“Of course,” Hélène said.

“Hélène, why did you tell us that Grey could die if he did not come to France?  You made it sound so ominous,” Beth questioned.

“I wanted to impress upon you the urgency of the situation,” Hélène said.  “Greyson must sign the documents of estate transfer as soon as possible.”

“She means before I die,” Marceau smiled wanly.

“Marceau!”  Hélène exclaimed.  “You mustn’t say such things.”

“It is the truth.  And I am not afraid to stand before Saint Peter and his judgment book,” Marceau said.  “Though, considering the way I feel right now, I believe that time is now a ways off.”

“Then there is no urgency,” Grey said.

“Oh, but there is,” Hélène said in lowered tones.  “We are convinced that someone was poisoning Marceau.  And that same person will have no hesitation in trying to kill Greyson.”

“You see,” Marceau added, “if Greyson dies before he can sign the transfer papers, then the estate will pass to the next in line.  That would be my brother, Claude.”

“So you suspect Claude of trying to poison you?”  Blaze asked.

Marceau looked away and didn’t answer.

“I do,” Hélène said firmly.  “Marceau hates to believe it of his brother but I hold no such sentiments.  Claude is a despicable man and cannot wait to see Marceau draw his last breath.”

“But if I sign these documents it would bring all of this deviousness to an end?” Grey said.  “
Whoever
was to blame?”

“Yes.  And the rightful heir would be irrevocably in place,” Hélène said.  “Will you sign the papers, Greyson?  Our attorney is bringing the paperwork to the castle today.  Will his visit be in vain?”

Grey hesitated.  This was all so new for him.  In a matter of a few days he had gone from being an only child whose parents had died to having grandparents and a family full of cousins, aunts and uncles.  A
royal
family, no less!

All of that was overwhelming enough.  But on top of it he was being asked to accept ownership of a mass estate before he found himself six feet under. Could things get any crazier?

He looked at Beth and saw the tender understanding in her gorgeous, green eyes.  She knew what he was feeling and she would be there for him; no matter what he decided. 

He looked at his grandfather and saw the yearning in his eyes; eyes that were so much like his own.  How could he say no to him?

“Yes. I will sign them,” Grey said firmly.

Hélène exhaled.  She’d been holding her breath and could now breathe.

“Wonderful.  We have much to celebrate,” Marceau said delightedly.

“I haven’t signed them yet,” Grey chuckled.

“But you will; in only a few hours.  How happy you have made me!”  Marceau beamed.

All of the excited laughter and talking prevented them from noticing the figure that stood, listening, behind the drapes in the breakfast room.  A figure whose blood boiled hotter with every word spoken.  And before furtively slipping away, vengeance had been sworn.

Chapter 8

L
ater that morning Grey decided to take a walk while Beth was resting.  He needed some fresh air after all of the excitement.  He had made the decision to accept his inheritance, but the enormity of that decision weighed heavily on him.

He had a lot to figure out, especially how he could possibly run The Sea View
and
Victory’s End at the same time.  Although his grandfather’s health was improving, he was still an older man and would not be able to continue handling the day to day operations himself.  That responsibility would fall on Grey, and likely sooner rather than later.

Grey had not been paying attention to where he was going and realized that he had ventured onto a cliff overlooking the thunderous sea.  The view was breathtaking.  He made a mental note to take Beth there when she felt up to it.  But for the time being, he was glad to have such a beautiful place to contemplate their future.

He sat with his back against a boulder and looked out to sea.  He would be hard pressed to say which place was more beautiful:  The Sea View or Victory’s End.  It certainly wasn’t lost on him just how lucky he was.  Of course, he had worked hard and deserved everything that had come his way.  But, even more than the money and the power, he was thankful that he had found Beth.

Grey heard the cracking of a tree branch from behind him and quickly turned around.

“Don’t get up.”

“Manette.  Have you come to enjoy the view?”  Grey asked calmly, well aware of the hateful look she had on her face.

