Penmort Castle by Kristen Ashley

She looked back at Cash, pulled slightly away and suggested, “If you want to make out with me, maybe we should close the door.”

  “No.”

  At his answer, Abby’s lips parted in surprise.

  “No?” she repeated.

  His arms got even tighter and his face dipped close to hers again.

  “No,” he said again. “I employ thirty-five staff and they’re all curious about you. Too curious. I make this statement, they’ll have something to talk about for a couple of days and they’ll get back to work.”

  “Oh,” Abby said, somehow both weirded out and disappointed by his answer.

  He gave her a little squeeze and went on and even though she knew it was stupid, stupid, stupid what he said next made that budding hope she experienced in her heart the night before start to take root and bloom.

  “Twenty-five years ago, if you told me I’d be standing in an office like this and it would be mine, I wouldn’t have believed you.” She held her breath at his sharing of this secret and his face got closer, his voice got deeper, rougher and far, far sexier when he continued. “And if you told me I’d be holding a woman like you in my arms, I’d have told you you were mad. So, darling, I’m going to show you off any chance I get. If you don’t like that, tough. You’re going to have to get over it.”

  Yes, even though it was stupid, that hope was definitely beginning to bloom.

  “Cash –” she whispered, then didn’t know what to say.

  So she decided to show him how his words made her feel. She got up on tiptoe, pressing his head down with her fingers in his hair and she kissed him, hard, wet and open-mouthed.

  His hand slid up her back, his fingers sifted into her hair at her nape and his head slanted, deepening an already deep kiss. This made Abby’s knees give out and his arm crushed her to him as she felt her body electrify from his kiss.

  Some time later from far away (but she wished it was farther, much farther) she heard a tap at the door then, when Cash didn’t stop kissing Abby, a polite cough.

  Cash’s head came up and he looked over his shoulder, his voice a mild growl when he said, “Yes?”

  “The others are here,” Emma told him, standing uncomfortably at the door.

  “We’ll be right there,” Cash replied and Abby, peering around Cash’s body, saw Emma disappear instantly.

  Cash’s arms went from around her but both his hands came up to curl on her neck.

  “After this weekend, as soon as I can arrange it, we’re going on holiday,” he informed her, his brogue still a soft, effective rumble that slid across her skin.

  “We are?” Abby asked, sounding dazed because she was, it was a great kiss.

  “We are,” he returned. “No phones, no receptionists, no nosy neighbours, no aggravating cousins, no ghosts, just us.”

  “Okay,” Abby agreed and she felt Cash’s fingers flex at her neck before he smiled.

  He let her go but caught her hand and gently pulled her to the door, asking blandly, “How annoyed is this meeting going to make me?”

  Abby thought about Mrs. Truman.

  Then she thought there was a very good possibility (in fact, it was a certainty) that Angus would be attired in full Scottish regalia.

  “Um, on a scale of one to ten?” Abby enquired and Cash stopped at the door and looked down at her. She bit the side of her lip then mumbled, “Fifteen.”

  At that, he threw his head back and laughed. She felt his rich laughter go straight from her stomach, this time up, to rest close to her heart before he tugged at her hand, leading her out the door and down the hall.

  And she didn’t know Cash’s laughter in his office was not unheard of, but it was also not commonplace. So that, as well as their passionate embrace, as well as what was to come, was going to be the talk of the office for the rest of the month.

  They walked, hand-in-hand, down the hall and Cash stopped them when they hit reception.

  Abby took one look at her motley crew and mentally groaned.

  Jenny, luckily, looked like Jenny, wearing the black trousers that did great things for her behind, high-heeled black boots and a black turtleneck.

  Honor was also dressed like a normal person.

  Fenella, however, was wearing a pink monstrosity that was fifty years too old for her and looked like it was created to be worn to attend a tea party at a retirement home.

  Mrs. Truman was wearing English Old Lady, from the tip of her felt hat with a sharp feather sticking out of it, through her boxy tweed suit, to the toes of her rubber-soled shoes.

  Angus was, as Abby feared, in full kilt.

