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Macgowan Meets His Match
Annette Broadrick
MR. TALL, DARK AND DANGEROUSOne by one, he'd terrified those women who would be his assistant. Like some dark laird of the manor, Sir Ian MacGowan seemed more beast than man, scowl and scars included. But Jenna Craddock knew her boss was pure male. It was in the way he looked at her, virility sensing virginity, and in the way he underestimated the fairer sex.Ian demanded professionalism; Jenna gave him perfection. He harbored secrets; Jenna insisted bed be the place where nothing came between them. In Ian's fortress, Jenna could almost forget the family betrayal that had led her to Scotland–except that she needed to know who she was as urgently as she needed to know the truth about Ian.
“I’m not looking for a personal relationship with you.
“I don’t have time for flirting or any of that nonsense. I need a skilled assistant. That’s all.”
Jenna fought to hang on to her temper. Fighting for control, she studied the man, allowing her gaze to slide over him from his curls to his rather large feet. Eventually she raised her eyes to meet his and said, “Tell me, Sir Ian, are you always this obnoxious or did I luck out and catch you on a bad day? I can’t for the life of me imagine why you think that I—or any other self-respecting woman, for that matter—would be interested in having a relationship with you.”
He looked startled for a moment, then gave her a boyish grin that was wholly unexpected…and devastatingly attractive. “You’ll do, Ms. Craddock. You’ll do.”
Dear Reader,
Well, the new year is upon us—and if you’ve resolved to read some wonderful books in 2004, you’ve come to the right place. We’ll begin with Expecting! by Susan Mallery, the first in our five-book MERLYN COUNTY MIDWIVES miniseries, in which residents of a small Kentucky town find love—and scandal—amidst the backdrop of a midwifery clinic. In the opening book, a woman returning to her hometown, pregnant and alone, finds herself falling for her high school crush—now all grown up and married to his career! Or so he thinks….
Annette Broadrick concludes her SECRET SISTERS trilogy with MacGowan Meets His Match. When a woman comes to Scotland looking for a job and the key to unlock the mystery surrounding her family, she finds both—with the love of a lifetime thrown in!—in the Scottish lord who hires her. In The Black Sheep Heir, Crystal Green wraps up her KANE’S CROSSING miniseries with the story of the town outcast who finds in the big, brooding stranger hiding out in her cabin the soul mate she’d been searching for.
Karen Rose Smith offers the story of an about-to-be single mom and the handsome hometown hero who makes her wonder if she doesn’t have room for just one more male in her life, in Their Baby Bond. THE RICHEST GALS IN TEXAS, a new miniseries by Arlene James, in which three blue-collar friends inherit a million dollars—each!—opens with Beautician Gets Million-Dollar Tip! A hairstylist inherits that wad just in time to bring her salon up to code, at the insistence of the infuriatingly handsome, if annoying, local fire marshal. And in Jen Safrey’s A Perfect Pair, a woman who enlists her best (male) friend to help her find her Mr. Right suddenly realizes he’s right there in front of her face—i.e., said friend! Now all she has to do is convince him of this….
So bundle up, and happy reading. And come back next month for six new wonderful stories, all from Silhouette Special Edition.
Sincerely,
Gail Chasan
Senior Editor
MacGowan Meets His Match
Annette Broadrick
www.millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk)
This book is dedicated to Anna Vinson, a dear friend who had the nerve to leave Texas and move to Colorado.
I miss you. Thank goodness for e-mail and phone calls!
ANNETTE BROADRICK
believes in romance and the magic of life. Since 1984, Annette has shared her view of life and love with readers. In addition to being nominated by Romantic Times as one of the Best New Authors of that year, she has also won the Romantic Times Reviewers’ Choice Award for Best in its Series; the Romantic Times WISH Award; and the Romantic Times Lifetime Achievement Awards for Series Romance and Series Romantic Fantasy.
Contents
Prologue
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Prologue
Sydney, Australia
Early February 2004
“Resigning! What do you mean you’re resigning!” Jenna Craddock’s employer sputtered. Basil Fitzgerald was a lovable bearlike man, happily married to the same woman for forty-five years. He was gruff and abrupt, his camouflage for a tender heart.
Jenna was going to miss him.
“Why would you leave a perfectly good position after six years? What do you want? More money? More holiday time? Talk to me!”
Jenna had known he would not be happy with her announcement. She sat in front of his desk, her hands folded in her lap while she waited for him to stop blustering.
“My leaving has nothing to do with my position with you. It’s a personal matter.”
“Oh. You’re getting married, huh?”
Jenna laughed. “Of course not. When have I had time to date with such a slave master as you?” she teased. “I’m moving to the U.K. I’ve been saving for years for the chance to return as an adult and explore.”
“Fine. Then take a leave of absence and go. There’s no reason to resign.”
“I have no idea how long I might be gone. Once there, I may decide to stay. I don’t want to leave here with you thinking I’ll be back.”
“Nonsense. You’re an Australian. You can’t expect to find work in another country without legal papers.”
“Actually, I was born in Cornwall. I’m a citizen there.”
“Really? You never mentioned that to me. I’ve always thought of you as a native Australian.”
She smiled and didn’t comment.
He studied her for several minutes in silence. “Come to think of it,” he said finally, “I don’t know much about you except that you’ve been an exceptional assistant and I’m going to miss your quiet efficiency. Maude thinks you hung the moon. She tells me I’ve been much easier to live with since you’ve been with me, keeping me organized.”
“Don’t worry. Personnel will find someone equally capable for you. I won’t be leaving for another six weeks, which will give them plenty of time to find someone.”
“Hmph.”
She smiled. She would have been disappointed if he’d indicated that she could be easily replaced. “I’m not dropping off the edge of the earth, you know,” she said gently. “I’ll keep you informed about where I am and what I’m doing.”
Basil sighed. “Nothing I can say will change your mind, will it?”
“No, sir.”
“Well, if you don’t find whatever it is you’re looking for, you know you can always come back here.”
“Thank you.”
“Now I have to pass on this news to Maude. She’ll be convinced that I’ve done something to drive you away.”
“Don’t worry. I’ll explain to your wife and make certain she knows this trip has nothing to do with you,” Jenna replied with a grin.
When Jenna left his office, Basil stared sadly at the door she’d closed behind her. Jenna was leaving…not just his legal firm, not just Sydney, but Australia, as well.
She would be greatly missed.
Chapter One
Late March 2004
“Welcome to Heathrow and thank you for flying British Airways. We hope that you enjoyed your flight and that you will remember us the next time you plan to travel.”
The disembodied voice from the public address system barely managed to get through to Jenna’s fatigue-numbed brain. With a stop in Singapore, she had been traveling for almost twenty-two hours. She’d managed to doze or nap during the trip, but what she had experienced was far from restful sleep.
She cleared Customs and was looking for a ride to her hotel by six o’clock in the morning, local time. Jenna had no idea what time her internal clock thought it was and at the moment didn’t care. All she wanted to do was find a bed and crash.
After two days and nights in London, Jenna was ready to embark on her adventure. She had told Basil the truth when she said she wanted to explore England. What she hadn’t told him was that she hoped to find some relatives who still lived in Cornwall.
She wondered if family was as important to other people as it was to her. Being without anyone for most of her life provided a strong motivation for Jenna to search for family. Of course, being on her own had made her independent to some degree, but she used to dream of a time when she’d have a home of her own and lots of family around.
The car she had rented was small and economical…just what she needed. She intended to take her time driving west, stopping when she grew tired regardless of the time and in general enjoying her very open-ended holiday.
