Independence & Consequences by M J Marlow (best color ebook reader .TXT) 📕

She caught him staring at her as she stayed close to Gordon’ side. She felt her uncle stiffen and looked up to see the clenched jaw and cold eyes. Obviously Gordon had noticed Roger’s regard as well. “Director Talbot,” Roger smiled as he came towards them a moment later. “I didn’t know you knew Miss Chambers.” “I should,” Gordon said tightly. “Isabel is my niece, Mr. Hancock.” He had the pleasure of seeing the man flinch. “Come along, Isabel,” he said as he put Isabel’s hand on his arm and led her away. “The last act is about to start.” He waited until the music had started again and then turned to his niece. “Where did you meet Mr. Hancock?” “He came to the house earlier today,” Isabel told him honestly. “I didn’t like him. He was too interested in me.” She frowned as she remembered the encounter. She saw his expression and knew he was waiting for her to continue. “I overheard a bit of their conversation, Uncle,” she blushed guiltily. “They were arguing about how they could use me. Mr. Hancock wanted to have me pretend to be Cassandra’s daughter.” “He would.” Gordon was incensed that anyone would try to use this child in such a way. “And did Olivia agree with him?” “Mother was more concerned with helping me find out who I really belonged with,” Isabel told him, proud of Olivia. “I went upstairs and didn’t hear the rest of the conversation. When Mother came back, she practically dragged me out of the house at a run.” She felt his worry and frowned. “Is something wrong, Uncle Gordon?” “It’s not something we can discuss here, child,” Gordon told her. “This is your first opera, you should be enjoying it.” Isabel nodded and tried to return her attention to the opera. The music was beautiful and the performances were good, but her mind was trapped by what had happened. She did her best to keep from asking further questions. Every once in a while she would turn to find her uncle looking at her strangely; as if he were seeing a ghost. They went to Gordon’ penthouse apartment after the opera. Gordon went to the bar and poured them each a cranberry juice, smiling as he heard his niece humming one of the arias. Isabel went to the wall of windows that gave a view of the entire city. Gordon’ heart caught in his throat again as he saw how much like his sisters this child was. It was as if Cassandra and Liza had become one person in this child. His rottweiler began barking and whining and Gordon gave Isabel her drink and went to get the animal out of the library. He watched her eyes widen in delight as she saw the dog he brought out on its leash. “Isabel,” Gordon smiled as he brought the dog to her, “this is my friend. Oscar,” he crouched down next to the dog and looked in its eyes, “Isabel is our family.” Isabel crouched down and held her hand out to the dog. When he began to lick it, she giggled in delight like a small child. She threw her arms around the animal and Gordon was pleased. He handed her the leash, suddenly very eager to give her a feeling of the independence her guardian had denied this pretty child. He suddenly realized that the child had suffered a great loss of freedom while she was being hidden away. That woman had kept this child locked up and on a leash. Well, he was going to make it up to his niece now. “Oscar needs to go for a walk,” he said as she looked up at him. “I usually take him on a circuit of the park across the street about this time. Would you mind doing it for me so I can catch up on some paperwork?” “Oh yes!” Isabel cried out happily. “Let me change first.” When she did not come back quickly, Gordon went to the guest room. She was standing in the door of the walk-in closet, eyes narrowed. “You did this? “I knew the moment she called me that I would be removing you from that woman’s care, so I had your grandmother send over some of Liza’s old things,” Gordon told her. He saw some of her wariness fade. “They should fit.” “Thank you,” Isabel smiled. She came to kiss him on the cheek. He left her alone and she changed out of her pretty gown and into a pair of jeans and a warm top and sweat jacket. She slid her feet into a pair of sneakers and went back out to the living room. “Let’s go, Oscar.” Isabel took the elevator down to the lobby of the building. She waved at the doorman her uncle had introduced her to on the way in and left the building. She took Oscar to the park and headed along the sidewalk that ran in a circle around it. The moon was full that night and it was illuminated in the water of the lake in the center. There was a slight breeze and Isabel was glad she had brought the coat with her. She wondered if it was wrong of her to be so happy at the thought of not having the woman in her life. Olivia had been the only mother she had known, after all. Shouldn’t there be some kind of anxiety or sadness in her at leaving home. She stopped on the other side of the park and sank down onto a bench to enjoy the scenery. “I need to talk to you, girl,” Lang said as he came out of the shadows and sat down at the other end of the bench. He made it appear a casual meeting. “You read the file I left for your uncle, didn’t you?” “I’m not talking to you,” Isabel said tightly and started to get to her