  But it was Cassandra that had gone OTT looking like the rock ‘n’ roll gypsy from hell. She had a scarf wrapped tightly around her head, its fringed ends mingling with her long dark hair. She had three, thin rock ‘n’ roll scarves around her neck and yet another fringed scarf wrapped around her hips over her jeans. As an unnecessary finishing touch, she was wearing enough jewellery in her ears, around her neck, at her wrists and on her fingers to set off the metal detectors in the Pentagon thousands of miles away.

  “Fucking hell,” Cash muttered under his breath and Abby looked up to see he was not amused.

  “I need tea,” Mrs. Truman announced loudly.

  Abby suppressed a hysterical giggle but just barely.

  Cash walked forward, taking Abby with him, and his eyes went to Emma. “Is lunch set up?”

  “Yes, Cash. Everything’s ready in the conference room,” Emma answered, her surprised eyes on the assemblage.

  Cash led the way to the door of the conference room. As Abby walked beside him she noticed there were an awful lot of people standing around pretending to be in conversations, but surreptitiously watching what was happening in the reception area.

  That’s when she started to freak out that all Cash’s employees were going to think she was a bad influence on him.

  She stood beside Cash as her posse trooped into the conference room, greeting Cash and Abby as they passed. All except Angus who shook Cash’s hand so hard, Abby’s body also shook as Cash was still holding her hand.

  “Angus McPherson,” he declared when he was done shaking Cash’s hand, then he puffed out his chest and boomed, “Proud to be working for ye, Cash Fraser!”

  Cash stared at Angus a moment then tilted his head down to look at Abby, brows raised, and she scrunched her nose at him.

  Luckily, Angus didn’t take offense to Cash’s non-greeting and headed into the conference room.

  Abby started to follow but Cash halted her with a tug on her hand. She looked up at him in time to see his face disappear by her ear.

  “Somehow, I think you owe me for this,” he murmured there.

  Somehow, she thought he was right.

  His head came back and when she caught his eyes, she winced and shrugged which, fortunately, made him grin.

  When Cash and Abby entered and Cash closed the door, Abby noted they were all partaking of the buffet like they’d just come off a month-long forced fast.

  When they had their plates piled high, they sat around the conference table. Cash was at the head with no food, Abby to his right and she’d decided to take her cues from him and also not load up a plate (even though the buffet looked really good, Cash didn’t do things in half-measures that was certain).

  Cash didn’t waste any time and once everyone was settled he immediately asked, “Who’s in charge?”

  “I am,” both Angus and Cassandra said at the same time.

  “That would be me,” Mrs. Truman said over both of them.

  Cash’s body stayed facing forward, just his head turned to Abby and his brows went up.

  “Um,” Abby started, looked amongst the faces, trying to decide who would take the least offense then she tried to be diplomatic, “let’s say Angus as he’s had more experience with this type of thing.”

  Mrs. Truman let out an affronted “humph”, Cassandra sat back smiling and Angus leaned forward happily.

  Cash p
ut both elbows on the table, linked his fingers, rested his chin on them and looked at Angus.

  “Tell me your plan,” he ordered.

  Angus glanced at Cassandra then said, “We’re thinking the showdown will be Saturday night.”

  There was silence as Cash waited for Angus to say more.

  Angus said no more.

  Cash closed his eyes, pulled breath in through his nose and, when he opened his eyes again, they were aimed at Abby.

  Abby pressed her lips together.

  Cash’s eyes went back to Angus and he suggested with barely restrained patience, “Perhaps you’d like to fill in the blanks.”

  Angus shoved an entire chicken goujon in his mouth and shifted in his seat excitedly while he chewed.

  Not done chewing, he stated, “See, we’re thinking tonight, we’ll give her a chance to get settled in, not Abby, Vivianna. Make her think we’re not going to try anything. We’ll wait for Saturday night to draw her out.”

  “And how is Abby going to stay safe from this evening through to tomorrow?” Cash asked.

  Cassandra leaned forward. “That’s where you come in.”

  Cash looked at Cassandra but didn’t speak.

  It was Honor who spoke next and she informed them, “I didn’t just find Lorna’s diaries,” Cash’s eyes shifted to her and she continued. “Two of the other victims had journals in the library too. I’ve had those for years as well.”

