t that moment there was the sound of footsteps, and Gareth Elhalyn entered. He
looked around as those with their backs to the door turned to look toward him,
and smiled. "What are you doing here?" his father asked.
"He is here at my invitation," Jane answered before Gareth could speak. Her
eyes were glittering with pleasure, and there was a smug expression on her face.
Mike thought that if she had been a cat, there would have been feathers
poking out of her taut mouth.
"Of all the . . ." Dan began.
"He has no business here, since he has not even been named Dani's heir as yet,"
snapped Dom Gabriel, favoring his wife with a furious look. "What are you doing,
woman?"
"Sit down, Gareth," Jane went on, as if no one had spoken. She waved at the
vacant chairs. The lad looked somewhat
