She stopped pacing and sat heavily down on the trunk at the base of the bed, lowering her head into her hands, her fingers threading through her hair. This was not supposed to happen. Now everything she had so neatly tied up was starting to unravel. And there was nothing she could do to stop it. If it wasn’t for her true loves stupid brother—oh why did he have to go and ruin everything with his talk of unnaturalness? She would give him a hefty dose of unnaturalness in a minute…or would if she had her books with her. Now what was she going to do? What was his problem anyway? Obviously, he was an odious clod. And here she thought he was the nice one. Apparently, she was wrong on that count as well as a few others. She expected that from the young lad that lurked in the shadows, eyeing her warily at every turn, but not Jayce, the seemingly good-humored brother. She tapped her finger to her chin. Now that she thought on it, it was still probably the boys fault. What was his name…she was sure she heard mention of it but somehow could not recall what it was. His name wasn’t really the problem. It was him and all his superstitious ramblings. He always looked at Marguerite as though she would turn into a beasty before his eyes.
Yes, the more she thought about it the more certain she became that he was the cause of all this unnatural mumbo jumbo. She stood and crawled over onto the bed, propping herself on the pillows. Her mind spinning variables…wait a minute. It could have been that girl with the wild red hair and strange colored eyes. Yes, now that she thought about it she was sure she was the one responsible.
Of course, Marguerite didn’t know anything for a fact, it was merely a hunch. A hunch she had gotten from dodging the girl’s death dagger glares every time she saw her. She, the girl had even tried to come into the room a few times but Darias wouldn’t let her. He told her she had done enough or she had not done enough…Marguerite didn’t know, she only knew the girl was not happy about the answer, hence the death dagger stares.
Truthfully, if Jayce wanted to know the cause of the unnaturalness in the keep, he should look in that girl’s direction. She certainly looked like a witch and probably was one as well. Marguerite could always tell, probably because she had dabbled in the arts a time or two, whilst hidden away in her secret room, the one no one knew about. That was where the book was too, the one with the hand colored pages and gilt edging, the one she left behind. She sighed heavily and pulled the heavy furs back around her body. At least Darias stuck up for her, but what had he sacrificed with his brother to do so? She felt absolutely terrible. Jayce’s opinion didn’t matter or at least that is what she wanted to believe, even though she really wasn’t so sure. It seemed everyone was against her. “Oh, take it.”
***
Darias walked back into of his bedchamber with a heavy heart. He turned and shut the door, sliding the bolt back into place. The good humor he had felt only moments before was now completely gone. He ran a weary hand over his brow and noticed it shook slightly. What in the bloody hell had gotten into his brother? Jayce had never acted like that. Darias almost laughed at the absurdity of it all. It would seem his brother and everyone he called family had turned against him, but why? That question was plaguing him now. The words his brother said resonated to his core. “Something unnatural is afoot.” Darias found he could wholeheartedly agree.
More than meets the eye
RAVENHURST * PRESENT DAY
LUCIAN gulped the rest of his drink down and slid the glass back across the polished burled wood of the bar in the Pig and Dumpling tavern, which was attached to the only bed and breakfast in the town. It had stood the test of time, well at least some of it had. After a fire had nearly taken the place down in the early nineteen hundreds, it was rebuilt by yet another owner and this one seemed to have stuck. Much like Reed had stuck with Ravenhurst. “Winnie, be a love and pour me another, would you?”
The buxom brunette eyed him from the other side of the bar. “What’s on your mind, you want to bend my ear a bit, tell me what’s bothering you?”
Lucian smiled, exposing his perfectly straight white teeth as his dimples made an appearance. “No, I think not. It is a long story, one I don’t think you’d want to be bothered with.”
Winnie smiled, revealing her overlapping front teeth, in an otherwise pretty face. “Suit yourself,” she said, and sent his drink sliding back down the bar, causing her full breasts to jiggle from the action. She pulled a towel out of her apron front and went back to drying the wet glasses.