  Cassandra picked up there. “Angus, Honor and I have been studying the journals and researching the past murders. What we found is that Vivianna doesn’t appear, nor is she active, when the master of the house is with the victim. Therefore, if you stay close to her side, Abby should be safe.”

  “And what if we get separated?” Cash enquired.

  “You make sure she’s with Mummy,” Fenella put in.

  “Nicola?” Cash asked.

  “Vivianna doesn’t do anything when Mummy’s around,” Fenella told Cash.

  “Do you know that for certain?” Cash queried and when Fenella looked blank, Cash turned to Cassandra. “And are you certain she won’t be active when I’m with Abby?”

  “Not one hundred percent certain, no,” Angus cut in, picked up a salmon and cream cheese sandwich quarter, shoved the whole thing in his mouth and went on while chewing, “pretty certain, though.”

  Cash’s head cocked sharply to the side before he told Angus, “Pretty certain isn’t good enough.”

  “Abby will have protection,” Cassandra noted. “I’ll give it to her and Fenella, Honor and I’ll take care of your rooms.”

  “Take care of our rooms?” Cash asked.

  “Protection spell,” Cassandra replied, “some special pixie dust sprinkled here and there, a few incantations.” When Cash’s jaw got tight, Cassandra’s voice dipped low. “I know how it sounds but, I promise you, I also know what I’m doing.”

  “She does, Cash,” Abby whispered when Cash looked far from convinced but Cash didn’t take his eyes from Cassandra.

  “She’ll be safe in your rooms,” Cassandra asserted. “Even if something happens, she gets outside the castle walls, or to your rooms, she’ll be safe.”

  Cash’s head turned to Abby and he muttered, “I’m supposed to trust this?”

  To that Abby replied softly, “I do.”

  Abby watched a muscle jump in Cash’s cheek and she knew he didn’t like any of what he was hearing but he looked back at the table and forged ahead. “Let’s talk about Saturday night.”

  “We have it all figured out,” Angus told him. “Fenella and Honor are going to get Nicola to talk Suzanne into taking Abby up to one of the parapets. Fenella tells us that Vivianna likes Suzanne, she’s less likely to suspect her of setting a trap, so once she gets –”

  Cash cut in by saying, “No.”

  Angus blinked then repeated, “No?”

  Abby looked at Cash and saw he was no longer being patient, he was now angry.

  “No,” Cash retorted. “Abby’s not going anywhere near the parapets. Not with Suzanne.”

  “Suzanne wouldn’t hurt Abby,” Fenella squeaked and Cash’s head turned to her.

  “She also wouldn’t help her,” Cash returned.

  “He has a point,” Honor muttered and Fenella turned wide eyes to her sister.

  “Moving on!” Mrs. Truman commanded. “What’s Plan B?”

  “She likes the conservatory. Maybe Abby can pretend to wander–” Fenella started.

  “No,” Cash stated again.

  “Not the conservatory either?” Jenny asked.

  “Too many windows,” Cash answered and looked at Angus. “I don’t want Abby near any windows or stairs, she uses only the bathroom in our room, and she’s definitely not stepping foot on the fucking roof.”

  Oh Lord, Abby thought, Cash is using the f-word.

  Softly, in hopes of calming him, Abby murmured, “Cash.”

  But at the same time, Jenny mumbled, “Maybe we can arrange the showdown in a silk tent in the Sahara.”

  Cash’s gaze sliced to Jenny, Jenny caught his scorching glare and bit her lips.

  Then Cash announced to the table at large, “This morning, I did some research as well. Five women, not including Vivianna Wainwright, have died at Penmort, two fell from the roof, one fell down the stairs and two fell through a window.” He paused and skewered Angus with a look. “I’ll repeat, no roof, no windows, no stairs. Now, what else have you got?”

  Everyone looked at everyone else

  Finally Angus spoke. “The gallery.”

  “The gallery is on the second floor,” Cash reminded him. “That’s a flight of stairs.”

  “Yes, but Vivianna likes that room and Abby can stay away from the stairs and the windows,” Angus replied. “The gallery is huge, we’ll have plenty of room to move in there.”

  Cash took a moment to consider this then he jerked his head in a nod. “The gallery.”

