Magnificent Folly (15 page)

“I’ll wake Cassie and start to pack. When do we leave?”

“The Clanad is sending another Learjet to the airport tonight. It’s due to arrive here about seven.”

She glanced back over her shoulder. “What would you have done if I’d refused to go?”

Andrew hesitated, his smile fading. “Convinced you. One way or the other, you would have had to go. It’s not safe for you here.”

She had already decided that was the course he would have chosen, and she appreciated the honesty of his answer. “Then you’d have had your hands damn full,” she said lightly. “It’s lucky for both our sakes that I agreed, isn’t it?”

The door of the bedroom shut firmly behind her.

•  •  •

“And I thought a compound sounded military?” Lily asked incredulously, her gaze traveling from the emerald-and-white marble tile of the foyer, to the amber-and-crystal chandelier, to the graceful black marble fountain in the adjoining sunroom, where Cassie was playfully running her fingers through a flow of sparkling water. “All the houses I’ve seen look like mini-palaces, and the parks are botanical gardens.”

“We live here,” Andrew said simply. “The compound is our home. We have very clever landscape artists and architects, and we work out trades in service in our particular specialties.”

“Is there a piano?” Cassie asked.

Andrew nodded. “In the music room. I’ll have Muggins take you to see it.” He pressed a button on the wall beside the light switch. “But don’t get too engrossed. Muggins will have a fit if you miss lunch.”

“Who’s Muggins?” Lily asked.

Andrew grimaced. “Mrs. Muggins was a birthday gift from my sister, Mariana, last year. She thought I needed looking after, and came up with
Muggins. You mustn’t let her bully you. If she goes too far just tell her to knock it off.”

“I hope I can discourage Mrs. Muggins without being that rude,” Lily said, shocked. “Why should I—”

“Ah, there you are, Mr. Andrew.” A melodious female voice with a thick Irish brogue suddenly boomed from the room to the right of the foyer. “You’re looking tired again. Are you sure you’ve been getting your proper rest? Sure, and the minute you’re out of my sight you’re into mischief again.” Mrs. Muggins glided into view. “Oh, you’ve brought company. What a treat.”

Cassie started to laugh, and clapped her hands in delight.

Lily could only stare at Mrs. Muggins in blank astonishment.

“Now, don’t be rude, lad.” Mrs. Muggins glided forward. “Introduce me to your guests.”

Andrew sighed. “Lily and Cassie Deslin. This is Mrs. Muggins, my housekeeper. Muggins, the ladies will be staying here for an indefinite time. I want you to take very good care of them.”

“And do I need you to tell me that? They’ll be as tenderly cared for as wee babes in their mothers’ arms. Now, go wash up. I have lunch all ready.”

“Presently. Right now I want you to take Cassie to the music room and show her the piano.”

“The lass is musical? Come with me, Cassie, darlin’.” Mrs. Muggins moved across the foyer in the direction of the French windows at the end of the hall. “We’ll take a shortcut across the terrace. Perhaps you’ll play me a little tune.”

Cassie trailed after the housekeeper, her gaze fixed in fascination on the mop of wild red curls affixed to Mrs. Muggins’s round head. “What? Oh, sure I will.”

“What about ‘Galway Bay’?” Mrs. Muggins’s head swiveled to look back at Andrew. “You rest up, now. I’ll be back in a minute, Mr. Andrew.”

Andrew’s lips twisted ruefully. “I’m sure you will, Muggins.”

“She’s … a robot.” Lily’s whisper was dazed as she watched Mrs. Muggins’s metal five-digit hand
deftly open the French door. She was indisputably a stainless-steel robot, five feet in height, whose metal body and gleaming round shape still managed, in some impossible fashion, to look plump and motherly. The features on the round face were intricately carved to appear amazingly lifelike, and Lily would have sworn the round blue eyes flickered with expression. “Good heavens, she’s incredible.”

“She’s also a terrible nag,” Andrew said in disgust.

“Only to those parties who need it,” Mrs. Muggins retorted serenely as she rolled aside to allow Cassie to precede her. “As you do, Mr. Andrew.” The robot glided after Cassie, closing the French door behind them.