Lucian sipped at his drink, the heavy lager leaving a bitter residue on his tongue. No, he was not of a mind to hold a conversation with anyone. He needed to figure out what he was going to do. He had already used the computer and tried to check out Raven. It was true she did work for Biddle and Bailey, but what he found unusual was she was only a receptionist who was temping there, not a seasoned appraiser. And of course, there was more that gave him pause; she also had a freaky resemblance to the former receptionist that had worked in her position, Katherine Jamison, before she went missing. It was one of those unsolved missing person cases. And it seemed no one was too worried about finding her either. Again, a rather strange coincidence or was something else afoot? What most intrigued him was the fact she had gone missing from Ravenhurst of all places, from a benefit Reed had thrown there to raise money for the place.
Why did Reed need money? And now why was he having the contents of Ravenhurst appraised by a meager receptionist. No, there were too many coincidences. Lucian had learned one thing in all his years, there normally weren’t any coincidences, and there was usually a purpose. But whose? Reed’s? Or someone else’s? He finished off the rest of his drink and tossed a crumpled twenty on the bar. “Thanks.”
“Not a problem, come back anytime,” Winnie tossed back, watching his delectable backside as he exited the bar.
“So it was him then?”
Winnie looked back over her shoulder at the man who had just entered the bar from a secret door in the tavern. “It would seem so.”
“Did you want me to call, or do you want to do it?”
“Don’t you think we should give him a bit more time?”
“No.”
Winnie let out a breathy sigh. “Fine, I’ll do it then. Just let me finish dryin’ the glasses.”
“Don’t forget.”
“Please, like I would do that and have you chewing my ear raw for eternity. Now go, I’ll do it once I am finished here.” Winnie let out another sigh. “Come on; now get outta here before someone sees you.”
“Fine, but I am gonna be watching you.”
“Yeah, like that matters.”
“What did you say?”
“I said yeah, I heard you the first time, now get on with yourself.”
The man lifted a lever on the wall. A fake panel slid open revealing a black hole, which he stepped through and pulled another lever. The secret door slid closed once more.
***
Raven gripped the door handle with one hand and struggled to hold her things in the other. She was on to catalogue the contents of yet another room; she had three pens stuck in her hair, a camera wrapped around her wrist holding her folio, an ipad, and her iPod was on full blast. The items were slipping from her grasp as she turned the handle of the door. This level was her least favorite she had been on. It had a bad, musty, unused odor to it, like it had literally been closed up and forgotten for centuries. She hoped this damn room had windows; the last one she was in didn’t and she had to tie a bandana around her face like a bank robber from an old western. It was better to do that than be asphyxiated from the foul stench of the room. She fully intended on opening the windows to let in not only fresh air but some light as well. The old fixtures were lovely but they barely gave out any light at all. It was hard to see what she was taking the inventory of, luckily the camera had a flash, later she would load them on her computer and enlarge them so she could make out the signatures on some of the better pieces.
She wondered what time it was, she knew she had to meet Reed, but also wanted a shower
and change before that happened. Knowing Reed, he was probably wearing his Italian loafers, a pristine button up shirt without a wrinkle on it and a pair of soft wool trousers. Did his ass ever wear jeans and a t-shirt? No, Reed was always impeccably dressed, which made Raven feel completely inadequate. Well at least that is what she told herself. She always felt much better wearing her designer duds when she was around people like Reed. Her clothing was her coat of armor that she wore like a shield against people who were so far out of her league, which was one of the tricks Cecily had taught her. Thinking back, Raven recalled when she wore a suit that looked like Chanel to work one day and Cecily had asked, “Is that Chanel?” Raven almost fell out. “Ah, I wish,” she had laughed in response.
Cecily had stared at her for a moment clicking her Montblanc pen, as she seemed to consider her next words.
“What?” Raven asked.
“Raven sweetie, never ever admit you are not wearing Chanel if you are asked.”
