Page 35 of Highland Renegade
“What?”
She started, for the question had not come from her sisters, but from Ian who now stepped through the doorway. Closing her eyes briefly, she wished he hadn’t heard.
“What is this about a ghost?” he asked as he pulled out a chair and sat.
“Fiona told us about your father,” Lorelei replied. “Actually, it was about your mother. Your stepmother, I mean.”
A wary expression crossed Ian’s face. “My stepmother?”
“Yes. Fiona said she was murdered in her bed and that your father found her—”
“Lorelei.” Emily frowned at her sister. “This is hardly a topic for conversation at the table.”
“I…I am sorry.” She didn’t look all that contrite, though. “You said you dreamed about it.”
“Never mind. It was just a silly dream.”
Lorelei shook her head stubbornly. “But you said it kept you awake.”
Ian turned toward Emily, his gaze a slow perusal from her hair to her face and to her hands which, either from fatigue or the effects of the tea, had begun to shake. She gripped her cup to still them and lifted her chin. “It was nothing.”
“Tell me about it.”
Shereallyshould have stayed in bed, regardless of what the housekeeper would have thought. At least, she would have been spared having to explain a dream to Ian who would probably think her addle-brained. “I dreamed there was a man in my room.”
Lorelei gaped at her and Juliana looked up from the toast she was buttering. One of Ian’s brows lifted and she suddenly realized how that must have sounded. Merciful heavens! Did he think her one of those wanton widows who welcomed men to their beds?
She suddenly felt overly warm and prayed she wasn’t blushing. What if he thought she was hinting that he would be welcome? The thought of his body—his hard, muscular,nakedbody—next to her in bed shot a heat wave to her face. Good Lord. She’d long ago closed off such thoughts. Why were they flitting through her mind now?
“Of course, there was no one there,” she said and added for emphasis, “I keep my door bolted.”
That made Ian draw his brows together. “Do ye nae feel safe?”
“I…” Good Lord! She couldn’t tell him she’d had this strange dream before. “I…just got used to doing that in London.”
“In yer own home?”
She supposed that didn’t sound good, either. “I… My husband was gone a great deal…” Between the devil’s dens and the gambling hells that much was true, thankfully. “I just took precautions.”
Juliana choked on her toast and reached for her tea. Emily hoped she wouldn’t blurt out the real reason that it was necessary to lock Albert out when he’d smoked too much opium. Or that Ian might not wonder why she hadn’t had any servants about. “Really, the dream wasn’t important. You should have something to eat while the food is still hot.”
“What did this man look like?”
She sighed inwardly. Obviously, Ian wasn’t going to let this go. “I do not know. His face was in shadow. He was just standing there… Well, not really. As I said, there was no one in the room.”
“Did the man have a weapon?”
Really. The man should work for the Bow Street Runners. “I…” For a moment, she contemplated lying, but she wasn’t good at it. “I…thought…maybe…there was something shiny in his hand. I am not sure.”
“Oooh! Like a knife?” Lorelei asked and turned to Ian. “Maybe Emily saw the ghost who murdered your stepmother!”
“Did Fiona not say theghostwas supposed to be her father? And that he walks tofindthe murderer? Not tocommitmurder?” Juliana grimaced. “Not that we believe in ghosts.”
“Of course there are no ghosts,” Emily said. “As I said earlier, I tossed and turned last night because I had a lot of things to think about. Somehow, Fiona’s story must have gotten mixed up in my mind.Really. It was just adream. Nothing more.” She plastered a smile on her face and rose, motioning for Ian to stay seated. “If you will excuse me, I need to discuss some things with the housekeeper.”
And she swept out, hoping Ian wouldn’t follow her.
…
