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Set in a circle with a sacrificial altar in the centre, Lydia had heard iant stones Tales of witchcraft and sorcery were rife

“I asked Lord Greystone toAda by the hand, “so that I ht accompany him when he visits the tenants Youto fear”

Ada nibbled on her bottoht and then with some reluctance she followed Lydia towards the stone circle “Mrs Cotton came here to collect mushrooms once and was sick for a week—a witch’s curse she said”

Oh, ibberish There was only one witch in Cuckfield, and she ruled Dunnam Park

“She probably picked the wrong ones You kno her eyesight fails her Besides, we’rea Greystone, and you knohat that means”

Ada gulped “Wh-what does it mean, miss?”

Lydia hadn’t a clue “Legend has it that Greystone blood can ward off an evil attack The th that defies the odds” That was not a lie The current lord most definitely had a powerful presence “The stones are a blessing, not a curse”

Furrows appeared on Ada’s brows “But you said the big brute Seth met in Cuckfield wasn’t Lord Greystone”

“The brute is his friend, Mr Drake” Lydia didn’t dare th of character that supersedes the need for brawn and h his athletic physique was by no

Lydia caught herself Had she just paid Lord Greystone a compliment?

“But let us not speak of it now,” Lydia added as they approached the giant boulders to find the gentle stretched out on the sacrificial stone

As they crept closer, Ada stiffened at Lydia’s side For Lydia, the sight of the relaxed rew fliht

Lydia cleared her throat in the hope of gaining his attention

Greystone did not move, did not say a word

They crept closer still The lord’s eyes were closed He wore the sa but noith dark blue breeches andwaistcoat No doubt the plainLydia couldn’t help but stare at his full lips and the cleft in his chin that gave hiaze to the copper tones in his dark wind-tousled locks