Page 1 of Loving Graystoke's Heir

Chapter One

Once the plane was over the Atlantic Ocean and lunch had been served, Tamsin Ellery caught the eye of the main crew attendant. “Edward?”

He was at her side in a few steps, crouching down beside her seat to look her in the eye. “Yes, Miss?”

She smiled at him. “I’m never going to get you to call me Tamsin, am I?”

He shook his head. “I am sorry, Miss, but there are rules. And even though I know that you wouldn’t mind, Graystoke Environmental Incorporated Crew Guidelines spell out the expectations for our behavior.”

“I am sorry for that.” She sat back in her chair and crossed one leg over the other. “As soon as I get back to the offices, I’m going to see what I can do to change it.”

He shook his head and the set of his features changed; his forehead furrowed with concern. “No worries, Miss. You have quite a bit on your mind right now. Still no news about Mister Graystoke?”

Smiling at his genuine concern, she sighed. “Nothing new. The investigators sent a report that said there have been sightings of an American in the area, but no evidence that it’s Donal.”

Edward sighed. “You’ll forgive me for saying so, Miss, but in a world as phone happy as we are, I would think there might be some photographic proof of where Mister Graystoke has been.”

“That’s what his uncle has been saying. He’s stopped just short of saying that Donal’s... that Donal is...” She couldn’t say the words. She could hear them in her head. She had seen them in Harold’s eyes, but even he could not be so cruel to say them to her face.

Edward went silent, and it was the kind of silence that was incredibly awkward. The kind of silence that said there were so many things that needed to be said, but people knew it was better to stay quiet instead of making awkward conversation.

He put a hand on her arm and gave it a gentle pat.

“Would you like some time to yourself, Miss?”

A rush of relief cut through her. Mustering up a smile, she nodded. “Thank you, I would appreciate that.”

“If you have need of anything, Miss. All you have to do is ask.” With those kind words, he stepped into the crew cabin and closed the curtain between the two giving her solitude and quiet.

It didn’t take her long to second guess the solitude. With the lack of other noises in the cabin, her mind was left to focus on the upcoming trial. No, it wasn’t a legal trial. Not really.

Her first priority was to find Donal Graystoke.

Just the thought of his name brought up his image in her mind. The last time she had seen him was nearly five years before, in the GEI board room after a particularly short meeting.

Donal’s uncle, Harold Graystoke, had been the head of the board since Donal’s father died. He was quite adept at controlling not only the board, but the lives of the people around him. Donal had been trying to wrest control from his uncle because he felt that the foundation was pulling farther and farther away from its mission.

The mission to protect and defend wild animals and their natural environments had been established by Donal’s grandfather Ephraim and continued by his son, Duncan. Harold had never really been a true believer in the rights of wild animals to a life unimpeded by the will of humans.

Given Harold’s lack of belief, Donal had suspected that some of the programs his uncle had enacted weren’t designed to serve their mission and he’d left to travel to Africa and make sure that things were as they should be.

At first, Donal had sent back reports, mostly to her as she was his proxy while he was gone, but those contacts became fewer and more time past between them.

Tamsin had refused to admit to herself that they were losing Donal. That the longer he stayed in Africa, the probability that he was going to return was diminishing.

The last straw had been a motion initiated by one of Harold’s supporters. Lionel Enright had posited a motion to begin proceedings to consider Donal legally deceased.

Tamsin had fought them using Donal’s proxy, but even though Donal was the single largest shareholder and had supporters on the board, Lionel and Harold together had made arguments that seemed to resonate with a few of the swing voters in the middle.

Those that were undecided didn’t want to make a rush to judgement, but they had agreed that because they hadn’t heard from Donal at all in nearly a year, and the dangerous conditions in the area that he had been focusing on, the likelihood was that Donal might just be lost to them for good.

When Harold had reminded them that paid investigators had been searching for him the last six months, more of the board were leaning towards Harold’s suggestion.

That was until Tamsin had spoken up, earning herself a hard look from Donal’s uncle.

“You can’t go.” He’d scoffed at the idea and a few of the men surrounding the table had joined him in challenging the idea. “A woman traveling alone in Africa? You won’t be there for a day before someone takes advantage of you, and even if you manage to comport yourself as a young intelligent woman, you’ll find yourself a victim of kidnappers or traffickers or something less seemly.”

“Less seemly?” She’d barely managed to keep her temper in check. Harold’s ability to continue to live in the past was well known. The fact that Donal had left her in charge of his interests had been tantamount to an insult. So, she thought to leverage his anger into action. “I’m sure you’ll agree that I have the closest connection to Donal in both age and education. I believe that I have the best chance of finding him. And,” she continued on before Harold could fill his lungs with air, “as Donal’s proxy I don’t need your approval. I am merely letting all of you know my intent. I am going to Africa, and I intend to find Donal and bring him back. Until I return there will be no more talk of declaring him gone. Am I understood?”

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