Warning at Eagle's Watch (18 page)

Hillary was touched by the emotions that the young man showed as he went on to tell of the pain and disillusionment that had followed. Angela had fulfilled Scotty's and his parents' fears. And then she had run away from him, sure that the world held someone better for her than the son of household servants. He had come home, finally, not knowing where else to go. His parents had kept him, quietly in the servants' wing, worrying about how to announce his return to the mistress of Eagle's Watch, to Miss Scott who had been so angry at his lack of common sense about the girl.

He was still more a boy than a man, Hillary realized suddenly, and she felt very sorry that his love had taken such an unhappy turn.

"I don't think you have to worry about Miss Scott," she said comfortingly. "I think she'll understand!"

"Understand? I'll be lucky of she doesn't turn me out on my ear once she hears I've come back. You don't know how mad she was. She really doesn't like me, that's for sure."

And inwardly Hillary smiled. For Scotty would only concern herself with the welfare of an employee that she truly cared for, a person that she felt had potential. Scotty had wanted to protect him from the girl, certainly. And she would forgive his actions, especially since he gave her a chance to say "I told you so" and to gloat about the fact that she had been right.

"We'll see," she said aloud. "You can't hide forever. And your dad could use some help around here, I'm sure."

"I know. I help him now all I can, always trying to keep out of the line of fire of the family. But maybe, like you say, things'll work out."

He was optimistic, obliging, and Hillary found herself feeling like an older sister to him.

There was no way she could believe that he was involved in the ugly things that had happened at Eagle's Watch. She left him to head for the dining room and the family dinner, glad that she had unraveled a part of the mystery that seemed to hover about the castle. But she was still aware that there were a lot more questions to be answered.

Chapter 15

"Forgive my impertinence," announced Scotty later that evening, "but I seem to notice a subtle difference in the relationship between you and Kent Harris lately. Your womanly wiles finally wearing him down?"

Hillary had to laugh. "That's one way to put it, I guess. I care so much about him, Scotty, but he has things he has to settle first. I'm trying to give him space."

"Smart girl."

"He's so special, Scotty. I'd wait forever for him."

"Good Lord, let's hope not. That would be a tragic loss, and if I may say so, a stupid one."

"Speaking of tragic losses, there's something I want to talk to you about. A true case of disillusioned love."

"Ah." The white head bobbed knowingly, and the eyes lit with their irresistible twinkle. "Young Anthony Raymond. Am I correct?"

"You knew he was back?"

"No. But I'm not surprised. I've been expecting him. Now there's a lad with potential. But he should have listened to me. Instead, he had to take up with that little piece of baggage. Angela, her name was, but anyone less like an angel would be hard to find."

Percival lifted his proud head from the silk pillow that he rested on, majestically yawning, then returned to his comfortable nap.

"She's not with him still, I don't imagine?" Scotty asked.

"No."

"Then he's welcome here, of course, though you understand I'll have to make him squirm a bit. It's in my nature."

"A good dose of 'I told you so'" asked Hillary sarcastically.

"Now don't speak in that self-satisfied tone, Hillary Holt. An old woman must have some enjoyment out of life."

Hillary shook her head in mock disgust, but the corners of her mouth were bowed in a smile. Scotty's spirit never ceased to amuse her.

"Just be easy on him, okay? He's a nice kid."

"All the more reason that he must learn his lesson. But I know he really cared for her. Young love can be so pathetic. Don't worry, I'll be as mild as my reputation allows. By the way, it's good to see you smiling. You've been going round rather long-faced for a young girl who's discovered a romantic future for herself. There must be something else chipping away at you. Care to confide?"

The eyes were clear and direct, and Hillary had to look away. "I—don't know what you mean."

"Well, when the time comes and you want to open up about it," Scotty went on, disregarding Hillary's halfhearted denial, "Just speak up. Now go and fetch that adorable Tony, and let me get this over with."

There was no doubt about it, Hillary firmly told herself as she shut the door behind her and went in search of the hidden boy, one way or another, she was going to have to clear up the shadows that hung over her, before Scotty guessed more than would be healthy for her. She set her jaw and determined to do it.

* * *

"You told her?" Tony's voice revealed the fear that was in his heart as Hillary told him that Scotty was waiting to see him.

Mr. and Mrs. Raymond, faces white and strained, rushed across the kitchen to beat his side.

"You're so cruel. Nurse Holt," wailed Mrs. Raymond, with more show of emotion than Hillary had yet seen her portray. "She'll send my boy away. How could you do this to us?" Pure unhappiness and hurt was etched on the faces of the trio before her.

And why would they react any other way? They, like most people that Scotty had come into contact with in life, saw only the authoritative dictatorial side of the woman for whom they worked. She held the strings to their happiness, their jobs, their homes, the castle that they cared for so much. How could they know that what Hillary had done was for their own good? It was up to her to explain, to ease their pain.

"Please, please, don't be afraid. Miss Scott was bound to find out sooner or later about Tony's return. Don't you see how much angrier she would be at the thought of being deceived?" She turned to Tony. "I told you it would be all right, Tony, and it will. Just go to her."

The tight muscles in his face relaxed. "If you're sure, Hillary, I'll take your word." He turned to his parents. "I'll go to her now, it'll be all right. Nurse Holt wouldn't let us down."

