Read Online Lady Be Bad by Elaine Raco Chase - Free Book Online

summer
nights," he finally responded, leading her along a stone path
through a dense grove of towering maple trees and fragrant
evergreens.
    "Tell me more about the castle," she
invited, shuffling through the brown pine needles that threatened
to obscure most of the granite steps.
    "You'll be getting your first breathtaking
view right…" he hesitated while they climbed another four steps, "…
now!"
    Marlayna's gasp was genuine. "Breathtaking
is the perfect word! My goodness, Arthur, you own one big pink
castle!"
    His deep laugh echoed through the forest.
"It's the biggest, most romantic pink elephant on the St Lawrence,"
Arthur conceded with a grin. "The bell tower is five stories; there
are two huge boat houses on the far docks; forty-six bedrooms and
an indoor squash court which now accommodates my tennis skills. The
interior is filled with suits of armor, medieval weapons, a mix of
eighteenth and twentieth century furniture, plus a maze of secret
passages."
    She cleared her throat and tried to figure
out what question to ask first. "I can see the drawbridge now and a
fortress wall around the moat," Marlayna spoke to him, but her eyes
were still occupied by the sheer spectacle of the structure.
"Arthur, how long have you been building this place?"
    "I wish I could take the credit," he
returned, "but the castle was built in 1896 by Frederick G. Bourne,
the Singer Sewing Machine magnate. He imported nearly ninety
Italian stonemasons who worked on the rose-hued granite for eight
years. Most of the island's ten acres are in New York State, but a
small comer is in Canada."
    Arthur's hand cupped her right elbow and
resumed walking. "I have spent the last two years and considerable
sums of money maintaining and restoring the castle. All the
accolades deservedly go to the architect that handled the project,
Noah Drake. He's a wonderful man, and I'm thrilled that he and my
Gwen are engaged."
    Marlayna's foot skidded on the drawbridge,
her right ankle twisted and, if it hadn't been for Arthur Kingman's
helpful hand, she would have stumbled and thrashed her way into a
lily pad dotted moat
    "Are you all right?" He stooped to brush the
dirt off the knee of her white pants.
    "Fine. Really." She managed to calm her
erratic breathing. "As you can see, I'm more Thumbelina than
ballerina."
    Arthur took advantage of Marlayna's
embarrassment by snaking his arm around her waist. "This will
provide you with a bit more security." Looking over his shoulder,
he gave a cursory glance at the wide wooden planks. "I'll have one
of the groundskeepers check on that bridge. Won't do to have an
accident."
    A dozen steps later found them facing two
mammoth arched wooden doors. Arthur Kingman pushed against a round
brass plate, engraved with his coat of arms. "Noah had this
researched and fitted for a castle-warming present."
    "Very impressive," she agreed, taking the
proper amount of time to appreciate the heraldry. A gold crown was
centered between two gold halberds, or battle-axes, that were
crossed on a shield of red. Marlayna's gaze lowered to translate
the Latin motto: “Omnia Vincit Amor — love conquers all. Very, very
nice." It was trite but all she could manage.
    With a chivalrous half-bow, Arthur motioned
her inside. "Welcome to Kingman Castle." The massive reception hall
was cool and empty. "Right now all my guests are playing golf or
tennis, swimming, boating, relaxing or just snooping around."
    "Well, I can certainly see how snooping
around could become a habit here." She ran her fingers down the
cold arm of a six-foot suit of armor that stood guard by the stone
staircase. "Goodness, Arthur, I don't know what to look at
first."
    His responding smile was one of pure
pleasure. "Well, you'll have an entire week to snoop, my dear."
Arthur's hand slid around her shoulders to bestow an intimate
squeeze. "And in that week I want to take some time for the two of
us to get better acquainted. You know, Marlayna," his gray eyes
narrowed on her face.