Page 24 (1/2)

"That is nonsense," Aline interrupted "You are just playing on the typical Englishe-scale production You have no evidence that it will be a problem for the Shaw foundries"

"I have no proof that they won’t," Marcus said

Folding her arlance "I predict that your efforts will co, Marcus--Shaw and McKenna will prove the any concerns their investors ht have"

"That remains to be seen I also put a feords in Lord Elha Co his docking rights to Shaw And those rights are an essential part of Shaw’s plans"

Livia followed the conversation with co only that her brother had deliberately undertaken to otiations difficult "Why would you do that?" she asked

"Si obstacles in Mr Shaw’s path, Marcus has ensured that he--and McKenna--will have to go to London at once, to deal with all the ht"

Livia stared at her brother with dawning fury "How could you do that?"

"Because I intend to keep those two bastards as far away from my sisters as I can," Marcus said "I’ve acted in your best interests--both of you--and solanced wildly around the roo to throw at him "You are just like our father, you self-i clod!"

"At this veryhi all day holed up in a dark room What a fine character for you to associate with, Livia How happy Amberley would be"

Livia turned white at his sarcaser, she strode fro to close the door

Aline stared at her brother with narrowed eyes "That was going too far," she warned gently "Don’t ever forget, Marcus, that sos can never be taken back once they are said"

"Livia would do well to remember the same," he retorted "You heard what she just said"

"Yes, that you are just like Father And you disagree?"

"Categorically"

"Marcus, in the last few minutes you have never sounded or behaved or looked e

Aline held up her hands as if in self-defense, and spoke in sudden weariness "I won’t waste tiht use that clever brain to consider soht you have handled the situation? You took the shortest andto consider anyone else’s feelings And if that wasn’t like Father…" Her voice trailed away, and she shook her head with a sigh "I’ her unrepentant brother in the study, Aline hurried after her sister The effort of walking so fast caused her scars to pull, and she sighed i? For heaven’s sake, stop for a moment and letin a hallway, her cheeks streaked red rath Suddenly Aline remembered when Livia had been a s a tower of blocks that was too tall to stand Over and over, Livia had painstakingly constructed the sa that she should have just settled for building a less a froarded her syant," she agreed, "and obviously he has done the wrong thing But we must both keep in mind that he did it out of love"

"I don’t care about his e the result"

"Which is?"

Livia looked at her with annoyance, as if she was being willfully obtuse "That I won’t see Mr Shaw, of course!"

"Marcus is assu that you won’t leave Stony Cross You haven’t traveled out of the county since Amberley passed away But what doesn’t seeo to London" Aline s surprise on Livia’s face

"I-I could, I suppose," Livia said distractedly

"Then why don’t you? There’s no one to stop you"

"But Marcus--"

"What could he possibly do?" Aline pointed out "Lock you in your room? Tie you to a chair? Go to London if you wish, and stay at Marsden Terrace I willafter Mr Shaw…"

"You won’t be chasing after hi in town--and a long overdue trip it is, Iyou own is sadly out of fashion And whose concern is it if you happen to be shopping in London at the same time that Mr Shaw is there?"

Livia so with uests And…" She hesitated for a long moment "I think it would be best to effect a separation between McKenna and s between you and him?" Livia asked "At the fair, the two of you see happened--and I expect that nothing ever will" She felt a sharp twinge of disco to her sister However, the experience with McKenna last night had been too intensely personal--she was not up to the challenge of putting it into words

"But don’t you think that McKenna--"