Page 69 of Possession Under the Southern Stars

“Now,” she snaps. She gestures to someone behind me and says, “Daniel, can you please escort Mr. Bell off the premises?”

A guy who must be six foot eight and almost as wide—God knows how he got a suit to fit—hovers in the doorway and says, “This way, please, Mr. Bell.”

“You’re throwing me out?” I ask Isabel, astonished. “But… Hallie is in the garden….”

“Oh yes,” she says, and for the first time her tone holds a snarkiness that makes me bristle. “Don’t worry, I’ll get someone to ask your lover to accompany you.” She says the word lover with a sneer.

I glare at her, and it’s only the thought of Whina’s disapproval that stops me from making a biting comment back. Instead I say, “You’re serious?”

“Right now, please, or I’ll call the police,” she says icily.

I look at Daniel, who lifts his eyebrows. For a second, infuriated, I consider surprising him with a left hook. For a bigguy, I’m light on my feet, and I know I could dance circles around him.

But I don’t want to embarrass Hallie, and I’m already in enough trouble with Whina.

I turn on my heel and, without another glance at Isabel, I walk out of the room.

Chapter Seventeen

Hallie

“Excuse me, ma’am.”

I turn from where I’m talking to Wiremu’s wife and smile at the man addressing me. He’s wearing a silver waistcoat and no jacket, so he’s obviously a member of staff.

“Yes?” I ask.

“Could I have a word, please, ma’am?”

Surprised, I nod, excuse myself, and accompany him to a space at the edge of the lawn, where we can’t be overheard. I glance at the veranda, looking for Fraser, but there’s no sign of him.

“Ma’am, I’m sorry to tell you that Mr. Bell has been asked to vacate the premises,” the guy announces.

I stare at him. “Pardon?”

“Mrs. Trenton has asked him to leave.”

Mrs. Trenton… oh, of course, he means Isabel. It’s her married name.

“Why?” I ask, astonished. “What happened?”

“I’m not sure, ma’am, but he’s been escorted out. He asked me to tell you to stay and enjoy the rest of the evening.”

“Thank you,” I reply, “but I’ll go and see him. He’s still here?”

“Yes, he’s waiting for an Uber out the front.”

I nod, go over to our table, and collect my clutch. Ignoring the enquiring looks from the others, and Wiremu’s, “Hallie, is everything all right?” I run across the lawn, up the steps onto the veranda, and into the house.

Isabel is standing by the front door, arguing with Adam.

“…no right to do that,” he’s saying, gesturing angrily. “I invited him. How dare you tell him to go.”

“I have every right,” she says as I walk up to them. “This is my house, too, and I’m the eldest.”

“Oh, so it’s come to that, has it?”

I clear my throat loudly, and they both turn to look at me. “I’m so sorry,” Adam says, looking genuinely distraught.

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