The doorbell rang, and all four of them stood still for a moment. Gabriel shook his head. This house stood on a promontory, it was at the end of a road, and the closest neighbour lived one kilometre away, yet he still seemed to get far too many visitors.
‘I’ll get it.’ He brushed past Bella, and if he had to be honest, it was a blatant attempt to maintain contact with her.
He strode down the hallway, pursing his lips. He’d need to replace the windows. Before the shooting it wouldn’t have been a challenge. He’d just ring his glazier mate and install the glass himself. Now, though, with a bung shoulder, he’d have to pay someone to do the repairs for him – and that chafed.
He swung open the door with a little extra force, a frown on his face, ready to grouch away at whoever was selling something on his verandah. He startled the little old lady standing on his doorstep.
Her green eyes widened as she gazed up at him uncertainly.
And now he felt bad for frightening a little old lady. ‘Can I help you?’ he asked as gently as possibly in an effort to make up for his rudeness.
She smiled. ‘Oh, I hope so, sonny.’ Her voice was wavery and thin, and she leaned heavily on the walking stick in her right hand. ‘I’m looking for…oh, what do they call themselves?’ She raised her left hand to her lips as she frowned. ‘Oh, let me think. Essie? Ram? Rum? Oh, now wouldn’t that be lovely, right about now. Foul weather, this. Something to warm your insides.’
‘Oh my,’ Ellie’s voice trailed down the hallway, and Gabe heard her approach. ‘Misty?’
The old lady’s green eyes sparkled. ‘Oh, there, you are.’
‘What are you doing here?’
‘Do you know this woman?’ Gabe enquired.
‘Uh, yes. This is Misty. She’s my…’
‘Supervisor,’ the old woman interjected.
‘Client,’ Ellie corrected.
The old woman frowned. ‘I prefer the term supervisor.’
Ellie mouthed the word ‘crazy’ to Gabe, and reached out to grasp the old woman’s arm. ‘You poor dear, you’ve travelled so far – I wasn’t expecting you.’
Gabe stood aside as Ellie guided the woman into the house and down the hall to the kitchen.
‘Ramsey, you’ll never guess who stopped by for a visit,’ Ellie called out.
Ramsey clomped up the hallway and halted when he saw the visitor. He blinked, then squinted.
‘Misty?’
‘Oh, hello…Ramsey.’
Gabe noticed the slight hesitation over the name. The poor dear. She obviously had trouble remembering details.
Ellie smiled brightly at Gabe over the top of the older woman’s head. ‘You and Bella go on now, go have your morning tea. I’ll look after Misty.’
He nodded, then trooped down the hall to the living room. He guessed he could sit and have a cup of tea with Bella. He’d far prefer kissing her behind closed doors, but it was obvious he wasn’t going to get any privacy in his home any time soon.
***
‘What are you doing here?’ Esmerelda hissed at Mistyweather as soon as she bundled the other fairy into the kitchen. Rump closed the door behind them and leaned against the wood, folding his arms. ‘And why are you looking like that?’ she gestured up and down at the glamour the fairy had donned to fool the humans. ‘You look like you’ve just stepped out as Little Red Riding Hood’s grandmother.’
Mistyweather beamed. ‘I look great, don’t I? This is so much fun! No wonder you love your job. Oh, I love what you’re wearing. Not doing the eccentric aunt look, I see. I guess that’s so Gabriel doesn’t recognise you?’
‘Of course. Now, what are you doing here?’
‘Oh, I’m here on duty.’
‘Duty?’ Rump repeated, hiding a smile behind his palm as he rubbed his chin.
‘Yes, I’m a cadet, now.’
Esmerelda’s jaw dropped. ‘When did that happen?’ And how? Mistyweather couldn’t paint dew without flooding the Enchanted Forest. How on earth was she going to make it as a F.G.E. cadet?
‘Oh, just recently. The G.F.C. approved me herself,’ Misty said proudly. ‘Look, she even gave me a badge.’ Misty’s glamour blurred, and Esmerelda gaped at the bright, shiny badge Misty wore on her green gown. She didn’t have a badge, how did Misty get one? Apparently she still had a considerable way to go in order to get back into Matilda’s good graces.