“I don’t believe it.” Lily gazed blankly at the closed door. “I feel as if I’ve stepped onto the set of a
Star Wars
movie. I didn’t think robots as sophisticated as that one existed yet.”

“They didn’t until my dear sister turned her hand to robotics.” Andrew scowled. “I told Mariana she only created Mrs. Muggins to be the
bane of my existence. The damn thing nags me to death.”

“Then why don’t you give her back to your sister?”

Andrew’s scowl vanished, and he smiled sheepishly. “I guess I like her. Muggins kind of grows on you.”

“Your sister must be a positive genius,” Lily said. “Does she intend to patent the prototype?”

Andrew shook his head. “There are too many difficulties right now. It would revolutionize robotics and cast a glaring spotlight on the inventor. The Clanad can’t afford the publicity.”

“What a shame. It must be very frustrating for her.”

“Mariana doesn’t mind. She’s too busy working on Mr. Muggins.”

“I hesitate to ask what Mr. Muggins does.”

“He’s a gardener and a handyman.” Andrew grinned. “Mariana’s hoping to incorporate chauffeuring, but she tells me the judgment skills involved in driving are a nightmare.”

“I’d like to meet her.”

“You will. She’s a curious imp. She won’t be able to resist popping in to meet you and Cassie.” Andrew’s grin faded. “I’ve told everyone else to leave you alone for a few days to let you both become accustomed to your surroundings. I know it must seem very alien to you here.”

“Well, I admit I don’t run into motherly robots like Mrs. Muggins every day back home.”

He nodded. “I’ve asked Quenby to select and send over a new wardrobe for you and Cassie. It should be delivered this afternoon.”

“You’re being very kind.”

He shook his head. “I’m being very selfish. I want you to be happy here.”

His gaze met hers, and Lily felt suddenly breathless. Sensuality. Where had it come from? Out of nowhere the sexual magnetism that had first drawn her to Andrew had come back in full strength. With an effort she pulled her gaze away. “You’ve certainly supplied the right ingredients.”

“I tried. There’s a darkroom, with several professional cameras, in one of the outbuildings.”

“A darkroom?” Her eyes widened in surprise. “Are you a photographer too?”

He shook his head. “But when I had the house built I decided I’d provide for any eventuality. I knew you’d need one if you ever came here.” He smiled. “You see, some sand castles aren’t washed away, Lily. You’re here in my house.”

Lily felt her throat tighten with tears. Blast him, how was he able to do this to her? She knew the answer. The man was romantic, idealistic, and completely appealing. Dear heaven, she mustn’t let him move her like that. “Well, I thank you for this particular sand castle. I promise I’ll make good use of it.”

“That’s all I ask.” He turned toward the door. “If you need anything, ask Muggins, and she’ll either find it or phone and have it delivered.”

“You’re leaving?” Lily tried to hide the disappointment surging through her. “But this is your home. It’s not right that I put you out.”

“I want you to be comfortable,” Andrew said softly. “You have adjustments to make, and I’m
selfish enough to try to distract you if I’m in the same house.”

She moistened her lips with her tongue. “It’s a big house. We might never run into each other.”

“But I’d see that we did.” He smiled with frank sexuality. “And we might start a new roller-coaster ride before you were recovered from the old one. I can give you a day or so.” He inclined his head. “With the greatest reluctance.”

“Where will you stay?” Her voice sounded breathless even to her own ears.

“With Mariana. She has a place near the hospital, and I have some work that may need doing there.”

“What kind of work?”

He shrugged. “Therapy.” He opened the door. “Take care of yourself. I’ll be in touch.”

“Andrew,” she called impulsively.

He stopped and looked at her inquiringly.

“I don’t want …” She halted and started again. “I’m really quite adaptable. I’m not going to need a few days to settle in. Could you come back tomorrow and show me around the compound?”

A slow smile lit his face. “You mean it?”

She nodded, feeling suddenly light as air.

“You bet I will. Tomorrow at ten?”

“At ten.”

The door closed behind him.

