Page 35 of Christmas at Castle Dunrannoch
Lady Balmore returned her head to the pillow but remained alert.
Only the night before, Lachlan’s grandmother, the dowager countess, had sworn she’d seen a shrouded figure wafting through her dressing room. It had disappeared before her maid had arrived, of course.
The castle was supposedly brimming with apparitions. There was a headless warrior who stalked the battlements, a wretched chambermaid who ran sobbing through the minstrel’s gallery, and the fearsome fetch of Camdyn Dalreagh, first chieftain, who was said to play a ghostly rendition on the bagpipes whenever a member of the clan was due to meet his end.
Lady Balmore had never liked the moor, nor the castle. She wasn’t even particularly fond of those living in it. She’d been far happier in their lovely townhouse in Edinburgh. The shops really were most excellent, and there were always friends to call upon. That was where she and Lachlan should be—not here, in the middle of nowhere, having to step into Brodie’s shoes.
But what could one do? A frayed strap beneath his saddle was the cause they’d said—and now his brother was no more and Lachlan was obliged to step up.
The old laird had been bedridden these five years and couldn’t last much longer. Lachlan would then be Earl of Dunrannoch. She ought to be pleased, she knew, but all she could think of was being obliged to spend the rest of her days in this damp and draughty hulk of granite. It was simply too misery-making!
With a sigh, she closed her eyes. She must make the best of things—and there were only a few more weeks until the Yule season. She’d take Bonnie and arrange a prolonged stay at the apartments in Princes Street, on the pretext of needing to purchase gifts and so on. The younger girls could join her upon completing their Michaelmas term at Miss McBride’s Academy for Ladies and they’d have a jolly time of it.
Yes, she’d go up to town. Goodness knows, she deserved some respite from this dreary abode.
She was just drifting off when the knocking came again. Five slow taps, with a lengthy pause between.
Nobody announced themselves like that.
“Lachlan!” Lady Balmore shook him again. “The door!”
“Ah, ye doaty woman! Am I to have nae peace ’till you’ve had me oot o’ this bed?”
The viscount lit the candle at his bedside and shuffled his feet into his slippers. Fumbling for his dressing gown, he continued cursing.
“I’ll look noo, then I want to hear nae more aboot it!”
Entering the corridor, all was dark, but for the small circle of light about his person. There were few enough windows, each narrow and embedded deep in the walls. It took a full moon and a cloudless sky to illuminate this part of the castle.
Balmore held the candle aloft. “There’s nae a soul here, Mary. ’Tis jus’ yer imagination playin’ sleekit!”
Shaking his head, he made to return but, just at that moment, the distant wailing began. Balmore froze on the spot!
It couldn’t be. Not again!
A full six months had passed since the phantom bagpipes had last been heard; and Brodie’s death had followed on the morn. ’Twas Camdyn Dalreagh returned to warn them once more!
With trembling hand, Balmore approached the stairwell balcony, peering into the shadowy depths from which the mournful ululation rose.
It must be Father’s time, may the Lord have mercy on him, taking him to his rest.
Balmore sent up a silent prayer.
’Twould be fitting to go to his bedside and hold the old man’s hand as he passed to the next world.
His father’s chamber was on the floor below. Grasping the bannister, he felt his way to the cold stone wall and the first downward steps.
All too late did Balmore feel the draught of movement behind him. A great shove in the small of his back propelled him into thin air. Landing on the fifth step, Balmore dashed his skull upon the stone’s edge.
As soft footsteps retreated, the bagpipes too faded. The candle which had flown before him guttered, and the darkness was complete.
Chapter Two
Santa Maria Ranch, near San Antonio, Texas
3rd August, 1905
Rye lookedup as the door opened. José Luis and Antonio nodded to him as they stepped through, followed by Alejandra.
