Ghostwriting by Traci Harding

Author:Traci Harding [Harding, Traci]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: (v5), Fantasy
ISBN: 9781743096185
Google: uiOOHAAACAAJ
Amazon: 0732274141
Barnesnoble: 0732274141
Goodreads: 2127246
Publisher: Voyager
Published: 2002-01-01T05:00:00+00:00

As they’d slept late, it was well into the afternoon by the time Riane and Marcus had eaten, changed and begun a grand tour of the house.

The place was absolutely steeped in history: the walls were covered with the portraits of the great-great relatives of the family that spanned over four centuries. Priceless works of art, tapestries, suits of armour, ancient weaponry and antique treasures from abroad embellished every exquisite room in the manor. Marcus had a plentiful supply of historic tales to tell about royal visits and harbouring spies and rebels.

‘Do you have any ghosts?’ Riane asked, as they descended the main staircase into the grand hall, which opened on to the entrance foyer.

‘Every square inch of Scotland has a ghost,’ he replied, ‘and we’ve our fair share. Although,’ Marcus raised a finger to stress the point, ‘ours are all very congenial.’

‘Wow,’ Riane said, emphatically, ‘even the ghosts are hospitable.’ She was not spooked by Marcus’s claim, as she’d been by the old men’s tales at the pub, and she figured it must be all in the delivery. She didn’t find the house at all foreboding; in fact, just the opposite was true. ‘It’s all just beautiful, Marcus. You must be extremely proud.’

At that moment the front door burst open and in walked a dashing young gent dressed to the nines for a seventeenth-century engagement — white wig and all. In behind him came four young women, all dressed in ballgowns from differing periods of history. It was like something straight out of a delightful dream.

‘Jasper?’ Riane uttered aside to Marcus.

‘Got it in one,’ he confirmed, making greater haste down the stairs.

‘Ah … here he is, girls.’ Jasper spotted his brother and so headed his way. ‘But, hold everything, what have we here?’ Jasper sidestepped his brother and moved to meet Riane at the base of the stairway. ‘This is most unlike you, Marcus.’ Jasper shot a mischievously delighted look back at his brother, before kissing Riane’s hand. ‘Jasper MacCloud at your service, lovely lady.’ He took off his hat, which sported a huge feather, and then bowed low before her.

This one had the look of the devil in his lovely, bright baby blues, and whereas Marcus was tall and ruggedly handsome, Jasper was shorter, well-built and downright gorgeous to look at.

‘I’m charmed,’ Riane admitted, unable to contain her amused chuckles.

‘So what’s with the fancy dress?’ Marcus interrupted his brother’s routine.

‘Oh,’ Jasper gazed down at himself, ‘my other suit was at the cleaners.’ He chuckled at his own joke, which Riane found amusing, but Marcus rolled his eyes in mock despair. ‘No seriously … the girls thought we’d have a “come as your favourite ancestor party” this evening, and you’re both cordially invited.’ His cheeky smile drifted toward Riane.

‘That’s very kind.’ Riane didn’t know whether to take him seriously or not. ‘But I’m afraid my ballgown is at the cleaners.’

Jasper burst into laughter, finding her comeback amusing. ‘Not to worry. My girls will fix you up, won’t you, ladies?’ He waved them all over to join the conversation.

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