Amanda didn't care. She just wanted her inheritance back—if there was anything left of it. And if the men diought she'd have a better chance of getting it by hiding herself, she'd hide herself.

That was accomplished by the two staying in the private train car until after midnight, then pretty much sneaking into the hotel that Kathleen had checked them into earlier in the day. At least Marian had a room to herself for a change, so she could mope in peace.

Chad was still with them, too. Marian didn't ask why he'd decided to see this to the end, not because she wasn't curious, but because she refused to talk to him at all. She was too disappointed that she wasn't going to have at least a short break from his frustrating presence.

There was good and bad news by the middle of the next day. They all met in Kathleen's room for lunch and to report their findings to the girls. Spencer and Amanda had slept in late, so he had nothing to report, but Chad and his father had gone out early to locate Albert.

They were the last to arrive, and Chad told them immediately, "He's still living in town."

"Well, that's the biggest hurdle out of the way," Kathleen replied.

"Stupid of him," Stuart added. "But then he's obviously completely confident that the gals will never show up to accuse him of anything."

"It didn't look promising at first," Chad continued. "His old office has been taken over by a bookkeeper, so we thought Albert was long gone."

"But he's not?" Spencer asked.

"No," Stuart replied. "Most of the employees there didn't know who Albert was, but a new one came in before we left the building, and when he heard who we were looking for, he pointed us uptown to a new address. He used to work for Albert. Did a lot of complaining, too, that Albert didn't take him along to his new office. Had nothing but nasty things to say about his old employer because of it. He was a very bitter young man."

The plan had been that they would take Albert straight to the authorities if they got their hands on him. It was Kathleen who asked, "I take it he wasn't at his new office either?"

Stuart shook his head. "The new place is a definite improvement though. The old office was a dump, the new one as plush as a fancy—well, very rich-looking indeed."

"Decorated with my money, no doubt," Amanda growled in an aside to her husband.

Spencer patted her arm soothingly. "Probably."

"Where was it?" Marian asked.

"Big building next to a bank, two stories—"

Amanda gasped. "I know that building! That was one of Papa's properties."

"No need to get all indignant, Mandy," Spencer told his wife. "That's just the sort of proof we need to hang the fellow, tliat he's in possession of a building that should have been left to you. Sounds like we can wrap this up and go home sooner than expected."

Amanda didn't turn on him for the scolding, she actually sent him a smile. Marian was still marveling over that when Chad continued. "There'll be a short delay. Seems he's a busy man. He's gone north to finalize some land deal for one of his clients. According to his secretary, he's not expected back until Friday."

"Three more days!" Amanda moaned.

Marian was in complete agreement with her sister for once, though probably for a different reason. "I don't see the need to remain hidden, then, if Albert is out of town. There are a few people I'd like to call on-Chad cut her off with a flat, "No."

She raised a brow at him, and said testily, "And who put you in charge?"

He frowned at her tone, started to answer, but his father beat him to it. "He's right. There could be others here who know what the lawyer did."

"Who?"

Stuart shrugged. "A partner, an accomplice, a bribed official. Maybe even family."

"That's highly unlikely," Marian protested.

"Why?" Chad said. "He had to have bribed someone to get everything transferred to him without a hitch. And are you sure he had no family here? A wife? Parents?"

"Not sure at all," Marian mumbled.

"He mentioned a sister once, but she didn't live here in Haverhill," Amanda put in.

"Fine, I'll go back and hide in my room," Marian huffed. "But I really doubt our presence here is going to remain a secret for very long. I've already run into one hotel maid who started to ask me, Aren't you—?' before I cut her off with a 'No.' As if she'd believe me. Mandy's face is well-known in this town."

Marian marched angrily out of the room, barely managing not to slam the door. She was blushing before she reached her own room down the hall. That had been too rude of her.

