“It’s very kind of you to let me stay.” Her small hand was immediately enveloped in his massive clasp. His palm was callused and his strong grip made no allowances for her femininity. “I’ll try not to trouble you any longer than necessary.”

“Nonsense. Malvina will be disappointed if you run off before she can really get to know you, and I’m determined you won’t leave us until you’ve seen all of Killara.” His piercing blue eyes twinkled. “I’m proud as a peacock of my ranch. We’ve got everything you could want here in the Arizona territory. Your Edinburgh can’t hold a candle to some of the sights I can show you.”

Elspeth found herself melting beneath the beaming warmth of the old man. Old? The term seemed wrong when applied to Shamus Delaney. Though he must have been in his seventies, he stood ramrod-straight, his thin, rangy body still as powerful as that of a man of forty. He was dressed in a black suit and vest, crisp white shirt and gray tie, and his full mane of stark white hair shone softly under the flickering light of the candles in the chandelier. That totally white hair should have made him look older, but instead the silky purity of color made his weathered brown face appear younger in contrast. “You have a right to be proud of Killara. Your home is lovely.”

He released her hand. “Malvina’s done a fine job of it, hasn’t she?” His voice was soft with affection and pride. “She reads all those fancy books and journals; she’s particularly fond of that Miss Beetle’s book on home management. She says all the fine ladies read it.”

“I’m afraid I haven’t heard of it.” Elspeth found it hard to imagine Malvina Delaney poring over books and periodicals on homemaking. “But I’ve been in America for only a short time.”

“It probably hasn’t crossed over to the old country yet,” Shamus Delaney said cheerfully as he took her arm. “But you mark my words, it will soon. My Malvina swears by it. You should have seen the hair picture she made from the directions in Miss Beetle’s book.” He chuckled. “Brianne swore she was going to strip her bald before the dang thing was finished, but it turned out real pretty. Come along, Malvina is waiting in the parlor to give us a little music before dinner. It looks like we’ll have you to ourselves this evening. Dominic rode over to Shamrock this afternoon to see his brothers, and that wild granddaughter of mine hasn’t come home yet.” Shamus’s gaze suddenly narrowed on Elspeth’s face. “I hope you’re not disappointed that Dominic isn’t here. You two must have become very close friends lately.”

Elspeth felt a surge of relief at the knowledge that she would not have to confront Dominic tonight. Her emotions regarding him were so chaotic that she had no desire to face him immediately. Rising Star’s revelations and her own response to them must be absorbed before she was ready to speak to him again. “He has been very kind,” she said stiltedly. “But it’s always pleasant to get to know new people.”

He nodded slowly, his gaze still searching her own. “That’s true enough. You’ll enjoy the little concert Malvina is going to give us. She plays the piano very well; she taught herself.” The pride was again shining in his face. “There’s nothing Malvina can’t do once she sets her mind to it.” Then, as his glance fell on Silver watching in the shadows of the curve of the staircase, his smile faded. “You know Malvina doesn’t like to see you dressed in that heathen garb at her table, Silver. Go change.”

Elspeth’s gaze flew to Silver. The girl was standing perfectly still, glaring at Shamus Delaney. “No!”

For an instant there was an expression of utter weariness on Shamus’s face before it hardened in annoyance. “Then I’ll have Rosa send up some dinner to you. Delaneys don’t serve savages in the dining room at Killara.”

“No, they prefer savages to serve them in the bedchamber.” Silver’s eyes blazed clear and hot. “As my father demanded of my mother. Only he never bothered taking her to a bedchamber. A blanket thrown on the ground was good enough for an-”

“Shut your foul mouth.” Shamus’s eyes were suddenly glittering with fury. “I’ll not have your impudence here.”

Elspeth couldn’t bear it any longer. Anger and pain held the two Delaneys captive. “No!” She turned and ran back up the stairs, her arm sliding protectively around Silver’s shoulders. “I don’t think I feel very well, Mr. Delaney. I believe I’d better go back to my room and lie down. Come with me, Silver.”

“What?” Shamus’s face expressed first surprise, then anger, and finally, grudging admiration. His lips twisted sourly. “I don’t suppose you might recover if Silver joined us in the dining room?”

Elspeth nodded gravely. “Being with Silver always makes me feel better, Mr. Delaney. You’re very lucky to have her as a member of your family.”

It was a deliberate goad, but he failed to rise to the bait. “Yes, I’m very lucky in all my family.” His gaze carefully avoided Silver as he bowed mockingly. “Malvina’s waiting.”

