Read Online The Vampire Laird (A Ravynne Sisters Paranormal Mystery/Romance) by Merabeth James - Free Book Online
Authors: Merabeth James
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attention, knowing that whatever Meg was about to ask was very important to her.
“Well, Mr. Marley called me ‘lovely’, but he was just being whatever he was being, and he didn’t mean it and that worm at the pub spent the whole time figuring out my cup size and…..”
“And?”
“Am I…you know…am I, well…pretty?”
Charlie grabbed her arm, spun her around and pointed her at the mirror. “Haven’t we been through this before? Just look at yourself! You’re beautiful, Meg! Really beautiful! Inside and out!”
“That’s just big sister talk. I want the truth,” she said in little more than a whisper.
Charlie laughed and tilted Meg’s chin up till they were eye to eye. “What will it take to convince you that I’m telling the truth?”
Meg thought for a moment and then said, “What I’m going to ask will make you seem really silly.”
“And when has that ever stopped me?”
“Okay. Remember when we were kids and we were lying if we couldn’t say ‘cabbage’ ten times without laughing or smiling? Do it, Charlie. Say cabbage ten times and I’ll believe you.”
Since Charlie was already laughing, Meg’s challenge wasn’t as easy as it used to be. “Okay, Meg, here goes.” Taking a deep breath and pinching herself really hard she managed the ten ‘cabbages’ without even a smile.
Meg waited till she was finished then grinned widely. “Thanks. You looked utterly ridiculous by the way. Besides, if you were lying your nose would grow and it’s not exactly pert now.”
Which earned her a pillow thunk. Their scrimmage was brief and required extensive repairs to both hair and makeup, but both were ready when the vintage Rolls Royce pulled up at the front door, where Tilda just happened to be sweeping. She muttered something neither sister wanted to hear as a uniformed chauffeur opened the car door and bowed them inside, then climbed into the front.
Settling back in the deep leather seats Meg smiled. “I feel like Cinderella on her way to the guillotine, since neither of us knows what we’re getting into tonight. About your nose,” she said with a sideways glance at her sister.
Charlie smiled and asked, “The one that’s too long to be pert?”
“That’s the one. It looks good on you.”
Charlie laughed and squeezed her sister’s hand. “And I was so worried,” she replied dryly.
***
The butler led them across the entry hall, where their heels clicked loudly on the black and white marble floor. “Not our best stealth mode,” Meg whispered.
“I have a feeling that Mr. Marley would be a hard man to sneak up on,” Charlie whispered back, as they continued on past the twin staircases that swept, gracefully, upward to a long gallery at the top. A large vase of purple gladiolas sat on an antique table beneath an Empire mirror, where they each, surreptitiously, glanced at their reflection as they passed. The butler led them down a side hall, where a Persian runner muted their footsteps, then opened a paneled door at the far end and intoned, “Your guests have arrived, your lordship.” With that, he moved to one side and they stepped into the manor’s library, where floor to ceiling bookcases covered the walls. It could easily have swallowed the library at Hensley Hall whole and still have room for dessert. They found their host pouring over a map he had spread over the top of a large mahogany desk. He looked up when they entered and smiled. His green eyes swept over them both, as he rose and crossed the room.
Meg sucked in her breath. He really was a gorgeous man! Dressed in Highland black tie attire, he was resplendent in short black jacket with matching waistcoat, white shirt and black tie. He wore a kilt with matching plaid slung over his left shoulder and pinned with the amethyst and silver brooch they had seen earlier. His shoes had silver buckles and a silver chain supported the fur sporran he wore around his waist. A jeweled dirk hung against his thigh. “He’s
“Well, Mr. Marley called me ‘lovely’, but he was just being whatever he was being, and he didn’t mean it and that worm at the pub spent the whole time figuring out my cup size and…..”
“And?”
“Am I…you know…am I, well…pretty?”
Charlie grabbed her arm, spun her around and pointed her at the mirror. “Haven’t we been through this before? Just look at yourself! You’re beautiful, Meg! Really beautiful! Inside and out!”
“That’s just big sister talk. I want the truth,” she said in little more than a whisper.
Charlie laughed and tilted Meg’s chin up till they were eye to eye. “What will it take to convince you that I’m telling the truth?”
Meg thought for a moment and then said, “What I’m going to ask will make you seem really silly.”
“And when has that ever stopped me?”
“Okay. Remember when we were kids and we were lying if we couldn’t say ‘cabbage’ ten times without laughing or smiling? Do it, Charlie. Say cabbage ten times and I’ll believe you.”
Since Charlie was already laughing, Meg’s challenge wasn’t as easy as it used to be. “Okay, Meg, here goes.” Taking a deep breath and pinching herself really hard she managed the ten ‘cabbages’ without even a smile.
Meg waited till she was finished then grinned widely. “Thanks. You looked utterly ridiculous by the way. Besides, if you were lying your nose would grow and it’s not exactly pert now.”
Which earned her a pillow thunk. Their scrimmage was brief and required extensive repairs to both hair and makeup, but both were ready when the vintage Rolls Royce pulled up at the front door, where Tilda just happened to be sweeping. She muttered something neither sister wanted to hear as a uniformed chauffeur opened the car door and bowed them inside, then climbed into the front.
Settling back in the deep leather seats Meg smiled. “I feel like Cinderella on her way to the guillotine, since neither of us knows what we’re getting into tonight. About your nose,” she said with a sideways glance at her sister.
Charlie smiled and asked, “The one that’s too long to be pert?”
“That’s the one. It looks good on you.”
Charlie laughed and squeezed her sister’s hand. “And I was so worried,” she replied dryly.
***
The butler led them across the entry hall, where their heels clicked loudly on the black and white marble floor. “Not our best stealth mode,” Meg whispered.
“I have a feeling that Mr. Marley would be a hard man to sneak up on,” Charlie whispered back, as they continued on past the twin staircases that swept, gracefully, upward to a long gallery at the top. A large vase of purple gladiolas sat on an antique table beneath an Empire mirror, where they each, surreptitiously, glanced at their reflection as they passed. The butler led them down a side hall, where a Persian runner muted their footsteps, then opened a paneled door at the far end and intoned, “Your guests have arrived, your lordship.” With that, he moved to one side and they stepped into the manor’s library, where floor to ceiling bookcases covered the walls. It could easily have swallowed the library at Hensley Hall whole and still have room for dessert. They found their host pouring over a map he had spread over the top of a large mahogany desk. He looked up when they entered and smiled. His green eyes swept over them both, as he rose and crossed the room.
Meg sucked in her breath. He really was a gorgeous man! Dressed in Highland black tie attire, he was resplendent in short black jacket with matching waistcoat, white shirt and black tie. He wore a kilt with matching plaid slung over his left shoulder and pinned with the amethyst and silver brooch they had seen earlier. His shoes had silver buckles and a silver chain supported the fur sporran he wore around his waist. A jeweled dirk hung against his thigh. “He’s
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