“Anan did what?” Shiloh asked, stunned.
“She’s had four different appraisers out here. She stayed for a week or so every time, and always left the entire estate in disarray. I’ve managed as best I can, but when your father said to obey… well, let’s just say that there’s been a certain amount of willful obedience, even on my part.” She blushed a little.
“How bad is it, Sherry?”
“We’re barely going to get by, this year and next. We knew she wanted to sell the place for the money and we decided we weren’t going to lose our homes without a fight. We’ve tried to stay solvent, yet, at the same time not worth selling. Been two years that way. We lost a few customers, but most knew what was going on, and we worked out certain arrangements, off the book deals, with the difference going into discreet investment funds. With a little help, the legalities have been dealt with, the taxes paid and such. It’s all legally accounted for, it’s just not registered as being part of the estate. Before Lady Jarvai called me, I was trying to decide whether or not to cash it in to rebuild the storm-damaged houses. Thankfully, Lady Jarvai’s call a few days ago meant I could postpone the decision for you to make.”
“So, basically, you’ve been embezzling from the estate, to keep the estate and run it?”
Shamefaced, Sherry nodded. “Yes, my Lord. I’ll understand if you find it necessary to replace me, but I have both sets of books ready for you to look over.”
“One thing at a time, Sherry. Let’s get to the house. I’m sure you’ve had a long day, and you did all the driving.” A sudden thought caused Shiloh to freeze. “When was the last time Anan was here?”
“Three weeks ago. She wasn’t happy, I can tell you.” Sherry didn’t seem to know whether to be proud, embarrassed, or both. After his experiences over the last few months, Shiloh could understand the feeling.
“So you’ve been making all the decisions without support since Senki’s death?” he asked.
“Yes, sir. When I asked Lord Ewan about it, he said there wasn’t any point in him doing anything, since the estate would be changing hands again soon enough. I even asked when you would be coming to inspect your new property and he told me you had better things to do than worry about something you weren’t keeping long.” Sherry sighed. “I heard that same thing for nearly three years.”
As they drove up to the huge house he hadn’t seen in almost five years, Shiloh ran his fingers through his hair. It was all such a mess! “I’ve been trying to avoid getting married that long. For a while I was able to claim a mourning period for Senki, but after that…” Shiloh shuddered.
“But now you come to us under the disgrace of divorce?” Sherry asked delicately, blushing again.
He shrugged. “It got Senka his inheritance and me my freedom from that psychotic bitch, Anan. I know that there will be some that treat me disrespectfully, but as long as it isn’t any of my tenants, I’ll deal with it.” He looked around as he got out of the car. A crowd stood on the front lawn. “There aren’t many young people among them,” he noted, more to himself than Sherry.
There was definitely a dearth of young adults in the crowd of tenants. “Some have moved away entirely, some are in college, and others have taken jobs elsewhere to bring money back to their families,” Sherry told him.
Shiloh nodded to show he’d heard, and then stepped toward the crowd. “Hello, all.”
People who’d once greeted him with happy smiles now just gave him a grim look. Most did bob their heads in greeting. He sighed. Yeah, he was going to need help. He didn’t know the first thing about running an estate because he’d never been taught. But Killian had told him about some of what he had dealt with, so he knew whom to call. At least he would have one friendly voice, other than his estate manager.
“I understand Mistress Sherry has informed you all I was unaware of my inheritance until a few days ago. I also understand that my ex-wife has caused a certain amount of trouble for you, which you have fought back against in your own way. I’m not going to stand here and tell you what you should or shouldn’t have done. You were here and I wasn’t, so all I will say is that she is no longer your worry. If she sets foot on this property, I give you leave to remove her from it, forcefully if necessary.”
“You would ban your wife from the estate?” one of the older women, one he didn’t recognize, asked incredulously. She must be new.
“Ex-wife, and yes I do. She had no rights to do as she did.”
“So it’s true, our new lord is disgraced,” the same woman said, her disgust clear in her voice.
