Page 35 of The Bastard Heir (The Gilded West #2)

A quick glance confirmed that the newcomer had firmly established his place at Carolina’s side.

Though he didn’t appear to be a part of her conversation, he stood there with his hand on her.

Castillo could hardly tear his gaze from that point of contact, but he did, moving it upward toward the man’s face.

The newcomer turned his head, finally glancing toward Castillo.

He was shocked to see it was the man from Victoria House.

The man who’d looked at him so oddly that night they’d found Johnson.

Fear and anger wrestled for control of him. It was no coincidence that Castillo had seen him at the brothel. Though Castillo had no idea who the man was, Bennett’s warning was fresh in his mind. This had to be the insider, and he had his hands all over Carolina.

Tanner followed Castillo’s gaze and said, “You’ve noticed our other visitor. A Mr. Grant Miller from Boston. Caroline’s mother invited him out.”

Carolina’s mother and aunt had just walked up to their group. Her mother smiled. “He’s such a charming gentleman and from a good, strong Boston family. He’ll be good for our Caroline.” She glanced at her husband and got his nod of approval.

A sickening dread settled in Castillo’s stomach.

Had they already promised her to this stranger or had they merely arranged an introduction?

The fact that Miller’s hands were on her and that he’d travelled so far from Boston told Castillo it had to be more than a mere meeting. “Does Miss Hartford agree?”

Her mother’s smile never changed as she said, “She will.”

Not to be left out, Prudence asked, “Does it matter if she agrees?” Castillo wasn’t sure if she was asking him or Carolina’s parents.

The look of displeasure on her face was obvious, but then she caught his eye and he realized the question had been for him.

She was asking him what he planned to do about it.

Castillo wondered the same thing. He wanted to go over and rip Miller’s hand away from her.

“Of course she’ll agree,” her mother answered. “She wants to go to school in the autumn and Grant is a good man.”

“He’s a solid choice,” her father added, perhaps because he’d noted Castillo’s interest in her earlier in the week.

He met Castillo’s gaze and explained, “His family are third-generation foundry owners. Their family’s iron was used to build the railroads.

He’s a good choice for her. He’ll allow her to indulge her ambition while giving her stability. ”

“Indulge her ambition?” They spoke as if her dream was some passing fancy she would eventually outgrow.

“Castillo,” Tanner began in a warning tone.

Samuel cleared his throat, looking uncomfortable for the first time. “We have to ensure her future. It’s our job as her parents.”

Castillo empathized with their position, but he despised their methods.

Apparently Prudence did, too, because she sniffed and turned her head away.

Castillo didn’t know what he could do short of offering for her hand on the spot.

That was out of the question with his criminal past and the mission before him.

Even after Derringer was taken care of, he seriously doubted Carolina would agree to return home with him to the hacienda.

There were no people for miles, and if she stuck with tending the ranch hands she’d have very few patients.

That wouldn’t make her any happier than Miller would.

“Excuse me,” Castillo said, separating himself from the small group and making his way to her. Miller had kept a wary eye on him ever since the man had first spotted him watching them, and his shoulders stiffened as Castillo walked toward them. Tanner followed close behind him.

Carolina stopped talking midsentence when she saw him approach.

The relief on her face was so obvious, Castillo wanted to pick her up and take her out of there.

Rage that she’d be forced to endure this stranger’s presence built up inside him with every step he took.

He didn’t even bother to greet the man. “May I speak with you, Miss Hartford?” He was past the point of caring how many social rules he was breaking.

Carolina nodded, and opened her mouth to speak, but the fool beside her cut her off. “Castillo Jameson, is it?” He held out his hand, and there was no mistaking the look of cool possession in his eye. Somehow, he knew that Castillo was a rival.

“It is.” Because he’d caught the attention of the room, Castillo offered his hand in a brief handshake, but he kept his gaze on Carolina.

“I’m Grant Miller, Caroline’s fiancé.” Grant said that with such satisfaction and possessiveness that a wave of anger swelled within Castillo.

This is what she’d wanted to tell him earlier. “Is this true, Carolina?” He no longer cared to uphold the social graces that demanded he call her Miss Hartford. She was his Carolina.

“It’s not been made official. It’s what my parents want.” The look of dejection on her face tore at his heart.

“Is it what you want?”

“You know what I want.”

Miller continued before Castillo could answer that. “I’ve spoken at length to Mr. and Mrs. Hartford, and we’ve come to an understanding. We all want what’s best for Caroline.”

Castillo held his hand out to her and murmurs went through the people immediately around them.

He meant to ask her to go walk with him.

He needed to speak to her alone, to wrap her in his arms and tell her everything was going to be all right and kiss that sad look from her face. Thankfully, Tanner’s logic prevailed.

