A Midnight Clear by Kristi Astor

Author:Kristi Astor
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Kensington
Published: 2010-09-09T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter 15

Troy couldn’t help but grin as he cut the motorcar’s engine and removed his driving goggles, staring at the modest little cottage in front of him. It would do nicely. He’d have to send a telegram to François right away and tell him how pleased he was with the accommodations. Of course, he hadn’t seen the inside of the place yet, but it didn’t matter overmuch.

All that mattered was that Holly’s Close was less than a mile away, just down the dusty road from his temporary home. They’d passed it as they’d driven in. It had taken all of Troy’s restraint to keep on course rather than turn down the narrow lane that led to the tidy stone manor house that Miranda called home.

“This is it?” Sébastien said beside him, removing his own goggles and tossing them to the black tufted seat beside him. “Well, I suppose it’s not that bad, though I can’t possibly imagine why you’d want to spend more than a fortnight in this grim little outpost.”

“You haven’t yet seen the abbey. We’ll drive out later, once I get settled. I can’t quite explain it, but something has drawn me to it,” Troy lied. He’d seen only photographs, never having laid eyes on the place in person. “You know how that goes,” he added, hoping to appeal to Sébastien’s artist’s sensibility.

“I suppose so, but couldn’t your aesthetic instincts have drawn you somewhere more lively than this? You could always change your mind and join me in Greece. I’m not sailing for several more weeks, you know.”

Troy pulled off his thick, leather driving gloves, shoving them into the little compartment on the dash along with his goggles. “I’m sure you’ll have a jolly old time without me. Isn’t Marcus planning to meet you there?”

“Indeed, he is. Marcus, at least, understands the attraction of such a place. As opposed to, say, here.”

Troy just shrugged. “You must admit there’s a certain pastoral charm to Surrey.”

Sébastien turned to him with a grin. “Yes, and you must admit there are certain charms to Greece, too. Beautiful, scantily clad charms, I’m told.”

“I’m sure you’ll sample enough of them for both of us.” Troy could barely believe it, but the very idea seemed almost distasteful to him. Before, such a notion would have been incentive enough to set sail immediately. An exotic locale, beautiful women, cheap wine, and easy fucks. Now, he was inordinately satisfied to let Sébastien and Marcus have their adventure—and their women—without him.

“Well, let’s get your trunks inside, man,” Sébastien said with an exaggerated grimace. “I’m anxious to see this abbey of yours. It’s in ruins, you say?”

Troy nodded as he stepped down and hurried to the rear of the motorcar, where his trunks were strapped, Sébastien’s smaller traveling case on top. “Extensive ruins, though there are some standing vaulted ceilings and columns in places. Should make an interesting study of light. Here, take your valise.”

It took a good ten minutes to drag Troy’s trunks up the cottage’s uneven steps and deposit them into what must be the front parlor.

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