Dark Angel (Casteel 2)

placed opposite him, and I leaned forward with

breathlessness, when already I'd heard the worst--or

so I thought. But then, I was still an innocent, not

accustomed to the complexities of human nature and

all the devious ways it had of maneuvering to salvage

its self-respect, when some things could never be salvaged.

He began, lowering his eyes as if ashamed now,

now when it was too late. "In the year when your

mother ran from this house, I had flown to G

ermany

to confer with a manufacturer there who does some of

our small-part mechanical work."

"I don't care about your toys at a time like this."

I intervened.

He flicked his eyes upward. "I'm sorry, I'm

digressing, but I wanted you to understand why I was

away. Anyway, your mother had tried to tell Jillian a

number of times that I was making improper advances. And on this day, she screamed at Jillian, who

didn't want to listen, that she had missed one of her

monthly periods. 'Does that mean I'm pregnant, Mother, does it?' Jill whipped around and tore into her, refusing to believe anything she'd said. 'You filthy-minded little slut,' she shouted. 'Why would a man like Tony want a girl like you, when he has me, me? If that's the way you're thinking, I'll send you

away."

"You don't have to bother,' whispered Leigh,

her face gone dead white, go and you'll never see me

again! And if I'm pregnant, I'll be the one to have the

Tatterton heir!"

I was caught unprepared for those words. "How

did you find out, how?"

Tony's hands bowed into his hands. His voice

came out wretched and torn. "I knew a long time ago

Jillian envied Leigh's beauty, which needed no