Page 93 of Eternal Obsession

“How would you like to be standing in St. Michael’s Mount by morning?”

She turned to face me, her cheeks blushing brightly. “Are you . . . inviting me to your castle?”

I gave a warm smile. “I am.”

Chapter Thirty-Eight

JADEON

Ingrid, Alex, and I arrived in Marazion just after three o’clock in the morning, having driven down in my new silver Jaguar.

At Ingrid’s request, we had stopped off at her hotel, the Hilton Trafalgar located in Trafalgar Square, so that she could gather some overnight belongings. It was here she was staying while attending the course at Scotland Yard.

Ingrid had settled back into the luxury car seat and had not minded when I occasionally broke the speed limit. If anyone could talk us out of a speeding ticket, she could. It was reassuring that she had hit if off with Alex. They both shared a love of modern music. Their tastes, it seemed, almost identical.

Ingrid hung on my every word when I talked about my passion for art, and I found her profession extraordinary, enjoying the insights she revealed when discussing the law. Even though her petite frame made her seem an unlikely opponent, her quick mind and confident nature were a match for any criminal. Her ability to lull you into a sense of comfort then slowly extract what she wanted to know was uncanny. I had to make a point of staying one step ahead of her. My growing fascination with Ingrid proved a challenge. Despite my reasoning that this was just a fleeting distraction, my desires told me otherwise.

On our arrival, I parked the car in a small alley in the center of Marazion.

“This is where we walk.” I held open the car door for Ingrid and escorted her toward the causeway, carrying her small overnight bag for her.

As we turned the street corner, Ingrid was struck by the vision before her—the magnificent castle looming in the distance. Despite her weariness, she soon woke up. Ingrid peered at the resplendent château. The tide was out.

“This way,” I said.

We guided her down onto the pathway.

I grinned with mischief. “I hope you’re a good swimmer, in case we don’t make it before the tide turns.”

“That’s not funny, Jadeon.” She picked up her pace.

“When we get inside, it’s quite cozy,” I reassured her.

We trekked over the gravel, all three of us excited to reach St. Michael’s Mount. Ingrid was thrilled to be seeing the castle for the first time, and we were happy to be home.

I unlocked the original large wooden doors and gestured to Ingrid to enter. She stepped inside. She gazed in awe at the enormous low-hung chandelier.

Alex and I smiled at one another. We knew we had taken our home for granted, and now through Ingrid’s eyes, we were able to rekindle our perspective. She sighed in wonder at the sweeping staircase in front of us. Two armored knights stood on guard at the base of the stairwell, presented as in battle.

“Wow!” she said.

“They were actually used once,” I told her.

“Did you ever put them on?”

“The knights were shorter back then,” I said, amused.

“It must have been an extraordinary growing up here.”

I checked my watch. “Come on. I’ll get you a drink.”

With little time left with her until Alex and I would be forced down into the dungeons to sleep, I was determined to savor her presence.

We lingered in the kitchen where I poured Ingrid a glass of water, aware that after her journey she would be thirsty.

“Thing is,” I said, “I have invited you down here and now I have to dash off for a meeting. Will you forgive me?”

“You don’t have to trek back over the causeway, do you?” She looked shocked.