Page 39 of The Lady Needs a Rogue
“I will assist ye in thoroughly inspecting the premises in the morning,” Logan said.
“Excellent.” Macie’s mood seemed to brighten. “In that case, we shall put our concerns to rest. I’m more concerned with the lighting tomorrow afternoon. With any luck, conditions will be perfect to set up my camera.”
“Ye should not be alone,” Finn countered. “The Tower would be bloody safer than working in that house.”
Macie frowned, scrunching her pert nose. “Sadly, that might be a bit of a challenge to arrange. A haunted mansion or two will have to suffice.”
The little dimple in her cheek pulled his gaze like a magnet. Blast it all, he could be a much more effective bodyguard if her every expression did not draw him in. He cleared his throat, if only to buy time to refocus his thoughts.
“After what happened today, ye willnotstay alone at that house.”
“Oh, won’t I?” Her coral lips pursed. “I intend to establish my photography studio within Bennington Manor. Besides, I am planning an exhibition with a gothic aesthetic. What better place to start than my own personal haunted house?”
Gothic aesthetic. Haunted houses.Bloody hell, what had he gotten himself into? Chasing off money-hungry lords was one thing. But this... this was something else entirely. By thunder, the woman was impossible to predict. He doubted he could ever fully anticipate—let alone prepare for—what she’d come up with next. Blasted shame that intrigued him so much.
“You believe your grandfather’s house is home to spirits?” Amelia’s eyes lit with interest.
“Oh, most definitely,” Macie said with a gleam in her eyes. “I’ve felt a chill on more than one occasion.”
“Not surprising in that drafty old house,” Finn said with a chuckle.
She flashed a little scowl. “In any case, I would like to believe the tales my grandfather told—at least some of them—are true. I’ll have you know I’ve seen things that cannot be explained.”
“One of them is lying in the hospital,” Finn said. “Until the bloke recovers enough to be questioned, there’s no telling why he was there.”
“The detective believes the poor man had suffered a violent threat. His heart could not endure the strain,” Macie countered.
“Bradley is wrong,” Finn disagreed. “Street toughs did not attack that man. I’d wager my last shilling on that.”
“Phineas Caldwell, I had never taken you for a worrier,” she said with a lightness that did not reach her eyes.
Worrier.The casually spoken word felt like a pebble beneath his heel. No one could have described him in those terms. But in all fairness, he had never before taken on the task of protecting anyone. Much less a woman.
A woman like Macie.
In his gut, he knew the inspector was wrong. The elderly intruder had been on the verge of death. And yet, he’d used the last of his strength to tear through the books on the shelves. He’d been searching for something. But what?
“The man in yer grandfather’s library was not there by chance. In yer bones, ye know that as well as I do,” Finn said. “Until the old gent wakes up, there’s no bloody way of telling what he was after. Or who else may be coming after it.”
“Ye suspect the man was not working alone?” Logan said.
“That may be the case.”
Macie propped her chin on her folded hand. “Surely you don’t believe there’s another stranger lurking about, ready to pounce?”
Finn met her gaze. “We cannot rule it out. Not yet.”
“He’s right,” Amelia said in a low voice. “I do not wish to frighten you, Macie, but you must exercise caution. Some time ago, I experienced a rather similar occurrence.”
Macie’s eyes widened. “Good heavens, I had no idea. Will you tell me more?”
Amelia’s features pulled taut with tension. “Before Logan and I married, I’d established a small library, not far from here. One evening, I encountered a violent intruder ransacking the shelves. Logan was there to stop him, and for a time, I wanted to believe the moments of danger were over and done. But I was mistaken.”
“Oh, dear,” Macie said softly. “What happened?”
“Someday, I shall tell you the entire story, but for now, suffice it to say the intruder was not the only vile threat we faced.” Amelia’s mouth thinned at the memory, but the tense set of her features eased as her gaze fell on her husband. “The only bright side to all the unpleasantness was that it brought us together.”
“Indeed,” Logan said, sending his wife a warm glance. “As for the present situation, until we can be certain the man ye encountered did not have an accomplice, ye must not let down your guard.”
