scream.
~ *~*~
It was fro m the kitchen that she heard his music for the first time.
Seated at the table with Lainie while they shared a lunch of shepherd’s pie, she caught the faint strains of what sounded like some sort of Celtic instrumental coming from the unexplored room on the other side of the seldom-used dining room.
“Do you hear that?” she asked.
Lainie wiped her mouth primly with the napkin in her lap. “It’s just Jules. I expect ye’ll hear a lot o’ that. He spends a fair amount o’ time in the conservatory.”
Eva couldn’t resist. “Let me guess. It was Colonel Mustard with a candlestick.”
The elderly woman gave her a puzzled look, not understanding the reference. “Colonel who?”
“Never mind.”
“He works alone, dear. Very talented composer, he is.”
This was unexpected news. “He writes music?”
“That he does. Plays the piano beautifully. And the cello.” Lainie beamed with pride.
Eva couldn’t have been more surprised if she’d discovered that he designed tactical ballistic missiles for NASA. “You’re kidding. That’s him playing?”
“Aye. He doesn’t like to be disturbed when he’s workin’. Ye can hear some from outside the door, if ye’d care to listen.”
“ Hm. Maybe later.” She swallowed one last bite and took her plate to the sink. There was something else she wanted to check out right now. If he was busy banging away on the piano downstairs, then there was time to explore more upstairs. Namely, trying his bedroom door again. She hadn’t given up on the hope that he might at some point forget to lock it.
And a s it turned out, luck was with her. His door had been carelessly left unlocked so she slipped quietly into his room, viewing it for the first time with wide-eyed fascination. She didn’t know what she had expected - black burial shrouds and coffins and gargoyles, maybe - but instead it was tastefully furnished in rich mahogany. The enormous four poster bed was draped with deep burgundy bed curtains that matched a luxurious down comforter. A far cry from the obligatory dirt-filled pine box that typically served as a vampire’s resting place in the movies. His was a room fit for pampered royalty, but she had no time to stand around and admire it. Somewhere in here there could be a laptop, cell phone...hell, even a ham radio would do.
There was nothing out of the ordinary in his closet, unless you counted a vast selection of designer clothes and shoes. One thing certainly couldn’t be denied - he had classy taste. No bargain basement sale items here.
She was hurriedly rummaging through his dresser drawers when the familiar voice came from directly behind, causing her to jump nearly out of her skin. He’d somehow entered the room without making a sound.
“Have you found what you were looking for?” The icy displeasure in his tone sent shivers down her backbone as she recalled his earlier threat. If you ever try to escape from me again...
“I ...ah, was... ahem ...just...” She sounded like an idiot and she knew it. But what was there to say? She’d been caught red-handed and the piper would expect payment. Her hands trembled to think of what that payment might be.
“You were what? ” There was no trace of tolerance in his crisp words. Those stormy eyes penetrated her, dark with clouds that threatened to unleash a hurricane. “What the bloody hell are you doing in my room?”
“I was looking for ...um...”
“I know what you were looking for ! How foolish do you think I am?”
The way he was looking at her was frightening. There was none of the usual idle amusement there, no evidence of empathy whatsoever. He looked as if he wanted to tear her apart.
“Do you know what you are, Eva?” He circled her slowly, like a vulture preparing to swoop downward. His voice was controlled, but still as hard and sharp as coffin nails.
“Julian, I ...”
“You’re an animal that needs to be trained. A stubborn filly yet to be
~ *~*~
It was fro m the kitchen that she heard his music for the first time.
Seated at the table with Lainie while they shared a lunch of shepherd’s pie, she caught the faint strains of what sounded like some sort of Celtic instrumental coming from the unexplored room on the other side of the seldom-used dining room.
“Do you hear that?” she asked.
Lainie wiped her mouth primly with the napkin in her lap. “It’s just Jules. I expect ye’ll hear a lot o’ that. He spends a fair amount o’ time in the conservatory.”
Eva couldn’t resist. “Let me guess. It was Colonel Mustard with a candlestick.”
The elderly woman gave her a puzzled look, not understanding the reference. “Colonel who?”
“Never mind.”
“He works alone, dear. Very talented composer, he is.”
This was unexpected news. “He writes music?”
“That he does. Plays the piano beautifully. And the cello.” Lainie beamed with pride.
Eva couldn’t have been more surprised if she’d discovered that he designed tactical ballistic missiles for NASA. “You’re kidding. That’s him playing?”
“Aye. He doesn’t like to be disturbed when he’s workin’. Ye can hear some from outside the door, if ye’d care to listen.”
“ Hm. Maybe later.” She swallowed one last bite and took her plate to the sink. There was something else she wanted to check out right now. If he was busy banging away on the piano downstairs, then there was time to explore more upstairs. Namely, trying his bedroom door again. She hadn’t given up on the hope that he might at some point forget to lock it.
And a s it turned out, luck was with her. His door had been carelessly left unlocked so she slipped quietly into his room, viewing it for the first time with wide-eyed fascination. She didn’t know what she had expected - black burial shrouds and coffins and gargoyles, maybe - but instead it was tastefully furnished in rich mahogany. The enormous four poster bed was draped with deep burgundy bed curtains that matched a luxurious down comforter. A far cry from the obligatory dirt-filled pine box that typically served as a vampire’s resting place in the movies. His was a room fit for pampered royalty, but she had no time to stand around and admire it. Somewhere in here there could be a laptop, cell phone...hell, even a ham radio would do.
There was nothing out of the ordinary in his closet, unless you counted a vast selection of designer clothes and shoes. One thing certainly couldn’t be denied - he had classy taste. No bargain basement sale items here.
She was hurriedly rummaging through his dresser drawers when the familiar voice came from directly behind, causing her to jump nearly out of her skin. He’d somehow entered the room without making a sound.
“Have you found what you were looking for?” The icy displeasure in his tone sent shivers down her backbone as she recalled his earlier threat. If you ever try to escape from me again...
“I ...ah, was... ahem ...just...” She sounded like an idiot and she knew it. But what was there to say? She’d been caught red-handed and the piper would expect payment. Her hands trembled to think of what that payment might be.
“You were what? ” There was no trace of tolerance in his crisp words. Those stormy eyes penetrated her, dark with clouds that threatened to unleash a hurricane. “What the bloody hell are you doing in my room?”
“I was looking for ...um...”
“I know what you were looking for ! How foolish do you think I am?”
The way he was looking at her was frightening. There was none of the usual idle amusement there, no evidence of empathy whatsoever. He looked as if he wanted to tear her apart.
“Do you know what you are, Eva?” He circled her slowly, like a vulture preparing to swoop downward. His voice was controlled, but still as hard and sharp as coffin nails.
“Julian, I ...”
“You’re an animal that needs to be trained. A stubborn filly yet to be
Similar Books
