Page 112 of Once Upon A Haunted Castle
Gavin balled his hand into a fist. The parchment crackled in his palm and the distinct crack of the wax seal breaking snapped in the air.
“Is there a monk behind this wall?” he demanded.
Edana blinked in surprise before turning to the referred wall. “I imagine he’s no’ much of a monk now. Most likely a pile of bones and cloth rattier than it’d been when he was alive.”
She turned in victory and strode away, leaving him stoking the flames of his rage.
Damn the woman.
And damn his father for making him swear the oath to keep her safe and by his side. She should be married to an aged man she could make miserable and leave Gavin to his own affairs.
He loosed a vicious curse which echoed around him.
“Laird?” A feminine voice sounded from the end of the hall and a young woman with brilliant red hair stepped forward. Anice, the lass whose coquettish smile always left him eager to leave the room and be free of her overdone attempts to snare attention.
But seeing her now was fortunate. He was in need of assistance to leave as soon as possible. “Have Senara meet me in my solar immediately.”
“She went to the village to see about getting some new cloth. I’m guessing her gown is getting a bit snug. It happens when women settle down with men sometimes.” Anice shifted her shoulders in a slight shrug while pushing her breasts toward him.
He would have rolled his eyes at her attempts if he weren’t so damn irritated with Edana.
Senara was in the village. By the time he got word to her, it would already be evening, and he needed to leave within the hour.
He hissed out a sigh of frustration. It was a two and a half day ride to Dalmunzie Castle,ifthe weather held. He could make it two if he pushed hard. “Tell her I’ve had an urgent matter arise and will be back within a week.”
Anice nodded and gave him a deep curtsey with a purposeful view. “Aye, laird.”
Though he’d left a message for her, Gavin departed for Dalmunzie with a cloud of uncertainty looming over him. He didn’t like having left without speaking to Senara. He liked even less leaving her alone with Edana.
If Balthasar was, indeed, a real and true spirit, Gavin prayed he would keep Senara safe.