‘So why are you here? In this fairy tale?’
‘Oh, this is so exciting,’ Misty said, waving a hand, and Esmerelda choked at the puff of fairy dust that fluttered over them. Misty jumped up and sat on the bench, crossing her legs as she settled in for a good gossip.
Rump coughed, and Esmerelda glared at his shaking shoulders as he bit his lip. He was laughing, damn it.
‘There have been rumours flying round about a rebellion, and dark powers are rising.’
Rump’s shoulders stopped shaking.
Esmerelda frowned. ‘We’ve already had a rebellion, remember? Well, not really a rebellion, as such,’ she corrected herself. The Fairy Isle was once a kingdom, the crown passing down the male line, until Matilda had successfully challenged the crown as a princess. She’d then orchestrated a referendum into converting the Fairy Isle into a republic, to give the crown back to the people, only she’d been stunned when they’d voted her in as the Grand Fairy Coordinator. So, as a rebellion it had been really quite polite and civilised.
‘No, this is even bigger than the referendum,’ Misty said, her eyes wide. ‘The dwarfs have noticed stores of gold have been stolen, and the assumption is it’s to pay for an army. That, and the stench of dark powers is rising.’ Misty shuddered, and rubbed her arms, glancing around the kitchen. ‘This place has a chill,’ she remarked.
‘Why did you need to search us out?’ Rump asked, moving away from the door to grab a chair at the kitchen table. He pulled it out and straddled it, resting his arms along the back.
‘Oh, the G.F.C. thought you might need some help.’
There was silence in the small room for a moment.
Rump cocked an eyebrow. ‘And she sent you?’
Esmerelda folded her arms. She’d lost the trust of the G.F.C. Matilda had sent a rookie to help them.
‘Uh-huh.’
‘But this is just a babysitting assignment,’ Esmerelda said, shooting a dark look at Rump. ‘We’re only here to monitor, not engage.’
Misty shook her head. ‘Not anymore. The G.F.C. can sense something dark here, and I did, too, on approach.’
Esmerelda shot a quick glance at Rump. She’d sensed something, but…well, darn. He’d distracted her. His expression became shuttered, and a sharp pain bloomed inside her. He knew. He knew something was going on, and he’d hidden it from her. He’d betrayed her – again.
She turned back to Misty. ‘And what does the G.F.C. want us to do?’
Misty looked at her as though the answer was obvious. ‘She’s given us a Watch and Act alert.’
A headache bloomed behind Esmerelda’s right eye. A ‘Watch and Act’ alert was serious. Not a Watch and Learn alert. Or a Watch and Report. No, a Watch and Act meant that if Matilda’s suspicions proved correct, and dark forces were marshalling to take over the Republic, then she, Misty and Rump may very well have to take action against a dark army – and possibly start a war in the process.
And her backup in this mission was an accident-prone fairy and an imp she couldn’t trust.
Chapter 6
Bella sipped from her cup. Ellie had presented a charming morning tea, complete with china crockery and silverware. Bella eyed the scones, the little pots of jam and the bowl of whipped cream. She was going to need to shop for larger clothes if Ellie kept this up.
She peeked over the rim at Gabriel. He held the delicate china cup in his good hand, a slight frown marring his brow as he tried to fit his finger through the gap of the handle, then he sighed and held the cup as a complete unit in his massive grip instead.
Those hands had been on her, j
ust moments ago, and even now her nipples peaked in her bra at the memory of his scorching caress. She crossed her arms, and Gabriel glanced up, catching her gaze briefly before she managed to tear it away. They hadn’t spoken since the kiss, and she couldn’t remember a moment as awkward as the one she was now trapped in. His kiss had melted her reserve, her inhibitions, her principles, and she’d lost herself in his touch. It had been hot, and carnal, and so wicked.
And now they sipped tea, not able to look each other in the eye.
Oh, this is embarrassing.
She set her cup down, hiding her distaste. She much preferred coffee, and this tea tasted weird. Gabriel didn’t seem to mind, though. He drank it each day. Black. No sugar. Ick.
