Fate's Intervention (29 page)

Peter took the offered hand,
“
Y
ou
presume correctly, and this is my daughter, Marcelle.
”

“
Enchanted,
”
he said. He took her hand and kissed the back lightly, but his eyes, like so many others whom she
’
d chased away, fixed onto her
breasts
. She rolled her eyes slightly and sighed inwardly. Definitely not Matthew.
“
Matthew never mentioned just how beautiful you are,
”
he said.

“
Matthew told you about us?
”

“
Well, actually, he wrote our parents about his newfound employment and since I
happened to be visiting with them, I naturally was privy to the contents of that missive as well.
”

“
Do
please
sit,
”
Peter said. His opinion of this man was quickly deteriorating. What started as a wary sensation was rapidly changing to one of repulsion.
A
quick glance at Marcelle confirmed her feelings weren
’
t improving toward him either. Thinking about Matthew, he wondered whether his parents adopted this man, though that was evidently not the case.

“
So
, what brings you here, Mr. Daragh?
”
Marcelle asked politely.

“
Do call me Mark,
”
he insisted.
“
A
s to why I
’
m here
–
I need to speak with Matthew. Is he about?
”

“
No,
”
Peter said,
“
your
brother
’
s out on business and we don
’
t expect his return for a few weeks.
”

“
Oh, dear heavens, I fear I have poorly timed my visit, but inevitably there really wasn
’
t anything to do about that. I do need to speak with Matthew posthaste. It
’
s a matter of family business. Is there no way to reach him?
”

“
Is anything amiss?
”
Marcelle asked.

“
A
miss? Yes, I suppose I could categorize it as such since our
father
perished a fortnight ago, and
M
other
,
nor I
,
have received word from Matthew that he received our notification.
”

“
Oh, good Lord,
”
Peter said, not because of the announced death of Matthew
’
s parent, but because of the tone in which his brother announced it
–
emotionless.

“
I
’
m truly sorry for your loss,
”
Marcelle said solicitously.

“
Thank
you.
As
the elder, Matthew is the one that
should
have prepared the burial arrangements, but, of course, Matthew was not where he should be, as usual.
”
That tone brought a curious gaze to both Marcelle
’
s and her
father
’
s eyes.

“
I do apologize if I sound a mite put out, but Matthew has dodged his responsibilities as head of Daragh Steel for far too long. Have you heard of our company? No, I don
’
t suppose you would have unless you were born back East. We
’
re only the largest suppliers of steel in the land.
”
The pride of accomplishment was evident in his words, although the tone remained seemingly unaffected.
“
A
ny
way, it was Matthew who should have taken the reins of Daragh Steel from
Father
some
years
back
, but he bolted
at
eighteen, forcing me to take responsibility when I came of age
–
nearly ten years ago.
Sadly enough, our board of directors does not see me as the rightful heir, since
Father
s passing, and are trying to shut me out. Without Matthew
’
s consent I cannot continue to head the company or sell it off, if I so choose. So, would it be possible to get word to Matthew? I do realize that communication in this backwards land is difficult at best, since the letter of my arrival obviously never reached him, but surely you must have a telegraph office or something hereabouts with which to contact him?
”

Marcelle sat eyeing Mark as she would view
an annoying
fly. Insanely, she wished there was a swatter made that was large enough to squash him. She
’
d definitely use it. During his little recitation, her opinion of him altered drastically. Not only was he a popinjay but a jackass as well.

