Page 65 of Dangerous

“Oh yes, Adam.” Tea sloshed over the rim of the cup she was pouring. She shot a quick glance at Mia, who was standing in front of the fireplace, gaping up at the mantel, which arched a good foot above her head.

Small tendrils of alarm grew in his stomach and spread through his body, just as they always did when he came home. He watched Mia as she moved around the room, inspecting the many items of interest. Just looking at her made him . . . happy?

“And Catherine, how is she?” Adam asked, the maelstrom of emotions leaving him rather breathless and dazed.

“She is well. Very well, in fact,” Jessica assured him, seeming eager to dispel the cloud that had already formed. “Tea, my lady?” Jessica glanced toward where Mia was standing.

“Oh, yes. Thank you! But please, won’t you call me Mia?”

“Yes, of course . . . Mia. And you must call me Jessica.” Jessica’s smile was somewhat tremulous.

Adam had never noticed before just how fragile his sister appeared. A spasm of guilt joined his other emotions as he realized how little assistance she’d received from him since their mother had died.

Mia settled in the corner of a large sofa and looked expectantly at Adam. He couldn’t resist the smile that curved her lips as he sat next to her and she fitted herself to his side. She was the most physical person he had ever known. Even Danforth’s sisters, who constantly ruffled and smacked and embraced those close to them, were not as tactile as Mia.

With him, in particular, she was not only tactile but unconsciously sensual. When they were alone she was never far from him, preferring to sit on a cushion next to his chair if he was working at his desk, rather than on a chair farther away. He had become accustomed to her unusual habits in a remarkably short time, finding her casual and comfortable manners a welcome relief to his more formal ones.

“Townshend will be along tomorrow, I expect,” he said, taking a sip of brandy and reaching for one of the small sandwiches. He handed it to Mia, who consumed it in two bites. He looked up to find his sister viewing their interaction with slack-jawed amazement and his face tightened into the mask that had been his defense for almost a decade.

“This is perfect, Jessica. Thank you,” Mia said, finishing another small sandwich and smiling at his sister over the rim of her tea, unaware of the currents of shock eddying through the room.

Jessica nodded, dazed.

Adam suddenly realized he didn’t care if he appeared to be the fatuously happy idiot he was. He smiled at Jessica, shocking her even more.

“Have you set up the Olive Rooms, Jess?”

“Yes, I think you will like them much better than your old room. Both fireplaces burn without smoking, which is more than I can say for that appalling stack in your old chambers.” She sounded more normal as she warmed to her favorite topic: the castle.

Adam had not moved to the master suite after his father’s death, but the big group of interconnected rooms was the only one that would suit a married couple. The chambers were attached to an unusually large bathing chamber, which Adam hazarded was one of his ancestor’s attempts to mimic the old Roman baths occasionally found in the area. He believed Mia would enjoy it very much.

They spoke of castle matters while Mia consumed a shocking amount of food and several cups of tea, finally suppressing a giant yawn, her eyes sleepy.

“I take it you are ready to retire?”

“Yes, I’m afraid I’m dead on my feet,” Mia said, giving Jessica an apologetic smile.

Jessica stood. “Let me show you to your rooms.”

Adam, of course, knew the way, but he didn’t stop her. He knew how much she enjoyed showing the castle to people for the first time. Mia, especially, was an enthusiastic audience, cooing and remarking in all the right ways.

When Adam opened the door to his father’s old rooms he was stunned.

“Do you like it?” Jessica asked nervously.

“Very much. You must have worked quickly to have effected such a grand change in such a short time.” He smiled at her. “You have truly outdone yourself, Jess—it is quite magnificent.”

Jessica flushed with pleasure.

“But I’m not sure we can call it the Olive Rooms any longer. Where in the world did you find it all?” The room’s harsh stone walls were relieved by four enormous mullioned windows, a later addition to the castle. Tapestries and heavy drapes in gray and rose velvet softened the rather heavy room. Enormous furniture, built to fit the scale of the room, had been re-covered in plush velvets, the chairs and sofas overstuffed and softened to make up for their massive size.

“It’s lovely,” Mia said, reaching out to stroke the velvet arm of a sofa. Jessica couldn’t have chosen any better for his wife. The large cushions and ottomans scattered about were the kind of thing she loved. He wondered how his sister had guessed with such accuracy. He hadn’t given her much time, barely a month. The transformation was quite impressive.

Bedchambers sat off to either side of the giant sitting room, each with massive armoires as there were no traditional dressing rooms. Sayer and LaValle were already busy in their respective domains, hanging and organizing and fussing with the first round of their baggage.

After making sure they had everything they needed, Jessica bid them good night and left them together in the joint sitting area.

“It’s absolutely magnificent, Adam.” Mia leaned against him and wrapped her arm around his waist as she surveyed the room.