you
learn everything there is to know about the business down in Craigmuir Way.”
“What do you mean, if I would like to continue…Are you suggesting you will have your father cut me off if I do not agree to this?”
Ian crossed his arms over his chest.
“This is preposterous. I am a gentleman.”
“A gentleman who overspends routinely,” Ian said. Hell would freeze over before Ian allowed his cousin to inherit
any
estate. Duncan
had no sense. He would run it into the ground.
Ian would not put it past Duncan to have plied the duke with spirits and then manipulated him into changing his will.
As soon as his father was lucid, Ian was going to speak to him about the new will. Among other things.
Chapter Ten
----
Lucy sent Sinclair away to rest. She said she would stay with her aunt until the maid had a chance to stretch her legs or take forty winks. It didn’t
matter how long the maid took – Lucy was too restless to sleep.
There had been tension between Broxburn and his cousin at supper, but worse was Mr. Munro’s frank appraisal of her person. She was unaccustomed to
being leered at, and he’d made her uncomfortable. At least Broxburn had done what he could to divert his cousin from his blatant impertinence. In
spite of the man’s beautifully tailored clothes and nicely barbered hair, he was hardly the polished gentleman he appeared to be.
Aunt Arden roused once, and Lucy gave her a few sips of water. Then she went back to sleep, and Lucy paced.
She wondered how long it would be before Dr. Henderson said Arden was well enough to travel. She hoped it would be soon. It was difficult watching her aunt
suffering in a strange bed. Surely her aunt would fare better in her own house.
Lucy had never cared for being away from home. Even during her Seasons in London, with her mother and sisters there, she’d wished to return to
Stillwater House in the country. She’d missed her frequent encounters with Joshua and their discussions on antiquities, among other things.
Oh, wouldn’t he be enthralled with Craigmuir Castle! And she could hardly wait to tell him about Glencory and the Viking stronghold she’d seen
there.
The clear sky was visible through the window, and Lucy went over to gaze at the stars. They were just the same as the ones she could see at home, and she
chided herself for being homesick. In a few months she would return to Berkshire, and all would go back to normal.
She was about to turn away when she noticed a light in the easternmost tower. It wavered slightly, and she could see a shadow.
The ghost. It had to be, for who else would be wandering over there at this hour? Presumably, Lord Broxburn was still in the small parlor with his cousin
and Lord Kindale.
Sinclair chose that moment to return, and Lucy retreated to her own room, but only to retrieve her shawl. She wrapped it around her shoulders and went
downstairs.
All was dark, but she made her way down to the great hall. She heard voices coming from the dining room, so she left the keep through the main door.
She was not afraid to face the ghost. In fact, she hoped it would happen!
If Aileen’s story of her encounter could be believed, and Lucy had no reason to think otherwise, then she had nothing to fear. The ghost was elusive
and did not pose a threat to her. And if she saw the ancient spirit, how she would love to write to her sisters and tell them of the experience.
But not Joshua. He wouldn’t believe her, anyway.
Under the starlit sky, she hurried across the courtyard to the stairs leading to the tower. She reached the top, then walked along the parapet to the door
of the tower. Finding it unlocked, she entered. She stood listening for a moment, but no sounds came from within.
She climbed the steps with only the faint light of the stars through the narrow windows to guide her.
For the first time, she considered this might possibly be a foolish errand. She was sure-footed but could not really see the
learn everything there is to know about the business down in Craigmuir Way.”
“What do you mean, if I would like to continue…Are you suggesting you will have your father cut me off if I do not agree to this?”
Ian crossed his arms over his chest.
“This is preposterous. I am a gentleman.”
“A gentleman who overspends routinely,” Ian said. Hell would freeze over before Ian allowed his cousin to inherit
any
estate. Duncan
had no sense. He would run it into the ground.
Ian would not put it past Duncan to have plied the duke with spirits and then manipulated him into changing his will.
As soon as his father was lucid, Ian was going to speak to him about the new will. Among other things.
Chapter Ten
----
Lucy sent Sinclair away to rest. She said she would stay with her aunt until the maid had a chance to stretch her legs or take forty winks. It didn’t
matter how long the maid took – Lucy was too restless to sleep.
There had been tension between Broxburn and his cousin at supper, but worse was Mr. Munro’s frank appraisal of her person. She was unaccustomed to
being leered at, and he’d made her uncomfortable. At least Broxburn had done what he could to divert his cousin from his blatant impertinence. In
spite of the man’s beautifully tailored clothes and nicely barbered hair, he was hardly the polished gentleman he appeared to be.
Aunt Arden roused once, and Lucy gave her a few sips of water. Then she went back to sleep, and Lucy paced.
She wondered how long it would be before Dr. Henderson said Arden was well enough to travel. She hoped it would be soon. It was difficult watching her aunt
suffering in a strange bed. Surely her aunt would fare better in her own house.
Lucy had never cared for being away from home. Even during her Seasons in London, with her mother and sisters there, she’d wished to return to
Stillwater House in the country. She’d missed her frequent encounters with Joshua and their discussions on antiquities, among other things.
Oh, wouldn’t he be enthralled with Craigmuir Castle! And she could hardly wait to tell him about Glencory and the Viking stronghold she’d seen
there.
The clear sky was visible through the window, and Lucy went over to gaze at the stars. They were just the same as the ones she could see at home, and she
chided herself for being homesick. In a few months she would return to Berkshire, and all would go back to normal.
She was about to turn away when she noticed a light in the easternmost tower. It wavered slightly, and she could see a shadow.
The ghost. It had to be, for who else would be wandering over there at this hour? Presumably, Lord Broxburn was still in the small parlor with his cousin
and Lord Kindale.
Sinclair chose that moment to return, and Lucy retreated to her own room, but only to retrieve her shawl. She wrapped it around her shoulders and went
downstairs.
All was dark, but she made her way down to the great hall. She heard voices coming from the dining room, so she left the keep through the main door.
She was not afraid to face the ghost. In fact, she hoped it would happen!
If Aileen’s story of her encounter could be believed, and Lucy had no reason to think otherwise, then she had nothing to fear. The ghost was elusive
and did not pose a threat to her. And if she saw the ancient spirit, how she would love to write to her sisters and tell them of the experience.
But not Joshua. He wouldn’t believe her, anyway.
Under the starlit sky, she hurried across the courtyard to the stairs leading to the tower. She reached the top, then walked along the parapet to the door
of the tower. Finding it unlocked, she entered. She stood listening for a moment, but no sounds came from within.
She climbed the steps with only the faint light of the stars through the narrow windows to guide her.
For the first time, she considered this might possibly be a foolish errand. She was sure-footed but could not really see the
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