If she drove west far enough, she would end up in the village of St. Just in Cornwall where she and her parents had lived for the first five years of her life. She’d been fascinated in school with the British Isles and Cornwall. It was her home place, after all.
At one time her father’s sister lived in the area. She hoped her aunt was still alive. She knew Aunt Morwenna would be surprised to see her after all these years.
Jenna spent her first night on the road at a village nestled in the rolling hills of County Devon. Its quiet pastoral tempo was a far cry from the fast pace of Sydney and London.
Before she went to bed that night she studied her well-worn map one more time. Cornwall jutted into the sea like a slightly bent finger.
The next day she found roads to follow that gave her glimpses of the sea. More than once she stopped at a lay-by and walked along the paths she found, thrilled to be here at last.
Jenna had no trouble finding a place to stay once she reached St. Just. Tom Elliott, the proprietor of a cozy inn, told her that they were getting a trickling of tourists at this time of year, so he had plenty of room for her.
She explained that she wasn’t certain how long she would be staying there and when she returned to the front desk, she asked him about things to do in St. Just.
“Well, if you like to hike, there’s plenty of hiking to be done. If you want to look for the stone circles, we have them, as well. There’s the golf club for those who have time to play.”
“What about jobs?”
He shrugged. “Depends. You’d have better luck finding decent wages if you look in Penzance. Many people living here work there. Are you thinking of settling in these parts?”
She laughed. “Oh, I have no plans at all, really. My family was from this area and I had an urge to see what it was like. If I like it, I might decide to stay.”
Tom nodded. “Yes, Craddock is a Cornish name, all right.”
“I’m looking for my aunt Morwenna. She’s a Craddock, but her married name is Hoskins. Do you know of her or of any other Craddocks still living in the area?”
“Not offhand, no. My wife and I moved here from London about five years ago to get away from the rush and lead a quieter life. Come summer, it’s far from quiet around here, but we do enjoy it. You might check at the pub down the street for any Craddocks. Somebody may know of a family or two. Besides, they have decent food there. I often go there for lunch myself.”
“Thank you,” she said, slipping her purse strap over her shoulder and heading down the street. Jenna wanted to check the local phone directory, but she was hungry and tired and decided that she’d have dinner at Tom’s pub first.
She found the pub in the center of the village. Once inside, she took her meal and tea to one of the tables near the front. She entertained herself watching the locals as they stopped by after a day’s work for a pint or two.
By the time she left the pub, night had cloaked the area. She returned to the small inn.
“How was your search?” Tom asked with a smile when she walked into the lobby.
“I decided to wait until tomorrow.”
“I was thinking while you were gone and decided to check the phone directory. I didn’t find a Hoskins, but I found a Craddock who lives up the road a ways. Perhaps you could call.”
“A capital idea. May I use your phone?”
Tom moved the phone closer to her side of the counter and handed her the phone book. She looked up the number and dialed. When a woman answered, Jenna said, “Hello. I was wondering if you happen to know if Morwenna Hoskins lives in this area. She used to be a Craddock.” When the woman hesitated, Jenna added, “I’m her niece from Australia and I’ve lost touch with the rest of the family.”
“Ah. Well, I doubt very much Morwenna would mind my giving you directions to her place.” The woman gave her detailed directions to the row house where Morwenna lived. “I don’t know her very well, you understand. She keeps to herself.”
“Well, thank you for your help,” Jenna replied. When she hung up the phone she was dancing. “I’ve found her! Just like that. A phone call and there she is!”
Tom smiled at her exuberance. “That’s good. You haven’t been here a full day and already found some of your kin.”
Jenna practically skipped up the stairs to her room. Her aunt hadn’t been listed so she may not have a phone. But it didn’t matter. She’d wait until midmorning tomorrow and visit her. Jenna could hardly wait to see her aunt’s face when she identified herself.
She had a difficult time falling to sleep that night.
By the next morning, Jenna was filled with anticipation, although she was nervous, as well. This was the day that she had been waiting for all these years. She could feel her heart thumping.
Jenna found the place with no trouble. She pulled up in front of her aunt’s row house and slowly got out of the car. She took a couple of deep breaths to relieve the constriction in her chest, then walked up to the door and knocked. When she heard no one stirring, she worried that her aunt might have moved. Wouldn’t that be ironic after Jenna had come so far to see her?
Jenna knocked again and waited.
A female voice yelled, “I’ll be there when I get there. Just hold on. And you’d better not be peddling anything because I’m not interested!” At her last words Morwenna Hoskins swung open the door. At least Jenna guessed this was her aunt, although seeing her didn’t trigger any memories.
The years had not been kind to Morwenna. Jenna knew that she was in her fifties and yet she looked considerably older. Morwenna leaned on a cane and looked at her with suspicion.
“Well? What do you want?”
“I, uh, I mean, hello,” Jenna said. “I’m not selling anything. Actually I came from Australia to find you. I’m your niece, Jenna.”
Whatever reaction Jenna had expected, she hadn’t thought she would be stared at with such distaste. Morwenna studied her without stepping back to invite Jenna inside. Instead, her aunt continued to stand in the doorway as though she had never heard of her.
Jenna didn’t know what to say. Why wasn’t her aunt more pleased to see her?
Finally, Morwenna spoke. “My niece? If you’re from Australia you must be Hedra and Tristan’s girl.”
Jenna relaxed a little and smiled. “Yes. Yes, I am.”
Morwenna scowled. “I told them and told them that nothing good was going to come of their moving halfway around the world. That’s exactly what I told them. �Nothing good will come of your move.’ And I was right, wasn’t I? They were there no more than two years before they were gone—swept away by floodwaters or some such fool thing. I always said they should have listened to me, but then, Tristan always thought he knew best about everything.” She eyed Jenna warily. “So what do you want?”
Dismay swept over Jenna. “I, uh, I just came by to introduce myself. I’m afraid I don’t have many memories of living in Cornwall, but since this was the place I was born, I came back to get to know the rest of my family.”
Morwenna was shaking her head before Jenna stopped speaking. “You’ve had a wasted trip, then. You don’t have family around here. I don’t know where Tristan found you—he would never say—but it wasn’t around here.”
Jenna stared at Morwenna, thinking she had misunderstood her. “Found me?”
“It’s like what I told that man from Edinburgh that came looking for you a few months ago…we’re not blood relatives. Who knows where they got you? Hedra showed up here one day with a newborn, proud as she could be. Tristan was beaming from ear to ear. I warned them about taking somebody else’s child to raise. You never can tell what’s in the blood, you know. Why, someone unknown like that can grow up to be thief or a murderer or something worse.”
Jenna stared at the woman, doubting her ears. Was the woman insane? What was she rattling on about…and what did Morwenna consider worse than murder?
“Am I understanding you correctly?” Jenna finally managed to say. This woman was shattering her world. “You’re telling me I was adopted?”
“Are you deaf or something? Yes, that’s what I’m telling you. You’re adopted.” Her eyes narrowed. “You didn’t know, huh?”
“No. I had no idea.”
“Well, somebody should’ve told you before now, to my way of thinking. I can remember when I got the news that Tristan was gone. That was an awful time for me. My only sibling and all. A terrible time. If he’d only listened to me, he might have been alive today.” Morwenna made a face. “I was real put out with them people calling from Australia, wanting me to take you in. I told them I had eight of my own to raise and I certainly didn’t need a seven-year-old underfoot, as well.”
