Read Online Rogue of the Borders by Cynthia Breeding - Free Book Online
Authors: Cynthia Breeding
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townhouse?”
“’Tis nae much to see. The top floors are empty. Since I spend most of my time at sea, I keep a cot and clothes in what would be the drawing room on this floor. ’Tis easier on Janet nae to have to clean more than I use.”
A cot? Something that felt like a heavy brick settled in the pit of Abigail’s stomach. How was she ever going to convince Shane to consummate their marriage if there was not even a bed in the house? Well. This was going to be her home now. Surely Shane would allow her to furnish it.
“If you will give me a budget, I should be happy to purchase some furnishings.”
“’Tis nae—” He stopped. “Let me show ye the library. I think ye will like it.”
Furrowing her brow, Abigail followed him as he nearly bolted down the hallway. Did he not want her to buy furniture? She passed the dining room—at least it held a table and chairs, although nothing more. Shane didn’t really expect her to live in an empty townhouse, did he?
Her mind reeled when she stepped foot inside the library. She had entered a completely different world. The room was circular with alternating black and white tiles on the floor. The walls ascended two stories and were richly paneled in the same dark-red teak as the ship. An iron, spiral staircase led to the upper floor that was lined with shelves containing hundreds of books. A thin, metal rail circled the balcony and a crystal chandelier hung from the high ceiling on a heavy chain.
On the ground floor, a massive desk occupied one side of the room, covered in architectural sketches and charts with a globe on its own stand beside it. Across from that, a huge black leather sofa faced two comfortable - looking wingback chairs near the hearth where a fire blazed welcomingly. Several pictures of Rosslyn Chapel adorned the walls as well as two paintings of battle scenes. A faint smell of sandalwood lingered in the air.
“ This is amazing.”
“Thank ye. ’Tis the reason I bought the townhouse—to store my books.”
“This room is like heaven. I could spend days in here,” Abigail said. “The circular design is so unique. It reminds me a little of Temple Church.”
Shane gave her a thoughtful look and then smiled. “I designed the room myself.”
“It is absolutely fantastic. I had no idea you were so talented.”
Shane shrugged. “I did the design. I had help with the actual work.”
“Well, no matter. You were the architect.” Slowly turning in a circle, Abigail looked up at the second floor. “I am going to love spending time in here. You will not mind if I join you, will you?”
Just then, Janet appeared at the door to announce lunch. It wasn’t until much later that Abigail realized Shane had given her no answer.
David’s injuries were worse than Shane had thought. He looked at the young man braced stiffly in a chair beside a brazier in his parents’ small apartment. Plaster casts covered both upper arms as well as forearms, meaning he had suffered multiple breaks. His face was a mass of yellow-green and purple bruises, his eyes only half-open. From his shallow breathing, Shane knew David probably had several broken ribs as well.
“Ye have nae idea who did this?”
“Nae,” he answered through swollen lips. “I was nigh Cowgate when three of them came out of King’s Close.”
Shane clenched a fist. Even though most of the cellars and basements that had once served as residences beneath the Royal Mile had been abandoned due to lack of water supply and ventilation, their narrow stairs and alleyways still served the criminal population. Cut-throats and thieves could disappear quickly down there as well.
“Were ye coming home late?” Shane asked.
“Nae. My usual time.”
“Did any of them say anything to ye?”
David shook his head slowly. “Only that I looked like a merchant and they wanted my coin.”
Shane frowned. “Doona tell me ye resisted giving it to them.”
“Nae. I gave them what I had. I kenned
“’Tis nae much to see. The top floors are empty. Since I spend most of my time at sea, I keep a cot and clothes in what would be the drawing room on this floor. ’Tis easier on Janet nae to have to clean more than I use.”
A cot? Something that felt like a heavy brick settled in the pit of Abigail’s stomach. How was she ever going to convince Shane to consummate their marriage if there was not even a bed in the house? Well. This was going to be her home now. Surely Shane would allow her to furnish it.
“If you will give me a budget, I should be happy to purchase some furnishings.”
“’Tis nae—” He stopped. “Let me show ye the library. I think ye will like it.”
Furrowing her brow, Abigail followed him as he nearly bolted down the hallway. Did he not want her to buy furniture? She passed the dining room—at least it held a table and chairs, although nothing more. Shane didn’t really expect her to live in an empty townhouse, did he?
Her mind reeled when she stepped foot inside the library. She had entered a completely different world. The room was circular with alternating black and white tiles on the floor. The walls ascended two stories and were richly paneled in the same dark-red teak as the ship. An iron, spiral staircase led to the upper floor that was lined with shelves containing hundreds of books. A thin, metal rail circled the balcony and a crystal chandelier hung from the high ceiling on a heavy chain.
On the ground floor, a massive desk occupied one side of the room, covered in architectural sketches and charts with a globe on its own stand beside it. Across from that, a huge black leather sofa faced two comfortable - looking wingback chairs near the hearth where a fire blazed welcomingly. Several pictures of Rosslyn Chapel adorned the walls as well as two paintings of battle scenes. A faint smell of sandalwood lingered in the air.
“ This is amazing.”
“Thank ye. ’Tis the reason I bought the townhouse—to store my books.”
“This room is like heaven. I could spend days in here,” Abigail said. “The circular design is so unique. It reminds me a little of Temple Church.”
Shane gave her a thoughtful look and then smiled. “I designed the room myself.”
“It is absolutely fantastic. I had no idea you were so talented.”
Shane shrugged. “I did the design. I had help with the actual work.”
“Well, no matter. You were the architect.” Slowly turning in a circle, Abigail looked up at the second floor. “I am going to love spending time in here. You will not mind if I join you, will you?”
Just then, Janet appeared at the door to announce lunch. It wasn’t until much later that Abigail realized Shane had given her no answer.
David’s injuries were worse than Shane had thought. He looked at the young man braced stiffly in a chair beside a brazier in his parents’ small apartment. Plaster casts covered both upper arms as well as forearms, meaning he had suffered multiple breaks. His face was a mass of yellow-green and purple bruises, his eyes only half-open. From his shallow breathing, Shane knew David probably had several broken ribs as well.
“Ye have nae idea who did this?”
“Nae,” he answered through swollen lips. “I was nigh Cowgate when three of them came out of King’s Close.”
Shane clenched a fist. Even though most of the cellars and basements that had once served as residences beneath the Royal Mile had been abandoned due to lack of water supply and ventilation, their narrow stairs and alleyways still served the criminal population. Cut-throats and thieves could disappear quickly down there as well.
“Were ye coming home late?” Shane asked.
“Nae. My usual time.”
“Did any of them say anything to ye?”
David shook his head slowly. “Only that I looked like a merchant and they wanted my coin.”
Shane frowned. “Doona tell me ye resisted giving it to them.”
“Nae. I gave them what I had. I kenned
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