"Wouldn't she?" Mrs. Raymond's mouth was drawn and bitter. "Have you learned nothing in all the trials you've been through, Anthony? I'd hoped you were through with scheming young women. First trusting Angela, now this nurse. She even looks like her."

The small woman was shaking and her husband put a strong, tired arm around her bony shoulders for comfort. "There, there, Mother, it was bound to come out. We'll just have to deal with whatever happens. I trust the nurse myself. Not all young girls are like Angela."

"That's right, Mother." Tony gave her a brief kiss on the cheek and was gone.

"Please don't hate me so, Mrs. Raymond," Hillary said quietly. "Whether you believe it or not, I just want to help."

Mrs. Raymond didn't answer, and with a nod to Hillary, Mr. Raymond led his wife away.

Hillary stood alone in the empty kitchen and hoped fervently that all would go well upstairs.

There was a clatter behind her, and she turned to find that Daisy had entered the kitchen, her arms laden with linen from the dining room.

"Well, if it isn't Nurse Holt," she said with eyes that were less than friendly. "And what are you doing slumming down here in the servants' quarter? I've thought you were a privileged member of the household."

"Daisy, I can't understand why you are so hostile to me." Hillary stood face to face with the young girl, whose wispy blonde hair hung in soft tendrils beside her attractive face. So young and so sweet-looking, and yet her voice was tinged with venom.

"Because it's not fair, that's why. First you come here and get on the good side of Miss Scott, and now I hear the family will be cheated out of their money. Then you go and make eyes at all of the available men around and they spend all their time flitting around you. Mitchell—"

Hillary cut her off. "Daisy, there is not and never will be anything between Mitchell Morrison and myself. I swear that to you. We are just friends. That day that you saw us down on the beach, we were talking about that very fact."

"You saw me?" The blonde girl's eyes shifted away in embarrassment. "I wasn't spying, mind you. I just happened to be walking by..."

She is so young, Hillary thought to herself, so impressionable and emotional.

"I don't care why you were there, Daisy. Like I said, Mitchell and I are just friends, And, if I may add, you above all should know that I have no intention of receiving any of Miss Scott's money, nor does she have any inclination to leave it to me. You were a witness to her will."

The eyes shifted away again. "I didn't see what it said. I didn't look. I just signed my name where the lawyer said to. The page was mostly covered with a sheet of paper. I—I'm not so sneaky as that! I didn't see a thing." She turned on her heel and disappeared from the room, and Hillary felt distinctly uneasy.

Did Daisy in truth know what was in the will? Was there a reason for her nervous behavior just now? But Scotty couldn't have changed her mind about leaving the estate to her relatives. Hillary's forehead was covered with tiny beads of perspiration. She didn't want the money. She had told Scotty that. Scotty couldn't have willed it to her! But even the adamant words didn't ease her mind a bit, for she knew that Priscilla Scott was capable of deciding anything.

Chapter 16

The days went by. The Raymonds' opinion of Hillary changed slowly from hatred to confused respect, as Tony was once again accepted into the household, having faced Scotty's short and intensive lecture on proper behavior. He survived unscathed. His whistle could often be heard around the grounds as he worked alongside his father, easing the daily load and maintaining the property that was a home to him.

To Hillary he was polite and friendly, though it wasn't often that their paths crossed in the course of the day.

Mrs. Raymond even made a few attempts at civility to make up for her harsh words in the kitchen as life returned to an even keel.

Scotty became stronger and stronger. And Hillary's duties were over now, really, but she stayed on with Scotty, feeling pride as the woman continued to progress. The time came when Scotty could move herself around her small world. She had even begun making daily trips up to the tower room where she spent the afternoon hours deeply engrossed in her sculpting. It was frustrating at first, but she gradually became satisfied and proud of her results. She allowed no one to visit her in the studio, with the exception of Percival, who accompanied her on most days, returning downstairs after each session, his black fur dusty with the particles of dry clay that dusted the air.

Hillary gave Scotty the room she needed to be by herself. She asked no questions about the work that she did in the turret, and Scotty offered no comments.

Indeed, their relationship had drifted into an altered one from the closeness that Hillary had first felt when she arrived at Eagle's Watch. They were friendly, yes, and always civil, but the intimacy that they had shared was sadly missing. A barrier had grown between them.

At first, after the lawyer had gone. Hillary had badgered Scotty to convince her to make known the contents of her will, an action the white-haired old woman refused with her lips drawn tightly together. She could see no reason for it, and as Hillary had no way of letting her know of the dangers and accidents, without risking a stressful scene, her hands were tied. So gradually she gave up her attempts to deal with the issue, and merely did her best to stay out of the range of fire of the family's bitter tongues.

Her thoughts of Kent Harris were the bright spots in her days. He had taken over almost all of Dr. Newburg's rounds, as the old physician had become more and more involved with the time-consuming research in his laboratory. And occasionally, in the evening hours when his duties were temporarily done, the young doctor would appear at the door of the castle to see Hillary.

They often sat in the study downstairs, away from the chatter of the family in the living room. Kent seemed exhausted. Hillary felt an ache in her heart each time he arrived, seeing the tenseness in his strong shoulders, the signs of stress on his handsome face. She longed to reach out to him, to hold him close and show the love that enveloped her, but she stifled her yearnings and showed her caring with comforting words instead, sensing that the timing was not right, that the barriers that had been within him from their first meeting still needed to be dealt with.