Morwenna’s words beat at Jenna as though each one was a stone aimed at her heart. She had no way to protect herself, nothing to say. So the authorities had attempted to find a member of her family to take her before placing her in an orphanage.
Jenna stared at the woman in horror. She had to get away. Thank goodness she hadn’t been invited into the woman’s home. She would have felt suffocated by her anger and cruelty.
Despite the shock of discovering she’d been adopted, she was fervently grateful that she was no kin to this woman.
“Thank you for clearing up my confusion,” Jenna said quietly. “You mentioned a man from Edinburgh asking about me. Could you give me his name?”
“That’s been a few months ago. Let me think…I believe it started with a D. Something D…Davis, Dennis…no, that’s not right.”
“Could you describe him?”
“Why? You thinking about looking him up? He said he was from Edinburgh but he didn’t fool me. He had an American accent. No telling where he was from. Wait a minute. His name sounded French…Dumas! That’s it. Something Dumas. I don’t remember his first name. You look nothing like him, if that’s what you’re thinking. He has dark hair and eyes and he’s tall.” Morwenna flicked a glance up and down Jenna as though to emphasize her statement.
Jenna knew she was far from being tall, so she nodded her understanding. “I appreciate your help,” she said, wanting to run while Morwenna was drawing breath and before she continued talking.
She turned and walked back to her car, her shoulders back and her chin up.
Only after she entered the pub where she’d eaten the night before did she realize that she was trembling. She vaguely recognized that she was in shock. She asked for a cup of tea and when it was ready she went over to one of the back tables and sat down.
Nothing about her life was how she had thought it was. The Craddocks had adopted her. Why hadn’t she known? There was nothing in the papers her parents had left to have warned Jenna. Her birth certificate showed Hedra and Tristan as her parents and said that she was born at home. She didn’t have to look through them again to know that there had never been a mention of an adoption.
Jenna flashed back to the time when she’d been taken to the orphanage. She had never felt so bewildered or so alone. Jenna realized that the only constant in her life since then was that she had no one…no one at all.
So what was she going to do now? She’d come from Australia on a one-way ticket. She had enough money to live on while she searched for employment. With her references and skills, she expected to have little trouble finding a position.
Morwenna said that the man who had come looking for her had come from Scotland. She considered that information to be a lead of sorts. How strange. A man by the name of Dumas from Edinburgh knew who she was. Was it possible that she had been adopted there? What if the man was her father, trying to find his adult daughter? Maybe he’d moved to America since she was born. If so, that would explain his accent.
Now he was back and was looking for her. Did it matter that she bore no resemblance to him? Perhaps she looked like her mother.
Since meeting Morwenna, Jenna knew she didn’t want to stay in Cornwall. There was nothing to stop her from looking for work in Scotland. Perhaps she’d find Mr. Dumas there and he could explain his connection to her.
The thought calmed her. She didn’t have much of a lead, but it was something. Someone knew of her existence and had come searching for her. The thought gave her some comfort.
At the moment, it was the only comfort she had.
Chapter Two
“I see that you’re Australian, Ms. Craddock. What brings you to Scotland looking for work?”
Jenna sat before a Ms. Violet Spradlin, who ran an employment agency in Edinburgh.
“Actually, I was born in the U.K. and haven’t been back in several years. I decided to move to Scotland because I find it breathtakingly beautiful. Since I have no family, I can choose to live wherever I wish, so I chose this region.”
“I see.” Violet shuffled through several papers before she looked up. “You have an excellent work record according to this recommendation. I’m impressed with your skills for one your age—twenty-five, right? You must have started working quite young.”
“Yes.”
Violet sighed and said, “Unfortunately, we don’t have very much to offer at the moment. It’s the nature of the business, you know. I may get several calls in the morning needing someone immediately. One never knows. I hope that you aren’t depending on finding a position right away.”
“I understand.”
Violet peered over her glasses. “How can I contact you if something turns up?”
“I’m staying at a small inn on the outskirts of the city. If you like, I can check in with you every day or so.”
Violet glanced at the file and muttered to herself, “Ah, now I see. You put your present lodging down as your address.” She looked at Jenna thoughtfully, tapping her pen against the desk. “I don’t suppose you’d be interested in a position where room and board is offered, would you?” Before Jenna had a chance to respond, Violet continued. “No, probably not. The position isn’t here in Edinburgh and I can’t guarantee that you would find your working conditions all that pleasant.”
Intrigued by Ms. Spradlin’s manner, which seemed to be more discouraging than encouraging, Jenna said, “I wouldn’t mind relocating. And being offered lodging as well would make things considerably easier for me, at least, at first.”
Violet rose and went to a filing cabinet nearby. She thumbed through several files before saying, “Ah. I knew it was here somewhere.” She pulled out a thick manila file and returned to her desk. She looked at Jenna. “I’m not necessarily recommending this position to you, you understand.”
“Yes, I understand.” Jenna wondered what the position could be that it warranted such a warning from the woman.
Violet opened the file and began to read. “Sir Ian MacGowan needs a person with good secretarial skills to transcribe his dictation for his novel.”
“Oh. An author.”
“Well,” Violet said slowly, “I suppose you could call him that, although I don’t think he’s sold anything. He was in an automobile accident a few months ago. Normally he lives in London. However, he decided to return to his family home to rest and recuperate. I believe the process of writing is helping to keep him occupied.”
“Oh.” Jenna pictured a white-haired gentleman, possibly a little overweight, who wasn’t ready to retire quite yet. “You said you don’t necessarily recommend this position. I’d like to know why. It sounds like just the position for me. It probably isn’t a permanent one, but working for Sir Ian would give me time to get acquainted with the area.”
Violet sighed and removed her glasses. She massaged the bridge of her nose as she stared myopically at Jenna. Without saying anything, she carefully cleaned her glasses and replaced them. It was obvious to Jenna that the woman was trying to decide what to say. Was the man some kind of monster? she wondered.
Finally, Violet spoke. “Do you see these papers?” She waved her hand at the open file. “They represent the applicants I have sent Sir Ian during the past several weeks.”
“He didn’t hire any of them?” Jenna asked. What an odd man.
“After complaining incessantly about the lack of qualifications in the women he interviewed, he finally settled on one who stayed two weeks. The second left after three days.” She sighed and shook her head.
“Is he a sexual predator?”
Violet looked startled for a moment before she broke into laughter. “No, no, no. I didn’t mean to give you that impression. He’s just a very difficult man to work for.” She sorted through the papers, reading portions out loud. “�He’s short-tempered and impossible to please,’ says one. The other says, �He set impossible time limits on the work I was doing. He’s really impossible.’”
“Ah,” said Jenna, nodding. “I know just the kind of boss he is.” She smiled. “My last employer was that way when I first started to work for him.”
Violet’s eyebrows rose. “Really. That surprises me. According to his letter of recommendation, he hated to lose you. In fact, if I didn’t know better, I would think this was a letter recommending you for sainthood,” she said archly.
“He was a very busy man, and until I was hired he hadn’t had much luck finding someone who could work with little direction. Once I got past his gruff exterior and convinced him I wasn’t a �lazy twit’—I believe his words were—we managed to work quite well together.”
Violet nodded, smiling slightly. “I see. Perhaps you will have more success with Sir Ian than the others.”
“When could we set up an interview?”
Violet’s brows rose. “Oh, he no longer interviews. He said it takes too much time out of his day. He told me to find someone who wouldn’t pester him to death with questions and comments and hire her.”
“Sight unseen?”
