Chapter One
Essie Ferguson removed her black hat as she climbed the stairs to the entrance of the imposing manor house. The corners of her mouth tilted up in a faint smile as she remembered racing up the stairs as a child to throw herself into the welcoming arms of her Aunt Esther Ferguson. She’d loved coming to Ferguson’s Folly all her life. Essie’s best memories of her childhood had happened here.
Today, the massive building had lost some of its sparkling appeal. The flowers out front still bloomed as gloriously, filling the air with a delightful scent, as they had in her memories. Essie missed the lovely woman who’d greeted her so eagerly each and every time she’d arrived. They’d been like kindred spirits despite the forty-year difference in their ages.
Born on the same day, May 17th, Esther had always claimed a special link bound them together. Essie believed that just as fervently. Last year, Essie had quit her job and rushed to her aunt’s side to help her when Esther had fallen and broken her hip. Unfortunately, Esther had never recovered fully. Secretly, Essie guessed her beloved aunt had been ready to join her late husband.
“Thank you, Sara,” Essie murmured as she walked throughthe door the solemn housekeeper held open for her. She smiled at Sara who had supported her through all the arrangements.
“Your guests have taken up residence in the library, Essie. Would you like me to serve tea or open the bar?” Sara asked.
“Is Nelson in there?” Essie whispered, nodding toward the library door from the foyer.
“Yes, miss.”
She rolled her eyes at the knowledge that Nelson would have automatically helped himself at the bar. “Then I suspect my cousin has already made that decision, Sara. Bring tea and your delicious treats for everyone not already guzzling Uncle Edmund’s expensive cognac.”
Sara’s sad expression brightened slightly as the corners of her mouth twitched. “You’ve got Nelson figured out.” With a nod, the housekeeper excused herself to follow Essie’s wishes.
Essie paused long enough to straighten her clothes and slough off her annoyance at her cousin’s proprietary attitude in the privacy of the hallway. With her composure restored, she headed into her late uncle’s former office, which Esther had rebranded as the library. She passed by a large portrait of Esther and Edmund Ferguson, smiling at their obvious love for each other.
“I wish I’d had a chance to meet you, Uncle Edmund,” she whispered. “Whoever captured Aunt Esther’s heart had to be special.” The couple had always felt like a life goal to her. Finding a dedicated relationship like they’d shared couldn’t be easy, but Essie found herself comparing possible life partners to the descriptions her aunt shared about her husband. Somehow all the guys she dated fell horribly short of that high standard.
“Thank you, Essie,” a deep voice said from behind her.
Essie whirled, losing her balance in the fancy leather-soled high-heeled pumps she’d worn to the funeral. Automatically grabbing at the nearest table to steady herself, Essie missed the marble top. Her fingers latched onto the decorative silver tea tray under the portrait and swept the entire service onto the floor with an obnoxiously loud clatter.
Essie stared at the almost transparent figure standing before her, and her heart raced inside her chest. “Uncle Edmund?” she whispered.
“Good God, Essie. You are the clumsiest,” Nelson bellowed from the doorway of the library. “If you’ve damaged that set, I’ll have to charge you for its repair.”
She barely kept her eyeballs from popping out of her head this time at Nelson’s latest obnoxious comment. “I so appreciate your concern, cousin. I’m fine. No reason to worry about my health.”
Essie peeked back at the space where Edmund had stood seconds earlier. Empty.
“Let me help you, Essie.”
Zander Templeton stepped around the others gathered in the doorway. She tried not to ogle him as he walked to where she still sat on her bruised bottom and battered self-confidence. Who would have ever guessed that tall, skinny ZaZa, as she’d called him as a child, would grow up to look like this. Broad-shouldered and devilishly handsome with those ice-blue eyes and jet-black hair… Hell, he wasn’t even balding. Of course, he had inherited the large estate next door and made his mark on the cattle market, according to Aunt Esther. She’d been quite proud of his accomplishments.
“Essie. Take my hand,” Zander requested, making her realize he’d stood there as she’d stared at him.
“Oh, sorry. I was checking to see if I’d hurt myself,” Essie quickly explained and put her fingers in his.
Zander didn’t struggle at all to tug her onto her feet. She teetered on her heels, and Zander wrapped an arm around her waist to stabilize her. She inhaled the spicy scent of his cologne. Zander had definitely improved his personal hygiene. He smelled so good.
“Thank you, Essie. Your aunt stopped making me leave my stinky, teenager sneakers outside on the porch when I was seventeen,” Zander told her.
“I didn’t say that out loud, did I?” she whispered furiously.
“Just the smells good part. Did I miss something?” Zander asked in a low voice only she could hear.
“No. Absolutely nothing else.” Essie rushed to reassure him as Sara appeared to restore the silver tea service to the tray’s usual place.Remember, he’s not your childhood friend anymore.
“My condolences on the loss of your aunt. She was very special.”
“She definitely was. Thank you, Zander.”
Zander stood there for a minute looking at her as if he had something else to say. When Essie didn’t add to their conversation, he nodded and headed back into the library.
