Read Online The Presence by Heather Graham - Free Book Online

wealthy. Gina, however, is a marketing genius. She decided that she could take all of our talents and market them. That way, we could acquire a castle, work hard and give some of the magic to the public.”
    â€œStupid idea,” he murmured hotly, looking at the fire again.
    â€œIt’s not a stupid idea!” she protested. “You saw how the people came.”
    â€œThe locals will never enjoy such a spectacle.”
    â€œMaybe not, but the shows aren’t intended for the locals. They will help the economy all around, don’t yousee that? People who come to the castle for the history, the splendor or even the spectacle will spend money in other places. It will be good for local stores, for restaurants…for everyone around.”
    â€œI don’t agree,” he said, fighting the rise of his temper again.
    â€œThen you’re a fool.”
    â€œOh, really?”
    â€œIndeed, a blind fool!” She turned toward him, no longer ashen, passion in her voice, fire in her eyes. “You saw those people when they left here! They were thrilled. And they loved Scotland. Don’t you want people to love your country?”
    â€œNot a mockery of it,” he told her.
    â€œI told you, we’re not mocking it!” She shook her head, growing aggravated. “Others give tours of the closes and graveyards in Edinburgh. People are fascinated. We like to think that we’ve come far from doing horrible things to one another, even under the pretext of law. We’re not saying that the Scots were especially brutal, we’re explaining that it was just a different time!”
    â€œVoyeurs!” he said roughly, waving a hand in the air. “And that’s Edinburgh. A big city. We’re talking about a small village here.”
    â€œIt’s hard these days to buy a castle in the middle of town,” she said sarcastically.
    â€œMany people don’t want to be reminded of mayhem and murder,” he said.
    She let out a sigh of exasperation. “Don’t you ever do anything for fun?” she asked him. “Have you ever seen a movie? A play? Gone to the opera?”
    He looked at the fire again. “The point is, this is asmall, remote village. It could be a dangerous place for tourists to wander.”
    â€œDangerous!” she said dismissively.
    He felt tension welling in him.
    â€œThere are forests, crags and bogs. Hillsides. Crannies and cairns. Places where the footing is treacherous at best,” he said. “Places that are remote, dark and, aye, believe me, dangerous.” His own argument sounded weak even to him.
    Maybe he was a fool for being so suspicious, wary…when he need not be. But the lasses were gone, were they not?
    Gone. Two of them. Found dead. Here.
    â€œWhat are you talking about?” she demanded.
    He had no intention of trying to explain what had happened, or why he was so concerned. Even Jonathan Tavish thought it was a problem for others, for big-city authorities. After all, the women had not disappeared from here. They had just been found here.
    â€œAntoinette Fraser, ” he said suddenly, determined to change the subject. “So…your father was Scottish, or Scottish-American?”
    â€œHe was half, but born here. His dad married during the war. On his side, my grandmother was French. My mother was Irish.”
    â€œWas?”
    â€œI lost her my first year of college.”
    â€œI’m sorry.”
    â€œThanks.”
    â€œAnd your father?”
    â€œI lost him, too,” she said softly. “A few years ago. His heart gave out. I think that he missed my mother, actually.”
    â€œI’m sorry again.”
    â€œThanks.” She hesitated, then asked, “If you are the laird, then…?”
    â€œIndeed, my parents went together. An automobile accident in London.”
    â€œI’m sorry,” she murmured.
    â€œThank you,” he acknowledged. “It was over