Adduné - the Vampire's Game Read Online Free PDF Page A

the keyhole. “I told you this was the original lock. They used muscle back then.”
     
    Miranda heard the click of the lock opening.
     
    “ And to think of all those hours you wasted in those aerobic classes of yours. Flapping your arms and legs about to that horrid music has done you no good at all. Your father should have put you to work in a field somewhere. Real work might have also lengthened that short temper of yours.”
     
    “ Oh, you! As if a lawyer would know anything about real work,” she said pushing him to the side and opening the door herself.
     
    “ You watch your hands young lady. You’re not in one of those American underground tubes.”
     
    “ You know that they’re called subways. Subways! S-U-B-W-A-Y-S! You graduated from a university or so you say.”
     
    Miranda pushed the door open. For a moment, she thought she might have been located the missing drawbridge for the loud creak it made.
     
    “ I would think you could remember a two-syllable word. God, it’s dark in here!”
     
    “ My, you are helpless,” Reginald said breezing past her. “I suppose I should expect it given your age and lack of experience,” he said turning on a light switch just in time to gleefully note the displeasure spread across Miranda’s face. She hated more than anything to have her tender years brought up and used as an excuse for her being ignorant.
     
    Miranda jumped as an overhead chandelier sprang to life. She noted the self-satisfied smirk lurking under that neat moustache of her companion.
     
    “ My being startled had nothing – absolutely nothing – to do with those ridiculous stories you told me. I just wasn’t expecting a chandelier that looks as if it was torn out of the Paris Opera house to be installed in here. It’s a fright you’d see in an old horror movie.”
     
    Normally, Reginald would have agreed except on these occasions when he’d deliberately take the opposing position. He’d played the same game with her father on numerous occasions. They would both bait each other until one erupted in slapping the other on the back, and suggesting they head to the local pub to mend their differences. Reginald had resettled into the same routine with Miranda. It lessened the loss of Arthur Perry to have her playing her father’s part. Miranda didn’t seem to mind. She’d often initiate the playful banter. He thought maybe she understood what he was trying to do – ease the pain.
     
    “ You Americans are obsessed with your little cinematic offerings. I’m surprised you leave your houses at all what with all your reruns of that trash produced in Hollywood. God forbid any of you Americans actually pick up a book and read a classic. Case-in-point, it doesn’t take any real intelligence to use a microwave now does it?”
     
    Miranda let his remark pass by without responding. Maybe later she’d pick up on it – when he was off guard. Right now, she had other things on her mind, like taking in all her father’s treasures. She had no idea so many were housed here. She was upset that there were as they’d all have to be counted. It meant spending more time in this old manor house than anticipated. She’d felt unsettled even before she’d walked in and it was getting worse. There was a chill in the air that reinforced her initial feelings of discomfort. She took the blue sweater loosely tied around her shoulders and put it on. Even with it on she was shivering.
     
    “ Are you cold, Miranda?”
     
    “ Yes, it’s appallingly frigid in here. Quite at odds with the beautiful summer day outside.”
     
    Reginald put down his briefcase and headed for one of the many fireplaces. He’d never admit it to Miranda, but he’d felt the drop in temperature as well. He’d never felt such a disparity on previous visits, but he knew what to do to remedy the situation. He strode into the large parlour. They’d be working in this room for most of the day and a blazing fire would help.
     
    He