“
I think us uneducated cow pokes can find a means to get word to your brother,
”
Marcelle drawled, and grinned when the younger Daragh visibly winced at her butchery of the English language. She ignored the warning glance from her
father
and kept talking,
“
Why don
’
t you just mosey on back to that big fancy city you done came from, and we
’
ll ship your brother off to you
just as soon as he gets his hide back here.
”

“
Yes, well, while I
’
m certain that would normally be an acceptable remedy, I really must stay and escort Matthew home with me.
”

“
I have no doubt that your brother is a big boy, Mr. Daragh,
”
Peter said, deliberately addressing him formally. This man didn
’
t invite closeness, so he saw no
reason
to address him informally, though he
’
d suggested so a few moments earlier.
“
I
’
m certain that he can find his way across country without your assistance.
”

“
Well, if I thought Matthew would actually return to
New York
and assist me in acquiring control of the company, then I might very well ride out this moment.
As
it is, I fear that a bit of persuasion may be in order. I don
’
t believe Matthew holds interest in returning to New York under any circumstances, even if it pertains to the well-being of his baby brother and mother.
”

“
M
m
m, well then, I suppose we
’
ll need to offer you our continued hospitality for the length of time that it takes to track your brother. You aren
’
t on a deadline as far as the company takeover is concerned, are you, Mr. Daragh? This could take a while, although we will make a concerted effort.
”

“
I
’
m not severely pressed for time, no.
”

At
her
father
’
s signal, Marcelle stood and pulled the summoning cord.
Nancy
appeared a few minutes later.

“
Miss?
”

“
Please take Mr. Daragh to our guest room so that he may have an opportunity to freshen
up before the evening meal,
”
Marcelle instructed.

Mark stood and straightened his perfectly tailored jacket,
“
Well, I do appreciate your hospitality and I
’
ll try not to be too much of a bother while I await my brother
’
s return.
”

Marcelle and her
father
merely smiled.

When the door closed behind
Nancy
, Marcelle collapsed on the couch dramatically, rubbing a hand wearily across her forehead.

“
Whew!
”
She muttered. One look at her
father
’
s exasperated face and she started giggling.

“
Do tell. What do you find so amusing? Just the thought of him residing here for any length of time is causing my head severe aches similar to those I
’
ve had for the past few years attempting to find you a suitable mate. In fact, if the man stays here too long, I may very well end up having a relapse toward poor health.
”

“
I
’
m sorry
father
,
”
Marcelle said, trying desperately to control her mirth,
“
it
’
s just that he
’
s so . . . so . . .
”

“
A
peacock in man
’
s clothing is what he is,
”
her
father
supplied.
“
Makes you wonder just what sort of people reside in New York, and if they
’
re all as snobbish as he.
”

“
I thought the Stanharbors were bad,
”
Marcelle said, another giggle escaping.
“
I can
’
t imagine Matthew being related to
that
.
”

“
If Matthew had remained in
New York
instead of fleeing, as his brother suggested he did, he may have turned into
that
. No wonder he ran. I would
’
ve as well.
”

“
No doubt,
”
Marcelle said. Her humor faded when she thought of Matthew
’
s childhood. It couldn
’
t have been great. She could only imagine it as a cold, emotionless environment. So austere that he couldn
’
t bear the thought of remaining there. Then, when he finally finds affection and love with his wife, fate strips it away.

She thought of her own life and gave the Lord above a quick prayer of thanks for her loving parents.
God
may have
granted her minimal
time
with her mother, and soon He would take her
father
away as well, but she knew
the time granted was a blessing
. Her
father
loved her very much, even with all the
ir
petty bickering. She said a quick prayer for Matthew, that one day he could find love again
and receive the blessings of a wife and child
.

“
Penny for your thoughts,
”
her
father
said softly, noticing the lines furrowed in her brow.

“
Just thinking about dinner,
”
Marcelle fibbed.

“
No, you weren
’
t, but if you don
’
t want to tell your old man about it, just say so.
”

Marcelle smiled sadly,
“
Y
ou
know me too well.
”

“
That
I do.
”

“
I was just thinking about Matthew and how horrible his life
must have
been,
”
Marcelle said softly.

“
A
h, well, do yourself a favor, okay?
”

“
What
’
s that?
”

“
Don
’
t let him see your pity. Nothing will push him away faster than that. Men are funny
creatures . . . ,
”
her
father
said and stopped when Marcelle snorted.

“
You
’
re right about that,
”
she laughed.
“
A
t least I
’
ve never met one that wasn
’
t funny in a strange sort of way.
”