To Each His Own by Anna Albergucci

Author:Anna Albergucci
Language: eng
Format: azw3
Published: 2015-08-30T04:00:00+00:00

’TWAS GOOD AND DARK BY the time Lair came with the open buggy. I walked Jinny up to the road, where my sister waited, and introduced the two while helping Jinny up to the passenger side. I stood for a moment studying their differences—Jinny so much smaller in stature, and her hair more golden. Lair had tresses like Muireach, the color of cream.

I stopped gawking and went around the buggy where I had Lair scoot over so she was between Jinny and me.

I took the reins.

The two of them chatted the whole drive, while I spent the journey feeling distressed that I would no’ see Jinny again.

Of course I’d no’ see her again. When I’d asked and she said no, I’d felt so stupid. Why had I believed this proper English lassie might want anything more than to be my friend? While females were always drawn to me, it was no’ for proper reasons. I looked wild, no’ gentlemanly—something that helped me lure my prey, as I was wild, no’ gentlemanly.

I could tell this lass, too, wanted me as the others had—though I could never do to her what I had done to them—but I could also never hope to have a proper relationship with her. When she told me all she knew of my kind, I’d no’ liked the sound of the truth coming out of Jinny’s mouth, regardless that I’d forced her to say it. But her uncle’s knowledge was accurate. That was who and what I was—I just didnae like her knowing it. Why had this human stirred the hunger in my heart more than the hunger in my belly?

I was brought out of my deeper thoughts by our arrival into Balfoureigh. Following Jinny’s directions through town, I turned down a quiet lane with great mansions. Jinny motioned toward her home, and I guided the horse to do a turnabout, pulling us to a standstill in front of the large abode—a Scots Baronial-style house with gardens in front.

Looking past the two women, I saw the front door open. A stream of yellow light flooded out past the dark silhouette of a man beneath the lintel. He came at once, striding toward us, and my heart staggered as I beheld the devil that attacked Jinny.

About to throw myself over the side, the softer line of a beard reflected through the darkness, and I kent this man was no’ Jinny’s attacker. Now that he was upon us, I could see him clearly; no’ only did the man have long whiskers, he was too old. Still, the resemblance was remarkable, and no’ only his build, but I could see that his face beneath the scruff held the same striking features, bright blue eyes and all.

The man took Jinny’s hand. “Jinny, my God, lass, ye had me worried sick for ye.”

“I’m so sorry, Uncle.”

Uncle? But Jinny said she didnae know her attacker. Could such a resemblance be coincidence? I doubted it.

She explained to him that she’d taken a walk to the sea and had come upon Lair and me on the beach.

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