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“Because you’ve gone through that particular hell yourself?” Caleb was silent. “Maybe not. But there are all kinds of other ways you could damage her. For some reason she believes that she wants you. Or perhaps she just wants to save you from yourself.”
“That’s possible. Do you expect me to deny it? But I’ve given up fighting her about it. She’s a bit sensitive right now and I’d appreciate it if you’d do the same.” His voice lowered silkily. “I’d be most displeased.”
“Tough,” MacDuff said. “I’ll keep you informed how things are doing here at the Run. But I promised Jane I’d let her know if you were in any danger. That includes any report from your information guru.”
“Of course. I’ve told you that I’m honest with Jane,” Caleb said, then added, “and I’m grateful for your help, MacDuff.”
“As long as it’s limited to the areas that you specifically designate? Sorry, that won’t happen. You take what you get.” MacDuff broke the connection.
Chapter
4
The Gallery
MacDuff’s Run
1:45P.M.
Okay. Give Fiona every chance, Jane thought, bracing herself as she walked down the long hallway. It would really annoy her if MacDuff was right about her being intentionally blind regarding the blasted portrait. She turned all the lights on as soon as she entered the gallery. Then she put the two volumes MacDuff had given her together with her sketch pad on the velvet chair against the wall.
Only then did she turn and directly face the portrait of Fiona MacDuff.
Just look at her for a moment. Jane usually avoided it because of the resemblance MacDuff always called to her attention. The long auburn hair, the hazel eyes, the features that even Jane could see were similar to her own.
But MacDuff had said she wasn’t being fair. So she tried to see what he did in Fiona. What had he said?Bold and excited…Yes, she could see the faint flush on Fiona’s cheeks, the way her eyes shone out from the canvas.A bit adventurous…Jane could see that also in the lift of her chin, the faint curve of her lips.
She hated to admit it, but MacDuff had probably been right.
Okay, maybe I’ve been unfair to you, Fiona. But I don’t want you to think that I believe anything else MacDuff said. No offense. But I’m my own person and I like it that way. From what he just told me about you, I believe you might be able to understand that. Personally, I think your father sounds like an asshole. I’m sorry you had to deal with him. MacDuff thinks that the cards were stacked against you because you were a woman in a man’s world. I hope that’snot true. Just because I don’t want to be related to you doesn’t mean I don’t want what’s best for you.
Of course, whatever had happened to her had occurred back in the late eighteen hundreds and there was nothing that Jane could do about it. That was as infuriating as everything else that was happening around her right now.
She wondered if Jamie MacDuff had been as much a son of a bitch as Jane was suspecting. “Because I really don’t like the idea of him getting away with anything,” she whispered.
“Don’t tell me you’re communing with my Fiona?” MacDuff was chuckling as he strolled into the gallery. “I approve. I told you that you’d have a chance of getting along if you took off the blinders.”
“Nonsense.” Jane turned away from the portrait. “Communing? I was just examining the brushstrokes. They’re quite amazing. You don’t know anything about the artist? Not even if it was a man or a woman?”
He shook his head. “Jamie never told any of the family anything about the artist. I guess they just assumed the artist was male. It would give the portrait more status in their eyes, and Jamie was all into status during that period of his life.”
“You mean when he wasn’t throwing his closest kin down the nearest well?” she asked dryly. “And there are women artists who could achieve this quality of brushstrokes.”
MacDuff nodded. “I didn’t mean to imply you couldn’t have done it. I know you could. I’ve seen you do much more detailed work. I’m just trying to give you the correct perspective.”
“I’m getting very annoyed with that perspective.” She gazed back at the portrait. “It’s a wonder that she was able to win any of those prizes or ribbons when she was being smothered by all that machismo bullshit.”
“Maybe she regarded it as a challenge.” MacDuff’s lips indented in a faint smile. “I know someone who would react like that. But you’re being very defensive of Fiona. Am I to assume that you agree I’ve been right about her?”
“Not entirely. I do agree that I’ve probably been unfair in my assessment of her.” She made a face. “How could I help it when everyone has been pushing her at me? She appears to be an extraordinary woman, and I intend to learn much more about her. But there’s no reason why I should believe she’s any relation to me. I’m still more than content to be Jane MacGuire with parents like Joe and Eve instead of having any connection with a bastard like Jamie MacDuff.” She stared him in the eye. “Understood?”
“Certainly.” He grinned. “I’ve gotten this far. I wouldn’t dare push my luck. It’s much smarter to let you make any other discoveries on your own. Do you have any other questions?”
“Not about Fiona.” She was gathering her books from the chair. “Did you get hold of Caleb?”
“Yes, he’s well, and he’s contacted Dimak Palik—an information specialist—to track down Bohdan. He was supposed to hear from him later today. I told him that you’d want a report if he heard anything.”
She nodded. “I know Palik. He’s always done a good job for Caleb. He’ll probably be able to find him if anyone can.” She gave a half grin. “Of course, I’ve seen Caleb himself hunt down prey that no one else could find.” She shivered as she remembered the first time she had seen Caleb in hunter mode. She had told him she needed answers from a killer stalking them in the forest and she’d been shocked at the ferocity of his smile and the sheer electricity that illuminated his entire body as he’d turned and left her. But it had been nothing compared with the moment when he’d returned later carrying an unconscious victim on his back and tossed the man at her feet. It had been savage and frightening and it had taken her a long time to begin to understand the forces that drove Caleb. And longer still to realize that she couldn’t live without him. “I’m just glad he has help this time.”