“I can’t do that,” said Raven. “It’s not true.”
Cecily had laughed throatily, and said, “So what.”
“Why would I lie about what clothing I am wearing?”
“Because it sounds so much better, don’t you think?”
“Sure it does, but if it is not true…”
Cecily had shaken her head. “Who cares—no one will check your tag. Just lie.”
Raven wasn’t so sure that would be her best course of action but didn’t say anything to Cecily.
She clearly remembered Cecily leaning forward. “Think about it, you are a receptionist, right?”
“Yeah, well kind of. I am only a temp right now.”
“Yes, I know,” she had said, waving her hand dismissively. “Think about it. Imagine what you would think of a temp wearing Chanel.”
“I’d be a bit jealous and would wonder how a temp could actually afford Chanel. I mean, she must not need the money.”
“BINGO!”
Raven wasn’t sure she had understood what Cecily was trying to tell her. “Okay, so what good does lying do?”
“You just answered your own question. People will assume you do not need the job.”
“But I do need the job.” She had stressed the word.
“Sweetie, the person looking at you wouldn’t know that.”
“I still don’t get what you are trying to tell me?” She ran her finger across the polished marble, tracing the pattern in the stone.
Cecily sighed. “Fine, listen up. How do you feel when you are around me?”
“Ah… fine now, but I will admit when I first met you I was in awe of your clothing and position. And to be completely honest, I wanted to be just like you someday.”
Cecily laughed out merrily. “Ah you’re so sweet.” She reached down and squeezed Raven’s hand.
“I’ll let you in on a little secret.”
Raven leaned in. “What?” she asked in a curious whisper and had waited on bated breath for what secrets Cecily was sure to divulge to her.
“If you get a few good quality pieces in your wardrobe, everyone will assume you are wearing all good pieces.”
“But I can’t afford them,” Raven had complained.
“Oh yes, you can,” Cecily added raising a perfectly arched brow. “I will teach you a thing or two—just stick with me.”
“Is that what you do?” Raven had asked, in shock.
“Oh lord no, but I did back in the day, when I was starting out. Obviously it worked because look where I am now.” She indicated her own clothing and pointed in the direction of her glassed-in, corner office.
“I thought you got your position from your substantial expertise?”
Cecily laughed throatily. “Oh how I wish that were true. I am far from the most qualified person for this job—not by a long shot. There are stacks of resumes that will attest to that on the double B’s secretary’s desk. Long ago, I learned my lesson. There is much more to climbing the proverbial corporate ladder than you think. You need to walk the walk, talk the talk and yes, dressing the part does help. So do a few other things, but that information is need to know and you my dear sweet girl, don’t need to know…yet,” she added with a sly wink.
In time, Cecily had schooled Raven on how to wait out the good pieces she wanted until they went on sale. “Never pay full price. All clothing goes on sale; you just need to wait it out.”
So that is exactly what Raven had done and had ended up with some really great pieces for a fraction of the cost.
To this day she still wondered what Cecily’s wink meant but she took to heart every bit of her advice. Seriously, why wouldn’t she? Cecily embodied everything she wanted to become someday. Even though she wasn’t really into lying about what she was wearing, she had to agree it did sound so much better than: “NO!” make a face, and snort out in hysterical laughter when someone asked her if she was wearing Chanel or not.
Raven didn’t want to lie though, regardless of what Cecily said. She hoped she would get to where she wanted to be on merit. At least she hoped she would, but just in case, she made a lofty goal for herself. To obtain at least one item that was actually Chanel that wasn’t a tube of lipstick. Of course, that was the only thing that was really in her price range. So in turn, she scraped her meager wages together and stayed up until three in the morning, using the free trial from bid-napper to snag a pair of ballerina Chanel flats off eBay. They were slightly worn, which she was sure was the only reason they didn’t get bid up to the clouds. And yes, of course, Raven knew clothing did not make the person, but it certainly helped. If you wanted to be taken seriously, you had better dress like it. She even snagged a slightly used authentic Louis Vuitton speedy satchel with her free trial. She adored that as well. When asked, she could honestly say, “Why yes, yes it is,” and watch envy make an appearance. It looked so much better on other people, than on herself.
