Chapter 14
Chapter Fourteen
Quinn pasted the best debutant smile she could muster on her face as she eyed everyone as a potential enemy. Soft music played in the ballroom as men and women dressed in red and green plaid danced on the floor.
She hadn’t expected so many people in green. Where had they been hiding this entire time?
Collin led her to a table up on a dais. Ian was already seated, along with a white-haired woman to his right. He locked eyes with them as they approached and gave a lopsided grin. “Is that little spec of red on her dress your way of saying Quinn is fair game?”
“I’m no one’s game,” Quinn answered, even as the muscles in Collin’s arm bunched beneath her hold. “But if I were, my blood runs green.”
“’Tis tradition the Menzies dance with the McDougalls.” Ian jumped down from the platform and held out his hand.
“I’m sure the lady you were sitting with would like to dance.”
Ian glanced over his shoulder and turned back with a smile. “My mom hates to dance.”
“Come on, Quinn. It’s tradition.”
“That’s a stupid tradition,” Quinn grumbled.
“Aye, but it keeps incest out of the equation, and I know you want to set a good example for the others.”
He gestured toward a table, where Quinn spotted Abigail sitting in a green dress, watching.
She ignored Ian’s hand and stood on her tiptoes, planting a kiss on Collin’s lips, leaving no doubt as to whose bed she’d be sleeping in later.
“I’ll make sure to step on his toes.” She winked, making Collin smile before she let Ian drag her to the dance floor.
Ian rested his hands on her waist as they slow danced. She watched as Margarete was quick to fill her void. Her dress was impressive. It was sleek, hugged her curves and was the color of Collin’s house. The sight had Quinn seeing red.
“Ne’er mind her, Quinn. She disnae hold a candle to you.”
Collin held Quinn’s gaze, and it was in that minute that she hoped Ian was right. Quinn stopped dancing and turned to Ian. “Who are you, and what did you do with Ian McDougall.”
His laughter rang out, even as he started moving them both in the dance. “’Tis a shame you prefer green, Quinn Thatcher. I’d have been nicer to persuade you to my side.”
“You don’t know how to be nice.” Quinn glanced over at Margarete, who had her arm wrapped around Collin’s bicep as he read something in his hands.
The man from breakfast the first morning stood next to Collin and was pointing at the paper.
Had that guy been the one to inform Collin of her past?
“Remind me again who’s talking with Collin. ”
She turned to give Ian her full attention.
“My sister, Margarete, and Ramsey, Collin’s financial advisor.”
Quinn stopped dancing. “Margarete is a McDougall?”
“Aye.”
“Why is she wearing green?” Quinn’s voice rose, as did her temper.
Before he could answer, Abigail appeared by Quinn’s side. “Excuse me, Quinn, but Mavis asked to see you in the kitchen.”
“Thanks, Abby.” Quinn turned back to Ian. “Ian, meet Abby. You two dance.” Ian’s brows dipped at her suggestion, making Quinn smile. “Set a good example.” She patted him on the back as she left.
Abby blushed, even as Ian pulled her into his arms, quickly replacing Quinn.
She made her way through the crowd toward the side entrance near the kitchen.
Stepping out into the hallway, she inhaled a deep breath debating whether, if she tossed Margarete out by her hair, her actions would start another clan war.
“What the hell is wrong with me? I’m a strong, independent woman,” Quinn mumbled as she entered the kitchen. The familiar smell of tomato sauce, herbs and spices drifted to her nose.
She spotted the pizza sitting on the counter. Her eyes widened in surprise. “You didn’t.”
“Aye, I did,” Mavis smiled while slipping a slice onto a plate and handing it to Quinn.
“How did you have time to whip this together? I just mentioned it today.”
“I saw it months ago in my visions. I had plenty of time to perfect it. It wasnae done in time, or I would have sent it to the library and you could have had it for lunch.”
“The library was a bust. I expected old books, but they were mostly new. The one I was looking for has a black spine with white symbols on it, like in one of the portraits,” Quinn said, as she took her first bite of the gooey goodness, a string of cheese hitting her in the chin as it broke free.
She used her tongue to gather it without missing a beat.
“You should try the old library.”
“Old library?” Quinn’s interest piqued, but not enough to stop her from devouring the entire slice of pizza.
“Aye, it’s in the east wing. Most of the books were covered with smoke from the fire, but none went up in flames.”
Quinn grabbed a napkin and gestured to the pizza. “Hide that. I don’t want to share.”
Mavis chuckled as Quinn left the kitchen and headed toward the east wing.
She took her time peeking into the rooms, unsure which was the library.
A smoky smell lingered in the air as she pushed open some double doors.
Black spines covered the bookshelves, and instantly she spotted the one she was looking for.
Clarence stood next to the bookshelf, his arms folded over his ghostly body. “Donae do this.”
“Hey, if it wasn’t for you, I wouldn’t be here at all.”
“She gave my ancestors the emerald to have a better life, but it was cursed and bad things started happening so we locked it away. We couldnae sell it and have a clear conscious that the next owners wouldnae come to the same fate. You’ve returned the stone to the rightful heirs. You’ve done enough.”
“I’m this close to figuring this out. I have to help Collin. Like your family not giving the stone away, because it was the right thing to do, so is this.”
Clarence vanished out of sight as Quinn grabbed the book to pull it free. Only when she did, she heard a click. The book popped back into place, and the bookshelf opened back into the wall. “A secret passageway?”
Lifting her skirt, she stepped inside, and the bookshelf shut behind her, encasing her in darkness.
Her heart raced as she felt along the wall for a lever or anything to reopen the door.
She found nothing. She inhaled a deep breath of salty air and had taken a step farther inside when her foot kicked against something on the floor.
She reached down, hoping it wasn’t a dead body.
Her hands felt the object and she breathed a silent sigh of relief. A flashlight.
“They didn’t have these back in the day. Someone’s been in here since this little baby was invented.”
She flicked the switch, illuminating the stone passageway with light.
“Hello,” she hollered. Her voice echoed as it bounced off the walls.
A small breeze touched her cheek, relieving her fear that there was no ventilation.
She slowly walked farther down the corridor as her heart hammered.
Ghosts never scared her…but this place sent a shiver down her spine and left goosebumps on her arms.
Gwinnie from the north tower appeared. “I used this cave to help the poor.”
Quinn stepped toward the opening and glanced down. It was easily ten feet to the rocks below. “I don’t see how, unless you could fly.”
“I sent down trinkets in the linens. Stuff that wouldn’t be missed and that didn’t mean anything to the Menzies but could change the lives of those in need.”
“You were like a Robin Hood, but stealing from your own family,” Quinn guessed and glanced around at the stuff in the tunnel.
The items were newer, not from the century when Gwinnie lived.
These were expensive items from today’s day and time.
Pieces of crystal, an expensive looking clock, and other odds and ends.
“Looks like someone is carrying on your tradition.”
Gwinnie shook her head. “Nay, this is an act of greed.”
She vanished before Quinn could press her for a name. It didn’t matter. She’d find out soon enough.