“If you think you might want the position, of course. Perhaps you might try it and see. If you don’t like it you will at least know you tried and perhaps by then something else will have turned up for you. So, what would you like to do?”
Jenna weighed her options. She didn’t want to spend any more of her reserves than necessary if she had an opportunity to work. “I would at least like to meet him. Perhaps we’ll both agree that I won’t suit it, but I dislike turning down the offer without meeting him.”
“Good. That’s good. If anyone can assist him, my money is on you, Jenna.” Violet reached for the phone and dialed a number from the file in front of her. She waited. Jenna could hear the quiet “brrring-brrring” of the phone at the other end. When it was answered, Violet said, “Good morning, Hazel. This is Violet Spradlin at the employment agency. How are you this morning?”
Jenna listened to the one-sided conversation with amusement. They sounded like old friends, which she supposed was possible considering the number of people Violet had sent there. She idly wondered if Hazel was Sir Ian’s wife.
“I’d like to speak to Sir Ian,” Violet said. “Yes, I know he’s busy. Yes. No, I’m not calling about his most recent help. Yes, I know. New employees can be quite trying at times. The reason I’m calling is to let him know that I have hired a secretary for him. I believe she will be just what he’s looking for. Yes, that’s right. Yes, I’ll hold.” She looked at Jenna and winked.
After a lengthy wait, Violet said, “Yes, good morn— Yes, I do— As a matter of fact, she’s right he—” She covered the phone and asked, “He wants to know when you can come. He seems to be a bit stressed at the moment.”
“I could come today if I can get directions how to get there.”
“Well, that might work. I did say the position is not here in Edinburgh, didn’t I? I would imagine you don’t have access to a car.”
“No. Will that be a problem?”
Violet spoke into the phone. “She doesn’t have transportation at the moment, Sir Ian. I could have her take the train to Stirling, if you— Oh. Yes. Well, that will work, I’m sure.” She glanced at Jenna. “She’s petite, with reddish blond hair. She’s wearing a dark green suit. I don’t think she’ll be hard to— Yes. I’ll tell her.”
Violet hung up the phone. “Well. That was certainly a short discussion. He wants you to take the train to Stirling. He’ll have his housekeeper, Hazel Pennington, meet you at the station. Once you’ve arrived he’ll discuss salary and days off with you.”
“All right,” Jenna said. Her question about Hazel had been answered. She stood. “I appreciate your willingness to hire me for the position.”
“Don’t thank me yet, dear. Wait until you’ve worked a few weeks with him. Then I’ll know you’re sincere. Sir Ian is abrupt, but according to Hazel, who’s worked for his family for years, he’s fair.”
“Have you met him?”
“Not in person, no. But I certainly recognize his voice when I hear it. It’s very distinctive.” Violet touched her throat with her fingers and Jenna could have sworn the older woman actually blushed. Aha. The plot thickens. Maybe Ms. Spradlin has some designs on the old gentleman. Good for her.
Jenna said, “I need to gather my belongings and check out of my room.” She held out her hand and Violet took it. “Regardless of how this turns out, I’ll still be grateful that you have given me this opportunity.”
“Don’t feel that I’m sending you off like a lamb to be slaughtered. I’ll be checking with you from time to time. If another position should open up, I’ll let you know.”
While Jenna packed the few items she’d unpacked since she’d arrived yesterday afternoon, she thought about what she was doing. She’d accepted a position without meeting her employer first. Given the experience she’d gained working with Basil, she hoped that she could deal with another curmudgeon with little difficulty. She would have to write an amusing letter to Basil and let him know how his training had been put to good use.
Besides, she could visit Edinburgh on her days off and continue her search for Mr. Dumas. As soon as she’d checked in to her room, Jenna had gone through the telephone directory in hopes of finding a listing for him.
There was none.
She’d called the telephone company for any new listings or possibly unlisted numbers. If his number was unlisted, she would at least know he actually lived in Edinburgh or nearby. She’d had no luck there, either. However, she didn’t intend to stop looking for the mysterious—at least to her—stranger. She’d hoped to find work in the city, which would make her search easier, but she’d manage.
Once on the train to Stirling, Jenna thought about her new position. She’d never met an author, published or unpublished. She was curious about what sort of stories he wrote. Perhaps he’d fought in one of the wars and was sharing his experiences. She might find his writing fascinating.
On the other hand, Sir Ian might be a terrible writer. Maybe that was why he was so brusque. Perhaps he was the sort of person who preferred to blame others for his own shortcomings.
What was really important, though, was that she was in Scotland and had a job.
When the train neared the station, Jenna gathered her rather cumbersome bags in preparation for getting off. She had gotten rid of most everything she owned before she came to the U.K. She’d had more than one twinge of regret to see the furniture and furnishings she’d carefully acquired go to strangers. However, the money she received from the sale helped her to feel more secure about her leap into the unknown.
One of the commuters helped with her third bag when she stepped off the train. She thanked him and turned to scan the area. Several people waited to board as others disembarked. Once the train pulled away, Jenna stood alone on the platform.
She had no idea how long a wait she would have for the housekeeper and wished she had a description of her.
Jenna pulled two of the bags behind her, the third hanging from a strap across her shoulder, and headed toward the depot.
“You must be Jenna Craddock,” a cheerful voice said. Jenna paused and looked around. A tall, raw-boned woman of indeterminate age came toward her from the parking lot. “I’m Hazel Pennington, Ian’s housekeeper. I apologize for not being here when you arrived. I got behind some slow traffic, which is frustrating enough without needing to be somewhere on time.” She took one of the bags and started back toward the stairs.
Jenna hurried to catch up. “How did you know which train to meet? I didn’t know which one, myself, until I arrived at the station.”
As they loaded the luggage into a utility vehicle, Hazel said, “Oh, Ian knew. He checked the train schedule and chose the one you’d most likely take. If you hadn’t been on this one, I would have waited until the next one.”
Jenna had many questions about Sir Ian and knew that Hazel would probably be able to answer them. However, she didn’t want to appear too anxious about working for him. She sat quietly and listened to the housekeeper as she pointed out various historical sights along the way.
“If you haven’t visited Stirling before, you might enjoy touring the William Wallace Monument.” Hazel nodded toward a tower in the distance. “The only way up is by stone circular stairs, so you’ll want to be in shape for the climb.”
When Jenna saw the castle high on an escarpment, she made a sound of awe.
“The castle is worth visiting, as well. There’s a military museum there in addition to the carefully restored rooms. There’s a cathedral nearby that has become a tourist favorite, as well.”
Jenna’s excitement grew as she considered the age of so many historic places in the U.K. compared to the relatively newly settled Australia.
She eagerly tried to see everything they passed on their way north. The scenery was breathtaking. She could hardly wait to begin exploring. She would continue to look for a listing for Mr. Dumas wherever she went. Surely, she would find him sometime.
Hazel turned into a driveway no more than half an hour’s drive from Stirling, catching Jenna off guard. From the way Ms. Spradlin talked, Jenna had expected to find an isolated home deep in the countryside.
They followed a narrow lane, and from the way it nestled into the earth, it no doubt had been in existence for centuries. Massive trees marched along on each side, their bare branches arching over like a canopy. Jenna could only imagine their beauty in the summer, covered with green foliage.
She noticed a large and, no doubt, ancient wall that followed beside the lane. If only those stones could talk, she thought. They must have witnessed a great deal of history.
The lane made a sharp turn at the end and Hazel drove through an arched opening. Jenna saw a paved parking area in front of an honest-to-goodness castle. This is where Sir Ian lived?
