“Release Mr. Laponi at once,” Mrs. Leeds ordered haughtily. She glared at Caleb. “I always did distrust that man.”
“Our dislike was mutual,” Caleb retorted. “You are a grasping, selfish woman and your daughter is a chip of the old block!”
“How dare you!” Mrs. Leeds choked in fury. “Get out of this house, you meddlesome old man, or I’ll have you arrested!”
Penny was actually enjoying the scene but now she decided to put an end to it.
“This little farce has gone far enough,” she announced, turning to Caleb. “Tell them who you are, Mr. Eckert.”
The old man nodded. Eyeing Mrs. Leeds with keen satisfaction, he exploded his bomb shell.
“I am Jacob Winters!”
Mrs. Leeds gasped in astonishment and even Max Laponi looked dazed. Of the entire group only Rosanna appeared pleased. Yet she too recalled that at times she had spoken with embarrassing frankness to the old man.
“I don’t believe it!” Mrs. Leeds snapped when she had recovered from the first shock. “It’s another one of your trumped up stories.”
“He has no proof,” Max Laponi added.