She shouldn’t have called him back, she told herself. He had been willing to give her time, and she should have taken it and followed her usual course of caution and practicality. They were moving toward each other too quickly. She had been far too impulsive.

Still, a tiny smile curved her lips and her stride had a decided spring as she crossed the foyer to follow Mrs. Muggins and Cassie to the music room.

Gunner rose immediately to his feet as Andrew strode into the hospital waiting room. “I thought you’d be running over here the moment you were free,” he said grimly. “I’m not letting you see him, Andrew.”

“You can’t stop me,” Andrew said. “This is my
territory, not yours. How is Kalom? Have they been able to reach him?”

Gunner shook his head. “They’ve been trying since the plane arrived here this morning. No response.”

Andrew muttered a curse beneath his breath. “What the hell is the matter with him? I’ve never seen anyone so—” He stopped abruptly.

“So what?” Gunner asked. “Twisted? You forget I’m the one who locked him. I know what I saw there, and it was ugly as hell.”

Andrew carefully guarded both his expression and his mind. Gunner evidently didn’t realize Kalom’s mind was more than ugly. The glimpse Andrew had taken had revealed a cesspool of rage and ferocity, of stored-up malice that was almost overpowering. “I can handle Kalom. I’m used to it.”

Gunner snorted skeptically.

He knew as well as Andrew it was impossible to become accustomed to something that changed and evolved from moment to moment. The human
mind reflected all facets of life, the beautiful as well as the ugly, but never remained the same.

“Who’s working on him?” Andrew asked.

“The best. Debron and Braily. If they can’t bring him out, no one can.”

Andrew smiled and shook his head. “You know better.
I’m
the best, Gunner. I can go deeper.”

“Stay out of it.” Gunner’s blue eyes held the chill of a Nordic winter. “He’s not worth it. I won’t have you risking yourself.”

“What would you do? Lock me?”

“No, but I could kill Kalom.”

Andrew stiffened. “You wouldn’t do that.”

“Try me.” Gunner smiled with cold ferocity. “I have the option, and your life is a hell of a lot more valuable than his. Let the team do its work, and stay out of it. It shouldn’t take more than a few days to break through.”

Andrew studied him. “I think you’re bluffing.”

“Then call my bluff. Walk into that therapy room and you’ll find a dead man.”

Andrew hesitated. “I’ll make a deal with you. I’ll give them four days. After that, I’ll go in.”

“No deal.”

“I’ll go in,” Andrew repeated softly. “And I’ll stay, no matter what you do. Do you want me to be there when he dies, Gunner?”

Gunner met Andrew’s hard stare and then turned away with barely restrained violence. “Dammit, you know he’d take you with him!” He pushed through the double doors leading to the therapy room. “But he’s not going to get the chance. I’m going to tell Debron and Braily they have to break the lock or I’ll skin them alive.”

“I
T’S INCREDIBLE.”
L
ILY
looked at the Chinese bridge arching over the rushing torrent of water, the rugged stones, the pines on the banks. “This park looks as if it’s been transplanted from a national forest in Oregon, and yet your compound is set squarely in the middle of a desert. How could it be?”

“I told you we have some very talented people.” Andrew opened the door of the car and helped her into the passenger seat. “They like to experiment. In fact, sometimes they go a little overboard. The council had to pass an
ordinance demanding to see every plan before it was initiated, or the compound would be a terrible mishmash.”

“I can’t imagine that. It’s perfectly beautiful.” She glanced back at the park. “Different but definitely gorgeous.”

Andrew smiled. “I’m glad you like us.” He slammed the door and came around to the driver’s side and got into the car.

“What’s not to like?” The compound had obviously been built for ease of living, and its beauty was serene. The people she had met that day had the casual friendly attitude prevalent in small-town America. No, that wasn’t quite true. Casual, perhaps, but there was no rocking-chair ambience about any of the compound’s citizens. They seemed to possess a zestful, cheerful vitality that engendered an eager response in Lily.

Andrew started the car, gazing straight ahead as he asked in a low voice, “You don’t think we’re a bunch of freaks?”