“Introduce you to Wiggle,” he cut in even as the sporran’s clasping gave way and a small red squirrel leapt free to bolt about the room. “He’s my pet squirrel and ever at myside.”
“Leaping haggis!” Her uncle’s eyesbugged.
“Catch him!” Aunt Sarah hitched her skirts, already running after the speeding beastie. “He’ll ruin my curtains, theupholstery!”
“O-o-oh…” Ophelia clasped both hands to her face, laughter bubbling up inside her. Her heart split wide, such delight filling her, she feared she’dburst.
Greyson Merrick hadn’tlied.
TherewasaWiggle.
“He is so dear.” Ophelia clapped both hands to her face, smiling as she watched the squirrel sail up and over chairs, leap from table to mantel, to window ledge and then bolt from one side of the room to the other. “He’s sofast-”
“He has a mind of his own, but he’ll do nae harm.” Greyson Merrick glanced at her, then hooked two fingers in his mouth and whistledsharply.
The squirrel streaked back to him, landing on his chest before disappearing into the depths of the sporran. He popped up again as quickly, thrusting out a red-furred arm to snatch the nut Greyson offeredhim.
“He’s well-trained, as you can see,” he said, smiling as Wiggle again vanished into his carrier. “He’ll be quiet now. He’s no’ fond of places he doesn’tknow.”
“I love him,” Ophelia blurted before she could catchherself.
“I knew he’d not settle for a dog or cat.” Uncle Irwin shook his head, a rare twinkle in hiseye.
“He is a wild animal.” Her aunt brushed at her skirts. “Whoever keeps a squirrel as apet?”
Greyson Merrick shrugged, one hand resting on his sporran. “Perhaps the same kind of fool who’d purchase a falling-down-around-itself house that belonged to a penniless, long ago artist, and that is now said to be riddled withghosts?”
“Your house is haunted?” Ophelia looked at him, wondering that she could even breathe so close to him. He was incredible. So tall and good-looking, his air of assurance filling the room. As if he, and no one else, stood in authorityhere.
Better yet, he loved animals – had the most darling red squirrel for a pet - and he hadghosts.
“Have you seen any?” She had to know. “Spirits, Imean.”
“Now, see here, lassie.” Uncle Irwin took a step toward her, his levity gone. “They’ll be nae talk of bogles in thishouse.”
“Aye, well, sir.” Greyson slid a look at her uncle. “As a Highlander, I cannae deny suchlike.” When he turned back to Ophelia, he smiled. “There are odd footsteps on the stairs and bumps in the night. Now and then I might, or might not, catch glimpses of old Jericho, the first owner’s dog. I’m also aware of the pad of his feet, hear him howlsometimes.
“Others claim a band of marauding Vikings run through the basement, though I’ve ne’er seen or heard them.” He paused, his eyes lighting as he slid a ‘secret’ glance at her uncle. “My manservant, Smithers, swears he’s seen them. He’ll tell you a more bloodthirsty lot of Norsemen ne’er haunted theseshores.”
Ophelia smiled, knowing this, at least, was said to amuseher.
Uncle Irwin huffed, and tugged at his sleeve. “Northmen, too, should be forgotten. Heathen bastards visited enough trouble on Scotland. History damns them, allknow.”
Her aunt ignored him. “Mr. Merrick owns Gannet House in Tullie village,” she told Ophelia. “It was the home of Arbuckle Priddy, the famous 17thcentury artist. If you weren’t aware, Mr. Merrick is a famous adventurer, a former sea captain, originally from the far north. And, as you cansee…
“He is also a poet.” She pinned him with a look, daring him to argue. “Is that notso?”
“I am honored you believe so, lady.” He inclined his head, but not so deeply that his smile couldn’t be seen. “Oral tradition is greatly revered in theHighlands.”
“So men say,” Aunt Sarah allowed, her own smile returning. “But you are not here to discuss the grandeur of your home glen, areyou?”
“Nae, I am not,” he returned, his own good humordimming.
Ophelia’s heart thumped. Could it be he’d come to claim her, to present himself as asuitor?
Now that she knew the source of histhrustingson Samhain Eve, she would find such a possibility mostagreeable.
He was a splendidkisser.
