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“Okay, ,” I said out loud as I wondered how the hell I was going to e all of this Where—how do I start?

If this were a hotel bringing in money, I would know exactly what to do, but this entire place was a private residence, and the money to run it had to be unbelievably enormous If they asked e

I already knew that Lord MacLeod didn’t allow paying visitors and therefore didn’t offset their taxes with incoe all of this and was bill paying part of my job?

Well, I would figure it all out to, I was psyched and absolutely had decided today was for exploring!

A ray hair severely plastered to his oval head, stood waiting at the open front doors forI noted then that he neither looked patient nor welco

I gave him a smile, but did not receive one in return, so I took open stock of hiarded me were not cold, but they were not friendly either What was up with that?

His lips were thin and he was dressed in what I assumed was a butler’s uniform of black except for the white shirt-points, black tailed coat, pants, vest, and a black and white striped tie

He said without warmth, “Welcome, Miss Skye”

I ignored the cool reception and decided his job probably required him to be aloof Auntie always teases me and says that I am ‘too nice—too open’ and would defend the devil himself

I don’t think that is quite true, but I do like to give everyone the benefit of the doubt

At any rate, I stepped past hi The rectangular room housed a round table in its center An iron and wood chandelier hung over the table where a large ceraeous array of flowers

Otherwise, the room seemed starkly under-furnished

I s in one corner of the roolass archedand beside that a tall palm The other walls were adorned hat appeared to be family portraits

One in particular caughthis leave, I turned back to thank hiain

I watched hihed and apparently waited my instructions