She was starting to behave like Amanda, and she couldn't seem to help it. She was so tired of pretending that everything was fine and normal, when she had so much turmoil ripping her up inside. Her patience was gone. Her tolerance was gone. It had been one thing to contain her emotions when she'd thought she would have some respite soon, but she was getting none.

Chad was still around, she was still seeing him daily, and she could no longer deny that all the anger she'd felt over what had happened between him and Amanda was still there, and it hadn't lessened at all.

He'd fooled her so completely. He'd kissed her the night before the incident, making her think she really had a chance with him. Then he'd made love to her, making her think he actually wanted her, while all along he had been sure she was Amanda. She'd been hurt then, but all that was left now was bitterness. And a lot of resentment and jealousy. She couldn't deny that anymore either. Amanda always won. She didn't even have to try, and she won.

She no sooner closed the door to her room than the tears started. She wasn't surprised. Solitude was not her friend these days. The more time she spent alone, the worse she behaved in the company of others, acting short-tempered, snappish. She barely recognized herself these days.

It might have helped if she could discuss her feelings with someone, but there was no one she could talk to. She didn't want Kathleen to know that she was the virgin Chad had deflowered, not Amanda. And besides, her aunt was too happy with her newfound love. Marian wasn't about to put a damper on that.

She could have cried on Ella Mae's shoulder. She should have. The maid was good at offering sympathy. But Marian didn't really want sympathy. Ella Mae was also good at making outlandish suggestions that were always too bold for her tastes. And for once, Marian was upset enough actually to follow them, bold or not, so she chose to not be tempted and kept what was bothering her to herself.

A mistake. She'd held it all in for too long and was turning into someone she didn't like because of it. And this solitude was not helping. Of course, she could go back down the hall to Kathleen's room and make a fool of herself again.

She shuddered at the thought and instead, dug out an old bonnet from her trunks and attached a veil to it. No one would recognize her under it. And she wouldn't approach anyone she knew. But she was not staying cooped up any longer.

Chapter 52

MAYBE YOU CAN HAVE a little talk with her?" Stuart suggested.

Stuart and Kathleen were the only two left in her room. Spencer and Amanda had gone back to theirs, and Chad left soon after. Without actually planning it, they found themselves suddenly alone. It was still soon enough after Marian's departure that Kathleen didn't need to ask Stuart of whom he was speaking.

"I probably should. Something is definitely bothering her."

"I don't mean about that, I mean about my boy. He's got some powerful feelings for her, but she's driving him crazy. She treats him like he's invisible."

"Of course she does," Kathleen said in Marian's defense. "I would, too, if a man who'd made love to my sister suddenly started showing interest in me."

Stuart sighed. "You know that was a mistake. Dammit, Red, the boy was tricked. You know it. I know it. It's about time Marian knew it."

"I doubt it will make much difference."

"Or it could make all the difference," he insisted. "So tell her."

Kathleen shook her head. "If she hears it from anyone, it should be him. If he's got powerful feelings for her, why hasn't he told her about them?"

"Because he's thinking the same way you are, that it won't make much difference. You could at least find out if he's got any chance at all."

Kathleen rolled her eyes. "So could he. If they can't get together on their own, then they weren't meant to. I'm no matchmaker. Neither are you, for that matter. So what brought all this on?"

He mumbled, "Young folks make mistakes they end up regretting. You did. Married a man you didn't love just to get out of this town. Chad did, made love to the wrong woman. 'Course he didn't know it, and that's what really stinks about this whole thing. If that ain't enough to regret, I don't want to see him regretting a lost opportunity with the woman he does want."

"So why aren't you pestering him to do something about it already?"

"Already did," Stuart admitted in a grumble. "But you know him well enough by now to guess his answer. He told me to mind my own business."

Kathleen burst out laughing and moved over to sit on Stuarts lap. "Sound advice. And you have some business you can mind right now."

That got a smile out of him as she knew it would. They were so compatible, it seemed like they'd always been together. She pretty much knew what he was going to say before he said it. There were few surprises with Stuart. For all his gruffhess, he had a big heart.