Page 38 of The Bastard Heir
“Caroline?” Prudence called to her from somewhere inside the house, probably the hallway outside her bedroom door.
Castillo jerked his head up, aware for the first time of how far he’d allowed things to progress with the voices of the guests not very far away. His heart pounded as he realized what getting caught could mean for her. While a very large part of him wanted everyone to know that she was his, the rational part of him knew that she wasn’t and that she could never be. She belonged in another life, far away from him and his sins. It took every bit ofthe strength of will he possessed to let her go, but he dropped his hand and stepped away.
She whirled to face him, and her eyes were wide in panic. Her expression surprised him, so he paused. “I need to talk to you. Something’s happened,” she said. There was a metallic click from her room, as if the door had been opened and it drew her attention.
He wanted to take her in his arms and make that look go away. His mind raced with a million different things that could’ve occurred while he was gone. “What’s happened?”
“Caroline!” Prudence’s voice was louder this time, coming from inside the bedroom.
Carolina shook her head and squeezed her eyes shut. “Go. Just go. We can talk later.”
Castillo grabbed her shoulders and pulled her in to place a quick kiss on her forehead before rushing to his room. It’d be best, in his current state, if Prudence didn’t find him with her.
***
Castillo bathed and dressed quickly, anxious to find Carolina again and figure out what was wrong. He took a moment to wolf down a cold plate of leftovers in the kitchen before setting out to find her. Everyone had returned to the salon, and the usual evening activities of music and conversation after dinner, so he had no choice but to join them to talk to her.
His gaze found her as soon as he stepped inside the room. She was talking to Emmy and smiling, but when she saw him he could tell that it didn’t reach her eyes. She almost looked anxious, just as she had last night. What the hell was going on? Someone standing next to her shifted, blocking Castillo’s view momentarily. It was a tall, thin man, a newcomer Castillo hadn’t met. His hand cupped Carolina’s elbow possessively before moving over to settle on her back as he leaned in and murmuredsomething near her ear. It was a proprietary gesture that made jealousy flare to life in Castillo.
Carolina was his. He started to make his way over, but Tanner came between him and his adversary.
“Welcome home, son. I know you met him briefly last night, but I’d like to introduce you to Abner Cunningham. He’s an old friend of mine from Boston and he’s been thinking of investing in some of our breeding stock.” Tanner smiled, unaware that he’d intercepted Castillo, and indicated a man who appeared to be in his fifties.
Clenching his jaw, Castillo tried to force his heartbeat to return to a normal pace as he turned to greet him. “Very good to meet you again.” The man gave him an easy smile, his eyes crinkling at the corners. Samuel stood on his other side and gave Castillo a nod, resuming the conversation about horse breeding Castillo had interrupted.
A quick glance confirmed that the newcomer had firmly established his place at Carolina’s side. Though he didn’t appear to be a part of her conversation, he stood there with his hand on her. Castillo could hardly tear his gaze from that point of contact, but he did, moving it upward toward the man’s face. The newcomer turned his head, finally glancing toward Castillo. He was shocked to see it was the man from Victoria House. The man who’d looked at him so oddly that night they’d found Johnson.
Fear and anger wrestled for control of him. It was no coincidence that Castillo had seen him at the brothel. Though Castillo had no idea who the man was, Bennett’s warning was fresh in his mind. This had to be the insider, and he had his hands all over Carolina.
Tanner followed Castillo’s gaze and said, “You’ve noticed our other visitor. A Mr. Grant Miller from Boston. Caroline’s mother invited him out.”
Carolina’s mother and aunt had just walked up to their group. Her mother smiled. “He’s such a charming gentleman and from a good, strong Boston family. He’ll be good for our Caroline.” She glanced at her husband and got his nod of approval.
A sickening dread settled in Castillo’s stomach. Had they already promised her to this stranger or had they merely arranged an introduction? The fact that Miller’s hands were on her and that he’d travelled so far from Boston told Castillo it had to be more than a mere meeting. “Does Miss Hartford agree?”
Her mother’s smile never changed as she said, “She will.”
Not to be left out, Prudence asked, “Does it matter if she agrees?” Castillo wasn’t sure if she was asking him or Carolina’s parents. The look of displeasure on her face was obvious, but then she caught his eye and he realized the question had been for him. She was asking him what he planned to do about it. Castillo wondered the same thing. He wanted to go over and rip Miller’s hand away from her.
“Of course she’ll agree,” her mother answered. “She wants to go to school in the autumn and Grant is a good man.”
“He’s a solid choice,” her father added, perhaps because he’d noted Castillo’s interest in her earlier in the week. He met Castillo’s gaze and explained, “His family are third-generation foundry owners. Their family’s iron was used to build the railroads. He’s a good choice for her. He’ll allow her to indulge her ambition while giving her stability.”
“Indulge her ambition?” They spoke as if her dream was some passing fancy she would eventually outgrow.
“Castillo,” Tanner began in a warning tone.
Samuel cleared his throat, looking uncomfortable for the first time. “We have to ensure her future. It’s our job as her parents.”
Castillo empathized with their position, but he despised their methods. Apparently Prudence did, too, because she sniffed and turned her head away. Castillo didn’t know what he could doshort of offering for her hand on the spot. That was out of the question with his criminal past and the mission before him. Even after Derringer was taken care of, he seriously doubted Carolina would agree to return home with him to the hacienda. There were no people for miles, and if she stuck with tending the ranch hands she’d have very few patients. That wouldn’t make her any happier than Miller would.
“Excuse me,” Castillo said, separating himself from the small group and making his way to her. Miller had kept a wary eye on him ever since the man had first spotted him watching them, and his shoulders stiffened as Castillo walked toward them. Tanner followed close behind him.
Carolina stopped talking midsentence when she saw him approach. The relief on her face was so obvious, Castillo wanted to pick her up and take her out of there. Rage that she’d be forced to endure this stranger’s presence built up inside him with every step he took. He didn’t even bother to greet the man. “May I speak with you, Miss Hartford?” He was past the point of caring how many social rules he was breaking.
Carolina nodded, and opened her mouth to speak, but the fool beside her cut her off. “Castillo Jameson, is it?” He held out his hand, and there was no mistaking the look of cool possession in his eye. Somehow, he knew that Castillo was a rival.
“It is.” Because he’d caught the attention of the room, Castillo offered his hand in a brief handshake, but he kept his gaze on Carolina.
