It Happened One Bite Read Free Page B

refused to budge. He yanked once more and ended up falling to the floor, but he had managed to open the door. Aiden stood up and dusted himself off. He pulled a taper from the wall and held it out to Blaire. “Would ye mind?”
    “I never did mind very well.”
    “I hope ye have a daughter just like yerself some day, Blaire,” he grunted as she lit his taper and he started down the corridor.
    “Where is Aiden goin’?” Brannock cried. Blaire soothed him with her hand on his back. But his teeth still chattered loudly enough that she could hear them.
    “Explorin’, I would imagine,” she said absently, and she turned her attention to take in the uncovered furniture. Even after years of misuse, the settees and chairs looked to be in much better condition than what they were accustomed to in Edinburgh. How strange this place was.
    “What if a monster eats him?” Brannock pressed.
    Blaire swiped her finger across the mantel over the imposing stone fireplace and grimaced. Filth. “Then it would have a horrible stomach ache later. I imagine he’s no’ very tasty.”
    “That is no’ humorous,” the youngest Lindsay grunted.
    “Ye ken how much I love ta entertain.” Blaire winked at him, hoping to tease him into better spirits.
    “B-Blaire,” Brannock stuttered as he stepped back from her, his finger pointing at her as all the blood drained from his face.
    “What is it, Bran?” she asked.
    “Ye’re g-g-glowin’,” he croaked.
    Blaire looked down at herself, and sure enough, the signet ring she normally wore around her neck had a definite shine to it. “It’s just the light from the wall sconces,” she said with a dismissive wave of her hand. “It reflects off the stone.”
    But it was more than that. And Blaire knew quite well that the glow wasn’t benign. She picked the ring up and gazed at the ruby-red stone. It almost seemed to mock her. She dropped the heirloom inside her dress where it rested heavily against her skin. She fingered it absently through the material. It seemed warmer to the touch than it should have in such a cold room.
    What was this place they’d stumbled into? And why had she never heard of it before? “Help me fold up the cloths, will ye?” Until she had a firm understanding of the goings-on at Briarcraig, she didn’t want to worry Brannock for no reason. Keeping him busy would keep his mind occupied. At least she hoped so.
    For a time, they folded the sheets and tried to keep from inhaling the dust that drifted up with every step they took. A scratching sound from the chimney caught Blaire’s attention, and she stepped toward it. A moment later, a bat flew from the opening and she cursed softly as she ducked to avoid the creature.
    “I heard that,” Aiden admonished as he entered the massive room, heavily burdened by one of their trunks. “Ladies do no’ curse.”
    “Then it’s a good thing I’m no’ one,” she said smartly, a smile on her face as she turned toward him. “What did ye find down the corridor?”
    Aiden chuckled. “An exit. And lots and lots of rooms. But at least it appears to be safe, even if it is dirty.” He stomped his foot. “The structure is sound, so at least I have somethin’ ta build upon.”
    Blaire yawned behind her hand. “Did ye find any beds? I am exhausted.”
    “Aye. Several bedchambers upstairs are full of furniture draped with cloths. Pick one ye fancy, change the bedclothes, and then ye can go ta sleep.” He nodded toward the trunk, which she knew contained fresh linens and several counterpanes.
    Falling asleep would be heavenly. “Tomorrow, I’ll have to clean,” she moaned.
    “Tomorrow, there’s a lot ta be done. Are ye ready ta eat?”
    She shook her head. “I’m too tired. I’m goin’ ta go ta bed.” She started for the corridor.
    “Oh, Blaire,” Aiden called.
    She turned back to him.
    “A neighbor stopped by as Ferguson’s coachman headed toward the village—”
    Even the bloody coachmen knew better than