Penelope-Arabella dropped the snotty attitude and tore across the lawn to join the other children who swarmed around the dessert table. Gwen sent Patrick an apologetic glance for the girl’s tone, then continued chatting with the elderly aunts.

Heat pounded down, and Patrick’s attention wandered over the dozens of people on the terrace. The well-dressed people of leisure mingled with soft laughter and genteel greetings. Maybe the way they ignored him was to be expected. They hadn’t seen each other in a while and might not have noticed the stranger in their midst.

There were two tiers of flagstone terraces built into the cliffside that descended toward the shore. An elegant white gazebo stood on the far side of the upper terrace where the headwaiter conferred with Uncle Oscar, their heads together as they spoke. Oscar’s face was grim, his mouth a hard line as he listened to whatever the waiter told him.

Oscar looked up and caught Patrick staring. The older man’s eyes hardened as he began stalking straight toward them, his face darkened in anger.

“Good heavens, Oscar,” Aunt Helen said. “You look like you just swallowed a wasp.”

Oscar ignored the older woman and glared at Liam. “What’s this I hear about Frederick’s butler carrying a legal agreement to the bank this morning?”

“That’s right,” Liam said, but Patrick intervened, hoping to stop the younger man from saying anything more. Why couldn’t Liam ever control himself?

“Perhaps we can speak about it later in private,” Patrick suggested to Oscar, but Liam cut him off.

“Everyone is going to learn about it eventually.” Liam turned back to Oscar. “You may as well know that Frederick has assigned Theodore’s votes in the bank’s business back to me.”

An audible gasp could be heard from the aunts and other assorted cousins gathered around. Natalia looked furious, but Oscar’s face showed no emotion other than the clenching of his jaw.

“Why on earth would Frederick do such a thing?” one of the aunts asked.

“Because those votes are rightfully mine,” Liam said. “Patrick found the rule buried in the bank’s operating agreement that lets me have those votes back, and Frederick agreed.”

Oscar’s contempt was ferocious. “He’s doing it because he’s using you. He’ll have you in his back pocket, which means he’s managed to increase his control in the bank from thirty to forty percent.”

Patrick stepped in before Liam could retaliate. Liam’s impulses could flash into a conflagration if not controlled. Patrick strove for a calm voice. “Your father transferred the shares in a legal fashion. Liam is under no obligation to parrot Frederick’s vote.”

Oscar turned his ire on Patrick. “Liam is my father’s pawn, but you’re worse. You’re just a paid lackey. If Frederick ordered you to go polish his shoes, you’d scurry to do so.”