Fallen Hearts (Casteel 3)

"No, honey, but you'll have a wonderful teacher. I think you're going to like it very much," I said. "And see that big mountain?"

Drake nodded.

"Your daddy came from there, Drake," I said, pointing to our mountain. "You can see it clearly from the front of our new house," I told him. He stared at it, his eyes intense as though he had been waiting to see that mountain all his short life.

"Did Daddy go to my school?"

"Daddy went there, and Logan and I did, too, honey."

"We might be able to get him in this year, even though he's not quite of age," Logan said. It was the first thing he had said for a long while. "Sometimes they make allowances when you know somebody or when a kid is bright," he added. He looked at me, but I didn't respond. A deep furrow ran across his forehead, a sign lately that Logan was in deep thought. I knew he desperately wanted to find out why I had fled Farthinggale. I hadn't been able to tell him anything about what had happened between Tony and me, because Drake was alert and listening to every word I said. I indicated that I didn't want to speak in front of my little stepbrother.

"Little rabbits have big ears, too," I said. It was something Granny used to say.

Logan, obviously frustrated and impatient to hear all my news, was valiantly trying to make both Drake and me feel comfortable by giving us all the news of Winnerow and the Hasbrouck House. I knew he could tell how upset I was. How sweet and touching he was, trying so hard to raise my spirits.

"I'm afraid I haven't even hired all our servants yet," he warned.

"I think I can get along for a few days without an army of servants, Logan," I said.

"I know that. But it's a big house. It needs looking after, especially now that we already have a child living there."

"We'll do just fine," I said. "Tomorrow we'll start looking for a maid."

"And a cook. I think we'll need a cook," he said. "Not that you can't cook. It's just that--"

"You think we should have one. I know," I said, lowering my voice with exaggeration. "All factory owners have their own cooks." Even he had to laugh at himself.

"I hired a gardener, the gardener Anthony Hasbrouck had," he said quickly. "Just kept him on. There was a butler, but he's long gone. If you want, I'll have the maid that Anthony Hasbrouck had stop by and you can interview her."

"Good. I'm sure if Anthony Hasbrouck was satisfied, be," I said. He nodded and then smiled.

"I have a surprise for you. I wanted to keep it a secret a few more days, but since things have taken a strange turn," he said, "for reasons I'll soon discover, I'll tell you now."

"What?" I sat forward. We were almost to the Hasbrouck House. Even though we now owned it, it would always remain the "Hasbrouck House" in my mind.

"The factory will be ready for the opening ceremonies in a month."

"Really? That's wonderful, Logan. I can't wait to see the production of toys from the Willies."

"I'm planning a gala affair. I had discussed it with Tony--" My heart leapt into my throat at the mere mention of his name. "Some of the

arrangements are already under way. Anyone who's anyone within a hundred miles of this place will be there."

"I see," I said. Although I wanted to be happy for Logan, there was only one thing I really wanted to know. "Is Tony coming down for the party?" I asked, trying to keep the quaver from my voice.

"I know he was planning to. Do you think that will change now, Heaven?" I couldn't help but hear the concern in his.voice.

"We'll discuss that at home, Logan," I said. Then I cuddled Drake in my arms, and for his benefit I added, "I'm just too tired to talk about it now."

"Of course, darling," Logan said, stealing a glance at me when we stopped for a streetlight. "But I hope you aren't too tired to hear all my plans for the party. It'll be a black tie affair, even though we're holding it outside. I've hired a twelve-piece orchestra to play, and the best caterer in Atlanta. Oh, it will be as elegant as anything ever given at Farthy, Heaven, I'm going to do you proud!"

Even the name Farthy made me shudder. "Logan, if you want to do me proud, let's have a real Willies party. A hoedown to beat all hoedowns. A party where the artisans who'll be making the toys will feel comfortable. This is not Farthy, and we are not Tattertons.

I don't even want that name to be on our factory. I want this to be pure Willies, the Willies Toy Factory."

"But Heaven ." Logan looked like he'd just been hit in the stomach. "We can't make these unilateral decisions. Whatever problems you had with Tony, we're still partners with him and it's his money that's paying for all this."

My voice was hard as stone, cold as ice, "Believe me, Logan, Tony will go along with whatever I want."