The Everdon Series- the Complete Set

by L C Kincaide

  “How did you sleep?” She asked raising herself to a sitting position.

  His expression gave nothing away as he watched her from across the room. “Fine.” He said. “And you?”

  “Well enough, considering. I could really use a coffee.” She glanced around for her phone, but her purse was still in the car. “What time is it?”

  He pulled his from a pocket. “Going on eleven.”

  “What? Already?” As much as she liked sleeping in, only her mother could manage to sleep in this late. “Have you been up long? Why didn’t you wake me?”

  “Only a while, and I enjoyed watching you sleep. You looked so peaceful.”

  Emma’s gaze dropped to the coverlet. What a mess she must be! Nervous fingers ran through her mop. Oh, God! She didn’t need a mirror to know it was bad.

  He grinned at her. “You look adorable.”

  She snorted. “I’m sure. If you tell me I snored, I’ll…”

  He laughed. “Even if you did, the storm would have drowned it out.”

  She threw a pillow at him and he caught it easily and parted the curtains.

  “I should get dressed.” Her eyes swept the room, seeing he had collected her wet clothes and draped them over chairs and hung them from hangers on the doors of the armoire. She found no sign of the plant on the pedestal table nor anywhere else. It too had been part of a very elaborate, and eerily realistic dream, and one he had not experienced with her. It was just as well. Trying to explain something like that was beyond her capabilities.

  She cocooned herself into the bed sheet and shuffled to the bathroom self-conscious, stopping only to take her clothes from him, but the sheet was so tightly wrapped, her legs could barely move, and she scuffled the rest of the distance. Judging from his broad grin, her performance amused him. The things she had to live down.

  “When do you have to be at the airport?” She called from the bathroom.

  “By six.”

  Her heart dropped to her stomach. Only seven hours left and he’d be gone. She splashed cold water in her face thankful for what little dribbled from the tap and dragged damp fingers through her hair. What she saw in the mirror didn’t encourage her. Not much to be done about that, and she put on a smile to make up for it.

  “We have plenty of time. The airport is only three minutes from the hotel.”

  “I’m not worried.” He said.

  “Did you go out there?” She indicated the door.

  “No. I didn’t want to leave you alone.”

  “Thanks.” She bit her lip. “I guess I was a little… um…”

  “Emma, I understand why you would feel that way having seen the manor for myself. It appears inhospitable and if I had experiences similar to yours, who knows how I may have reacted?”

  “I’m surprised you didn’t wake up from nightmares.”

  He glanced down for a moment before speaking. “No. Not that I’m aware of.” His eyes searched hers, but he said no more.

  “Hungry?”

  “Famished!”

  “We shouldn’t go back to the teahouse — local gossip.”

  “Certainly not in our current state, wrinkled clothes and all.”

  Emma’s eyes swept over him, the polo shirt tight over his chest, a shadow of stubble accenting his bone structure beneath untamed black waves, a lock falling over one eye. He was perfect. She, on the other hand… no one would notice her.

  He brushed a strand of hair from her forehead. “Should we clean up better?”

  “It makes no difference. I’m not coming back.” She was about to add the manor was self-cleaning, but thought the better of it. Though open-minded, he could only accept so much, and she was grateful for that. He was the first person to have experienced Everdon Manor awake directing the inhabitants to its will. Was it Mason? He should have been appeased and long gone, but could anyone ever be sure?

  “What’s going to happen to everything in here? You have some potentially valuable items in the rooms.”

  “Mum didn’t care if they all rot the way she hated the place. I suppose I will truck them into storage, maybe sell a few things. I haven’t thought about it.”

  “Of course not. I forgot how recent your circumstances are. I’d be happy to help.”

  “Thanks. I’ll keep your offer in mind. Shall we go?”

  She gave the room a final sweep, her gaze lingering on the rumpled bed and opened the door.

  “The sconces are out.” He said pausing at the connecting corridor.

  “Yes, they turn on and off at will.” She replied as nonchalantly as when they had first come in. Apparently, nothing remained to see there. For all she knew, the portraits were gone too, but she wasn’t about to confirm that.

  He took her hand, and they descended the stairs, Emma remembering how Adam looked waiting for her at the bottom at his manor. His fingers squeezed hers as if he too was thinking back to their time.

  “Not exactly bustling with activity, is it?” He said noting the shadowed, silent hall his voice echoing among the pillars upon reaching the landing.

  “Is that where it happened?” He stopped pointing to the corner of the rug.

  “That’s it. No one had ever been able to get rid of the bloodstain, so all they could do was cover it.”

  “That is a shame, not just the tragedy but the marble floor. It was beautiful.”

  “True, but yours is!” She said brightly and tugged him away from underneath the skylight.

  “You really don’t like it, do you?”

  “No. I think it’s evil.” She fought the shudder taking her and hurried to the door.

