“I deserve honesty, Clementine.” He was not about to let this go.
She looked up at him, her blue eyes steelier than he’d ever seen them.
“Here’s your honesty,” she said. “I didn’t steal anything from this castle.”
Edward took a deep breath. They were at an impasse.
“Okay, then. If you say you didn’t take the pieces, I’ll take your word.” Something felt off, but he couldn’t put his finger on it.
Her stare softened, and she looked away.
“I don’t want there to be tension between us, Clem.” He closed in on her and placed a hand on her shoulder. “I value you, not only as a crucial partner in this project, but as a person.” Edward cleared his throat. “You’re special to me, Clem, and I’m sorry I hurt you.”
She gazed up at him sadly. “It’s okay,” she said finally. “I mean, before you knew me as me, you knew me as a thief in the night.”
Edward gave a quiet laugh, feeling relieved at her words.
Clem stood to face him and shrugged. “I guess I can’t blame you for thinking of me when things go missing.”
“Forgiven, then?” His eyes pleaded with her.
“Yes.” She hugged him briefly, and he took a moment to breathe in the patchouli-chocolate scent that was signature Clem.
“Seriously, though, I have to get busy here,” she said.
“Got it.” He left her to her work, but he couldn’t shake the feeling that something was awry between them. The niggling uncertainty stayed with him for the rest of the day, no matter how hard he tried to shake it.
He was missing something, and it wasn’t china.
Later that afternoon, Clem finally finished the mantle. The gleaming mahogany looked nothing less than spectacular. A gush of pride ran through her as she inspected the artistry of the piece, followed by a twinge of loss. It wouldn’t be long now before she’d be saying goodbye to this lovely room and the castle itself. She couldn’t deny she would be leaving a portion of her heart in this place.
Her phone buzzed in her pocket, and she grabbed it to find a notification from Starr Realty. When she slid the app open, the information in front of her eyes set her heart into a hopeful race.
1625 Stapleton Lane: Glen County
Charming eighteenth-century farmhouse boasting four bedrooms and two full baths. Spacious open kitchen featuring copper sink and fixtures, wooden countertops and sizeable butcher block island. Original clapboard siding and wraparound porch perfect for stargazing on cool nights. This lovely historical property has been painstakingly preserved and was made for someone who enjoys timeless beauty.
Clem could hardly believe it. The Glen County farmhouse was finally for sale. She’d been eyeing up the place since she was a child. She’d always imagined herself raising a family and growing old on the rolling property that backed up to a wooded stream. Her daydreams had included kneeling in the rich soil, planting flowers and herbs in her own little garden, sitting on the porch swing, idling hours away in such a serene place.
Not only was the property finally available, but Clementine was now in a position to afford the home of her dreams. With all the work she’d done on the castle, she’d made a nice chunk of change for herself. A substantial chunk of it would go into Wicke Salvage, of course—but her father and uncle had insisted that she keep the bulk of it for herself, to chase her own dreams. That farmhouse had been the center of those dreams for years and now, at the perfect moment, she was more than able to afford it. Clearly this was meant to be.
The stars were aligned.
Clem wasted no time punching the realtor’s number into her phone. A few minutes later, her heart sank.
“Yes, Miss Wicke, the property became available just yesterday, but I’m already in talks with a potential buyer.”
“I see,” Clem replied. A sick feeling twisted in her gut. “May I ask who else is interested in the farmhouse?”
“It’s the royal family, actually.” The realtor’s voice turned Clem’s skin to ice. She couldn’t believe it. “They’re interested in clearing away the structure and developing the land, I believe. It’s quite a shame, being that the house itself is such a treasure.”
Clem thought she might be sick. Not only did Edward and his family want to steal her dream from her, but they literally wanted to crush it. She had to stop them.
“Thanks for the information, ma’am,” she said and hung up. Without pause, her feet carried her to Edward’s office where she found him at his desk, buried in paperwork.
“So, it’s done,” she told him, trying her best to feign cheerfulness. “I finished the mantle.”
He looked up at her, and she noticed the black circles that rimmed his eyes. “That’s great news,” he said, sounding distracted.
“Isn’t it?” She waited a beat before diving into her next thought. “So there’s a farmhouse on Stapleton Lane,” she said. “Word is it’s next on your list for acquisition.”
Edward stared at Clem, looking perplexed for a moment. Finally, comprehension fell over his face. “Oh, the one that’s on five acres out in Glen County. Yeah, yeah.” He ran a hand through his hair, looking more tired than she’d ever seen him. “My father is pretty set on that property. Says it’s crucial for our vision for the future.” He used air quotes indicating to Clem that this project was just another one that his father was pushing him into. Maybe she could convince him not to destroy it.
Clem raised her eyebrows, her pulse racing. She reminded herself to breathe. “Have you seen the place? It’s a real gem, as is.”
Edward sighed and threw his head back in what looked to Clem like annoyance. “Don’t start on this one, Clem.” His shoulders drooped as he pleaded with her. “My father is already riding me about sorting out my priorities. After my decision about the mill, I owe him. I have to accomplish this.”
“Because he expects you to? What happened to being your own man? Pursuing your own dreams?”
Edward shrank back, looking stung, and she regretted her words.
“Listen,” Clem said. She sidled up to his desk and sat on it so that she was close to him. Placing a hand on his hand, she waited until he met her gaze. “There’s another place I know of. The property is really similar to the land at the farmhouse—just as accessible to the highways, just as close to commercial centers. The cabin there is in such disrepair; it’s about to collapse. Why don’t you check it out?” Her eyes dug into his. “Maybe it will be an even better fit for your father’s vision.”
“Why is this farmhouse so important to you?” he asked, and Clem bristled. She wasn’t sure she was ready to tell him, but she didn’t see a way around sharing this with him.
“Since I was a young girl, I’ve had my eye on the place.” She stared off to the side and took a step into her childhood imaginings. “All of those special things I’ve saved in my little storage locker? I know exactly where I’d put each one of them in that house.”
When she looked back at Edward, he looked stressed.