15. Chapter Fifteen #2
She glanced over at him. It was almost as if he was trying to convince himself that he was right and challenging her to disagree with him. She remained politely silent.
“But we’ll never know what he might have done, will we? He’s dead and all his future is buried with him because of some stupid brotherly horseplay.” He shook his head. “Colin has a lot to answer for.”
“Colin does?”
“He should’ve taken more care of his brother.”
Mabel’s attempt to be neutral went right out the window. “Excuse me, wasn’t Eric the oldest and your heir? Would you have listened to anything your younger brother tried to tell you when you were nineteen, very drunk, and home on a break from school?”
The earl fixed her with a speculative look. “Probably not.”
“Then surely it’s wrong to blame Colin for the probably stupid thing his brother did?”
“Miss Mabel.”
She looked up to see Bartle hovering.
“Mr. Colin is asking after you,” Bartle said.
Mabel hadn’t quite finished. “Would you have preferred it if Colin had sacrificed his life in a useless attempt to save his brother?”
“He could’ve tried harder.”
“And then you would’ve had two dead sons. Is that really what you wanted?”
“Miss Mabel…” Bartle hurriedly intervened.
To her surprise the earl took her hand and squeezed it hard. “You’re a good sort of girl for an American.”
“Well, thanks, I think.” Mabel stood.
“Colin could do much worse.”
Mabel gently released her hand and turned away with a smile. Bartle elbowed her in the ribs as they walked away.
“His lordship approves of you.”
“That was approval?” Mabel looked at him.
“High praise indeed,” Bartle said. “I told him you were a good ‘un. I’m glad he’s come around.”
Colin looked up as she approached him. “I thought you needed rescuing. What on earth was the old man saying to put that look on your face?”
“Nothing in particular,” Mabel said. “He was just thanking me for taking the dogs out every day.”
“I’m sure he said a lot more than that.” Colin studied her intently. “Was he talking about me?”
“A little.” Mabel knew she was a terrible liar. “He’s definitely coming around to you.”
“Oh great. Maybe in another ten years he’ll manage to tell me that himself,” Colin said. “But I won’t get my hopes up.”
Dale came back from getting another drink and squeezed in between them. “I’m thinking the house would be great for interior locations.”
“Thanks.” Colin smiled. “If you want a proper tour, let me know, and I’ll show you around.”
“Thanks.” Dale grinned back at him. “My boss is going to love me for finding this place and you.”
Mabel cleared her throat. “It was my idea, you know.”
“Mabel is quite extraordinarily good about organizing things.” Colin gave her a hug. “I don’t know what I’d do without her now.”
Mabel was smiling into his eyes when she felt a shadow fall over her and looked up.
“Sam?” She blinked at Joss’s girlfriend and her stomach did an uncomfortable flip. “What on earth are you doing here?”
“I’ve come to get my boyfriend back.” Sam’s voice trembled. “Where is he?”
Mabel rose to her feet. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“Joss came to you!”
Mabel pretended to look around and kept her tone even. “I think I would’ve noticed if that were the case, Sam. He isn’t here and he hasn’t contacted me to say he’s coming to the UK.”
Sam stamped her foot and burst into tears. “He must be here! You’re lying!”
Aware that people around them were beginning to take an interest and worried about Sam’s mental state, Mabel drew her off to one side.
“Are you okay? Do you need me to call someone for you?”
“I just want Joss!”
“Does he know you’ve flown halfway around the world to see me?” Mabel asked. “Won’t he be worried?”
“Stop trying to be nice to me!” Sam said. “You know exactly what is going on.”
“I really don’t.” Mabel looked helplessly at Colin who immediately came over.
He stepped between Mabel and Sam. “Hi! I’m Colin, Mabel’s boyfriend. You must be exhausted after all that traveling. Would you like to come up to the house and have a nice cup of tea?”
Sam looked at Mabel. “You… have a boyfriend?” Mabel nodded. “Does he know you’re also messing around with Joss?”
Mabel took a deep restorative breath. “Please listen to me. I have no interest in Joss. Why would I when I’m in a relationship with the heir to all this?” She gestured at the vast pile of Marcham Hall.
Sam’s lip wobbled and Colin offered her his hand. “Come on up to the house. If you’re very lucky, I’ll even see if I can rustle up some ice for your water.”
To Mabel’s surprise, Sam took Colin’s hand and followed him meekly toward the back door.
Dale looked at her. “What on earth is going on?”
“It’s complicated,” Mabel said. She looked around, spotted Freddy, and beckoned him over. “Hey, birthday boy, have you met my friend, Dale? She’s just dying to talk to you about the home farm.”
Freddy’s eyes lit up. Dale shot Mabel an amused glance and turned to face him. “Hi! Happy Birthday! Are you having a great day?”