“This is absolutely wonderful,” Jenna said reverently, looking around her. “I can’t imagine what it must be like to have grown up in such a place. It would be like living in an enchanted castle.”
Hazel opened the back of the utility vehicle without glancing around. “It’s an ancient piece of rubbish, is what it is, but we’re all quite fond of it. It takes a fortune to maintain, of course. There’s always something to repair. If it isn’t the vintage wiring, we’re sure to find a leaky pipe somewhere.” She pulled Jenna’s luggage out and set it on the ground.
Jenna grabbed the handle of the heaviest one and leaned to place the one with the shoulder strap over her shoulder. Hazel stopped her. “I can get these two,” she said, matching her actions to her words. She carried the bags as though they were empty.
Jenna followed her to the entrance. Two beautifully carved doors were set in an arch similar to the one they had driven through. Jenna gazed at the massive example of skilled craftsmanship in awe. Once they entered, Hazel set the luggage into a recessed area near the door and said, “We’ll leave these here for now. Ian is eager to speak with you. Let’s not keep him waiting. Afterward I can show you where you’ll be staying.”
Jenna looked up and blinked. The lofty ceiling of the great hall soared at least thirty feet. Family crests and giant oil paintings of people from earlier times covered the wide expanse. Immediately beneath the ceiling, fan-shaped windows filled both ends of the four-walled entrance room.
Hazel paused in front of a closed door near the wide staircase that curved to the second floor. Jenna could almost see the graceful women who had lived here sweep down the stairs in their beautiful gowns.
The vision abruptly disappeared when Hazel opened the door and said, “Ms. Craddock is here.”
“Good,” a rumbling voice said. “Send her in.”
Chapter Three
Jenna caught herself holding her breath. She consciously took another deep breath, exhaled and stepped into the room. Once inside she discovered a book-lined library that would cause an avid reader—which she was—to mentally salivate with anticipation. She almost chuckled at the idea of living in a castle with access to such a treasure trove of riches. The idea sounded too good to be true.
She took in everything in the few seconds before she looked at the man standing in front of the fireplace. Once she focused on Ian MacGowan, the room faded into the background. The commanding energy emanating from him inexorably drew her eye.
She immediately revised her mental picture of a white-haired elderly curmudgeon. Sir Ian bore no resemblance to such a person. For one thing, he was far from old—somewhere in his early to mid-thirties, she guessed. Instead of white hair, his was light brown. It curled riotously over his forehead and around his ears like a young child’s—and looked so soft and silky, her palms itched to touch it.
She had a sudden vision of a laird standing there, the family crest mounted above the mantel. Golden brown eyes beneath thick brows scrutinized her. A noticeable cleft in his chin drew her eye, and she thought he would be quite attractive if it weren’t for the frown that seemed etched into his face.
He held a cane in his left hand and she noticed that his weight rested on his right leg. A scar ran along his temple and a smaller one bisected his left brow. There were signs of suffering in his face.
“Come,” he said, motioning his hand impatiently. “I won’t bite you, for God’s sake. Stop hovering at the door.” He motioned to one of the chairs arranged in front of a brisk fire. “Sit.”
Now that he had spoken, Jenna could better understand Ms. Spradlin’s reaction to him. His deep voice sent a shiver of sensual awareness through her even while his manner of speaking irritated her. If she was going to be working for him, she needed to set some ground rules.
“Yes, I will, thank you,” she replied graciously, crossing the room. “As you know, I’m Jenna Craddock and I’ve come to transcribe your work for you. However, I would appreciate your not using dog commands when speaking to me. I’m perfectly capable of responding to entire sentences.” She held out her hand to him.
He looked at her hand in surprise before he briefly shook it. “Ian MacGowan,” he muttered brusquely, his frown deepening. With exaggerated politeness, he said, “Please have a seat, if you would be so kind.”
No eye-rolling, she reminded herself. If she intended to work for the man she would need to adjust to his sarcasm and abrupt manner.
Once she was seated, Sir Ian limped to a nearby chair and carefully lowered himself, his jaw flexing when he bent his left knee. She made a point to focus on his face, most especially his eyes. When he made eye contact she smiled at him, folded her hands and waited for him to speak.
Abruptly, he said, “You’re not what I expected.”
Her smile widened. “You come as a bit of a shock, as well,” she said, intending to voice her thought that he would be older. “Mrs. Spradlin didn’t mention—” That was as far as she got when he interrupted her.
“I’m sure my reputation precedes me,” he said irritably. “That ninny Spradlin must lead a very boring life to get so much titillation out of my search for a decent secretary.”
Oh, my. Sir Ian was definitely an irascible sort. “She mentioned that you’ve been without an assistant for a few weeks.
“Through no fault of my own, I assure you. The woman has an absolute knack for sending me the most inept or overly sensitive women who fall apart whenever I frown at them, raise my voice or point out a typing error. The last one left in tears, the silly thing. You’re from Australia.”
Jenna blinked at the sudden change of subject. “Yes, Sir Ian, I am.”
He rolled his eyes. “Forget the title and call me Ian.” He pulled at his earlobe. “I’ve asked Ms. Spradlin more than once not to use my title but she’s too busy chattering on to hear me.”
From her observation during the conversation in Ms. Spradlin’s office, she knew he had been busy interrupting while Ms. Spradlin was speaking.
“I would think being a knight is a great honor,” she said lightly.
“You would, would you? Tell me something about yourself,” he said abruptly. “You’re young— I can see that. Are you single?”
One brow lifted. “Yes.”
“I don’t want you to think you can move someone else in with you—married or single.”
That comment didn’t merit an answer.
“Why did you leave Australia?”
She held his gaze and smiled deliberately. “To see the world.”
“Why Scotland?”
“Why not? I like it here.”
He leaned back in his chair, staring at her from beneath his frowning brows. He had to be aware of how intimidating he looked. She wondered if he used that look to keep his employees in their proper place. She almost smiled at the thought. He might be laird of his castle but he would quickly discover that she wasn’t easily intimidated.
What did it matter to him why she was there? she wondered. Perhaps he enjoyed irritating people.
After a rather lengthy silence while he stared at her, he said, “Okay, now I get it. This is a joke, isn’t it? Todd told you to show up here, didn’t he?” He spoke in short, abrupt spurts. And his mind seemed to jump around like a grasshopper. She wondered if he was on pain medication. Being on drugs might explain his lack of focus and, to her at least, his strange remarks.
“Todd?” she repeated.
“Yes, Todd, my supervisor. He probably got tired of hearing me complain about not being able to find decent help and sent you to help out. Not that I’m bothered by the ruse, you understand. I need someone competent and Todd would make certain of that, at least. But there’s no reason for you to hide the fact.”
“Since I’ve no idea what you do for a living—other than write, that is—I have no idea who your supervisor might be. Why would you think I would lie about my reasons for being here? Are you always so suspicious of people?”
“Yes.”
Great. Paranoid, as well. He was going to be a joy to work with, she could see that already.
“Your story doesn’t quite work,” he said gruffly. “There’s no reason that I can see for you to come to Scotland in the first place, much less apply for work. If you’re serious about living in the U.K., London would be the most logical place for you to search for work.”
Was this some kind of test? Was she supposed to break down in tears at this point? Calmly Jenna replied, “Do you have a particular reason for questioning my honesty, sir? You may not believe me but I have no reason to lie to you.” She stood and ran her hands down her thighs to smooth her skirt. “You’ve made it quite clear that once again you’re displeased with Ms. Spradlin’s choice. I respect that. You certainly have the right to disagree with her.” She picked up her handbag. “I do want to reassure you, however, that I didn’t accept the position with some nefarious plan in mind. I merely wanted a job. Your family’s heirlooms would have been safe with me.”