One day she planned to have a wardrobe full of great designer pieces, and so much more. Maybe even a hottie to lie on the beach and rub suntan lotion on her body while she sipped Margaritas and soaked up the sun—and yes, she wanted that corner office as well. With Cecily’s advice and a bit of luck she may have found a way to make it there. At least that was what she was ultimately hoping for… she had come a long way; look at where she was now. She was doing inventory for one of the double B’s wealthiest clients.
Of course, she hoped it was from all the hard work she had done, but deep down she knew Cecily’s advice had helped her along the way. She may not have it all yet, but it was a start.
Second Thoughts
RAVENHURST * THE AGE OF CHIVALRY
AFTER the episode with Jayce in the hall, Darias had been in a pensive mood. Marguerite sat at the bottom of the bed, her legs crossed as she dragged her fingers through the tangles in her hair. She wished, not for the first time that she could take a shower or at least a bath. At this point, she would roll in a puddle if it got her wet. She wasn’t sure if this was something they did in these times. Granted, she was sure they bathed, at least Darias did. She had seen him. Thinking of him emerging from the crystal waters made her shiver in delight.
Darias slanted an eye at her while she played with her hair. His brother’s words, no, accusations were wreaking havoc with his emotions, putting him in a foul mood. His stomach twisted in knots, thinking on the near throttling he had almost given him. He could not take another minute of running over it in his mind; nothing would change, and there was no going back. “Would you like to get out of here for a while?”
Marguerite dropped her hair. “Yes,” she nearly yelled as she bounced up and down on the bed excitedly. “Where are we going?”
He smiled, feeling his good humor return at the sight of her enthusiasm. “I think a nice ride is in order, what say you?”
Marguerite contemplated that for less than a minute, she wasn’t hip on the teeth-slamming ride she was going to have to endure, but anything was better than staying cooped up in this room for a moment longer.
She crawled over to him, nipping his lips playfully as she leaned forward. “That is the best news that has come from your mouth in days.”
“Hmmm…days you say?” he lifted his brow at her, as he pulled the blankets down she held. Then he leaned forward and kissed the delicate flesh. “Are you sure about that,” he asked, his voice coming out husky, rich.
She arched her back as he held her. “Umm…” she bit her lip as waves of pleasure surged through her. “ Well, what I meant to say was…”
“Yes,” he coaxed, as his lips trailed even lower.
Marguerite would have responded but all thought fled her mind as his lips closed around her nipple.
Strange Attraction
RAVENHURST * PRESENT DAY
REED braced his hands on either side of his desk, looking down at the stack of bills on top. There were too many. Red bold letters blazed across the fronts, Payment Due Now. Letting out a heavy sigh, he fell backward into the soft leather of his high-back chair and pulled open the drawer. He ran his fingers over the hand-tooled leather of his checkbook and pulled it out. His emotions were at odds with one another, defeat, and anger. Suddenly anger won out and he tossed the checkbook onto his desk in disgust. The bills on top scattered across the polished wood as others floated absently to the floor. Damn. He rubbed his hands over his face and shoved away from the desk to pick up the wayward bills. They were everywhere, some even slipped underneath his desk. He climbed down on all fours and crawled underneath his desk. Grabbing and slamming each bill on top of another as he made a pile. The library doors clicked shut.
Reed froze, curiosity beating out every other emotion.
“He’s not here.”
Reed knew who it was, Lucian. Who in the hell was he speaking to? He kept hidden under the desk, straining to hear.
DREAMS OF TOMORROW: A NEW ADULT TIME TRAVELING ROMANCE (Ravenhurst Series) Page 8