feet. Something in the expression he shot her made her stop. Plus she suddenly realized that Oscar was not on guard; he knew this man. “Is it that important? All I remember was a list of dates and locations.” “Shipping dates,” Lang told her. “Obviously for some cargo the authorities do not wish to leave the States,” Isabel puzzled it out. “You are working undercover for my uncle!” She saw the man’s eyes narrow and wondered why he was so angry. “Could I really be in danger for reading that file?” “If the wrong people learned that you had knowledge of it? Yes,” Lang nodded. He bent down to tie his laces as someone jogged by. “Gordon has only just gotten you back, Isabel. It would kill him if something happened to you now.” Isabel watched as he got up, patted Oscar on the head, and jogged off without another word. She sat where she was for quite some time, puzzling over what he had told her. The cargo must be something very nasty indeed for him to warn her as he had. She shook her head as she set worry aside. The only other person who had known she was in Gordon’ office was Morgan. She got to her feet, relieved, and headed back to the penthouse at a run, enjoying the feel of the breeze on her face. She was so happy to have the freedom to roam. This was also something her mother had never allowed her to do. She was going to enjoy staying at her uncle’s place. She was almost to the door when a car door opened and a dark-haired woman came towards her. There was something oddly familiar about this woman, and Isabel realized who she was looking at. This could only be Liza Stoner, her uncle’s sister. “You must know Mr. Talbot well if he lets you walk his dog,” Liza told the girl as she crouched down to pet the animal. “I see Oscar has made friends with you.” “Miss Chambers?” the doorman called out as he came to the door. He turned and saw Isabel and his relief as plain. “Your uncle called down. He was worried that you might have gotten yourself lost.” His smile died a bit as he saw Liza. “Dr. Stoner. You’re home early.” “Strong tailwinds coming up from DC,” Liza shrugged. She smiled at Isabel and held out her hand. She was looking at Isabel strangely. “I’m Liza Stoner.” “I’d better get back upstairs,” Isabel nodded briefly. “It was nice to meet you, Dr. Stoner,” she smiled as she went into the building. She paused to smile up at the doorman. “Good night, Hank.” “Night, Miss Chambers,” Hank smiled as he returned to his desk. Isabel went up to the penthouse and let Oscar go. He went to his place in the study and Isabel followed him. Gordon was seated at the desk, working on something. Oscar was curled up beside him. Gordon closed the file and turned to smile at her as he got to his feet. He went with her to his guest room and made certain she had everything she needed. Then he showed her where everything was, made certain she knew the security code, and left her to settle in. Isabel heard the phone ring. Isabel knew at once that it was Olivia from her uncle’s stiff tones. She got to her feet, and tiptoed to the door. She cried out in dismay as he closed the study door. She went back to what she had been doing. Gordon would tell her what Olivia had said if she needed to know. “Uncle Gordon?” Isabel called out as she went to find him. He was nursing a drink and looking out over the city through the wall of windows. He turned and smiled at her and Isabel knew that she was right. “Did you know your sister is here?” “She and her husband have the penthouse below this one,” Gordon nodded, wondering how he could have forgotten to mention this to the girl. “They use it when they’re in town for seminars and such.” He frowned. “Charles usually calls me when they’re coming in.” He went to study and Isabel heard him making a call. When he came back, he was looking very worried. “He had no idea that Liza was here. He asked us not to contact her until he has had a chance to speak to her.” He kissed Isabel on the forehead. “Thank you for telling me, Isabel.” He looked at the clock on the wall. “You should get some sleep, child. It’s late.” Gordon waited until she was asleep and then he went downstairs. Liza opened the door for him, and her look was guarded, defensive. She stepped aside for him to enter with a frown on her lovely face. She had known she would be expecting a visit from him the moment she had found herself looking at her sister’s twin. The girl could only be a Talbot. “Would you care for something to drink, Gordon?” she offered as she went to pour herself another. He shook his hand and she set her glass down. “Why didn’t you tell me you’d found her?” “Because we’re not certain whose daughter she is,” Gordon told her bluntly. He saw that he had wounded her but didn’t apologize. “I had hoped to keep it from you until I had proof…” “It doesn’t matter whose daughter she is,” Liza broke in, frowning at him. “She is, at the very least, my niece, and I deserved to know.” She closed her eyes a moment to calm down. “I met her outside the front door, Gordon. I almost had a heart attack!” “Charles will be here on Saturday,” Gordon told her. “We should have the results by then.” He came towards her and she shook her head and went to her drink. “Damn it, Liza! I was trying to protect you…” “Quit it!” Liza hissed