"You have every right to be here."

"Is it the money, then?"

The woman just stared at her, as if waiting.

"Well, Ian told me if I didn't show up for the reading of the will, my share would be divided among the other heirs. And it's a lot of money, after all."

"I already have more money than I'll ever be able to spend," Esmeralda said. "We all do."

"Well if it's not the money, then—"

Slow, rhythmic footsteps—high heels crossing the marble floor interrupted her, and she turned to see a third woman. This one was utterly stunning. Her hair was like shiny copper and her figure, hugged in a skin-tight black halter dress, was to die for. Her skin was nearly flawless. Try as she might, Kira couldn't see a wrinkle or a line.

"Hello, Kira," she said. And even her voice was sultry and beautiful. "I'm your aunt Emma. Your mother was my sister."

"You look like her," Kira said, extended a hand.

The beautiful one smiled but it was shaky. "So do you."

"You don't have an accent."

"I've taken lessons to get rid of it."

"I can't imagine why anyone would want to," Kira said. "I love the lilt of the brogue."

"To each her own," Emma said. Then she looked around. "This is all of us, dear. The entire family, or what remains of it."

"Oh." No children. And no men.

"I'll show you to your chambers," Rose chirped. "Ian, be a dear and bring the bags along." She gripped Kira's arm, and tugged her through the massive place. "We could talk with you all the night through, child, but you'll be wanting to rest after such a journey. And there's time a plenty before dinner."

She smiled a good-bye to her great aunt Esmeralda and her aunt Emma, then followed Aunt Rose up a curving stone stairway and into a vaulted and echoing hall above. All the way, Ian was right behind her, bags in his hands. He was oddly quiet now that they'd arrived. Rose threw open a set of double doors, stepping through them as she did. "And here you are, lass. A bedroom fit for a princess."