Page 53 of Easton Island: A Wedding to Remember

“You have a guest.”

“A guest?” Elizabeth echoed.

“She’s in the library. I didn’t know where else to put her.”

Morgan and her grandmother exchanged a puzzled look. “Who is it?”

“Priscilla Finkpin.”

“Prissy is here?”

The cook nodded. “I’m sorry. I didn’t know what to do.”

“It’s all right Jane. I’ll see what she wants.”

“Thank you. Let me know if I should track down Jax in case he needs to throw her out on her ear.”

“That won’t be necessary.” Elizabeth made a move toward the library.

Morgan reached out to stop her. “I think I might know why she’s here.”

“Is it regarding Edward Ryze’s claim?”

“Remember the Bay News reporter who was hanging around a few days ago, asking questions?”

“I do. I phoned Prissy to ask her if she knew him. She never called me back,” Elizabeth said.

“I saw Priscilla and the reporter eating dinner together last Saturday night at the Harbor Dockside,” Morgan blurted out.

“So…the two are working together to write a smear piece?” Elizabeth rolled her eyes. “I have to say, her timing is impeccable.”

“And maybe strategic. I’m sorry I didn’t mention it before. You have enough to worry about right now. I was hopingPriscilla would keep her promise not to write about the protesters and Edward Ryze.”

Elizabeth cleared her throat. “There’s an off chance her surprise visit is unrelated. However, something tells me this isn’t the case. We shall soon find out.”

The women reached the library and found Priscilla standing in front of the window, staring out.

“Hello, Priscilla.”

She spun around. “Hello, Elizabeth.” Her eyes flitted to Morgan. “Morgan.”

Morgan forced a smile. “Hello.”

“You have quite the crew on hand transforming the place.”

“It’s been…to be blunt…organized chaos.”

“I can see you have your hands full so I’ll make my visit brief,” Priscilla said. “I know all about Mr. Ryze’s claim, how he purchased fake artwork from your gallery.”

“I’m sure almost everyone who lives in Easton Harbor has probably heard,” Elizabeth replied in an even tone. “I’ve done my due diligence. The piece Mr. Ryze is trying to return is not the piece I sold him. To be blunt, he’s a swindler and a crook. I have no intention of paying him for a painting that the gallery didn’t sell him in the first place.”

“I have something for you.” Priscilla reached into her big black bag and pulled out a newspaper.

Morgan stood frozen, watching as she set it on the table.

Elizabeth glanced at it but didn’t make a move to pick it up. “A story about the fake piece?”

“It’s your wedding present. I had hoped to finish it sooner, but it took a little longer for me to wrap things up.”

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