Read Online Sealed With a Kiss by Rachael Lucas - Free Book Online Page A

eye on you as well.’ Jean poured her a cup of tea, before leaving Kate to survey the sitting room alone. It was tattered
but beautiful, the walls panelled with wood, a threadbare rug by the fireplace. The table was piled with books and magazines – a strange, eclectic mixture of marine biology, interior decor
and out-of-date copies of
Vogue
and
Hello!
    The door opened to the sound of Roderick and Jean laughing together. Their easy familiarity caused another wave of homesickness to wash over Kate.
    ‘One lesson you’ll learn quickly,’ Roderick said as he reappeared, holding Willow, now cradled in his arms like a baby and staring at him adoringly, ‘is
“Don’t argue with Jean”. Braver men than me have tried, and failed.’
    ‘Och, away.’ Jean was smiling at him with as much adoration as Willow. Roderick was clearly the apple of her eye, but Kate couldn’t see the appeal. Admittedly he was more
handsome than she’d expected, but, cosseted and living in a castle, Roderick clearly had no idea of how the other half lived.
    ‘Leave Kate with me, Roddy, and I’ll have a wee look at her shoulder now.’
    ‘See what I mean? I’ll take this little one away and get her settled.’ He left, carrying the sleeping Willow in his arms. Typically upper-class, all horses and dogs and
shooting.
    ‘Let me have a look at that shoulder, Kate.’ Jean gently lifted up the sleeve of her T-shirt, revealing a mass of stone scratches and the beginnings of some nasty bruising.
    ‘Ow!’ Looking at the mess of her arm, Kate felt a bit sick. It hurt a lot more now that she’d seen the damage.
    ‘I was hoping to get you to see Duntarvie under slightly better circumstances, Kate, but welcome nonetheless. I hope you like it here.’ Jean gave her a kind look.
    ‘It’s been a bit of a day. Car, people, puppy – and now this. I have to keep reminding myself I was coming here for a bit of quiet.’
    ‘Och, you’ll not get that here on Auchenmor. There’s always something going on.’
    ‘So I see.’ Kate tried to stand up, but her balance was definitely off-kilter.
    ‘Sit yourself back down. I’m going to go and sort your bath out for you now, and I don’t want you getting into any more trouble.’
    Kate poured another cup of tea and watched the logs burning in the fireplace. It was very much like being in a faded country-house hotel, but this was someone’s
home.
The idea of
Roderick living alone in a place this size was insane. How on earth could he sleep at night in a house with countless empty bedrooms, and corridors just begging for ghosts to wander around them
clanking chains – or whatever ghosts did these days. She shivered at the thought of it.
    Jean reappeared, making Kate jump. ‘Now, up to your bath, young lady, and no arguments.
    The bathroom was huge, white and stark. But the bath was full to the brim with lavender-scented bubbles and, next to the towels, a pile of clothes lay folded neatly on a chair.
Kate peered at them through the steam. What on earth? They were definitely her pyjamas, her dressing gown and her fluffy slippers. Someone – it must have been Jean, surely – had been
back to the cottage and found them. Kate grimaced. The idea of someone going through her belongings, not to mention seeing the state of her already messed-up bedroom, was awful. Jean was right when
she said there were no secrets on this island, she thought, clambering gingerly into the boiling hot water. At least she’d bought new pyjamas before she’d left Cambridge, instead of
bringing the ancient scruffy nightshirt she’d worn while living with Ian. She leaned back, wincing with pain, and closed her eyes for just a second, luxuriating in the scented foam.
    ‘Kate?’
    A man’s voice through the door woke her from her sleep. Heat-drunk and slightly shocked from the fall, she must have dozed off in the bath. It took a couple of moments before she could
gather her thoughts to reply.
    ‘Sorry, sorry. I’m