His Australian Heiress by Margaret Way Read Free Book Online Page B

farce.
    Brendon, at her side, had no difficulty reading Charlotte’s body language. He stepped into the breach, taking Conrad Mansfield’s outstretched hand. “It’s a wonder you recognise me, sir,” he said.
    â€œYou haven’t changed since you were a boy,” Conrad remarked in a resonant, cultured voice that filled Charlotte with poignant memories of her beloved father. The two brothers had shared a close physical resemblance. “I regret we haven’t seen each other more often, Brendon. How’s the family?”
    â€œAlways together,” said Brendon suavely. He had no time for Charlotte’s uncle, famous author or not.
    Aunt Patricia broke in, winding her heavy necklace around her hand. “You haven’t met Carol. Carol Sutton.”
    Both Charlotte and Brendon turned to smile in a friendly way at Simon’s girlfriend. Carol Sutton looked charming. Certainly not one of Simon’s glamour girls. She was well-dressed, if conservatively, for her age. Not a “looker,” but interesting . She wore her dark hair in a standard pageboy. Her fine dark eyes were her best feature.
    What was she doing with Simon? Charlotte very nearly shook her head.
    â€œGosh, ain’t that grand!” Simon gave a sneer. “They actually like you, Caro, when I expected something quite different.” He turned back to his mother. “You really should have left the introductions to me, Mother.”
    Patricia changed colour. “Whatever do you mean, darling?”
    â€œI’m quite capable of introducing Carol, don’t you think?”
    â€œGood heavens, darling!” Patricia’s smile shrivelled up.
    â€œI’ll tell you another thing,” Simon continued on his merry way, his eyes locking on Charlotte.
    Charlotte knew from long experience that Simon was preparing to go into one of his rants. He had been given to them as a child, when his bad behaviour went unaddressed. She put up a hand that nevertheless carried a clear message. “I can see where you’re going, so I’ll stop you there, Simon. That’s if you ever wish to visit again. Do please sit down. I want to tell you all something.”
    â€œOf course you do!” Simon threw back his blond head. Any sort of reprimand, big or small, only encouraged him. “You are, after all, our little heiress.”
    â€œIndeed I am, and you’re a guest in my house.” Charlotte’s tone was startlingly reminiscent of their late grandfather.
    Everyone heard it, except Simon, who was both clever and thick. “Now, isn’t she priceless!” he asked of no one in particular.
    His father abruptly broke out of his role of genial host. “Sit down, Simon. Or leave.” His eyes shifted to Carol Sutton, who seemed about to announce she had a splitting headache. “I’m so sorry, my dear. My son doesn’t hide his feelings well.”
    â€œWe were hoping, Simon, you’d come back reborn,” Brendon said, a satirical twist to his mouth.
    â€œI’ll never be resigned to what happened to us!” Simon, who had a real gift for upsetting people, cried. “The unfairness of it all! It can never be forgotten or forgiven. How can we build a family on such foundations?”
    â€œI agree it’s hard when we’re such a dysfunctional family,” Charlotte said. “Only I can’t feel sorry for you, Simon. Between ourselves you didn’t go short.”
    â€œPeanuts compared to you!” Simon’s dull flush reflected his anger. “Grandfather made a mistake. I was the senior grandchild. I mean, who are you? What are you?”
    A dead silence greeted the absurdity of his questions. It was quickly broken by Brendon’s searing comment. “Charlotte is your blood cousin. She is someone everyone admires. Your grandfather, as always, knew exactly what he was doing. Your father is a renowned author. He had no wish to remain in