Read Online The Vampire Laird (A Ravynne Sisters Paranormal Mystery/Romance) by Merabeth James - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Merabeth James
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prettier than we are, ” Meg muttered sotto voce. Charlie smiled her reply.
“It is a pleasure to see you both,” he told them, taking their hands in turn and holding Charlie’s just a tetch longer than she thought necessary. “You grace my simple home. Please have a seat.”
Charlie smiled what she hoped was a friendly smile and said, “Thank you for inviting us. Now tell me that Allyn will be here tonight. We have yet to hear from him.”
He lifted one brow and returned her smile. “He and Orianna will join us for dinner. I thought we could share a drink and perhaps get better acquainted before then. What is your pleasure, ladies? A glass of wine perhaps? I keep and excellent cellar.”
“Perhaps a glass of Chablis,” Meg said, as she settled into an antique chair she strongly suspected was an original Chippendale.
Charlie took the seat next to her. “Nothing for me, thank you.” she told him.
A shadow flickered in his green eyes. “As you wish,” he told her, crossing to the bell pull and summoning the butler. While they waited for the wine, Charlie and Meg looked around the room. The furniture was definitely 18th century and worth a fortune.
He apparently noticed their interest. “This manor was a ruin when I bought the Lairdship of Blackcreag, which included this manor, all the surrounding land, the village and the castle you see up on the black crag for which it was named. The title of ‘Laird’ came with it for the right price…one I was happy to pay. The furniture is authentic…most of it original to this house, though I had to search for a lot of the pieces through various dealers and auction houses in order to recover them. Though they were on the ‘right side’ of the Jacobite rebellion in 1745 and did not have to forfeit their land and title, it seems one lack penny laird after another bled this estate until there was little left. I would have loved to live in the castle, but it lacks any and all creature comforts so I focused my efforts on restoring this place, which is a veritable rabbit warren of additions and add-ons that are detrimental to the original builder’s intent. But it is what it is and I find myself quite at home here.”
“So you are officially the laird, if not by blood, by the right price. Just how did you find this place?” Meg asked, as the butler entered discreetly and left the tray on a side table.
Seth poured her a glass of chilled Chablis, as he replied, “Orianna and I were sailing along the coast on a particularly fine day and I saw the castle up on the cliffs. I was enchanted. The view of it from the sea is even more spectacular than from the landside. The manor house was a bonus, as was what was left of the village. It was pure coincidence that my name, Marley, so closely resembled the MacMorleys. I had hoped for a blood connection somewhere, but could find nothing unless you consider my love for this old place a tie to it.”
Charlie smiled. “As good as any, I would imagine. You have a slight accent…barely noticeable. May I ask your point of origin?”
“I was born in the States, but I’ve lived all over the world. This is as close to a permanent home as I’ve ever had, but even so, I come and go quite often.”
“I’m sure it’s terribly gauche to ask…maybe unforgivably so… but how in the world do you afford all this?” Meg asked, eying one beautiful and probably priceless antique after another.
He smiled at her over the rim of his glass. “I manage.” A bell rang from the bowels of the house and his smile deepened. “Saved by the bell from further interrogations. It appears supper is served. If you will allow me, ladies?”
They followed their host to the formal dining room with its long burled walnut table, matching chairs for twenty and enormous sideboard. He seated them on either side of him and frowned…his lips tightening in irritation. “Orinanna and your brother should be here shortly, but there seems to be a mistake in
“It is a pleasure to see you both,” he told them, taking their hands in turn and holding Charlie’s just a tetch longer than she thought necessary. “You grace my simple home. Please have a seat.”
Charlie smiled what she hoped was a friendly smile and said, “Thank you for inviting us. Now tell me that Allyn will be here tonight. We have yet to hear from him.”
He lifted one brow and returned her smile. “He and Orianna will join us for dinner. I thought we could share a drink and perhaps get better acquainted before then. What is your pleasure, ladies? A glass of wine perhaps? I keep and excellent cellar.”
“Perhaps a glass of Chablis,” Meg said, as she settled into an antique chair she strongly suspected was an original Chippendale.
Charlie took the seat next to her. “Nothing for me, thank you.” she told him.
A shadow flickered in his green eyes. “As you wish,” he told her, crossing to the bell pull and summoning the butler. While they waited for the wine, Charlie and Meg looked around the room. The furniture was definitely 18th century and worth a fortune.
He apparently noticed their interest. “This manor was a ruin when I bought the Lairdship of Blackcreag, which included this manor, all the surrounding land, the village and the castle you see up on the black crag for which it was named. The title of ‘Laird’ came with it for the right price…one I was happy to pay. The furniture is authentic…most of it original to this house, though I had to search for a lot of the pieces through various dealers and auction houses in order to recover them. Though they were on the ‘right side’ of the Jacobite rebellion in 1745 and did not have to forfeit their land and title, it seems one lack penny laird after another bled this estate until there was little left. I would have loved to live in the castle, but it lacks any and all creature comforts so I focused my efforts on restoring this place, which is a veritable rabbit warren of additions and add-ons that are detrimental to the original builder’s intent. But it is what it is and I find myself quite at home here.”
“So you are officially the laird, if not by blood, by the right price. Just how did you find this place?” Meg asked, as the butler entered discreetly and left the tray on a side table.
Seth poured her a glass of chilled Chablis, as he replied, “Orianna and I were sailing along the coast on a particularly fine day and I saw the castle up on the cliffs. I was enchanted. The view of it from the sea is even more spectacular than from the landside. The manor house was a bonus, as was what was left of the village. It was pure coincidence that my name, Marley, so closely resembled the MacMorleys. I had hoped for a blood connection somewhere, but could find nothing unless you consider my love for this old place a tie to it.”
Charlie smiled. “As good as any, I would imagine. You have a slight accent…barely noticeable. May I ask your point of origin?”
“I was born in the States, but I’ve lived all over the world. This is as close to a permanent home as I’ve ever had, but even so, I come and go quite often.”
“I’m sure it’s terribly gauche to ask…maybe unforgivably so… but how in the world do you afford all this?” Meg asked, eying one beautiful and probably priceless antique after another.
He smiled at her over the rim of his glass. “I manage.” A bell rang from the bowels of the house and his smile deepened. “Saved by the bell from further interrogations. It appears supper is served. If you will allow me, ladies?”
They followed their host to the formal dining room with its long burled walnut table, matching chairs for twenty and enormous sideboard. He seated them on either side of him and frowned…his lips tightening in irritation. “Orinanna and your brother should be here shortly, but there seems to be a mistake in
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