Manette stood with one arm across her stomach.  The other was hidden in the folds of her long, black dress.  It was the concealed arm that concerned him.

Grey had met Manette briefly earlier that morning and had walked away with mixed feelings.  She’d
said
all of the right things but her eyes had been cold and hard the entire time she spoke.  He knew she was one to watch.

“I have seen this view many times,” Manette said.  “Unlike you, I was born here.  I belong here as do my children.  You…do
not
.”

Grey watched her closely.  He continued smiling to keep her off guard.

“I’m sure I will come to love it here.  It’s a beautiful place,” Grey said quietly, drawing her in.

“There is no need for you to become attached to what will never be yours,” she snapped.

“Oh, haven’t you heard?  It will be mine,” Grey said calmly, gathering a handful of dirt to blind her with when she got close enough.

“Never! 
Never
will Fin de la Victoire pass through your hands!  I will make sure of that,” she hissed. 

Manette pulled out the rifle she had secreted in her skirts.  She pointed it at his chest.

“I was going to shoot you but finding you here by the cliff makes it so much easier—and quieter.  You will simply lose your footing and fall off of the cliff.  Nothing more than an unfortunate accident.”

“I’m not going over this cliff, Manette.  You’re out of your mind if you think that I will,” Grey said.  “If you want me dead then you are going to have to shoot me.”

“You’ll do as I say, you smug, conceited
American
.  You think you can come here and take what belongs to me and my children?”  she screamed.  “I have waited a very long time to secure this estate.  And I will not let an upstart like you take it away from me.  Start backing toward the edge or I will shoot you where it hurts most.”

She had not come within striking distance so Grey thought frantically for ways to neutralize the situation.  As he looked around, he saw Blaze moving quietly through the trees behind her.  He was giving Grey the signal to keep Manette talking.

“Look Manette, there no reason why we can’t work something out,” Grey said.  “I have no intention of asking you to move.  You can stay at the castle as long as you like; for the rest of your life.  I’m not one for making rash changes.  Things can go on as they always have.”

“Of course they will.  Nothing will change after you’re dead.  Well, except for Marceau’s untimely death,” she said wildly.  “Of course, it won’t really be untimely since he’s been sick for so long.  It’s amazing how just a small amount of strychnine can do the trick.”

“You poisoned your own brother?  The man has been nothing but good to you!”  Grey exclaimed.

“Good to me!  Good to
me
?”  she screeched.  “By bringing
you
here?  Forget it!”

“But his death would not mean that you would inherit.  Claude is next in line,” Grey said.

“Getting rid of Claude after a reasonable amount of time has lapsed will be, as you American say,
a piece of cake
.  The mangy dog won’t know what hit him.  Then I will finally receive my just reward,” she laughed crazily.  “Now back up, pig!  Move!”

She stepped forward, aiming the rifle at Grey.  At that moment, Blaze sprinted up from behind her and tackled her, grabbing the barrel of the gun in the process and redirecting it away from Grey.  Grey instinctively dove sideways as the gun went off but the shot went into the sea thanks to Blaze’s efforts. 

Manette dropped the rifle but fought Blaze like a wild animal: aggressively kicking, scratching and biting him.  Finally, after avoiding it for as long as he could, he slapped her hard and knocked her unconscious.  He turned to Grey.

“Stick with Beth, would ya?  She’s not your type,”  Blaze joked, out of breath.

Grey laughed loudly.

“Sure thing, man.  Thanks,”  Grey said, slapping Blaze on the back.

Blaze grinned.

“Just doing my job,” Blaze chuckled.

*****

Tracy happily watched Grey kissed Beth soundly before the three hundred people who attended their wedding.  They had agreed to marry at Victory’s End and Hélène was thrilled to plan the festivities.  She was in her element, making sure that her grandson and his fiancée had the wedding of the century.  They were deliriously in love and, after everything that they had been through, they deserved that glorious day.