Jenna walked toward the door, mentally telling the rows of books goodbye.
“Oh, for God’s sake, stop being so melodramatic,” Ian snapped. “Come back here. I don’t want to be hopping up and down every time I say something that displeases you.”
She turned and looked at him. “It isn’t melodramatic to dislike rudeness, sir. I’m capable of dealing with a great many foibles, but I will not tolerate your disrespect.”
He pushed himself out of his chair and faced her. Their gazes locked and she, for one, did not intend to back down. She felt a small victory of sorts when he glanced away and muttered something that might have been an apology.
Or a curse word.
“Let’s start over, shall we?” he asked, running his hand through his hair. Definitely irritated, she thought to herself. Well, so was she. “Please sit.” When she was seated once again, he said, “May I see your references?”
Without replying, Jenna reached into her purse and brought out her rГ©sumГ© and two letters of recommendation. After handing them to him, she waited for his next salvo.
After reading the documents, he looked at her and said, “According to this, your previous employer is convinced you walk on water. With this glowing recommendation, I’m surprised he allowed you to leave.” He studied her for a moment. “Did your departure have anything to do with a lover’s spat? Because if it did, I see no reason to have you settle in here only to receive an apologetic phone call from him that will send you scurrying back to Australia…with all due respect.”
“Not that such information is any of your business, but since Basil Fitzgerald is sixty-five years old with several children and grandchildren, I doubt he could have found time for an affair…and if he had ever entertained the idea, Mrs. Fitzgerald would have bashed him on the head for considering it.”
“If I seem to be prying into your personal life, Ms. Craddock, I do apologize. I need an assistant who will focus on my work. What you do on your own time is up to you. Just so we’re clear about our arrangement, I’m not looking for a personal relationship with you. I don’t have time for flirting or any of that nonsense. I need a skilled assistant. That’s all.”
Jenna fought to hang on to her temper. Fighting for control, she studied the man, allowing her gaze to slide over him from his curls to his rather large feet. Eventually she raised her eyes to meet his and said, “Tell me, Sir Ian, are you always this obnoxious or did I luck out and catch you on a bad day? I can’t for the life of me imagine why you think that I—or any other self-respecting woman, for that matter—would be interested in having a relationship with you.”
He looked startled for a moment, then gave her a boyish grin that was wholly unexpected…and devastatingly attractive. “You’ll do, Ms. Craddock. You’ll do.” Before she could find her voice to tell him that she wasn’t at all certain she wished to work for him, Ian mentioned a salary that made her eyes widen. The sum was at least twice what she’d expected to receive, taking into account that her room and board were part of the compensation. For that amount of money, she’d be willing to work for Attila the Hun. From what she had gathered so far, the man could very well be the reincarnation of Attila.
“I hope you’ll find your stay here satisfactory,” he said. He stood, wincing as he straightened his left leg. “I’ll have Hazel show you to your room.”
He touched a button on the extension phone next to his chair and Jenna heard Hazel’s voice. “Yes?”
“I believe Ms. Craddock and I have dealt with the necessary hiring procedures. Will you show her to her room, please?”
“Certainly.”
Jenna rose and walked to the door. When she opened it, she saw Hazel striding down the hallway toward her. As Jenna stepped through the doorway, Ian spoke again. “Ms. Craddock?”
She turned. “Yes?”
“Do I have your permission to call you Jenna?”
She doubted the sincerity of his conciliatory tone. With a regal nod, she answered, “Yes.”
His lips twitched. “Well, then, welcome aboard, Jenna. I would appreciate your returning as soon as you’ve settled in. I hope you won’t feel too rushed to begin working today. As you’re aware, I’ve been without help for some time.”
She lifted one brow and said, “Imagine that,” before quietly closing the door behind her.
Chapter Four
Ian drummed his fingers on the arm of his chair and stared into the fire as he waited for Jenna Craddock.
He’d never met anyone like her and he hadn’t expected her to be so young.
When he’d spoken to Violet Spradlin many weeks ago, he’d made it clear that he wanted a competent, no-nonsense assistant. He’d pictured a middle-aged woman who did what she was hired to do. Someone dependable…like Hazel. Most of the women he’d interviewed fit that description.
The last thing he’d expected was a petite woman with sparkling eyes and a charming smile. Not that she’d been smiling by the time their meeting was over, he reminded himself. She might as well learn that he didn’t have time for social chitchat. He had a busy schedule, what with his physical therapy three times a week, the exercises he needed to do to get back in top form and working on his novel.
He’d been grateful to have something besides pain to occupy his mind these past months. Who would have believed that he would find enjoyment doing something so out of his professional field? But he’d always been an avid reader. He wasn’t certain when he first thought about writing a book—probably during one of the nights when pain kept him awake. Whatever the reason for beginning the project, he was hooked.
He’d had no idea what he was doing when he started out, but somehow he began to realize what he wanted to say. He would revise, and revise again, until the story read more like the one he could hear in his head.
Life was full of surprises.
Jenna Craddock was one of them.
Her looks should be irrelevant but he’d turned into something of a hermit since the accident. His only visitor was Hal, his physical therapist, who irritated him to no end, always harping about not overdoing it.
He would do whatever was necessary to get back to top form. He’d devoted twelve years of his life to his job, and he wouldn’t allow his injuries to put an end to his career.
That career didn’t leave him time to develop a relationship with a woman. Therefore, he’d never been seriously involved with anyone. One woman went so far as to point out that he was married to his career, “whatever it was.” All she knew was that two to three months would pass without word from him. There were very few women willing to see him on his schedule.
His mother had already despaired of becoming a grandmother, he thought, amused. Not that she ever gave up haranguing him about the notion. He’d tried to convince her that he couldn’t find another woman like her, but she would have none of it.
Now he was faced with a situation where he’d become unavoidably celibate. The last thing he needed was a nubile young woman around him on a daily basis as a constant reminder of what he was missing.
He would work around the problem, that’s all. He’d make certain to maintain a professional relationship with her. Since he took most of his meals in his room anyway, he doubted he’d see her when she wasn’t working.
The important thing was to finish the novel. Once it was done, she would be leaving. Another spur to finish the novel as rapidly as possible. If by some fluke he actually sold the thing—and what a long chance that was—he intended to use the money for needed repairs to his home.
In his case his home really was a castle—a money-gobbling anachronism. He preferred his flat in London. As his parents were wont to remind him, though, his home was a monument to the past and was his legacy as a MacGowan.
Lucky him.
The Security Service continued to pay him his full salary, which he appreciated.
Ian glanced at his watch. He hoped Jenna would stay until the book was finished. Afterward, he would no longer need her…or anyone else.
Jenna followed Hazel as they turned down yet another hallway from the top of the stairs.
The stairs continued to the next floor. She’d seen photographs of five-star hotels no larger than this place. Antique weapons and paintings of men in kilts and women wrapped in the bold plaid of the MacGowans decorated the walls.
Sconces provided light in the dim hallways, and Jenna almost laughed out loud at the sudden image of being locked away in a Gothic castle with a beast. Her active imagination had helped her survive the uncertainties of her childhood and it continued to flourish. She reminded herself that, since she was no beauty, she doubted she would be living out that particular fairy tale.
“This place is huge,” she murmured.