  Mrs. Truman spoke up. “You can’t be anywhere near.”

  Cash looked at her. “I get that,” he said then continued, “but I’ll not be far.”

  “You can’t be anywhere near,” Mrs. Truman repeated.

  “I’ll not be far,” Cash repeated in turn.

  “Cash,” Cassandra put in, “she may not appear before the master but that doesn’t mean she can’t see him. You can’t hide from her.”

  “Abby’s not going up alone,” Cash returned.

  “No, she isn’t. Me and Cassandra will be there,” Angus said.

  “If she can see me, she can see you,” Cash retorted and Angus shook his head.

  “She can’t see me, lad, not unless I want her to,” Angus replied softly.

  “And how does that work?” Cash asked, his voice dripping with disbelief.

  “Glamour,” Cassandra answered and Cash turned to her and raised his brows in question so Cassandra went on, “The McPhersons have a cloaking glamour. It’s magic, handed down for generations and hard to explain, just trust me, it works.”

  With visible effort, Cash allowed this to pass then he asked Cassandra, “And where will you be?”

  “I’ll be close,” Cassandra told him.

  “You’ll be very close,” Cash told her and Cassandra nodded then Cash turned to Angus. “How will you get her?”

  “Can’t say. Family secret,” Angus replied.

  Cash looked at him a moment then said with soft menace, “I’m sure everyone in this room will take your secret to their grave.”

  And Abby was sure too. The way he said it, anyone in that room would be stupid not to.

  Cash went on. “Now, tell us, how are you going to get her?”

  Angus looked at Cassandra then Jenny then Mrs. Truman and Abby noted that they all shifted uncomfortably in their seats.

  Finally, Angus’s eyes went to Cash and he spoke, “Witch’s trap.”

  Cash waited for more, Angus didn’t give it to him so Cash demanded, “Explain.”

  Angus glanced at Cassandra then back to
Cash. “I’ll set a witch’s trap in the gallery. To be trapped, she has to form, which Abby will get her to do. Then I’ll drive her to the trap. She won’t see it, she won’t feel it, but once she’s in the circle, she won’t be able to get out of it.”

  Cassandra took over. “Once she’s inside the trap, I’ll be there. Angus and I’ll fold her up and take her to a coven in Cornwall for a vanishing ritual.”

  “Fold her up?” Cash enquired.

  “Yes,” Cassandra answered, “literally. I’ll fold her up using magic and insert her into a case that Angus’s family has been using for centuries. The case is protected and no matter how strong she is, she won’t be able to get out. Transport will be safe but I’ll go with Angus to make the delivery just in case. The coven in Cornwall is powerful and they’ve been alerted. They’re ready. They’ll perform the vanishing ritual the minute Vivianna is delivered to them.”

  “And that’s it?” Cash asked.

  “That’s it,” Angus replied.

  “She’ll be gone?” Cash pressed.

  “Straight to hell,” Cassandra stated.

  “You’re certain?” Cash pushed.

  Cassandra and Angus both nodded.

  Mrs. Truman butted in and her eyes were on Abby. “Honor and Fenella have finagled invitations to the party Saturday night for Jenny and me. We’ll be there too.”

  Abby saw Cash’s body get tight so hurriedly she suggested, “Perhaps you should leave this to the experts.”

  It was Jenny who spoke next. “We’re not going to be there to help.”

  Mrs. Truman finished for Jenny by declaring, “Moral support.”

  “This doesn’t get better,” Cash muttered.

  Mrs. Truman’s eyes narrowed on Cash and she snapped, “Cash Fraser, Abigail is not going to face this peril without what’s left of her family at her side.”

  Abby felt a jolt shoot through her belly at Mrs. Truman’s words and then her eyes moved to Jenny.

  She had no idea when Mrs. Truman became family but since she’d known her for as long as she could remember, and since Jenny had been in her life for more than half of it, she realised Mrs. Truman wasn’t wrong.

  Therefore, her gaze going from Jenny to Mrs. Truman, Abby whispered with feeling, “Thanks guys.”

  “Pah!” Mrs. Truman exploded and Abby waited for more but there wasn’t any.