Once Upon a Castle by Nora Roberts

Author:Nora Roberts
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Publisher: Jove Books
Published: 2012-11-06T22:34:06+00:00

2

Felicity was up before the servants. Her sleep had been disturbed by dreams and visions, though now that she was awake she couldn't recall them. She knew only that she'd been unsettled by the images that flitted through her mind.

She couldn't stop thinking about the strange events of the previous night. The only explanation she could accept was the fact that she had been completely exhausted.

Ghosts, indeed! She was an educated, intelligent woman and, as her father had often said, too sensible for her own good. Hardly the type to indulge in flights of fancy.

A good strong cup of tea, she thought, would clear her head and put a shine on the day. Still, she glanced carefully around the room before removing her night-shift. Annoyed at her thoughts, she buttoned the simple white blouse and dark skirt that skimmed the tops of her kid boots, then ran a brush through her hair and secured it with combs.

She crossed the room and drew open the draperies, allowing shimmering morning sunbeams to filter into the room. For long minutes she stood at the window, transfixed by her first glimpse of Falcon's Lair by daylight. The land below seemed to roll and fold into itself like a well-kept secret. Heavily wooded valleys opened unexpectedly into gorse-covered stretches of moor that climbed steeply toward the clouds. Perhaps a mile away to the east lay a village, with a row of shops and houses, and a church steeple catching the first rays of morning sunlight.

Her heartbeat quickened. How she would love to paint the scene in just this light. Tomorrow, if she awakened early enough, she would carry her sketchbook to the moors and try to capture it.

"Lovely, isn't it?"

At the deep voice she whirled. "You again. But how—What—"

He was standing directly behind her, and though he didn't touch her, she felt the tingling warmth radiate through her veins.

"I thought…" She moistened her lips and forced herself to go on. "I thought I'd dreamed you."

It was she who looked like a dream. So fresh, so lovely in the light of morning, she nearly took his breath away. "Oh, I'm real enough," he said. "To those who believe."

She took a step back until she felt the cold window at her back. "Last night I thought you were a…" She couldn't bring herself to say the word. Besides, this was no ghostly specter. This was a man. Tall, menacing, and very much alive. He was toying with her. Trying to make her believe the impossible. She would not be coerced into playing his game.

"How did you do that trick?"

"Trick?"

"Appearing. Disappearing. Is it a parlor game?"

He didn't want to answer. Not yet. So he simply changed the subject. "You never told me your name."

"Felicity Andrews."

"Andrews. But you were supposed to be…" He paused, unwilling to reveal more. Changing tactics, he muttered, "Felicity. That is Latin for happiness. It suits you. You have a happy face." He bowed slightly. "My name is Gareth, First Lord of Falcon's Lair."

"Gareth. My father never mentioned you.

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