“I know,” Hazel replied, “but you’ll get used to it. All but this wing are closed, which is a shame, really, with so much history on display. The historical society has asked more than once for permission to bring tours through the unused parts of the castle. I’ve pointed out to Ian that the added income would help to keep up with the maintenance. But he tells them no. He says he doesn’t want to stumble over strangers in his own home.”
“It must take an army to keep up with the cleaning.”
Hazel chuckled. “As a matter of fact, it does. Periodically we have several of the women in the village come in and do the heavy cleaning. Two of them come in on a weekly basis to clean this section.”
“I feel fortunate to be able to live here.”
“Oh, it would be too much to ask you to commute from one of the villages when we have all this room. I’m pleased that you seem to appreciate it.” She paused in front of one of the doors. “Personally, I’m glad to have the company. Before Ian returned home, Cook and I rattled around the place except on cleaning days. Ian doesn’t entertain and rarely has overnight visitors. He prefers his own company, you see.”
“Yes, I did get that impression,” she replied wryly as Hazel opened the door.
“Oh, dear. I hope he didn’t put you off from working for him. He’s a dear, really. Just a trifle impatient. He’s eager to return to work.”
“I see,” Jenna replied politely if not truthfully. He hadn’t mentioned his profession to her. Since she was there to transcribe his novel, whatever else he did was none of her business.
Hazel walked into the room and said, “Here we are. I hope you’ll be comfortable.” She crossed the sitting room and opened a door. “Your bedroom is through here. It has an attached bath. During the latest remodeling, the MacGowans decided to turn the bedrooms into comfortable apartments with modern conveniences, including some much-needed closet space.”
Jenna was speechless. She’d had no idea that she would be living in what looked to be a royal apartment, with its ornate woodwork and cornices, rich draperies and rugs, as well as museum-quality furniture.
“I’m trying not to think of my being here as part of a fairy tale, but it’s difficult not to with everything you’ve shown me.”
“Complete with an ogre when Ian’s in one of his moods.”
Jenna burst into surprised laughter. “I was thinking along the same lines. Oh, my, it isn’t at all polite to joke about my employer.” She could feel her cheeks glow with embarrassment.
“Don’t worry about it. Ian has a great sense of humor. He just keeps it packed away most of the time until it must get rusty with disuse.” Hazel walked back into the sitting room. “If there’s anything you need, please let me know.”
Jenna smiled. “Thank you. This is wonderful. I feel as though I should be paying you for the privilege of living here.”
“Don’t worry. After a few days of working to catch up with Ian, you’ll feel that you’ve more than earned your keep!” With a quick wave of her hand, Hazel left the room.
Jenna knew she needed to return downstairs as soon as possible, but after Hazel left she couldn’t resist taking a peek out the windows. When she did she discovered that she had a bird’s-eye view of extensive gardens that were obviously planned to be a showcase.
She promised herself a closer look as soon as possible, but for now she needed to freshen up and return to where Ian awaited her. She didn’t need to incur his displeasure by dawdling.
Once in the hallway, she looked around her, hoping to gain some familiarity with her section of the castle. Too bad she hadn’t thought to sprinkle bread crumbs on the way to her quarters so she could find her way back to the library. Shades of some gothic novel where a castle holds myriad secrets for an unsuspecting employee to discover!
Luckily she found her way with only one detour. Ian stepped out of the library as she came down the last few steps. With a short nod by way of acknowledging her presence, Ian said, “I’ll show you to your office.”
This close to him, Jenna was acutely aware of his size. She barely came to his shoulder. There must be Viking blood in his veins. She could picture one of his ancestors wielding a five-foot sword during a clan dispute without breaking a sweat.
“Here we are,” he said, and opened a door at the back of the hallway. He motioned for her to enter. When she did, she was pleasantly surprised to see that the room was quite cozy and well lit from a bank of windows. She would enjoy working here.
“This is quite lovely,” she said, smiling. A computer sat at a fully equipped workstation.
“I believe you’ll find everything you need.”
She followed him to the desk and quickly scanned its contents. She nodded without looking at him.
He pointed to a stack of tapes. “These are the tapes I mentioned. They must look overwhelming to you and for that, I’m sorry. Do the best you can.” He glanced at her and added, “Do you think you’ll be able to manage?”
“Don’t worry. I really am well trained for this sort of thing.”
“Good. After you print out what you’ve transcribed, leave it on my desk in the library. If you have questions and I’m not available, attach a note to the place and I’ll answer it when I can. Any questions?”
“No. I believe you’ve been quite clear.”
“You haven’t asked about days off.”
Amused, she said, “Not with that much work waiting for me. I don’t dare,” she said, grinning. “Don’t worry. I’ll let you know when I need a break. I’m fairly flexible about working out a routine. If I fear that you’re taking advantage of my good nature,” she added, tongue in cheek, “I will—of course—immediately make it known to you.”
He gave an abrupt nod and turned away. Without looking back he said, “I’ll leave it to you, then.”
Once the door closed behind him, Jenna pulled out the chair and sat in front of the computer. She turned it on and was pleased to see that the latest in software programs had been installed. She picked up the first tape, placed it in the transcribing machine, adjusted the earphones and began her new job, four hours after leaving her interview with Violet Spradlin.
While Ian went through his physical therapy program that afternoon, he recalled the incident that had almost killed him. It had been the basis of many a nightmare during the past few months.
As a member of the Security Service, the U.K.’s civilian intelligence agency, he was used to covert operations. Only a handful of people knew what he actually did for the government. Even his parents thought he had a desk job somewhere in the maze of government offices.
His last assignment called for him to infiltrate a terrorist cell. In the midst of a meeting that took place in the basement of an abandoned building, one of their explosives went off without warning.
Several were killed outright. He would have been, as well, if he hadn’t been somewhat protected by a concrete pillar.
The blast had thrown him several feet. When he landed, his left arm and leg were broken and his knee was damaged.
He didn’t remember anything about the explosion. The first he knew something had happened was when he became fully conscious in the hospital.
The pain had pulled him out of the gentle darkness where he rested. The throbbing rhythm had coursed through him, which had told him he’d been hurt badly.
“Ian,” a quiet voice said, “wake up. We need to talk.”
His supervisor, Todd Brewster, stood beside the bed watching him when Ian forced his eyes open.
“Did you get the license number of the lorry that ran over me?” Ian said hoarsely.
“I asked them to ease up on the pain medication long enough for you to be able to talk.”
“How thoughtful of you,” Ian muttered. “What happened?”
“What do you remember?”
Ian forced himself to concentrate, his sluggish brain slow to respond. “The last thing I remember was the cell meeting.”
“Do you recall what was discussed?”
Ian did his best to report details. He ended with “Who else was hurt?”
“Out of the five there, three were killed outright and the other is in critical condition. We decided that the identity you assumed was also killed.”
Ian closed his eyes. After a moment Todd said, “The word is that you were in a bad car smash-up. You’ll be on medical leave with full pay until you recover.”
“Since I’m wearing casts on my arm and leg, I presume they’re broken. What else?”
“Your leg is broken in two places. Your shoulder was dislocated and your wrist broken. However, it’s your knee that has the surgeons most concerned. It’ll be a while before you have full use of it.”
“Just what I needed.”
“My suggestion is for you to go home—not your flat—to Scotland. Come back when you’re better.”
“What if my knee doesn’t improve? What then?”
“Let’s don’t do worst-case scenarios right now. You’re damn lucky to be alive. Once the doctors release you I’ll have one of our people drive you to Scotland.”
