Witchcraft

cared about me, though. That's how completely he had me fooled. It took Dare to see through him. Dare and Starke are very good judges of human nature, by the way," Julia added lightly. "They've been together for years and they seem to have an instinct for people like Tony Emery.
    It was all very traumatic but I'm glad it's over." Kimberly considered the absent Tony and wondered what had really happened. She couldn't help wondering if Tony Emery had found himself in the same situation in which her mother had found herself so many years ago. Kimberly wouldn't put it past Darius Cavenaugh to get rid of someone he deemed no more than a conniving gigolo who was unworthy of a member of the Cavenaugh family. But even as she accepted the fact that Cavenaugh could probably be quite ruthless, she also found herself realizing that he must have had legitimate grounds for his actions. She didn't want to believe Darius Cavenaugh would have done something as traumatic as throwing out Julia's husband unless there were real reasons. Julia herself seemed content with the situation, Kimberly had to admit. The remainder of the afternoon was a hubbub of unfamiliar activity for Kimberly. She was taken on a tour of Scott's train land, introduced to Julia's new france , Mark Taylor, the owner of a small winery nearby, shown around the grounds by Milly and Ariel and generally kept in constant motion by one member or another of the Cavenaugh household. A number of winery employees came and went from the study Cavenaugh used for an office on the first floor of the house. She didn't see Cavenaugh himself until dinner. By then she was so tired she could barely hold up her end of the conversation. Ariel Llewellyn stayed for dinner, as did Mark Taylor. Scott was wound up with excitement and managed to dominate the conversation. By the time Mrs. Lawson had cleared away dessert, Kimberly was frantic for an excuse to escape. There seemed to be no letup of activity or conversation in the house and she simply wasn't used to being surrounded by so many people. And there had been no hot sauce on the table at dinner. Depressing. When she pleaded a headache and tiredness, she was allowed to flee up the stairs to the privacy of her own room. But not before Ariel had produced a special herb tea and given her strict instructions on drinking it before going to bed.
    Kimberly's sense of relief as she closed the door was overwhelming. In that moment she decided she would willingly accept a few more glimpses of people in cowled robes carrying silver daggers If it meant she could be alone again with unlimited quantities of hot sauce. Wearing one of her comfortable T-shirts, Kimberly sank wearily onto the bed and sipped the tea Ariel had prescribed for her headache. It was bitter and unpleasant but for some reason she felt obliged to finish it. Ariel had been so anxious to help her. The knock on her door startled her so much she nearly spilled the contents of the cup. Sighing, Kimberly pulled on her robe and went to answer the summons, half expecting Scott or Julia to be standing on the other side of the door. But it was Cavenaugh who stood there. "Think you'll survive?" he asked wryly, stepping into her room without waiting for an invitation. He turned to run his eyes over her tousled figure. She drew a breath and said carefully, " Cavenaugh , I'm not used to so many people and so much activity."
    "I know. How do you think it was for me when I came back two years ago? I thought I'd go nuts." Kimberly blinked in amazement at the unexpected confession.
    "You did?"
    "All I can say is, you get used to it" ".hat's what Julia says." She smiled. "Well, personally I'm looking forward to the day Julia marries Mark and she and Scott move in with him," Cavenaugh said firmly. "And Aunt Milly and that wacky Ariel travel a bit. They're often gone for several days at a time. I'm more than happy to foot the bills for those trips, believe me." He hesitated and then said deliberately, "But even when a few of them are gone, it's never really quiet around here. The business side of things alone keeps everything in motion."
    "I can imagine." She had the strangest impression he was trying to tell her something else, something oblique, but she was too tired to figure it out. He prowled around the room, absently checking the windows. "I suppose you're tired."
    "Very," she mumbled in forceful tones. "Scott seems to have my entire day planned out for tomorrow. I suppose I'd better get