“I don’t see it as a disgrace, and I won’t listen to that crap from my tenants. My ‘disgrace’ as you put it, has not only bought my freedom, but just might save your home,” Shiloh retorted. “I have no intention of selling the estate. Anan was going to, and with no care for what might be done with it.”
The people in the crowd exchanged uneasy glances and then began to melt away, back to their homes, some of them walking into the House.
Dispirited, Shiloh sighed. What a wonderful beginning to his new life.
§ § § §
An hour later, Shiloh was in the master suite, which included his bedroom, a guest bedroom, a sitting room, a closet so large it could have been a bedroom itself, and a full bath. The bathroom had been remodeled to have a huge garden tub and shower big enough for two. Wondering vaguely who had done the remodel, he took out his cell phone and called Killian. With a six-hour time difference, it would be about three in the morning in Italy. Killian would be sleeping, but Shiloh was under orders to call when he went to bed.
“Hello, Shiloh.” Killian’s sleepy voice made Shiloh shiver. For three nights they had slept comfortably together in Killian’s bed—not out on the couch, so propriety could be observed—making out a lot, exploring each other a little, but stopping far short of where they wanted to. They had agreed to go slow, regardless of what their hormones wanted. It had been wonderful torture and Shiloh wanted nothing more than to be right back in Killian’s bed. The huge four-poster he was sitting on felt cold. What Killian would look like in it, hair loose, and naked…?
“Hi, Killian. I miss you,” he said quietly.
“I guess it didn’t go well.” There was a rustling sound, like Killian was sitting up.
“Let’s see… Anan has been causing trouble on the estate for at least a year, the manager began embezzling from the estate to make it harder for Anan to sell it and, of course, I’m a disgraced male and I’m in charge and I’m clueless.” Shiloh sighed. “Senka did nothing for or with the estate since Senki died, so now I get to play catch-up on the last three years.” Tears stung his eyes. Shiloh shook his head; he didn’t have the luxury of crying anymore, there was too much to do. “Killian, I don’t have a clue where to start, and I’m not sure how much help I can count on from the tenants. I don’t know what’s been said in the past few years, but people who were always happy to see me in the past could barely even look at me today.”
“First thing is, don’t make any decisions in a panic. That was the first thing JoAnne and Natalya taught me. You need to sleep tonight and then call me in the morning, okay? I’ll try to help you sort things out,” Killian told him, his low, friendly tone calming Shiloh immensely. “Now what’s this about Anan?”
“She’s brought in at least four appraisers over the last year or so, Sherry said, and apparently the last time she was here was about three weeks ago,” Shiloh told him. “Why would she visit if her rights to the estate were unresolved?”
“You need to call Lady Jarvai and tell her about this, and Ewan’s mismanagement,” Killian told him. “You also need to decide whether to call the Magistrate about your manager.”
“That one I knew. Sherry told me she’d understand if I chose to replace her. She apparently kept official records, designed to make the estate look bad, and then the real books, including accountings of the embezzled money. We’re going to sit down and go over both sets of books,” Shiloh said.
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“What the hell?”
“I told you, she was trying to make it hard for Anan to sell the place. Ewan told her to do as Anan said because the place was going to be hers as soon as we married. Anan apparently came in acting like she already owned the place…. These people used to be pretty content and happy, and now…” Shiloh fell silent. He didn’t know if he was defending Sherry’s actions or just repeating the information.
“You’re tired, love, I can hear it. The time difference is getting you, I think,” Killian said softly. “You should sleep for now, Sprite, and call me when you’re in your study tomorrow.” His voice was warm and soothing in Shiloh’s ear.
At the reminder of the time, Shiloh yawned, and then nodded, even though Killian couldn’t see him.
“Yup, you’re yawning in my ear. Call Milossa and tell her you’ve discovered Anan has been interfering on the estate, even while you were under Sanctuary. She needs to know.”
“Okay. I love you, Killian.”
“I love you too, Sprite. Call me when you get up.” After the reminder, Killian hung up.