Ian had nodded and had watched as Todd had left the room. There’d been a great deal left unsaid. The most important had been whether or not he would work again.
“That’s enough for the day, Ian.” He was brought back to the present when Hal, his trainer, said, “I’m amazed at the progress you’ve made since I’ve been coming here. I didn’t think your knee would ever become as flexible as it has. You never acknowledge the pain. It’s only when you turn white that I know you’re pushing yourself past your limits.”
“The pain doesn’t matter. What matters is that my leg becomes fully functional.”
After he showered and dressed, Ian went to check on Jenna. He found her typing so fast her fingers were a blur. He waited until she paused before speaking. “Are the tapes decipherable?”
She started and removed her earphones. “Sorry. I didn’t know you were there.” She paused, as though searching for words. “The tape fades in and out at times. It could be the recorder.”
“Or my dictation. I pace while I talk. I’ll watch how I hold the mike in the future.”
“I was wondering if I could run out a copy of what’s already been transcribed before today. I’d like to be able to understand the story.”
“Whatever helps you.”
“This is a spy thriller, isn’t it?”
“Of sorts, I suppose.”
“Where did you get the idea for your novel?”
“I’m writing what I like to read.”
She smiled. “Oh, I thought you might be writing from experience.”
He lifted his brow. “Hardly.”
“Ah. Well, then, you have a very lively imagination.”
“Sorry to have disturbed you. I’ll let you get back to work.” He turned and walked to the door, the sound of the soft clicking of the keyboard accompanying him.
Jenna felt she had made some progress by the time she went up to her room that night. Before going to sleep, she read the first seventy-five pages of Ian’s novel. By the time she’d caught up with the story, Jenna was hooked.
The book was definitely about espionage, as she’d surmised. His protagonist, a government agent, was in hot water by page five.
She wondered what Ian’s job was. Perhaps he was an accountant fantasizing about living life dangerously.
She went to sleep smiling at the thought.
Jenna had been there for several days when she awoke early to discover that the ever-constant clouds and damp weather that seemed to be a permanent condition in Scotland had been chased away by the glorious sun. Light poured into her windows, gilding everything.
Too excited to sleep, she hurriedly dressed for the day. She must have been too distracted to notice where she was going because somehow she managed to miss a turn and found herself wandering through dimly lit hallways in an effort to find her way downstairs.
“That’s what you get for not paying attention,” she muttered to herself. “You’ll lose the extra time before work trying to find your way out of the place.” She felt like some heroine in a novel, lost in the endless halls of an ancient castle. All she needed was an armored suit to come to life and start clanking its way toward her and she’d be screaming.
She came across a gallery lined with oil paintings—no doubt a pictorial display of the MacGowans down through history. She wished she had time to study them and promised herself that she would come back sometime soon—if she ever managed to find the place again.
Jenna gave an audible sigh of relief when she spotted some narrow stairs leading downward. She hurried down them and opened the door at the bottom of the stairwell. She couldn’t say who was the most startled when she found herself in the kitchen—she or the woman working at the counter.
“Oops,” she said, laughing. “Sorry to bother you. I’m Jenna Craddock, Sir Ian’s secretary. If you could point me toward the dining room I’ll get out of your way.”
The woman chuckled. “Certainly,” she said. “I’m Megan MacKinnock, better known as Cook. Follow me.”
The smell of fresh coffee greeted Jenna when she stepped into the dining room from the kitchen. She took her meals in an alcove surrounded by windows. Every time she had occasion to enter the dining room—which was usually for breakfast only—she felt as though she should be wearing clothes from a hundred years ago. The room and its massive table could easily seat a hundred people with no difficulty. It was a shame that it was so seldom used. She had a sudden flash of another century where genteel women and courtly gentlemen filled the room while candlelight was reflected in all the mirrors.
Mustn’t fall into one of your romantic daydreams, she reminded herself. Since coming here, she’d helped herself to several books in Ian’s library. She had always enjoyed history as a child, whether in textbooks or in historical novels. She found English and Scottish history most appealing. She would envision herself fighting at Bannockburn and later at Culloden, wielding her sword in a mighty rush to save her people.
Sometimes she wondered if her ancestors might be Scottish. If they were, it would be a little eerie to think that she’d always been on the side of Scotland long before she’d discovered that she was Scottish.
“Good morning, Jenna,” Hazel said as she came through the door. “Did you sleep well?”
“Quite well, thank you.”
“Cook said you got lost this morning.”
“Just a case of not paying enough attention to where I was going.”
“Have you seen Ian this morning?” Hazel asked.
“No, but that isn’t surprising. I’ve yet to see him at mealtimes.”
“Don’t take it personally. He’s always been taciturn, even as a boy. I used to tease him about being the typical dour Scotsman.”
“It’s difficult for me to imagine Ian as a young boy,” Jenna admitted.
From directly behind her, he said, “It wasn’t a pretty sight, I grant you,” which caused Jenna to jump. To Hazel he said, “See what you can do about getting Hamish out here tomorrow. The leak in my shower has gotten worse.”
“I’ll see what I can do, but you know Hamish. He prefers fishing to working.”
“Do what you can.” He turned and started for the door.
“Aren’t you going to eat?” Hazel asked.
“Not now. Later, maybe.”
Jenna was embarrassed that Ian had found her chatting about him with Hazel. She helped herself to some fruit and a muffin from the array of food on the sideboard, poured herself some coffee and with anticipation gazed out the window at the gardens.
Ian had reached the library before he realized that Hazel had followed him. He stopped and looked at her. “What?” he growled impatiently.
“You were rude to Jenna this morning, ignoring her as though she wasn’t there. I was wondering, how are things between you and Jenna?”
“What are you talking about? There’s nothing between Jenna and me!”
Hazel smiled. “I meant, how is she getting along with your work?”
“Oh. Well, she’s very efficient. Impressive, actually. The woman actually knows how to spell as well as punctuate. Will wonders never cease?”
“I thought she looked quite nice this morning, didn’t you?”
“I didn’t notice.” He expected lightning to strike him at any moment. “Is there some point to this interrogation? If not, I have work to do.”
“I won’t keep you, then,” Hazel replied and walked away, a slight smile on her face.
What was all that about? He was doing his best not to think about Jenna. The last thing he needed was to have someone point out her positive attributes to him!
Her laugh seemed to echo through the place as she talked to Hazel. He sometimes wondered when she had time to get any work done. He couldn’t complain there, though. Whenever he went into her office for any reason, she was always working. He’d formed a bad habit of going to her office on a daily basis, ostensibly to check on her progress. He was kidding himself, he knew. He’d discovered that he couldn’t stay away from her.
When he’d seen her earlier standing there bathed in the sunlight pouring through the dining room window, his heart had missed a beat. She looked like a sprite, aglow with joy and life.
What was the matter with him, waxing poetic over an employee? Stifling his irritation with himself, Ian strode into the library to find a reference book he needed.
Jenna hurried outside after hastily swallowing half of her second cup of coffee. As soon as she stepped into the sunshine she stopped and closed her eyes.
Was it her imagination, or was it warmer this morning? She wondered if spring would ever arrive in Scotland. She’d come from summer in Australia without giving much thought to the differences in the climates between the two places. She opened her eyes and took in a lungful of fresh air. The scene was so peaceful that it moved her soul.
With such a beautiful layout of flower beds, she could hardly wait to see the pathways and the fountains surrounded by blooms. She followed a crushed-shell path, stopping to study the different plants and shrubs, hoping to discover what they were.
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