Free The Ghosts of Tullybrae House by Veronica Bale Page A

don’t want to keep you guys from your work. I just came out to say a quick hello.”
    “You can keep me all you want, love. I don’t mind.”
    “Oh would you shut up , Adam.” Sophie chucked her spade at him. He dodged it easily.
    “Ah, I’m only teasing. You don’t mind, right?”
    “In small doses, no,” she relented. “I’ll let you guys get back to it. See you soon.”
    She started to turn but Famke called to her. “Emmie, what are you doing this evening?”
    “The usual, dinner with Lamb. Why?”
    “We’re all going to have supper at the pub in the village. You know, being Friday and all. Would you like to join us?”
    Emmie’s hesitated. Her first inclination was to say no, to go back to hiding now that she’d gotten the introductions out of the way. But the thought of spending time out with people closer to her own age (with the exception of Ewan, who was likely closing in on sixty) was suddenly appealing.
    “Um… yeah, sure. That sounds good. Thanks.”
    “Great. So seven o’clock, then, at The Grigg?”
    “Where’s The Grigg?”
    “Just up the road that way a bit.” Famke pointed in the direction of the road. “Turn right at the end of the driveway, and go straight for about ten minutes. You can’t miss it.”
    Emmie nodded. “Ok. I’ll see you there.”

THE FIRST THING Emmie did when she got back inside was find Lamb. Going out with the dig crew meant she’d be skipping out on their dinner routine for the first time since she’d been here, and she wanted to make sure it was okay with him.
    She was sincerely coming to enjoy their quiet meals together.
    “I can cancel if you don’t want me to go,” she added once she told him.
    Lamb’s bushy white brows drew sharply together. “Don’t you dare. I’ll not lie, I’ve grown fond of your company in this short time, my dear. But I won’t stand in the way of your night out. You young people need time to let loose every now and then.”
    Emmie was touched. “Aww, that’s the first time you said you enjoy my company.”
    He gave her a bashful glance. “I would have thought it was obvious.”
    “You big softie.” She pulled him in for a quick hug. He hadn’t expected it, and his arms bent stiffly at the elbows, not embracing her but not resisting. His wrinkled face was notably pink when she stepped back.
    “Okay, then I’ll go. But we’re still on for roast beef tomorrow, right?”
    “That we are.”
    At five o’clock, Emmie retreated to the third floor to shower and change. Even her ‘going out to a pub’ outfit was mindfully selected. A casual plaid fitted shirt, slim-cut denim jeans, and clean-as-a-whistle Ugg boots made the perfect statement. Casual, but composed. After a final primp in the mirror to make sure her hair was still secured in a purposely messy top knot, she transferred her personal effects to a canvas satchel-style purse, and was off.
    She took the main staircase from the second floor, traipsing past the portraits of Tullybrae’s dead. Perhaps she was just imagining it, but she thought their eyes held a measure of approval. Like they were pleased for her that she was getting out for a night. In fact, the entire house was intangibly lighter, even though the sun was starting to set and Lamb hadn’t yet turned on any of the corridor lights.
    She climbed into her Fiat Panda, and made the short journey into the village. Famke was right. Emmie couldn’t miss The Grigg if she tried—it was the only pub in sight. The Grigg was a one-story building with a Tudor-style front, and a chalk-board sign on the curb outside announcing the night’s specials.
    She parked on the street across from the establishment, climbed out of her car, and smoothed the wrinkles from her shirt. The night was crisp, but not unpleasant. Somewhere in the vicinity, someone was burning a wood fire. She pulled in a deep breath, savouring the smoky fragrance. The same sense of contentment she’d felt on her Saturday off in Aviemore came