Gabriella shook his hands and could not break eye contact with the eyes that she had for an eternity had questions about.
"You do have my eyes," Arthur said with a smile.
"Yes," suddenly Gabriella pulled her hand away and looked away from him.
"This does not please you I see," Arthur stated the obvious.
"My eyes became an invisible wall between me and my father," Gabriella said with a touch of resentment.
Arthur looked towards Blayne. He saw no compassion there as he expected. "Did he mistreat you?"
"He was my father; he loved me," Gabriella said with conviction.
Arthur stood straighter and became silent. Blayne stepped in.
"Ahh…Here is another member of the family. Come Gabriella, let me introduce you to OUR sister Diana," Blayne said as she took Gabriella by the arm and guided her to where Diana stood, watching as the introduction took place.
Blayne glared at her in a warning as they approached.
"Diana, this is Gabriella Matheson, our sister," Blayne added the smile as she locked eyes with a defiant Gabriella.
Gabriella nodded her head. "Hi."
Diana looked her over and ignored Gabriella's salutation.
"I guess it could be true. Your eyes are the same color as fathers. Although I would hardly base parentage on something as minuscule as that."
"Diana, play nice," Blayne said jokingly but the warning was received just the same.
"I don't pretend to be anyone's daughter. I wish I wasn't here," Gabriella said defensively.
"Then why are you here?" Diana shot right back at her. "If not for the money that my father might leave you."
Gabriella stared at her in disbelief. "What's wrong with you people?"
"Oh dear, we have a saint in our mists," Diana joked.
"Diana!" Blayne's voice became menacing.
"You know what you're right; there is no need for me to be here," she said as she turned towards Blayne. "I did as you asked. I came here now I want to go home."
Blayne looked at her for a moment before speaking. "Diana is as upset as you." Blayne then turned to Diana as she continued to speak, "SHE however, is acting worst than usual!"
Gabriella then directed her comment to Diana. "I don't want to take anything from you. I wish I had never been told anything at all. And I just want to go home now please," Gabriella directed the latter part of her words to Blayne.
Blayne then turned towards her and was about to speak when she saw the tears ready to spill out of Gabriella's eyes. Blayne took her by the arm and walked her out of the foyer and into the library close by.
"I'm sorry about Diana," Blayne said softly. Gabriella had her back to her.
Gabriella then turned towards her and Blayne could see the tears running down her cheeks.
"Look, I just want to go home. This was a mistake all around. You promised you would take me home," she pleaded as she walked up to Blayne.
Blayne's hands went up to her arms gently; she was about to speak when the door opened and Arthur walked in.
Gabriella turned away from him and began to wipe her tears away. He turned to Blayne with a concerned look on his face.
Blayne looked away.
"Gabriella …there is so much I want to say…" he trailed off.
Gabriella turned to him. "I don't want to hear it! I don't want to know you! I hate you!" She was becoming hysterical.
"Gabriella!" Blayne interceded.
"No, let her Blayne. She has a right to be upset." Arthur took a step closer.
"That's very big of you," Gabriella said mockingly.
"I'm sorry," Arthur said sadly.
"You were always between my father and me." She began to cry again. "You were always there every time he looked at me and I saw the hurt in his eyes. I saw his heart break a little at a time after every comment about my eyes. And I'm suppose to be happy about this?" Gabriella openly wept as she now put her arms protective around her body. "How could I not hate you? You took my father away from me," she sobbed. "He knew." Gabriella turned desperately seeking solace, "and he loved me anyway."
Suddenly Blayne's arms surrounded her. Gabriella sobbed as Blayne held her tightly, as she looked towards Arthur who sat down and looked down forlorn.
"Now I have lost him forever." Gabriella wept as she buried her face in Blayne's chest.
"No you haven't. He loved you. Not because he had to but because he wanted to," Blayne tried to console her.
Gabriella pulled away from her.
"You can't know what it was like. You didn't have people stop talking when you entered a room." Gabriella was getting angry again. "I was always the subject of speculation. And my father…I hate my eyes." Gabriella sat exhausted then took a deep breath.
"I just want to know you," Arthur said softly.
Gabriella looked up quickly. "Well, I don't want to know you!"
Arthur said nothing.
"I have come. Can I go now?" Gabriella asked sarcastically.
Arthur seemed confused and looked towards Blayne.
"I threatened her," Blayne clarified.
"You what!" Arthur got up indignantly.
"I told you I was not the right person for this…I…" Blayne became silent.
"Blayne?" Arthur waited.
"I got the job done," Blayne said point blank.
"Blayne!"
"Isn't that all that matters? You taught me that father," she replied coldly.
Both stood their ground unwilling to back down.
Gabriella was about to say something when Abigail Aston-Carlyle walked into the room closing the door behind her.
"Is something wrong?" She asked looking from Blayne to Arthur.
"No, nothing." Arthur broke eye contact and Blayne seemed to take a breath of relief.
"Gabriella, my dear, I had Henry take your bags up to one of the suites in the east wing. You will get the full sun and the view is lovely from there. Blayne will be next to you," Abigail said with a shaky smile.
Gabriella looked down at her lap.
"I don't think…"
"That will be perfect, mother. That way I will be close by," Blayne said as she challenged Gabriella. Both women looked at each other silently for a moment.
Arthur noticed the eye contact and found it disturbing; he didn't like the idea of Blayne bullying the young woman.
"Gabriella would you prefer a suite in another part of the estate?" Arthur waited for the response.
"Is something wrong?" Abigail looked from Blayne to Arthur.
"She will stay in the east wing," Blayne challenged.
Arthur turned to her with anger evident on his face now.
Gabriella stood up suddenly. "There is no need for a place for me to sleep since I will not be staying."
All three sets of eyes turned towards her now.
Blayne walked up to her and looked down into her eyes as she took her hand gently. She spoke softly so that Gabriella would be the only one to hear her. "You have a father who wants to know you and a sister that might not admit it but that needs you. Stay, for just a little while and give them a chance. At least give Diana a chance. God knows I haven't been able to guide her." Blayne waited patiently for her reply.
Gabriella looked down. Her eyes suddenly caught sight of her hand in Blayne's and she almost became mesmerized by the rhythmic way Blayne's thumb was caressing her palm.
"Diana shares your blood." Gabriella looked up after Blayne made that statement. "Give that a chance. After your mother she is all you have that is a part of you too."
Gabriella seemed shaken and then nodded. "Only for a little while."
"Good enough," Blayne said with a smile.
"One day you are going to outsmart yourself," Gabriella said to her seriously.
Blayne smiled a little. "You think so, little sister?"
Gabriella's eyebrow arched and shook her head. "All right but, I am only committing to a few days. Deal?"
Blayne's mouth smiled slightly. "Deal. Now let me show you to your room." Blayne guided Gabriella passed Abigail and Arthur.