Free Rafferty's Legacy by Jane Corrie

waste, and hardly worth causing so much friction.'
    Her answer did not please him, and the tension around them tightened rather than relaxed.
    'Hardly worth causing so much friction?' he repeated in a soft, deadly voice. 'I could have put it better than that. I'll allow for the fact that you haven't much idea of the value of land in these parts —now, or as it was then. Taking that land was the same as taking the bread out of a man's mouth; it was his livelihood—and that,' he went on grimly, 'was only the start of things.'
    Teresa sighed inwardly. Her uncle had been so right when he had said their marriage would never work. She shuddered to think of the consequences that would have followed had he kept away until after the wedding.
    Carl waited a second or so for her comments, but as she said nothing he started the car up again and they continued the journey.
    It seemed a long time to Teresa before they came to the homestead, and as her eyes roamed over the lovely old house surrounded by lawns and shrubbed areas bordering on yet more paddocks on which now grazed sleek horses, she couldn't help comparing the obvious wealth of the Eltons with her uncle's simple abode.
    As the car swept up the well-cared-for drive to the house, she found herself actually ashamed for ask-
     
    ing her uncle to give back that land. He had so little left, while this man had so much.
    Suddenly she wanted to get it all over with, finished, so she could go back where she belonged. It might not be a mansion like the one she was now looking at, but it was the only home she had, and what was more, with someone who was actually related to her.
    The car slid to a halt beside the imposing front door that had a wide verandah running the length of the front of the house, and with a feeling of trepidation, she watched Carl get out and walk round to her side of the car to open the door for her.
    Teresa got out slowly. She not only felt lost, but utterly miserable. She had been a fool to come. Her uncle had been right again when he had advised her to let things be, even if he hadn't said so in as many words.
    With a half-mocking bow, Carl gestured towards the front door. 'You know the way,' he drawled, then giving her an amused' glance added, 'Or have you forgotten that too?'
    Teresa looked at him and felt a spurt of annoyance. He was so sure of himself, wasn't he? and he still didn't believe she had lost her memory.
    Her indignant eyes clashed with the amused blue ones, she shook her head. 'As a matter of fact I have,' she answered coldly.
    His amusement vanished at her answer, and his lips thinned as he strode on ahead of her. 'Well, I'll have to refresh your memory, won't I?' he said grimly.
    He led the way through the spacious hall whose
     
    cool atmosphere denoted air-conditioning, and passing several rooms came to what Teresa assumed to be the sitting-room.
    The luxuriously-furnished room, like the rest of the property, positively shouted money, and Teresa felt quite out of her depth as she followed Carl Elton into the room.
    A tall girl unfolded herself from a deep chair and stood waiting for them. Teresa couldn't define the look she gave her as her dark blue eyes rested on her; probing, was as near as sh e could get to defining it.
    As the girl stared so too did Teresa, and she saw the blue-black hair twisted back and worn high on the head and falling in a ponytail. She wore hip-clinging jeans and an open-necked white blouse, neither of which, Teresa knew, could be bought off the peg, for although her clothes were deceptively simple, they were also very costly. Polished knee-high riding boots completed the ensemble.
    In her plain cotton dress that could be picked up in any number of stores, and her open-toed sandals, Teresa felt even more out of place. Whoever this girl was, she belonged in this kind of setting; not only her clothes said so, but her lovely, if haughty, expression.
    'Isobel! 'Why are you here?' Carl's voice held a touch of impatience