Shiloh sighed, and did as Killian told him, calling Milossa, who was quite cross at being woke up, and even more annoyed when she learned why. Shiloh told her everything he’d learned so far, and that he’d phoned Killian for help. She reassured him that had been a wise decision. After he yawned in her ear the fourth time, she chuckled and told him to sleep.
Giving her a sleepy “Yes, ma’am,” Shiloh hung up on her; asleep before he even fell over on the bed.
§ § § §
It was ten o’clock the next morning before he woke up, and much to his surprise, Killian was sitting on the bed next to him with his girls. He rubbed his eyes, thinking it must be a dream, but no, both Killian and the dogs were still there when he opened them again. He reached out to Killian, expecting him to vanish.
“Killian?” he asked as he touched Killian’s smooth jaw.
“Hey, sleepy Sprite.” Killian kissed Shiloh’s questing fingers. “It’s about time you got up. We’ve been here for two hours.”
“How?” Shiloh sat up, grimacing as he realized he was still wearing his shoes. Eeww. He didn’t want to think about the condition of his socks after wearing them for nearly twenty-four hours straight.
“Lucretia brought myself, the girls, Natalya, Milossa, Kelia, and a few others to investigate the issues with the estate, and Anan, themselves.” Killian gently cupped Shiloh’s chin. “I don’t suppose I could talk you into a kiss?”
“If you don’t mind my mouth tastes like fuzzy things with eyes are growing in it…” Shiloh told him, smiling softly.
Killian grinned back and leaned forward. Their mouths met gently, and they sighed. Tongues tangled, then they drew back reluctantly. Killian rubbed their noses together. “Nah, there might be fuzzy things in there, but they don’t have eyes yet.”
Shiloh laughed a little and crawled into Killian’s lap, needing the comfort. “I’m so glad you’re here.”
“It’s not to stay, love, but I’m glad, too.” Killian wrapped his arms tightly around Shiloh and Shiloh relaxed for the first time since he woke up the day before. He’d hated leaving Killian. They cuddled for a few minutes, getting ready for the day.
“Let’s take what we can get.” Shiloh stood up and stretched, knowing Killian watched him hungrily. “If we need to get to work, you’ve got to not look at me like that.”
Killian grinned. “I can’t help it. But you are right. You know where your study is?” Shiloh nodded. “We’ll meet you in there when you’ve showered and everything.” He kissed Shiloh again and left the suite.
Chapter 12
The Council members spent most of the day investigating the situation with Shiloh, Anan, and the estate. Sherry agreed to a Verification of her actions and those present, including Shiloh, were assured that all of the money squirreled away had indeed been properly accounted for and used only to benefit the estate. Sherry’s actions were excused as an extreme effort to preserve the estate she was charged with managing. Shiloh informed the Council members present that he had banned Anan from his estate, and they agreed it was warranted, telling him they would inform her themselves when they went to question her about her actions. She had committed a grievous breach by continuing to try to prepare the estate to be sold when Shiloh, and by extension his property, had been protected by Sanctuary.
The tenants watched warily but seemed willing to wait and see what happened. They were markedly cold towards Shiloh, though, and it hurt him more than he wanted to admit. Shiloh listened as the Council group spoke with everybody, studying how they handled the tenants. He was a fast learner, and he wanted to do right by the estate. It was his home now.
Killian stayed close by, although not too obviously. Shiloh didn’t argue about it either. This was Bible Belt area and he had no idea how accepting his tenants would be. Some Rimalian enclaves were influenced more by local human beliefs than others. The tenants seemed to be having trouble with his being divorced, so he didn’t need them having kittens because he was gay, too. Right now, he needed them to work to bring the estate back to its proper state. There would be time enough to fight about his sexuality once the estate was back on its feet.
Shiloh invited the Council members to stay at the estate, and they accepted. He and the housekeeper—who turned out to be the woman who had made the ‘disgrace’ comment—made up rooms for everyone, including the guest room in his suite for Killian. Hopefully Killian wouldn’t sleep in it.