Her gaze landed on a magazine he’d left lying on one of the armchairs. ‘You like turtles?’ she commented, in an effort to make conversation and alleviate the tension.
‘Yes.’
Okay, so that went well. ‘Ramsey said something about building a turtle pond with you.’
Gabriel nodded. ‘I have some at another property, and need to build something here before I can relocate them.’ He set the cup down, and looked at both his hands, frowning. ‘It would be even better if I could be of some use and do some of the building myself.’
He clenched the nerve-damaged hand, and she recognised his frustration. ‘It won’t be long, Gabriel. We’ll get you back into full working order, don’t you worry.’
His gaze lifted to hers, and her face fell at the pain, the anger and the fear that she saw there. ‘But what if I don’t? What if this is as good as it gets?’
She reached over and covered his hand, looking him straight in the eye. ‘Then you learn to accept it, and you live with it. What happened to you wasn’t fair. It wasn’t your fault, and I understand your frustration.’ She lowered her head. ‘I know it feels like you’ve lost control of your life. That the actions of others have made a huge impact on your life. Believe it or not, I understand that. My father passed away recently. I know that frustration, the anger – I also know the fear.’ She took a deep breath and looked at him, forcing a smile.
‘Your life isn’t over, Gabriel. I’ve treated clients with missing limbs, or who are blind, or who have had a stroke. You still have your arm, and your hand. Okay, you have limited use at the moment, but I know we can improve on that. I’m committed to getting you back to your best – are you?’ She tried to pour as much confidence as she could into her voice, into her expression, tried to channel strength by touch.
He turned his hand over and clasped hers. ‘Thank you,’ he said roughly. ‘And I’m sorry to hear about your dad.’
She squeezed his hand gently. ‘Thank you. Now, tell me about this house. It’s beautiful.’ She let go of his hand and gestured around the living room. One side of the room was almost completely glass, providing a stunning view of the sudden storm rolling across the ocean before them. The furniture was large and comfortable, relaxed and inviting with an understated elegance. There was a display cabinet with fine china and crystal inside, a reading nook that Gabriel used regularly with a comfortable armchair and reading lamp, and an oversized pale green sofa that complemented the warm tones of the timber flooring.
Gabriel looked around the room, and nodded. ‘It sure is. I can hardly believe it’s mine. The architecture is stunning.’ He gestured to the windows, and the wraparound verandah beyond. ‘The wooden trim out there is fantastic, the workmanship is exquisite.’
She smiled. ‘You almost sound like a fan.’
‘Oh, I am. The hours that would have been spent on that work is mind-boggling. I’m a builder, and this house was constructed with great care. All the delicately carved trim, , though, that’s fantastic.’
The tone of his voice was clearly envious.
‘Do you carve?’ the question popped out of her mouth before she’d properly formed it in her mind.
Gabriel shrugged, then winced at the movement. ‘I enjoy it, and I’ve wanted to do more, but with my work, and then liaising with the local council on their environmental initiatives, I kind of lost the time.’ He gazed around the room. ‘Coming here, though, living in this house, it’s almost like stepping back into an age where time was slower, where there wasn’t all this pressure, and you had the opportunity to craft something of substance.’
She was surprised by his whimsy. It seemed her client had a touch of the romantic in him. ‘So how did you come to live here?’
He frowned. ‘It’s weird, really. I met a great-aunt recently, one I didn’t even know I had. My parents are both dead, so it was – nice, having that contact with family, even if I didn’t know she existed until just before she died.’ He gestured to the room. ‘And she left me this.’ He smiled sadly. ‘It came at the most opportune time. I’d just been shot, lost my job, and couldn’t pay my rent. Then I inherit this place. Come on, I’ll take you for a tour.’
Bella smiled as she rose with him. ‘Tony said something about it being haunted,’ she said.
‘Tony?’
‘The physiotherapist before me.’ She shook her head. ‘You didn’t learn his name? The guy lived with you for a while.’
Gabriel scowled. ‘Yeah, well, there have been a few. By number three, you figure it’s not going to be long before the next one comes along, so you don’t bother trying to remember the names.’
