Beloved Lies, Book 2
Page 22
“I believe I am.” She picked up one of the roses, brought it to her nose, and closed her eyes while she appreciated the sweet aroma. She dreaded having to dance with different partners at Robin’s ball and David would certainly come in handy in that regard. She set the rose back on the table. “Have you sailed all the way from America just to escort me to Robin’s weddin’?”
“No, I have been at a university learning new investigation techniques.”
“All this time?”
“All this time, and I am happy to say I have completed my studies. I was due to sail home when your father reached me.”
“Let me guess. We just happen to have tickets on the same ship bound for America?”
“You have guessed correctly.” He paused before he said, “I confess his offer is most generous. It is more than I make in an entire year.”
Blair giggled. “I can believe that. He spares no expense where I am concerned.” Her guest quickly stood up and when he did, she turned just in time to see Butler Alistair come around the corner of the house.
“This is our Butler,” she quickly said. “Alistair, may I introduce David... Forgive me, for I know not your last name.”
“Steele,” David said as he nodded to Alistair.
“Father hired him to see to my safety while I attend Robin’s weddin’.”
“I am happy to hear it,” said the butler. “Will you not come inside, Mr. Steele? Perhaps a spot of tea.”
“I am much obliged.” David offered his hand to Blair, waited for her to collect her things off the table and then helped her stand up.
“Will you not stay for supper?” Blair asked.
“Thank you, I could use a good meal,” David answered. “Allow me to send my driver away.”
Still amazed by David’s sudden appearance as well as his revelations, Blair walked to the front with Alistair, and then watched as David spoke to his driver. “Robin shall be thrilled to see him again. I am tempted to call her, but I think a surprise is in order.”
“He is the same David Mr. Whitfield spoke of?” asked Alistair.
“Aye and he is much improved since last I saw him.”
CHARLES LOVED THREE things most in the world – his wife, Serena, playing poker of a Saturday night, and building homes for people to live in. What he hated most was anything that interfered with his work schedule.
The castle was taking longer than he estimated. It took extra time finding rocks that matched the old ones used in the exterior walls. The electricians were a month late, and the plumbers he hired did not show up, forcing him to contract with a different company altogether.
Even McKenna’s indecisiveness caused a delay.
All the MacGreagors were related in one way or the other, but Charles had a particular soft spot when it came to McKenna. The two of them grew up together, shared a fishing hole behind the castle and knew all there was to know about each other. McKenna was not born in the castle and had never seen the place until after her parents were killed. Even now, Charles remembered the look on the face of that lost little girl the first time he came to the castle to play with her. She needed a friend and he was determined to fill that need.
When she sailed to America to join her brother, Charles greatly missed her. Eleven years later, she was back to oversee the rebuilding of the castle. He secretly hoped someday McKenna’s brothers would leave Colorado and come home too, but their construction company was prospering and that was not likely.
After the lost MacGreagor stories were found in a hidden tunnel under the Great Hall, McKenna couldn’t decide if they should put in another trap door or not. It was unlikely the escape tunnel would ever be needed again, everyone agreed, but McKenna was not so sure, now that war with Germany was looming. It took her all of four days to decide to put in another trap door. Charles understood. A pregnant woman often had trouble making up her mind. Hopefully the discovery of a skeleton, even an ancient one, could more quickly be resolved.
When Charles arrived at Kentigern Manor, he left the dogs in the Benz, and walked up to the front door and removed his train engineer’s cap before he knocked.
BLAIR HAD JUST FINISHED introducing David to McKenna when Butler Alistair announced Charles’ arrival. David stood up, and when Blair introduced him and mentioned he was a Pinkerton Agent, Charles was hesitant to shake his hand. The last thing he needed was to tell what he found to a Pinkerton Agent. He politely shook his hand anyway, and then turned his attention to McKenna.
“Charles,” McKenna said. “We were not expectin’ you. Please sit. Is anythin’ amiss?” She wore an ordinary lavender flock with an empire waist that had plenty of full pleating in the front to cover her extended stomach. The furniture in the sitting room was rented as well, but the full length sofa and matching chairs placed appropriately near a hearth were comfortable enough. Even the paintings on the wall were rented, and the one above the sofa depicted her favorite purple lilacs and white roses.
Not certain his clothes were clean enough, Charles waited for David to sit and then sat on the edge of one of the chairs opposite McKenna. “Not amiss, precisely, but I do have news.”
She sensed it was not good news and waited but Charles seemed reluctant to say anything, even after Alistair left and closed the door behind him. “Go on, what is it?”
“The thing is, if word of this gets out, we shall have...” Charles intentionally looked at David.
“I assure you,” said David, “I know no one in Scotland to tell.”
Charles nodded and then continued, “We were about to finish off the kitchen floor when...” He remembered her delicate condition and paused to find the most pleasant way of telling her. “Well, we found bones buried in the dirt.”
