But I’d still like to know.”
“And I’d like to know what else the spirit told you,” he said, keeping the upper hand. “Did she mention why she’s hanging around?”
“No, she didn’t, but I have a feeling we’ll meet again.”
He seemed different. Much less sweet and far more calculating. Cold, distant, and intimidating, even. Like he had for a time in the car. She wasn’t sure how she felt about this side of the baron. Part of her liked it and part of her didn’t, but all of her still wanted to go to bed with him. Yes, he’d lied to her, but she could understand that he might not wish to speak about his past marital troubles with her. Despite what the ghost had said, this could only ever be an affair.
“When and if you do speak to her again, be sure to ask why she haunts the castle,” he said, moving down the table. “Now, come and take your seat. My butler will be in momentarily with the first course.”
Doing as he’d urged, she kept her full weight off the chair while he pushed it in. No sooner had he claimed the seat at the head of the table than Hamish entered carrying a tray with a bottle of wine and a platter of what looked like crushed ice. The butler set the tray aside and poured the wine, a chardonnay, judging by the deep golden color. After setting the bottle in front of his master, the butler returned to the tray and put the platter on the table. Embedded among the ice were a dozen raw oysters.
She smiled, both because she loved oysters and because they were reputed aphrodisiacs. Not that her desire for the baron needed any further prompting.
“I’ve been sinking a wee bit of money into an oyster farm in the Outer Hebrides,” he told her as he squeezed a wedge of lemon over the shimmering bivalves. “For the meat, not the pearls. There’s a market, if we can get it right, but that’s harder than it sounds. These wee buggers aren’t easy to raise, assuming you can get your hands on the seed stock in the first place.”
“What kind are they?”
“Pacific, which aren’t native to Scotland.” He tilted back his head, poured the oyster into his mouth, and swallowed without chewing. “Oysters once were plentiful in our waters. Back before there was so much bloody pollution.” He shook his head. “I swear I don’t know what’s wrong with people. Do they not understand the damage they do to the planet can never be reversed?”
“I couldn’t agree more,” she said, impressed by his speech. “But most people, I’ve observed, are incredibly selfish when it comes to the environment.”
“Selfish and greedy.” He reached for another half-shell.
Just as they polished off the last oyster, Hamish returned with another tray. This one contained two bowls of soup. After setting one steaming bowl before each of them, he collected the platter of shells and refilled their wine glasses.
“You’re quite the entrepreneur,” she observed, addressing the baron. The pinkish-golden bisque before her smelled appetizingly of seafood, butter, herbs, and sherry.
Callum thanked the butler and waited for him to leave the room before picking up his spoon. She followed suit, suddenly aware how hungry she was.
“It’s langoustine and smoked salmon,” he told her as he spooned some from the edge.
She did the same, holding the warm liquid in her mouth for a moment to savor the incredible flavor. She’d dined in many five-star restaurants in her time, but couldn’t recall ever tasting anything quite so delicious.
“So, besides ghost whispering, what’s the plan while I’m here?”
“Well, my lady, I thought I might introduce you to the simple pleasures of a quiet country life.”
She looked up from her bowl, meeting his gaze. “And what might these simple pleasures entail, my lord?”
His eyes twinkled with mischief. “Assuming we feel the need to get out of bed, and the weather obliges, I thought we might take a walk along the beach, have a picnic somewhere, or go for a drive.
“And I’d like to know what else the spirit told you,” he said, keeping the upper hand. “Did she mention why she’s hanging around?”
“No, she didn’t, but I have a feeling we’ll meet again.”
He seemed different. Much less sweet and far more calculating. Cold, distant, and intimidating, even. Like he had for a time in the car. She wasn’t sure how she felt about this side of the baron. Part of her liked it and part of her didn’t, but all of her still wanted to go to bed with him. Yes, he’d lied to her, but she could understand that he might not wish to speak about his past marital troubles with her. Despite what the ghost had said, this could only ever be an affair.
“When and if you do speak to her again, be sure to ask why she haunts the castle,” he said, moving down the table. “Now, come and take your seat. My butler will be in momentarily with the first course.”
Doing as he’d urged, she kept her full weight off the chair while he pushed it in. No sooner had he claimed the seat at the head of the table than Hamish entered carrying a tray with a bottle of wine and a platter of what looked like crushed ice. The butler set the tray aside and poured the wine, a chardonnay, judging by the deep golden color. After setting the bottle in front of his master, the butler returned to the tray and put the platter on the table. Embedded among the ice were a dozen raw oysters.
She smiled, both because she loved oysters and because they were reputed aphrodisiacs. Not that her desire for the baron needed any further prompting.
“I’ve been sinking a wee bit of money into an oyster farm in the Outer Hebrides,” he told her as he squeezed a wedge of lemon over the shimmering bivalves. “For the meat, not the pearls. There’s a market, if we can get it right, but that’s harder than it sounds. These wee buggers aren’t easy to raise, assuming you can get your hands on the seed stock in the first place.”
“What kind are they?”
“Pacific, which aren’t native to Scotland.” He tilted back his head, poured the oyster into his mouth, and swallowed without chewing. “Oysters once were plentiful in our waters. Back before there was so much bloody pollution.” He shook his head. “I swear I don’t know what’s wrong with people. Do they not understand the damage they do to the planet can never be reversed?”
“I couldn’t agree more,” she said, impressed by his speech. “But most people, I’ve observed, are incredibly selfish when it comes to the environment.”
“Selfish and greedy.” He reached for another half-shell.
Just as they polished off the last oyster, Hamish returned with another tray. This one contained two bowls of soup. After setting one steaming bowl before each of them, he collected the platter of shells and refilled their wine glasses.
“You’re quite the entrepreneur,” she observed, addressing the baron. The pinkish-golden bisque before her smelled appetizingly of seafood, butter, herbs, and sherry.
Callum thanked the butler and waited for him to leave the room before picking up his spoon. She followed suit, suddenly aware how hungry she was.
“It’s langoustine and smoked salmon,” he told her as he spooned some from the edge.
She did the same, holding the warm liquid in her mouth for a moment to savor the incredible flavor. She’d dined in many five-star restaurants in her time, but couldn’t recall ever tasting anything quite so delicious.
“So, besides ghost whispering, what’s the plan while I’m here?”
“Well, my lady, I thought I might introduce you to the simple pleasures of a quiet country life.”
She looked up from her bowl, meeting his gaze. “And what might these simple pleasures entail, my lord?”
His eyes twinkled with mischief. “Assuming we feel the need to get out of bed, and the weather obliges, I thought we might take a walk along the beach, have a picnic somewhere, or go for a drive.
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