Miss Minnie and the Brass Pluggit Read Online Free Page B

have made some sound or other. Words were beyond her.
    The entire room ringed the lighthouse tower, extending out quite a few feet. The floor was carpeted and the circular wall stopped halfway up. From that point on, it was windows and more windows. Curved glass arched over the heads of those standing near the edge and staring out at an amazing view of ocean, coastline or rolling hills—depending on where one turned.
    Other than the central structure, which must lead to the actual lighting device at the top of the building, the view from this room was unimpeded.
    There were chairs, low tables, even a dining table set in one area. It was indeed a “living” room of sorts, where the people inside could fancy themselves part of the living landscape outside.
    Trailing her fingers absently along the wood sill, Minnie sighed. “This is quite magnificent. How do you ever drag yourself away from it?” She found herself drifting, relaxing with the waves as they made their eternal patterns beneath the sunlight on the ocean.
    “Sometimes I don’t.” He’d moved to her side.
    “I can well understand.”
    “Tea?”
    The mundane question drew her back to reality. “Thank you. If it’s not too much trouble.”
    “Not at all. I had Dusk ready a pot in case I could tempt you.”
    You have no idea . The errant thought darted through Minnie’s brain as she moved to a nearby chair and seated herself, pulling off her gloves and tucking them away in her reticule.
    Dr. Lowell was proficient at tea making, at least. Within a minute there was a small table next to her chair, a plate ready for some cakes if she was hungry and a cup of tea, prepared with milk just as she liked it.
    She sipped and then raised an eyebrow. “Very nice. Thank you.”
    He picked up his own cup and gazed at her over the brim before drinking. “My pleasure. Why are you here?”
    The abruptly direct question caught her by surprise and she struggled for a brief instant, determined not to betray her thoughts or emotions. She was beginning to understand that this man might be able to see behind her façade. Few others even knew she’d created one, and that fact alone made Pierce Lowell a risk to Minnie. She knew she had a weakness for intelligently insightful men.
    She leaned to one side and placed her cup and saucer carefully on the little table. It was a delaying tactic, no more, but it gave her a chance to gather her thoughts. She knew without question that this man could not be dazzled or distracted. She would need all her wits about her to deal with him. He was too observant. And—for the moment—too uninvolved.
    She smiled and glanced around her. “Curiosity. A chance to see inside your unusual home.”
    “And?” He returned her gaze steadily.
    “My turn for a question. How did you know I was coming to Yarmouth? You sent Dusk to meet me, yet I’d had no contact with you or anyone else down here.”
    He shrugged and let a tiny enigmatic smile curve his lips. “I have my methods of securing information.”
    “Good grief, sir.” Minnie laughed aloud. “That sounds like a line from a very bad and overheated mystery novel.”
    He blinked and the curve grew into a full grin. “Sorry. I suppose it does.”
    “Seriously.” She lifted a hand and gestured toward him. “You knew I was coming. Sources in London perhaps? Mutual friends? It was a pleasure meeting Dusk in Yarmouth, but it was unnerving realizing he was expecting me. I’m not very fond of being unnerved and I cherish my privacy as much as possible.”
    The green eyes remained fixed on her face, betraying nothing of Dr. Lowell’s thoughts. In fact it seemed quite likely the man didn’t have any. Minnie found herself somewhat frustrated at his ability to conceal so much from her practiced observation.
    Then he sighed and uncrossed his legs, switching his attention from her person to the ocean outside. “You are twenty-nine years old. You are a widow, your late husband having passed away