“What sort of bones?”
“Human, I am sad to say.” He watched as David and Blair exchanged surprised glances.
McKenna stared at Charles as she tried to fully grasp what he was saying. “Do you mean someone was buried under the kitchen?” When he nodded, she struggled to stand up, and when Charles came to help, she gladly took hold of his hand. “I lived there...for years...and now you tell me someone was buried under...”
“Aye, the kitchen. Miss McKenna, I beg you, do not faint,” said Charles.
She took a deep breath and let him help her sit back down. “I have never fainted in my life, and I assure you I shall not faint now. I am just astonished, is all.”
“As are we,” Charles said.
“What are we to do?” McKenna asked.
“’Tis what I came to ask you.”
“Yes, of course, ‘twould be my decision.” She finally looked up at him. “Will you not sit down, Charles?”
This time, he sat on the sofa next to her just in case she fainted after all. “Aye.” He continued to watch as she shifted her eyes from side to side.
“Shall we not call the authorities?” she asked at length.
“I would recommend it, if ‘twas not buried long ago.”
“How can you tell ‘twas buried long ago?” Blair asked.
“The clothin’ are rotted away...Miss McKenna, where might Nicholas be?”
“He went to take the Whitfields to board their ship in London, but he called from the train station and said he would be home directly.”
“Good,” said Charles. “No matter what you decide, I fear it means a delay. Perhaps he shall know what to do.” McKenna had that faraway look, so he hesitantly stood up. ‘Tis time I go home for supper. Shall I send for Alistair?”
“Aye,” McKenna answered. “Tell him I wish to call America right away.”
Charles was a little alarmed by that. “I hoped to keep the discovery a secret. Suppose someone listens in? I hear the Americans are quite bold in that regard.”
McKenna shared a knowing smile with Blair. “Aye, they are and Miss Abigail is the worst of the lot. Fortunately, she is aboard a ship and cannae listen in this time.”
“Very well. One more thing,” Charles said, “’twas the
dogs that dug it up. I brought them with me so they cannae disturb the site further, but I dare not take them home. They make my wife sneeze.”
Blair found the thought delightful. “Do leave them with us. I love dogs and the boys shall adore playin’ with them.”
“Aye,” said Charles, “but the dogs protect the castle and now...”
“Can we not hire men to tend it as we did before?” McKenna asked.
“Not if we dinna want anyone to know about the bones.”
McKenna paused to consider that. “Well then, we are forced to take our chances. Nicholas shall know what to do. Indeed, Nicholas shall know.”
When her words drifted off, Charles felt sorry for McKenna. There was little he could do, so he nodded to both Blair and David, and then went to find Alistair.
JUST AS THE WORKERS at the castle predicted, McKenna told Alistair, then she told Sarah, and of course she had to tell Cook Jessie. A short time later, she informed both her brothers in America, but she swore all them to secrecy and in return was assured none of them would breathe a word.
End of sample chapter.
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Follow Clan MacGreagor through multiple generations beginning with The Viking where it all began, The Highlanders and their struggle to survive, Marblestone Mansion and the duke who simply could not get rid of his scandalous duchess, and still more historical stories in The Lost MacGreagor Books. Then check out Marti’s contemporary romance/mysteries in Missing Heiress, Greed and a Mistress, The Dead Letters, and The Locked Room. Other books include the Carson Series, Leanna, (a short story), and Seattle Quake 9.2.
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Also by Marti Talbott
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Punitive Damages
Carson Series
Broken Pledge
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Marti Talbott's Highlander Series 2
Marti Talbott's Highlander Series 3
Marti Talbott's Highlander Series 4
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Marti Talbott's Highlander Omnibus, Books 1 - 3
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Marblestone Mansion, Book 2
Marblestone Mansion, Book 3
Marblestone Mansion, Book 4
Marblestone Mansion, Book 5
Marblestone Mansion, Book 6
Marblestone Mansion, Book 7
Marblestone Mansion, Book 8
Marblestone Mansion, Book 9
Marblestone Mansion, Book 10
Marblestone Mansion, (Omnibus, Books 1 - 3)
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Beloved Lies, Book 2
Beloved Secrets, Book 3
Beloved Vows, Book 4
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Watch for more at Marti Talbott’s site.
About the Author
Marti Talbott (www.martitalbott.com) is the author of over 40 books, all of which are written without profanity and sex scenes. She lives in Seattle, is retired and has two children, five grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. The MacGreagor family saga begins with The Viking Series and continues in Marti Talbott’s Highlander’s Series, Marblestone Mansion, the Scandalous Duchess series, and ends with The Lost MacGreagor books. Her mystery books include Seattle Quake 9.2, Missing Heiress, Greed and a Mistress, The Locked Room, and The Dead Letters. Other books include The Promise and Broken Pledge.
Read more at Marti Talbott’s site.