Elspeth kept a firm clasp on Silver’s hand as she half-pushed, half-pulled the girl down the steps. “We’re coming. I’ve always loved piano music.”

“You haven’t heard the old woman play,” Silver muttered half beneath her breath. “You will wish you had gone back upstairs and covered your ears.”

Elspeth learned what she meant in the next three quarters of an hour. Malvina drew sounds from the upright Chickering piano that were unbelievably unharmonious. Elspeth listened in amazement as Malvina thumped the keys with blatant disregard of tempo, her hazel eyes shining with enjoyment. Elspeth cast a surreptitious sidewise glance at Shamus sitting on the elegant amber tufted couch beside her and received another shock. His face shone with the same pleasure and pride as when he had earlier spoken glowingly of his wife’s accomplishments. Great heavens, the man must be deaf not to recognize that Malvina was an abominable pianist.

Then, as Malvina finished the tune she was playing with a little flourish and turned to face them, Elspeth changed her mind. The look Malvina and Shamus exchanged was one of perfect understanding… and love.

“A delightful performance, my darlin’,” he said softly. “You get better every time I hear you play.”

Malvina’s cheeks flushed with pleasure as she rose from the piano stool, her emerald taffeta skirts rustling far more harmoniously than her recent effort at the keys. “I thought you’d like it, Shamus.” Malvina was suddenly no longer the grim, forceful woman Elspeth had met this morning. She was as eager and glowing as a young girl, her gaze shifted to Elspeth as if for approval.

What could she say? Elspeth wondered wildly. She moistened her lips with her tongue. “It’s a very pretty tune. I don’t believe I’ve ever heard it played quite like that before.”

She heard a small rude explosion of sound from the window alcove where Silver was sitting. Elspeth carefully avoided looking at Silver and kept her polite smile firmly in place.

Without so much as a glance at Silver, Malvina turned with a sweeping movement of royal disdain. “There are some people who have no ear for music.” She glanced at the fine bogwood clock that graced the mantel across the room. “It’s growing late. We won’t wait any longer for Brianne. Shall we go in to dinner?”

Shamus gallantly offered Elspeth his arm. “I told you we were in for a treat. Malvina could have been even better if she’d taken lessons when she was younger. She’s been trying to teach Brianne how to play, but the girl won’t sit still long enough to practice.” He shook his head. “My granddaughter would rather be down at the Mexican village or riding herd with the vaqueros. Do you know what she begged me to get her for her birthday? A new saddle! Malvina wanted to send her to St. Louis to buy some pretty gowns, but Brianne wouldn’t have any part of it. She wouldn’t leave Killara.” Affection and pride flickered in his expression. “She’s a Delaney through and through.”

Elspeth was growing more curious about Brianne Delaney by the moment. She obviously held a very special spot in the hearts of her grandparents, judging by Shamus’s remarks. A Delaney through and through. She inhaled sharply as the tactlessness, even cruelty of those words impacted upon her. How did Silver feel to have her cousin spoken of with such warmth and affection while she was denied even recognition as a member of the family? It was incomprehensible to her that Shamus could be so warm and callous at the same time.

She cast an anxious glance over her shoulder at Silver as Shamus escorted her through the archway that separated the parlor from the dining room. She sighed with relief as she realized she needn’t have worried about Silver’s reaction. She doubted if Silver had even heard Shamus’s words.

The young girl was standing by the piano, her fingers caressing the black and white keys with a loving touch. On her absorbed face was an expression that was an odd mixture of wistfulness, wonder, and hunger.

Elspeth was able to satisfy her curiosity regarding the Delaney “princess” a short time later. Brianne Delaney appeared in the dining room just as they were finishing their meal.

Her appearance was foreshadowed by the sound of the heavy front door being thrown open, the light clatter of boots on the tiles of the foyer, and then a hurried, breathless voice. “I know I said I’d be home for dinner, but William wanted to show me a pond he had run across in the foothills. And then when we got back to Shamrock, Dominic was there and I had to talk to him, didn’t I? You know I haven’t seen Dom since he dropped by last year and I couldn’t just ride off without saying a word.” A slim, delicate girl dressed in a dark brown riding skirt and white cotton blouse suddenly appeared in the archway. She paused to catch her breath and Elspeth was allowed a moment to absorb an impression of rich auburn hair in a single thick braid, green eyes dancing with humor and spirit, exquisite classic features saved from any hint of coldness by the faintest golden dusting of freckles over a small aristocratic nose. Brianne Delaney might be the Delaney “princess,” but she was certainly down-to-earth royalty. She was too warm, too vital, too alive to be considered anything but entirely approachable.