Romance: In Love With A Beast (Paranormal BBW Panther Shifter Romance) (Shapeshifter Mystery Alpha Werebear Romance Short Stories) by Jada Turner Page B

house, but I am afraid your retainers are blocking the way and I am trying to negotiate without having to resort to force.”
    “Is that correct Squire? You have authorised the trespass on my property?”
    “Diana, it isn’t trespass. Please, don’t make this unsavoury affair any more problematic than it is already.”
    Diana looked up at Jane, Miller and Mrs Marshall still standing on the steps guarding the door. She felt a warmth of gratitude to her servants. They had stout hearts but weak bodies and would be flicked out of the way like a fly off sugar if the Lieutenant decided to enter by force.
    “Please, Miller, Mrs Marshall. Let them enter.”
    They stood to the side. Diana saw that Mrs Marshall’s hands shook and Miller’s knees were knocking, but their courage was intact.
    “Jane, please take Michael to the nursery. Mrs Marshall, please have someone bring tea to the drawing room.”
    Diana entered her house wondering how all this would end. She invited the Squire, Lieutenant Phillips and the second officer who on closer inspection she saw was a Midshipman, from the insignia on his collar and around thirteen years old, to follow her.
    The Royal Marines remained outside at attention under the watchful eye of a large sergeant.
    She led them into the drawing-room where Sir Reginald’s forebears looked down from ghastly portraits onto the scene unfolding below
    “How do you propose to carry out this search Lieutenant?” said Diana. “Do you intend to have those rough soldiers go through my belongings including my personal clothing?” She put the emphasis on ‘personal clothing’ hoping to transmit the thought to his mind of her underwear. To Diana, it was clear that if Sir Reginald was in serious trouble then so was she. She would need to steer the naval officer off course if she could.
    “No Diana,” said the Squire. “We are looking for something specific. It will save a lot of time if you were to help us and save you a lot of distress.”
    “Then pray tell me Squire why you have brought an army to my door?”
    “We need Sir Reginald’s ledgers and his paperwork regarding his shipping business.”
    Mrs Marshall came in with a silver tray that held a china teapot and several cups. She placed it on an occasional table and left but not without giving the Lieutenant a hard stare.
    “Shall we take tea first?” said Diana pouring out four cups while the options ran through her sharp brain.
    She handed one cup to the Midshipman, who seemed too tongue tied to say thank-you. Diana felt sorry for him. In her opinion, he ought to be at home with his mother.
    She handed a cup to the Lieutenant careful to bend slightly forward so he could catch a glimpse of her décolletage.
    “Please follow me,” she said when they had finished their tea.
    The Squire, the Lieutenant and the Midshipman followed her along the wood-paneled corridor of Eylebourne Hall to Sir Reginald’s study. She tried the door but found it locked as she expected.
    “I was afraid so. He keeps this door locked.” She looked over her shoulder to see Mrs Marshall hovering. “I don’t have a key. Do you or any of the maids have a key?”
    “No, M’lady. You knows the master won’t allow anyone in there unless he’s there too. The maids clean while he watches,” said Mrs Marshall.
    “Yes, I’m afraid I knew that really. I hoped… never mind. Well, Lieutenant, what you want may be inside that room but I’m afraid I can’t open the door. Perhaps you could return tomorrow when it is more convenient and I have had the opportunity to summon a locksmith.”
    “I’m afraid that will not be possible M’lady. I think it would be easier to enter by the windows than this door. Could you show us on the outside which room it is, M’lady. I would be much obliged and in your debt,” said the Lieutenant making a slight bow.
    “I’m afraid that will not be possible, sir. The room does not have windows. Sir Reginald had them bricked up. He said