“Come with me, Miller. I want to show you my collection of rifles. I believe I mentioned earlier that I have a musket that dates back to the French and Indian War.” Tanner threw his arm around the surprised shoulders of Miller and walked him out of the room.

It was the only time Castillo could remember ever feeling genuinely thankful for Tanner’s interference.

“Walk with me?” Castillo urged her, taking her hand in his. The murmurs continued, but Castillo didn’t care. He needed to talk to her.

***

Caroline allowed him to lead her out onto the veranda where an evening breeze ruffled her hair and cooled her heated skin.

She was dimly aware that they’d made some sort of scene inside, but she couldn’t bring herself to care.

Finally she was with Castillo, and while she knew that he wouldn’t be able to do anything to help her, she felt better just being in his presence with her hand in his.

“This is what you needed to tell me?” He asked as soon as they’d gone through the doorway, leading her around the side of the house away from everyone.

She nodded. “My mother brought him here with her. I meant to tell you last night, but…” Her words drifted off and she shook her head.

“I don’t know what to do. I’ve made my displeasure known, but it doesn’t seem to matter.

I didn’t realize how desperate they were to see me married.

I didn’t know that I wouldn’t be given a choice.

” Though she had suspected this was what would happen, she’d assumed she’d have this last bit of freedom before having one forced on her at home.

The fact that her potential groom was here had come as quite a shock.

“How are you not given a choice?” He shook his head as if unable to understand how her parents could send her to this stranger. They came to a stop around the veranda, nearly the very same spot where he’d first kissed her. “Can’t you say no and find someone else?”

“Yes, of course I can say no, but there is no one else. Could I randomly find someone back in Boston to agree to wed me? Probably, yes, the Hartford name carries enough weight there, but I don’t think the outcome will be any different.

I’ll still be married in a couple of months. ” And she’d still be without Castillo.

He squeezed her fingers gently. “Do you know this man?”

She shrugged. “I know of him. We met once. I know of his family, but I don’t know him.”

Castillo looked troubled, his gaze going out into the darkness of the night over her shoulder. “You can’t marry him, Carolina. I don’t trust him.”

He took a breath and looked into her eyes. He lowered his voice a little more to tell her, “I saw Miller in town the other night. He was at a brothel, and I think he recognized me there.”

Castillo had seen him in a brothel. Castillo had been in a brothel.

She tried to swallow her surprise, but it refused to leave her.

She knew what men did in brothels. Had Castillo been with some other woman?

It was stupid of her to be jealous, because she was quite certain he hadn’t led a celibate life, but to know that he’d been with a woman so recently before being intimate with her last night left her feeling bereft.

She meant to focus on Grant Miller, the one man she actually did have some claim to, but instead she asked, “Why were you at a brothel?”

His eyes widened almost imperceptibly, as if he hadn’t even realized what he’d told her.

“Glory Winters is a madam in town and she’s become an ally.

A man connected to Derringer had followed Zane and I.

We captured him and took him to her brothel for questioning.

It was as I was leaving that I saw Miller. He seemed to recognize me.”

There was so much about Castillo that she didn’t know.

It brought to light once again how strange this fierce attraction was.

But, then again, she didn’t know much about Grant Miller and she was supposed to marry him.

She should probably care that he had been at the brothel, but she couldn’t find it in her.

“I’m not sure what you’re trying to say.

I suppose he recognized you because you’re a Jameson. ”

Castillo shook his head. “That could be it, but I have to wonder if there’s more. After the shootout with Derringer’s son—the man who grabbed you on the train—he said something before he died that made me think someone here knows my real identity.”

“Do you think he means me? Do you think he figured out that it was me on the train and that I’m here?”

“I don’t think so. It sounded more like he’d plotted with the person.”

“Oh.” She searched her mind for some hint of who it could be. “You think it’s Grant?”

“He’s the most likely suspect. He showed up here uninvited except by your parents. I’ll need to talk to Hunter and Tanner, but I don’t think they know him.”

He was right. Grant did seem to be the most likely suspect. “How can I help you?”

He smiled at her, his hand coming up to caress her cheek before dropping it back down to his side, lest someone catch them. “Just don’t let yourself be alone with him. I’ll go question him and see what I can figure out.”

At his smile a spark of pleasure flickered to life within her. “Are you sure that’s the only reason you don’t want me alone with him?” She couldn’t resist teasing him.

His eyes grew heavy lidded and dark, and his gaze dipped down to her mouth.

“You want me to admit I’m jealous? Fine.

I’m jealous that he gets to touch you. I wanted to tear his hands off you.

” The gentle touch of his hand on hers belied the harshness of his words.

“I want to be the only one to touch you.”

Her body warmed to his words. Her nerve endings were alive and humming, eager for his touch. “I want that, too.”

He closed his eyes and took a deep breath as if her words were too much of a temptation to resist. “I’m going to talk to Miller.” He kissed her forehead and turned, only to come up short when Miller came around the corner.