113

MARY ARGRETEE OF MCKENZIE MANOR

“Lady of Grackles,” I panted as my hands shook on the wide rim of the overhead lamp holder as I tried to screw the ceramic off, biting down on a shriek when the white chalk of dust fell into my eyes.

I coughed a panicked gasp, knowing that Our Lady had blinded me for taking her name in sin. I tethered wildly on the high iron of the potted plant where I had stood, flinging an arm out to grope around me before I felt the creak of the lampshade giving and the feeling of the floor coming up to meet me.

“Ugh!” I groaned, struggling to my feet with the small black bulb of a camera fisted in one hand and rubbing the sore spot on my tailbone with the other.

I had to get out of here before the Mistress finished with the Master of the McKenzie manor and came up into her room.

I’d been foolish, letting that woman talk me into spying on the rich family when I had no business interfering in their lives.

Yes, I was going to turn myself over to Sir Alexander’s mercy a