Free Editor's Choice Volume I - Slow summer Kisses, Kilts & kraken, Negotiating point by Giordano Adrienne Spencer Pape Cindy Stacey Shannon Page A

world.”

Chapter Five
    Geneva didn’t know whether to laugh or cry at Magnus’s grim comment before he escorted her down the steps. On the one hand, she didn’t take well to being dismissed. On the other, he was being more than a little presumptuous. Stay? Here? With no shops or theaters or even teletext? Heaven forbid. She wasn’t about to get all starry-eyed over a simple kiss—even if there hadn’t been anything simple about it.
    They paused in a washroom on the fourth floor before making their way to the lift for the rest of the trip. After fixing her hair and splashing cold water on her face, she looked presentable enough to face the world, even if she felt anything but.
    “You were right about the view from the parapet. It is quite spectacular,” she said to Alice as she accepted a bowl of soup from a footman. “The weather here is balmy compared to Edinburgh.”
    “Warm ocean currents,” Magnus said, sitting beside her. “The Gulf Steam brings us clement weather all the way from the Americas.”
    Alice spoke to Magnus but beamed at Rannulf. “You’re very educated for having never gone to school. You must have had excellent tutors.”
    Geneva stifled a smile and saw Magnus do the same. “I did. My uncle made sure I never lacked for anything mere money could bring to our island. In fact, I did go to school. We have a small one here that all the children attend, along with a few from nearby islands who board in the village. Some, like Quentin here, even go on to university straightaway.”
    Determined to be polite, Geneva turned to Quentin. “Where did you study? It must have been quite an adjustment after living your whole life on Torkholm.” That was an assumption, she realized as she said the words. She knew very little about Magnus’s cousin and man of business—except that he didn’t seem to approve of her.
    “St. Andrews.” His tone was curt, almost dismissive, but stopping just short of being rude. “Yes, it was a change, and not a good one. I much prefer being at home.”
    A man—a crofter, perhaps, based on his unkempt appearance—scurried into the hall, his hat in his quivering hands. “There’s an airship coming, my laird. I saw it from the north pasture.” The words fairly exploded from his mouth.
    “That’s the highest ground on the island besides the castle,” Magnus said under his breath. “Slow down, Evan. Are you sure this airship is headed here and not passing over?”
    The man shook his head. “Can’t be going anywhere else, not on that heading. ’Tisn’t big enough to be bound for America.”
    Magnus quirked an eyebrow at Geneva as he stood. “Just what did you put in those teletexts you sent?”
    “What makes you think it has anything to do with me?” She set down her soup spoon and rose to her feet. The Order did have several small dirigibles. It was entirely likely her father had sent an actual Order employee to investigate the kraken attacks, and to look after Geneva.
    “Merely a guess,” he muttered before turning to his uncle. “Rannulf, keep the women and children here in the hall. Evan, you run and tell the crofters to take cover. Quentin, round up the warriors and come with me. The north pasture is the most likely place for an airship to set down.”
    “I’m coming with you.” Geneva followed Magnus from the table, not surprised when he ducked into the armory for his pistol and sword. “If it does have to do with me, I should be there.”
    “And if ’tis another attack?” He gave her an imperious stare that probably sent most of his people running to do his bidding.
    Geneva rather wanted to kiss it into a smile, but now was not the time. “Give me one of those pistol belts. I know how to use them.”
    “Aye, she does.” Rannulf spoke from behind them. “Doubt you remember much about the attack while we were on the way back from Mull, lad, but she’s the one who shot the beast in the eye.”
    Magnus studied her with a gleam of speculation