Mabel scuttled off in the direction of the house, checking under every bush just in case Joss did suddenly materialize.
Why Sam thought he’d come to see her was a mystery Mabel wanted to solve immediately.
She found Colin and Sam in the deserted kitchen.
Sam was clutching one of his well-ironed handkerchiefs and dabbing gently at her eyes. Colin appeared to be making tea.
Colin looked up as Mabel came in. “Looks like there’s been some kind of misunderstanding between Sam and Joss, Mabel.”
Mabel sat next to Sam. “Did you and Joss fly to England together?”
Sam glared at her over the top of the handkerchief. “Yes, first class.”
“How lovely.” Colin set a mug of tea and a glass of water with ice in front of Sam. “Were you staying in London?”
“We were supposed to be, but last night I found this address on Joss’s phone, and I just knew he’d planned the whole trip to see you.
” Sam’s voice broke. “He said it was spontaneous and that he wanted to treat me. I should’ve known he was lying because he’s the least spontaneous person I’ve ever met. ”
“I’m impressed that you managed to get Joss’s phone out of his hand,” Mabel said. “I thought he’d had it surgically implanted in his palm.”
“He was in the shower,” Sam said, her gaze fixed on Colin.
“Clever.” Colin smiled at her. “Did you tell Joss what you’d found on his phone?”
“No, of course I didn’t, but when he went out before I woke up this morning, I just knew he was on his way here.” She sniffed. “He’d planned the route and everything.”
“Well, he definitely isn’t here,” Colin said in the same soothing voice. “I think we would’ve noticed him by now. Have you considered calling and asking his whereabouts?”
“If I do that, he’s going to think I’m jealous, and that I’m stalking him.”
For a second, Mabel’s eyes met Colin’s and she had to bite down on the inside of her cheek to stop herself from laughing.
“He might be concerned if he returns to the hotel and you aren’t there,” Colin suggested. “Maybe if you don’t want to call him, you could send a text? I’m sure he’s worrying his head off.”
“He probably hasn’t even noticed I’ve gone,” Sam whispered.
“I bet he has,” Mabel said. “He’s in love with you.”
“Then why is he over here stalking you?” Sam asked.
“If he was here, it’s probably because I quit,” Mabel said simply. “He might be mad enough about that to want to talk to me in person. I don’t know. I do know that it’s important to have conversations and open communication with the person you’re thinking about marrying.”
Sam burst into tears again and Colin raised his eyebrows at Mabel. She fixed him with a glare.
“I’m sorry,” Mabel said. “But I’m fed up feeling like a chew toy two dogs are fighting over.”
“You are very biteable,” Colin said, which made Mabel glare even harder.
“I’m sorry, Sam,” Mabel said. “I’m not trying to be mean, but it’s not fair to involve me in the middle of your insecurities about Joss. I can keep telling you that I’m not interested in him, but you won’t believe me until you have a conversation with the man himself.”
There was a discreet throat clearing at the kitchen door.
“Miss Mabel?” Bartle said. “There is a young man at the front entrance asking to see you. Do you wish me to admit him?”
“Is he American?” Colin asked.
“From the casual nature of his attire and his perfect teeth, young master Colin, I would assume so.”
“Then send him in.” Colin looked at Sam and Mabel. “Might as well get everything cleared up once and for all.”
Sam hurriedly dried her eyes while Mabel forced her expression in what she hoped was a welcoming smile.
After a few moments, Joss appeared in the kitchen doorway, looking slightly bewildered.
Colin walked over, his hand extended. “Hello, you must be Joss. I’m Colin. Such a pleasure to meet you at last.”
Joss, dressed in his usual black, complete with a Raider’s cap and Oakley sunglasses, shook Colin’s hand. “Hey.” Joss’s startled gaze slid past Colin and settled on Sam. “What are you doing here?”
Sam shot to her feet. “What do you think I’m doing?” She advanced toward Joss. “What anyone would do when another woman is trying to steal her man?”
Mabel rubbed her temple where a headache threatened.
“Look, babe.” Joss held up his hands. “If Mabel wants me back—and why wouldn’t she—then that’s her problem not mine. I can’t help it if I’m a chick magnet.”
Mabel made the mistake of looking at Colin who was desperately trying not to laugh as Joss continued.
“The only reason I need to see Mabel is to make her see sense about her silly idea about quitting my company.”
“Our company,” Mabel said.
Joss looked at her. “Babe…”
“We founded it together.” She held his gaze. “Don’t make me have to call my lawyers to verify that fact.”
“Fine, sure, whatever. ‘Our company,’ if that makes you feel better about what you’ve done to all of us.” Joss waved off her concerns. “Everyone’s devastated.”