  Adam paused to take a last sweep of the central hall, no doubt comparing the two, his good manor, her bad one. She opened the door and stepped out into a gray, sultry morning. Looping the chain through the iron bars, she locked up, and they settled in the car. The engine started easily, just as she knew it would. The manor was done with her. If Adam thought any of it odd, he didn’t say and she turned the car around. He watched the derelict building as she drove to the bridge.

  “I hope you weren’t too disappointed.” She said.

  “No not at all.” He said with a smile. “I appreciate you allowing me to see it, experience it. It wasn’t easy for you.”

  “I’m glad. It didn’t always look like this. On the Weekends it was liveable enough.”

  “You said everyone was in costume?”

  “That we were. All of us in decked out Edwardian duds. I used to keep my hair long so I wouldn’t have to wear a wig.” She laughed. “Poor Grace! She hated wearing hers with a passion. Most of the time she had it on crooked because she kept scratching and fiddling with it. Otherwise, she was sneaking cigarettes around corners and hiding under trees.”

  Adam laughed. “I can see her doing that. She’s a rather free spirit, much like you, in fact.”

  “She’s a lot freer now, that’s for sure.”

  “I was serious about helping.”

  Emma turned toward the village.

  “I know.” What could she ask of him being so far away? How could he help when she couldn’t tell the difference between what was real and what wasn’t? For all she knew, the manor was empty and only filled with debris and cobwebs. It was enough to make any sane person crazy.

  Driving down the main road that cut through Fairmont, she turned onto a side street and parked in front of a diner. They weren’t looking presentable enough for a larger community, nor for an establishment on the main street.

  “I think we should be fairly safe from gossip here.”

  The only other patron in the eatery, an older man reading the newspaper, didn’t bother looking up when the jangling bell announced their arrival. They chose a corner table and ordered lunch.

  “Te
ll me. If you could change anything about the manor what would it be?”

  “Besides tearing it down?”

  “Just hypothetically, if it were to become a private house again.”

  She gave him a baffled look. A private house? Was he kidding?

  “That would only happen to increase the property value.”

  “That’s a good enough reason. Humor me.”

  She took a deep breath and pondered the question as the waitress brought their coffee and tea. She stirred her cup.

  “The first thing I’d do is get rid of the skylight. And the building is too large, so the north wings can go too. Nobody needs twenty bedrooms. And I’d permanently scrap the hothouse and all the buildings that are rotting. They’re just ugly and depressing.”

  “I won’t argue with that. What about the ballroom?”

  “I don’t know. It used to be beautiful, but the floor is destroyed and the chandelier only good for reselling the crystals. Why do you ask?”

  “I’m curious about your vision for it.”

  She wagged a finger at him playfully. “Not fair. The only vision I’ve had is of it being knocked down.”

  He shrugged innocently. “I can’t help myself. It’s what I do.”

  “The world is fortunate there are people like you or everything old would have been demolished.”

  “Some things are worth saving, but I too have my limits.”

  “What? You’re not a hopeless idealist?”

  “I like to think I’m a hopeful idealist.” His lips were curved in a smile, but his eyes were intent on hers.

  A blush crept up her cheeks. Damn that dream!

  The dashboard clock showed it was going on four when she pulled up at the hotel and sat awkwardly putting the car in park.

  “Thank you again for showing me the manor.”

  So, was this goodbye? Her smile wavered. “I’m glad you enjoyed it.”

  “I need to get ready and make some arrangements, but if it’s not asking too much would you come back? Accompany me to the airport?”

  Her spirits soared. “No trouble at all.”

  “Good.” His cheerful smile returned.

  “So I’ll be back at five-thirty.”

  “Brilliant. See you then.” He leaned over and kissed her lightly on the lips then got out of the car. She waited until he was inside before leaving.

  CHAPTER 11

  ~*~

  The messages button on the phone was flashing, and he punched the number to hear them. He had specifically asked to direct all business calls to the hotel and not his cell. He needed time away to focus on the conference and more importantly, on his time with Emma which was, as he had feared, racing by too quickly.

  After leaving messages with the desk clerk, he headed for the bathroom. He didn’t wait for the water to heat up. After the dream he’d had, a cold shower wouldn’t hurt. Emma had warned him about what she referred to as weirdness in the manor. At first, he had dismissed the possibility, but after her experience in the hothouse with the spirit of Clara Massie and everything that transpired after, he had no choice but to believe. After spending the night, there was no question of strange goings on.

  And speaking of unusual circumstances, Emma had made no mention of having seen anything peculiar nor about any dreams. The sudden storm and the car not starting had left her in a panic, and he could only imagine what horrors she had witnessed under that roof to have reacted so strongly. Regardless of how she perceived herself, she was brave for returning.

  He remembered her sleeping peacefully as he watched over her huddled under the blanket, then sleep overtook him and he thought himself well under control. In fact, he marvelled at his resolve and commended himself for not ravishing her as his inner urges taunted him. He must have fallen asleep believing them safe from being overwhelmed with lust between two separate layers of blankets when his eyes opened to her gaze.

