Page 18 of Kiss Me, Macrae
After stepping carefully past her so as not to touch her with even a brush of his coat, he continued down the path.
Chapter 9
Macrae wasn’t present at dinner that night.
Allegra’s rush of discontent at the fact was poignant and swift. When she casually noted his absence, Susanna explained that the research he’d been completing in the Darrow library had hit an obstacle, requiring a return to his lodge for some materials that would hopefully help him.
Allegra was curious despite herself. “I understand he’s working on a restoration?”
“Aye,” Lord Darrow replied, his tone solemn. “A tragic fire several years ago destroyed most of Macrae’s ancestral manor.”
Allegra’s stomach sunk at the loss she detected in the earl’s voice as she recalled the stone memorial overlooking the loch. “Were lives lost?” she asked gently.
The earl nodded and Susanna reached out to lay a comforting hand on her husband’s forearm as she replied, “Baird lost his younger sister in the blaze. Aileen was only seventeen years old. Apparently, the brave girl had gone back into the house to save her beloved dog and was overcome by the smoke.”
“Oh no,” Allegra breathed through a tight throat.
“Baird’s mother and father moved to a cottage on the coast,” the earl continued. “They refused to return to the place where they’d lost their daughter. His mother passed on shortly after—some say from the depth of her grief—and their father followed a couple years later. Baird was in Edinburgh when the tragedy occurred and I suspect he carries some guilt for not being home to save his sister. He didn’t return to the manor for a long time and only began to consider rebuilding a couple years ago.”
Allegra’s heart ached. “That must have been very difficult.”
“The estate goes back centuries. It’s one of the oldest homesteads in the area and bears testament to various eras throughout history. Baird does not want the history and tradition of generations to end in this one.”
It had to be an unbelievably daunting and emotional task. “Is he attempting to rebuild a replica of what stood before?” she asked.
Darrow nodded. “Aye, but the challenge lies in the fact that the manor had been built in parts over several generations. The original blueprints for each project that expanded the original structure were destroyed in the fire. Fortunately, our libraries hold copies of a few of the blueprints and various descriptions of Macrae’s estate, but there are still several missing pieces that he is doing his best to recreate by memory.”
“He is doing it all on his own?”
“He hired an architect in Edinburgh to do much of the initial work, but the man could only get so far with what was available to him. There is still much to be done.”
“Allie.” The tone of Susanna’s voice already told Allegra what her friend was going to say. “Perhaps you could help him.”
Allegra’s stomach churned. “I doubt Mr. Macrae would need any input from me when he’s already employed the skills of a professional.”
Susanna tossed her a look of indignation. “The lack of a position within a New York City firm does not negate your talent and skill. You studied architecture your entire life.” She turned to her husband. “She’s quite amazing. You should see her designs.”
Unfortunately, that wouldn’t be possible. Her work had all been tucked into Lucas’s portfolio before he took them to her father and claimed them as his own.
She’d only created a handful of sketches since.
Susanna’s eyes softened as she seemed to sense Allegra’s tension. “Well, just think on it. This project is very important to Macrae and I’m sure he’d appreciate another expert’s opinion on it.”
Allegra was grateful her friend appeared content to let the matter rest at that. Unfortunately, Allegra couldn’t let it go quite so easily.
That night, as she lay in bed with her eyes tightly closed in an attempt to sleep, she couldn’t keep visions of turrets and ramparts and portcullises from her mind. She wondered what materials where being used in the renovation. And she worried about the missing pieces Darrow had mentioned.
She wanted to see the historical blueprints.
She needed to get a look at the new building plans.
Glancing at the clock, she noted the time as well after two o’clock in the morning. The library where Macrae holed up much of every day would surely be abandoned at this hour. She’d just creep down for a quick little peek.
Slipping from her bed, Allegra pulled on a thick robe to ward off the castle’s winter chill and slipped her feet into a pair of slippers.
The castle was quiet and the library was nearly dark when she entered. A fireplace with a long sofa in front of it stood off to the left. The fire in the grate had spent to a low crackling glow. An oversized desk presided over the far end of the narrow room and Allegra could just make out the spread of blueprints and documents and sketches beneath the light of a single lamp.
Anticipation and a thrill she hadn’t felt in far too long slid through her as she crossed the room. She was nearly to the desk when a vaguely familiar sound suspiciously similar to a snore brought her up short.