The housekeeper’s attitude was sullen and just shy of disrespectful towards him, as had been the attitudes of most of the tenants. Lucretia winked at him before she retired for the night, making him blush. She didn’t say anything against his obvious plans though, just patted him and told him not to worry; he was an adult and no longer bound by certain restrictions, since he was technically a divorced male. Although Killian was also an adult, because he had never been married, he had to be more careful. For now, though, his tenants would probably assume Killian’s unmarried status was why he was sharing Shiloh’s suite. Lucretia advised him to let them assume the arrangement was to protect propriety, for now.
When Shiloh finally went to bed, he was just as exhausted as he’d been the night before. Killian met him in his bedroom and pushed him towards the bathroom. “Come on, Sprite, into the tub with you.”
Shiloh managed to get undressed while Killian ran a hot bath for him. “I don’t know why I’m so tired. I slept for what, nearly twelve hours?”
“It couldn’t possibly be because of all the animosity thrown your way today, could it?” Killian asked sarcastically. “I know you’re new to this, but you need to put your tenants in their place, sooner than later, love.”
“But I need them to run the farm. The estate won’t survive if the farm is untended,” Shiloh protested. He couldn’t afford fights he would lose.
“On one hand, you’re right.” Killian kissed the back of Shiloh’s neck, and then helped Shiloh into the tub. Killian picked up a washcloth and got it soapy. Sitting on the step set into the tub, Killian began to wash Shiloh’s back. “But here’s the flip side. The estate doesn’t survive if you don’t take charge of it, either. You’ve got the purse strings and now you’re here, regardless of what others have done in the past. You spent more than a month on my estate, bouncing around, sticking your nose into everything. Put what you learned to good use, love.”
“That part’s easy, but most of these people have known me since I was in diapers.”
“When was the last time you were here?”
“Almost five years ago.”
“Would you have let them treat you like this then?”
Shiloh blinked. Killian was right. He would have taken strips out of them if they’d treated him so disrespectfully the last time he was there. “You’re right. I wouldn’t have let them get away with this ‘so sorry’ snide insult bullshit.” He sighed as he thought about the difference between now and then. “I
didn’t realize how much of that ‘I’m just a worthless male’ attitude I’d internalized the past few years.” Surrounded by Anan’s psionic miasma for years as she’d pursued him, somehow part of him had begun to believe her views of his value, and they came to the fore when he got depressed. Maybe he should call Celie and ask her to come?
Killian turned him and kissed him gently. “You’ve never been worthless, Shiloh.”
“Thank you, love,” Shiloh said, kissing Killian back, basking in the touch-sense of his lover. Celie had taught him how to shield himself better, but it still wasn’t automatic. After the psionic battering of today, it was wonderful to be able to relax that side of himself.
Once Shiloh was clean, Killian helped him out of the tub and dried him thoroughly. Shiloh let him; it was nice to be pampered.
“Come on, let’s get you to bed. I already rolled around in the guest bed like I slept in it. I’m hoping, though, I don’t have to.” Killian leered comically.
Shiloh grinned, and put his arms around Killian’s neck. “Take me to bed. Although, I don’t think I’ll be awake long.”
“That’s okay, Sprite. It’ll be good just to hold you.” Killian helped Shiloh into the bed, and set the alarm for early the next morning. Then he slid in under the covers with Shiloh, spooning himself around him. “We’re going to go question Ewan tomorrow, and then Anan, then Lucretia is taking all of us home.”
Shiloh sighed. A night alone with Killian and he was too exhausted to do anything with it. The snuggling was good, though, he thought as he pressed himself back into the curve of Killian’s body, so comforting after today. He let Killian’s love soak into his skin and tried to return it in a way that allowed Killian’s touch-sense to pick up how much Shiloh loved him, as well. They had agreed not to hide their feelings from each other anymore. “When will you be able to visit?”
Killian Page 10
