Read Online Gift of Fire by Jayne Ann Krentz - Free Book Online Page B

villa, I imagined something a little grander.” The noise of the launch engine kept her complaints from being overheard by their host, who was busy guiding the boat into a small cove.
    Jonas chuckled, amused by her dismay. “Not everything built during the Renaissance was an architectural marvel. Just ask anyone who was born and raised in Rome, or Milan, or Florence. The most important criterion for a Renaissance house was that it be able to withstand an armed assault. This sucker looks like it was built to do the job.”
    “I’ll say.” Verity shivered. “It’s going to be dark and gloomy inside.”
    “Well, it won’t be cheerful, that’s for sure, but it may not be too dark. It’s built around an enclosed courtyard. The rooms will all have much larger windows on the inside walls.”
    “Just as long as it has indoor plumbing.”
    “Don’t worry. Doug assured me that his uncle installed modern plumbing and wiring in the south wing. That’s the wing facing us. Hazelhurst didn’t fancy roughing it out here on an isolated island.”
    Verity noticed a cheerful note in his voice and smiled. “You’re really getting into this, aren’t you? I can’t believe it. I practically had to threaten you to take this job, and already you’re enjoying yourself. Admit it.”
    Jonas glanced at his duffel bag, which contained, among other things, Digby Hazelhurst’s diary. “Might turn out to be interesting after all.”
    “I knew it,” Verity said with satisfaction. “Jonas, I have the feeling this is going to be the beginning of a wonderful consulting career.”
    “We’ll see.”
    But Verity refused to be put off by his cautious attitude. She had seen him poring over Hazelhurst’s diary for the past two days. He had spent every free minute with it before they had left Sequence Springs, and he’d kept his nose buried in it during the flight from San Francisco to Seattle. He had also gone through several texts on Renaissance architecture. Jonas might not admit it yet, Verity thought, but he was fascinated by the project ahead of him.
    Doug Warwick had met them at the airport in Seattle. Laura had been right about him—he did own a BMW. They had driven north of the city to the ferry terminal that served the San Juan Islands. The ferry had taken them to one of the larger, more populated islands, and from there Doug had driven them to a marina where he kept a launch.
    “The island Uncle Digby built his villa on is too small and isolated to be serviced by the ferry system,” Warwick had explained as he’d helped his guests into the boat. “He came over to this island to do his shopping and pick up supplies.”
    “Does anyone else live on Hazelhurst’s island?” Verity had asked as she hobbled carefully into the boat, using Jonas’s arm for support. Her ankle was still sore.
    “Just Maggie Frampton, Uncle Digby’s housekeeper. I was sure she’d give her notice after my uncle died. His death really shook her up. I gather the two of them had a thing going. I can’t imagine why she would want to stay all alone in that pile of stone, but she seems content. She’s free to use the launch whenever she wants to shop or visit her sister in Portland.”
    The island was tiny, just an oversized piece of rock covered by a thick forest of pine and fir. The stark, gloomy atmosphere was embellished by the gray skies and chill, damp breeze. Jonas had been right when he’d warned her this wasn’t going to be like Hawaii, Verity thought wryly.
    The small cove below the villa had a floating dock. Verity steadied herself as Doug cut the engine. Jonas leaped lightly up onto the dock and grabbed the lines Doug tossed to him. Then he reached down to help Verity out of the boat.
    “With any luck, your room will be ready. Maggie’s a good-hearted soul, but she’s sometimes a little disorganized. She’s not used to having a houseful of strangers,” Doug explained as he collected the luggage from the back of the launch. “Uncle