Page 6 of A Match Made in Heather

Arabel grabbed for Ewan’s hand to keep him from attacking Garrick. And to keep Garrick from pummeling him senseless in return.

“Apparently, Laird Rowland assumed that Lord Townsend not only deserved compensation but would be the right man to help oversee the estate.” Davidson set down the paper and folded his hands on top of it. “The property is evenly split between you.”

With careful composure, Arabel sat forward. “Then I would like you to begin proceedings for Lord Townsend to sell me his share.”

Garrick replied coldly, “I have no intention of selling.”

“B-but you have to!” she stammered out. “We cannot own property together.”

“I agree.”

A smile of relief touched her lips. She certainly hadn’t expected Garrick to capitulate so easily—

“Which is why I’ll let you sell your portion to me.”

Her eyes flared at his nerve. Sell Highburn?Never.Given the sorry state to which her family had fallen, she owed it to her clan’s legacy to retain the estate and care for it. To restore the importance they once held in the highlands. That Garrick, of all people, had ended up with the other half of it—the irony was biting. “That property belongs to the Rowlands.”

“Murray, talk sense into your fiancée,” Garrick urged with a nonchalant flick of his wrist, although his hard gaze never left her. “Ifyou’re able to.”

Ignoring his baiting, she announced quietly, “I will never part with it.” Then, unable to tamp down a dark urge inside her to strike out from the pain he’d caused her, she raised her chin and added, “I would never simply walk away from something I loved.”

His jaw clenched hard, her arrow striking home. “I have no intention of selling—”

“Neither of you can sell your portion, actually,” Davidson interrupted. All eyes turned to the solicitor. “Laird Rowland insisted that a clause be attached to the bequeathal.”

“What kind of clause?” Ewan demanded, snatching up the will from the desk and scanning over it. His face fell as he read, “A month’s settlement period.”

“For which both owners must reside at Highburn with Lady Rowland, to help her transition into the dower house,” Davidson explained. “During which time the property cannot be sold, including to each other.”

Arabel glanced at Garrick, attempting to discern his reaction. But his handsome face remained inscrutable. He said nothing, focusing his gaze straight ahead.

“Further, if either party vacates the premises during this time, full ownership defaults immediately and without compensation to the remaining owner.”

Dear God.Panic flooded through her as a dark smile curled slowly at Garrick’s lips. She pressed the back of her hand to her mouth. Her aunt and uncle had been eccentric, butthis—oh, they’d gone utterly insane!

“No,” she whispered past her fingers. “What they’re asking . . .Whywould they do such a thing?”

The solicitor shook his head. “I tried to talk Laird Rowland out of the clause, but he wouldn’t be moved. Said something about an old wrong needing to be righted, but he was too ill to elaborate.” He removed his spectacles and rubbed at the bridge of his nose. “And there you have it. Mrs. Stewart, the housekeeper at Highburn, is expecting both of you as guests for the next month. After that . . .” He sighed heavily and perched the spectacles back into place, giving him the appearance of a fledgling owl. “I will gladly assist you with whatever arrangements you’d like to make concerning selling your shares.”

Absolutely none.She cared nothing that Garrick had returned as a peer or that he’d somehow managed to make a name and fortune for himself. Highburn would never be his.

“This is absurd,” Ewan interjected. “This cannot be legal.”

“Oh, I’m certain it is.” Garrick’s cool gaze slid to Arabel. “But if Miss Rowland doesn’t want to follow her uncle’s last wishes, then I’ll gladly take the property off her hands.”

“You’ll do no such thing!” Ewan snapped. He didn’t understand how important her family’s legacy was to her, but as a banker, he certainly understood the price of land and how much wealth it suddenly brought to their impending marriage. “That property belongs to Arabel.”

Garrick grinned triumphantly. “And to me.”

Helplessness ached hollowly in her chest. Her dream and her worst nightmare had collided, and there was nothing she could do about it.

Unless . . .

“I wish to speak with Lord Townsend. Alone.” She rose to her feet, forcing all three men to do the same, although Garrick took his sweet time. “Would you give us a few moments’ privacy?”

Ewan stiffened. “I will not leave you alone with him.”

Arabel bit back the retort that she’d be living in the same house with Garrick for the next month, if she couldn’t persuade him to give up his share of the property this afternoon.