Kurtz, Katherine - Adept 03 - The Templar Treasure by Kurtz Katherine

Author:Kurtz, Katherine [Kurtz, Katherine]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2011-09-07T04:01:29+00:00

“Not at all,” she replied. “I’m actually surprised you got here so quickly. Oakwood is somewhat off the beaten track, so we always make allowances for first-time visitors. How do you do, Inspector McLeod? I’ll bet you drove, and that’s how you managed to find us so readily. Mr. Lovat, I hope you had a pleasant journey.”

As she offered Peregrine her hand in turn, he found himself looking deep into a limpid pair of dark brown eyes. The sensation was like gazing down into a clear woodland pool, a mirror of mutable reflections overlaying hidden depths. For the space of a heartbeat the reflections seemed to rise up and encompass him, catapulting him backwards in time to a primeval glade ringed round with towering oaks. In place of the lovely Caitlin, he was suddenly confronted by the vision of a slightly older but no less beautiful woman, gowned in flowing white and crowned with mistletoe like a Druid priestess….

He took a grip on himself and shut his eyes briefly. When he opened them again, his vision was back under control. Aware that she was gazing at him in quizzical expectancy, he gulped slightly and tried to recall the question she had just asked. Adam, glancing his way and perhaps guessing what had happened, came to his rescue.

“The drive was very pleasant, thank you,” he said. “The Kentish countryside is particularly lovely this time of year.”

“Yes, we who live here like to think so,” Caitlin replied. “But may I offer you a drink, perhaps? Or tea?”

Adam smiled. “I’d prefer to meet the general first, if you don’t mind. I don’t wish to appear unsociable, but - “ She raised her hand and inclined her head with an answering smile. “You needn’t explain, and I’m not offended,” she said. “Come this way, then, and perhaps I can tempt you to tea after you’ve seen Great-Grandfather. He’s waiting for you out in the gazebo. He thought you wouldn’t mind, since the day is so fine.”

A pair of French doors let them out onto a sunny terrace commanding a wide view of well-manicured formal gardens. Near at hand, the close-clipped lawns were interspersed with beds of lilac and roses. Beyond lay a boxwood maze. Above the hedge tops at the heart of the labyrinth, the domed roof of an ornamental gazebo gleamed white in the sunlight.

Glancing back to be sure they were following, Caitlin led them briskly down a flight of dressed-stone steps onto grass cut smooth as a bowling green. Keeping pace with her as they made their way toward the entrance to the maze, Adam remarked, “It was very good of Sir John to agree to see us at such short notice.”

“Well, you did intimate that the matter might be one of some urgency,” she replied. “Fortunately, tonight’s a full moon, so if you intend to do any serious work with the Dundee cross, tonight is the absolute best time.” Adam managed to mask his own surprise, but he sensed McLeod stiffening behind him, and caught Peregrine’s faint but audible gasp.

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