Page 48 of Sinful Temptations

My jaw dropped. “This castle is considered unique, as unlike most Austrian castles, this one was owned by more powerful women than men. The baroness who acquired it in the 17th century increased its rooms to one hundred and three and built the moat surrounding it.”

“Impressive, but still Wiki.”

“Really?” I said it with the sarcasm it deserved. “Why don’t you amuse me with your knowledge then?”

A small smile curled at his lips. “Thought you’d never ask. Did you know it’s said to be haunted?”

“Yes, I found that on Wikipedia.”

“Did you know hundreds of beheadings of so-called witches were performed here and their bodies are said to line the bottom of the moat?”

“Wikipedia,” I said, deadpan.

He burst out laughing, and his delightful baritone caughtme by surprise. Count Frederik was growing more interesting by the second.

With a slight incline of his head, he said, “Touché, Miss?—”

“Daisy.”

He held his hand forward, and I paused to assess the forthright stranger. It was a long moment before I raised my hand from the water and met my palm with his.

“Pleased to meet you, Miss Daisy.”

I eased back on my seat and tried to study him without making it too obvious. If I had to guess his age now, I’d have said early forties. His gray hair indicated age on his side, but his body said otherwise. His physique was much more toned than William’s had ever been.

He clicked his fingers. “Did you know that in 1149, King Conrad the Third of Germany, stayed here after his second crusade?”

I blinked at him. “No, I didn’t.”

His foot tapped mine beneath the water. “Uh-huh.”

I frowned, unsure whether he’d touched me intentionally. The dazzle in his eyes suggested he had.

“Okay, did you know Richard the Lionheart also stayed here after the Third Crusade in 1192?”

I shook my head, debating over whether he was telling the truth.

“You don’t believe me.”

He said it as a statement and I was flustered. “Well, it’s . . . how do I know you’re telling the truth?”

He shrugged and let out a sigh. “I guess you don’t. But I have no need to lie. Did you know that over the centuries, the castle has also served as a hospital, hunting lodge, and prison?”

“Yes, I did.” It seemed that Frederik enjoyed history as much as I did.

“Did you know it was abandoned twice in its history?”

“Yes.” I smiled. “Once during the Thirty Years’ War, from 1623 to 1644, to be exact. And again in 1679 when Black Death decimated the area. The castle was a hospital during that time, but once one person brought the plague inside these walls, everyone died.”

“Well done. The bodies were left to rot where they fell.”

“I know. Imagine arriving at the castle and seeing all those skeletons lying everywhere.” Awful images swam across my mind. The plague that’d roared through Europe had killed nearly as many people as World War One, yet it was rarely spoken of. I squinted at Frederik.Where was he going with this quiz?Maybe this was some kind of test to see if I was worthy of bringing tourists through his castle. He had no idea who he was messing with.

“I agree. It’s hard to envisage this stunning building housing such horror. But the isolation and containment made it a perfect incubator for the disease. That’s why the castle is said to be cursed.”

“It would have been confronting, that’s for sure.”

He touched my foot again. I was certain this time was on purpose, and the twinkle in his eyes confirmed it was so.

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