‘I’m so sorry.’ And she was. Each physiotherapist would have a different way of approaching the problem, and with the interrupted and constantly changing treatment, he had endured far more pain than he should have.
He stepped into a room beyond the living room – the dining room. She was already familiar with it. The formal stretch of a timber table worn smooth and shiny with a natural patina that showed a loving care through its years, the crystal chandelier that hung above the centre of the table, the matching crystal wall sconces, and the high-backed mahogany chairs lent the room a classical elegance that was still welcoming, despite its formality. A bay window at one end of the room faced the small patch of ground that ended abruptly in a cliff. The view was stunning, especially with the dark grey clouds that stretched sinuously toward the horizon. Gabriel turned to her, and in this room he looked even more like a pirate from another age, with his long hair and eye patch. He smiled. ‘Don’t take this personally, but I don’t have a lot of faith in physios.’
She arched an eyebrow. How could she not take that personally? ‘Why is that?’ She was pleased with the gentle enquiry she’d infused in her tone, instead of an offended exclamation.
‘Well, they always seem so disorganised. Forgetting where they’ve put this and that. The number of times I’ve heard “where did my tape go?”‘ he sighed and shook his head. ‘Maybe a haunting is as good an excuse as any….’
Goosebumps rose on Bella’s arms. ‘They had things go missing?’ She’d had a lot of items disappear, and she had told herself it was due to lack of sleep and a lack of focus. She’d been embarrassed by her own lack of professional organisation. She wasn’t a fanciful kind of person, didn’t believe in ghosts… but it was interesting to hear her predecessors had suffered similar problems.
‘All except the first one.’ He shuddered. ‘She was very organised.’
She ignored the little spurt of jealousy at his words, mainly because it didn’t sound as if he was praising her. ‘Why does that sound like a negative?’
He grimaced. ‘Oh, she seemed nice enough, but she started to organise everything else for me. She even rearranged my sock and underwear drawer to her preferences.’
Bella’s eyebrows rose. ‘Uh, that’s – dedicated.’
‘No, that’s creepy. And I’m not sure if she was even that good. My shoulder just seemed to get worse.’
‘What happened?’
‘I asked for a replacement.’
Bella winced. ‘Ouch.’
‘She turned down my bed every night, and wanted to tuck me in. I would wake up most mornings to find her sitting in the chair by my bed. I’m n
ot even sure if she went to her own room, or if she spent the nights in mine. I felt like I couldn’t do anything without her watching me. Creepy.’
He’d had a stalker physio, and she’d just spent the morning kissing him on the table. She was a bad, bad physio. Shame crept over her, staining her cheeks. No matter which way she cut it, she was in a position to care for the man, and she’d abused that position when she’d kissed him as though it was the last night on earth for the both of them.
‘Did you mention this to your claims handler?’
‘Yes. I think she’s on some holiday.’
‘A leave of absence.’ That’s what she’d do, if she’d heard one of their therapists was behaving in such a disturbing way. Oh, God – could she be disciplined for what she’d done with Gabriel earlier? She probably deserved it. She couldn’t afford to lose this job, lose her position in the health service.
No more putting her job at risk. She needed this money to pay her debts. She wasn’t about to ruin her dead father’s reputation by defaulting on his loans.
There would be no more kissing Gabriel Martin.
He led the way out of the door into the short hallway that led back to the kitchen. Although they couldn’t make out the words, they could hear the indistinct droning of Ellie, Ramsey and their unexpected visitor behind the door at the end of the hall. There was another door that she’d assumed led to a cupboard, but she was surprised when Gabriel opened it to reveal a dark cavity and spiral stairs.
‘And this is where they say it happened,’ he commented, raising his arm to gesture up the dusty steps with their wrought-iron railings.
‘Where what happened?’
‘Where Mona Murphy died.’
***
Gabriel watched with amusement as Bella’s jaw dropped.
‘Someone died here?’
‘Not just anyone, but the infamous Mona Murphy.’
‘Who was Mona Murphy?’
‘Mona Murphy was a maid for my great, great, great, great-grandmother. Apparently. There were some old newspapers in the attic when I first moved in, and a diary from dear old gran.’
Enraptured Page 6