  The moment she touched him that steely resolve became steely something else. He turned the tap to colder. But it was only a dream even if it was disturbingly real. Wouldn’t she have mentioned it? Her behavior revealed nothing out of the ordinary had happened between them. His mind raced with yet unformulated plans and when he would see her again.

  She was extraordinary — everything about her from those fearless blue eyes to her exquisite legs he had first observed in the Hyde-Smythe’s Tudor Hall. He grit his teeth remembering those lithe legs wrapped around his waist — rather the dream of them. He was done for, no question, possibly from the moment their eyes met. The cold jets hit his skin, but he hardly felt their sting, and a minute later he turned off the shower.

  Donning the terry robe, he took out his phone and tapped a number. It was late, but he knew she’d still be up.

  “Hullo, mum!” He said cheerfully. “Put on the tea. I’m coming around.”

  Their time was running out. The thought threatened tears to well in her eyes. What had she expected? That he would stay? Or whisk her away to England? They had separate lives, something she had reminded herself of countless times, yet with the reality of their parting looming, those reminders fell silent. The facts were, he had his life there and hers was here. That’s it. Rachel would have plenty to say on the subject, for which reason she wouldn’t know the extent of his visit, and certainly not of their night together, not that she could forget. That memory would keep her toasty warm for a good while yet.

  At least no spirits had shown up to accost them or whispered cryptic messages; only the storm and the tampering with the car. She still didn’t see what staying the night cooped up in Ivy’s former room had accomplished. Only her overactive imagination took over where the manor had left off. Clearly, she had imagined herself seducing Adam once too often, and if the dream was any indication, their affair, should they have one, would be epic. But, he had not hinted of anything happening between them, or worse; something did and it had been forgettable.

  Her makeup applied and fresh summer dress on, she strapped on her heels and headed out. The taxi dropped her off only minutes later. She was early, but it was better to be among people than to pace the carpet on her own. She pushed the door to the lobby and stepped into the cool interior. Adam was already there clean shaven and ready. His lips curved in a smile as his eyes appraised her, and she was glad to have taken the time to primp.

  “It seems I’ve just arrived and already I’m leaving. How is that?” He mused pushing the luggage cart to the check-in counter.

  “I thought the same thing when I was in England.”

  They stopped at the desk and the travel agent beamed at him. The luggage on its way to the plane, they had two hours left before their goodbyes.

  “Are you going straight back to work?”

  “I had planned on it, but I’m stopping in Spain for a day or so. It’s been a while since I’ve seen mum.”

  “That’s nice. She must be happy about that.”

  “I caught her rather off guard, but yes. I seem to have a habit of doing that.” He grinned and draped his arm around her shoulder as they strolled the concourse. The excitement of the milling crowd didn’t affect her, and she tried to appear casual to hide her growing sadness. This was the hardest part; preparing to say goodbye and watching him leave. In a couple of days, she’d be busy in her new routine and everything would go back to normal. The same for him was also true.

  “I’m going to render some sketches and the next time we’re together you can tell me what you think.”

  “Sketches?”

  “Of the manor.”

  “I’m sure you’re much too busy for that. I don’t want you to waste your time.”

  “It won’t be a waste. In fact, it will be my pet project.”

  “Even if it’s never realized?”

  “Even then.”
/>
  “Well, if it makes you happy.”

  He stopped and turned her to him, placing his hands on her shoulders. “You’ve made me happy.”

  She smiled suddenly bashful and elated. “I did?”

  “Every minute we spent together.”

  “I had a great time too. We had fun, didn’t we?”

  He nodded. “Which is why we have to do this again soon.”

  “But how?”

  “We’ll work it out and next time, I promise to give you plenty of warning. I don’t expect you to drop everything when I call. I count myself lucky you were available.”

  If he only knew. “That sounds good.”

  “It’s thanks to you that I have the time and ability to travel. I was rather tied to the manor with little opportunity to go abroad. So, thank you for that.”

  “You don’t have to thank me, but I appreciate the sentiment.”

  He dropped a kiss on her forehead and took her hand and they strolled further along toward the departure gate.

  “Have you decided where you’re going to call home yet?”

  “No. Tonight I’m staying at mum’s so I can take Esther to the airport in the morning. She was my mum’s cook and housekeeper for many years. I want to be there in case she needs help packing. She helped me sort out my mum’s things. Some of her things.”

  “I imagine there is quite a bit left.”

  “That’s an understatement. Each time I think I know about everything something new crops up. You have no idea. She has storage lockers stuffed with a hundred years worth of Edwardian paraphernalia.”

  “It seems you have your work cut out.”

  “It could be fun, like a treasure hunt.”

  “Now I’m jealous. That sounds intriguing.”

  “If I discover anything exceptionally interesting, I’ll let you know.”