Loving Madison

Three

Cameron Westland wasn't certain he liked the stranger's attitude. Had he not informed his sister that they didn't need her friend? Apparently, he hadn't made it clear enough. "Um, Miss? I don't think you heard me correctly. I don't want you involved in our family matters."

She shrugged and lifted her chin a notch higher, her blue eyes meeting his straight on. "My name is Miss Haywood, and you're not the one who asked me. Your sister hired me, which means I work for her. Not you."

Her willfulness surprised him. He'd heard about Miss Haywood—the one who claimed to have visions. In his opinion, this slip of a woman had no business hiring herself out to solve mysteries.

Cameron narrowed a stern gaze on her, more than a little surprised by her appearance. She hardly fit the mental picture he'd envisioned of an eccentric mad-woman with wild hair and brightly colored robes. Instead, Miss Haywood looked absolutely ordinary. Her long, dark hair and demure day gown seemed far more suited to a London day-room than the Metropolitan Police station. She was perfectly pretty, in fact. Why was this woman peddling tales about visions instead of finding a husband?

He swallowed his annoyance and searched for a suitable retort. He couldn't allow her to win. "Well, I forbid Alice to see you any longer." There! That should do it...

Alice threw him an irate glare. "You cannot dictate to me whom I can or cannot associate with. I'm not a child any longer. I'm in my twenty-third year."

"Regardless of your age, while you still live in my household, I can dictate all I want. And I forbid you to consort with a woman of her kind."

Alice didn't bat an eye. "How, my dear brother, are you going to know what I'm doing all hours of the day when you're off investigating cases all the time?"

He clenched his jaw and fisted his hands. There was no way he could allow the impertinent girl to talk to him like this. He'd been too lax with Rosie, and look where it got him with her. Most likely, her disappearance was due to her running off with a man, which was why Cameron didn't want any outside help finding the wayward chit.

The room had grown quiet, so he glanced around at some of the other officers. Their questionable expressions made him feel as though he couldn't control his own sister. Well, he certainly couldn't have the other men thinking that about him. And he definitely couldn't have them knowing that Rosie was missing.

Lifting his chin stubbornly, he glared at his sister. "Alice, get in the buggy. I'm taking you home. Now! We will not air our grievances in front of others. You should know by now how much that irritates me."

Panic creased lines across his sister's forehead. She shifted her gaze to the woman beside her and quickly leaned in to whisper something in the woman's ear. Anger shot through him, and he feared Alice was telling the woman where they lived. In two large steps, he grabbed his sister's arm and pulled her away from the other lady. When Alice met his stare, a satisfied expression softened her face.

Inwardly, he grumbled. He was too late. But it didn't matter. He wouldn't allow the other woman to be part of their lives. Especially now when their family was being ripped apart. Again. And just as before, it was left up to him to smooth things over. But this time, he doubted his own ability to make everything right.

If his suspicions about Rosie were correct, they had a scandal on their hands. Anger built inside of Cameron, but he tried taming the fire burning inside his gut. He couldn't allow anyone to know about her disappearance.

"Goodbye, Miss Haywood." Alice smiled. "I hope to see you soon."

Miss Haywood nodded. "You shall."

Cameron waited for his sister to leave the office before he swung his attention back to Miss Haywood. Obviously, he couldn't order her about as he'd tried to do his sister because the stubborn woman wouldn't budge. Instead, he must try a different tactic.