‘As I thought,’ he nodded. ‘Mr Spencer should have informed me of his marriage and we could have drawn up a new will. In the circumstances—’
‘It all reverts back to Sir Charles and Cicely,’ she said numbly.
‘I’m afraid so—’ He seemed to hesitate. ‘There is one other thing I think we should clear up.’
‘Please do.’
‘Mr Carrington informed me that your mother’s name was the same as yours, Caroline Day, and so owing to Mr Spencer’s single state at the time the will was drawn up, I think it would be only natural to assume that he intended his beneficiary to be your mother.’
It was logical, it made sense, and it was probably right. She stood up to leave: ‘Thank you, Mr Seymour. I— What else can I say?’ she gave a helpless shrug.
‘I’m sorry, Miss Day,’ he did sound genuinely regretful. ‘There is one thing to be grateful for.’
‘Oh yes?’
The ghost of a smile lightened his features. ‘Owing to the methodical slowness of the British legal system the money hadn’t yet been awarded to you.’
‘That’s a bonus?’
‘Well, at least you hadn’t spent it!’
Callie felt sure it was the nearest to a joke James Seymour could get, and she returned his smile. ‘There is that.’ She shook his hand. ‘Thank you for being so gentle with me.’
She walked out into the street, no longer a part owner of a prosperous business or a rich young woman. It would have been nice to have been rich, she would be a fool to think otherwise, but strangely she felt good to just be Callie Day once again. At least now no one could exploit her—she had nothing to exploit!
So much for Logan not wanting to lose her! He had done everything he could to make sure everything was taken away from her. Well now she would never have to see him again.
Once again she retreated to the peace of Jeff’s studio, looking at the figure of her mother with new eyes. Jeff hadn’t just shown her mother without pain as she had always believed, he had shown her as the young girl he loved, the young girl she had always appeared to him.
‘Callie…’
She turned to see Logan walking towards her, also looking down at the sculpture of her mother, very dark and attractive, making her feel startling alive.
‘She was very beautiful,’ he said huskily. ‘I can understand why my uncle loved her all his life, why he waited for her.’
Callie turned away. ‘Why are you here? To gloat?’ she scorned.
Logan’s eyes were darkly brooding as he looked at her. ‘I’m here to ask you something.’
Her mouth twisted, her voice brittle. ‘If it’s question and answer time you want, Logan, I’m not in the mood.’
‘Only one question. Only one answer.’
She sighed. ‘Well?’
‘Will you marry me?’
Her head went back. ‘What did you say?’ she choked disbelievingly.
Logan grasped her upper arms, gazing deeply into her eyes, holding her captivated. ‘Will you marry me?’
‘Are you serious?’ She searched the pale intensity of his face, seeing only anxiety written there.
‘Never more so,’ he said tautly.
‘Why?’
‘I thought it wasn’t to be question and answer time,’ he mocked. ‘I’ve asked my question, I want the answer.’