Page 48 of The Defiant Curse

A.

HUGE.

ONE.

What stood out was that the woman in the painting, Ceit Granndach, resembled Elizabeth.

To a T.

From her eyes to the hair.

Only, there was no way that was possible. At first, he believed it was a mistake, or someone was fucking with them—like the man who refurbished it.

But how did he know?

How did he know Elizabeth was tied to that very painting and the castle?

He.

Wouldn’t.

After mulling over a million possibilities, and none of them panning out, the last big mystery here was not about a body, but instead about a piece of art that had been covered up.

Likely by Duncan.

Or possibly by his son.

It wasn’t like he’d remember his mother. She died when he was an infant—and by died, he meant murdered.

She was confused.

“What stood out?” she asked, as they entered the foyer, and he pointed at the fireplace that sat there, greeting everyone who came into the castle.

It was the biggest one, and the most prominent. Over it, they’d hung the painting because…well, why not?

That’s when Elizabeth stepped closer, and that’s when she saw it.

And gasped.

For a good ten seconds, not a single word was said as she stared at the painting.

Finally, she broke her silence.

Oh, and it was telling.

“Saint Michael, why the hell is there an oil painting of me hanging over the fireplace in this castle? Is this a joke?”

Oh, he could promise her it wasn’t.

What it was…It was a mystery.

Chapter Three

The Castle

Minutes After

The Surprise