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“But I’m curious about the upper floors. I would love a tour after dinner.” She wondered what other treasures might be hiding in dim corners or forgotten rooms, waiting to be brought out into the light.
    They ate wild duck, prepared with a deep red Burgundy sauce she would have thought a more likely match for beef. It was a surprisingly delicious combination. They drank a local wildflower wine from Cairn O’Mohr, which seemed perfect with the meal. She had never eaten game before. At home, everything in her fridge came from the supermarket, and most of that was in the form of frozen commercial dinners. She favored quick-and-easy, low-fat meals. Tonight the textures and colors on her plate resembled an artist’s palette, and the flavors were amazing. She savored every bite.
    â€œI must tell Mrs. Clark how wonderful a cook she is.”
    â€œI’m afraid she’s left for the day,” he said. “I told her I’d wash up after we finished eating. It didn’t seem fair to make her stay while we indulged ourselves in a leisurely meal.”
    Jennifer smiled. “That was nice of you.” She caught a mysterious twinkle in his eyes and wondered if his motives for dismissing the woman were all that pure. Sending the staff home to leave their masteralone in the castle with a female guest…this had all the makings of a classic seduction. She wasn’t sure whether she was more nervous or excited at the prospect.
    For dessert there were buttery cookies filled with high-country jam that Christopher insisted on calling biscuits despite her arguments. And there was steaming dark coffee, laced with heavy cream and a touch of hazelnut liqueur. Jennifer felt contentedly full at the end of the meal. They sat and talked for a while longer, then she helped him remove the dishes to the kitchen and rinse them before placing them in an enormous stainless steel dishwasher.
    â€œFor parties,” he commented when he noticed her staring at the mammoth machine. “It holds service for up to fifty.”
    â€œVery modern for a castle,” she commented. “Do you entertain a lot?”
    â€œFriends come up from London quite often, to hunt and generally laze around.”
    She wondered how many of those hunting/lazing friends were of the female variety and single, then reminded herself she had no reason to feel even the tiniest bit possessive. Soon Christopher would be out of her life, and she would be out of his. They were from two different worlds, and she was returning to her own after a day in London.
    He led her back into the foyer, then took her hand and started up the stairs. “Time for your tour,” he said, sounding eager at the prospect.
    A wave of heat swept through Jennifer at the image they made, climbing hand in hand up the elegant marble staircase to the private chambers above. They were alone in the house. Music from the dining roomrose along the staircase, as if carrying them upward on the delicate notes.
    By the time Jennifer reached the top, she was out of breath.
    â€œSorry, did I take it too fast for you?” he asked.
    â€œNo, not at all.” She swallowed and gulped down two breaths…then two more. “I walk every day for exercise. It was nothing.”
    Chris frowned at her, his dark brows lowering in concern. “You aren’t afraid of me, are you?”
    â€œYou? Heck no,” she lied brightly, then rattled on. “I’m just excited, I guess. I love old houses, and this beats anything in Baltimore by a good four hundred years!” But she was nervous, being alone with him here in this ancient, remote place when she still knew so little of him.
    He smiled. “Good. Let’s start on the right side of the corridor, work our way down the hall, then come back up the other side.” He seemed to hesitate. “If you have energy left, we can climb the turret.”
    Jennifer’s eyes widened. “A real