“Ye seem distracted, lass. What’s on yer mind?”
I continued to fold Henry’s extra linens and did my best to pretend he hadn’t just caught me tuning him out.
“Nothing. Nothing at all.”
A knock on the door saved me from his further questioning. I quickly set down the pile of laundry and moved to answer it. The delightful innkeeper, Isobel, stood on the other side.
“Good morning to ye, lass. I hoped ye would still be here.”
Like everyone else in the village, I adored Isobel. She was one of the most singularly likable people I’d ever met in my life.
“Good morning. It’s so nice to see you. Do you need my help with something?”
“Aye. If ye doona mind, I thought ye could drop this basket of food off for Duncan on yer way back to the castle. The silly lad refuses to enter the castle while working, and he willna stop and come back here for food. By the time he arrives at the inn at nightfall, he is ready to eat me out of house and home. I doona mind walking it to him meself if ye shall be a while. I only thought I would see if ye would be headed back that direction soon.”
I’d been basically finished with my daily tasks for Henry for well over an hour. I’d simply been stalling to allow him time to have his fill of conversation.
“I’ll be heading back that way in just a few minutes. I’m happy to bring it.”
“Thank ye, lass. I’ll set this just inside.”
Stepping around me, Isobel directed her attention to Henry.
“Henry, I havena seen ye in far too long. Are ye well?”
After placing the basket next to the pile of linens I was nearly done folding, I watched as Isobel made her way over to Henry and reached to give his hand a hearty squeeze.
“I am better for seeing ye, lass. Ye and Gregor are well past due for a visit. The two of ye should come for dinner sometime soon.”
“We would be happy to. I’ll talk to Gregor about it as soon as I get back to the inn.”
They visited for a few minutes more, and by the time I was finished folding, Isobel was ready to leave as well. I walked her back to the inn as it was along the path back to the castle.
Isobel said little on the short walk back, but just as we neared the door of her home spoke up beside me. “Ye do ken that Duncan is quite taken with ye, aye?”
Heat rushed to my face. “I know no such thing. He doesn’t know me.”
Isobel chuckled softly and pointed to my reddened cheeks. “And ye doona ken him either, but that hasna stopped yer cheeks from flushing in excitement at the thought. He asks Cooper about ye all the time.”
I glanced down at the basket of food in my hands and then back at Isobel.
“Is this a setup, Isobel?”
She feigned shock. “O’course no’, lass. I doona have it in me to be so conniving. Though there is enough food in that wee basket for two should ye find yerself hungry enough to eat by the time ye reach him.”
She gave me a wink before disappearing inside the inn.
As if cued by Isobel’s words, my stomach growled so loudly that I blushed all over again.
Duncan’s back was toward me as I approached them, and I reveled in the opportunity to watch him interact with Cooper. As usual, Cooper was yammering on about something at a million miles a minute, but Duncan was patient as he continued to guide Cooper through how to set the stones in the section they worked on. I couldn’t help but think it a shame that Duncan had no children. I could tell by the way Cooper had taken to him that he would’ve made a good father.
Cooper spotted me first. Taking note of the large hunk of bread extending past the edge of the basket, he leapt up from his crouched position and bounded toward me.
“Lunch!”
So much for the picnic for two Isobel had tried to arrange.
I smiled at him and reluctantly allowed him to take the basket. “Yes, courtesy of Isobel. She knew I would be headed back to the castle soon and thought you two would be hungry.”
“Aye, we are. Thank ye, lass.”
Duncan faced me and smiled, and I found myself thankful that once red, my skin tended to stay that way for a while. It meant that it was unlikely he was able to see just how hot I’d suddenly become.
Nervous and fidgety, I started to panic.
“All right. Well, there you go then. I hope you both enjoy it. Looks like the work is coming along well. See you two later.”
I spun away from them, but was stopped by a sudden hand on my arm.
“Wait, lass. Do ye mind if I speak to ye a moment?”
I nodded with my back still toward him as he walked around to face me.
As I looked up at him, I noticed that his face was as flushed as mine was, and something inside of me relaxed just a little.
“I hope that ye doona mind, but I’ve inquired about ye to Isobel while staying at the inn. She has told me that ye’ve no suitors at present. I…”
He hesitated and I worried that in the silence he might actually be able to hear my heart pounding against my rib cage. Suitor? I wasn’t sure I’d ever had a suitor in my entire life—just a lifelong best friend who in the end became my husband.
Duncan continued to search for his words as I tried to keep my breathing in check.
“I…the truth is, that I am rotten at all of this, lass. I only mean to say that I think ye are bonny. Would ye join me for dinner at the inn tonight?”
I smiled at him. His nervousness made my own more bearable. “Yes. I would love that.”
The expression of surprise that moved over his face at my answer almost caused me to laugh, but I swallowed hard before allowing the noise to escape.
“Really, lass?”
I nodded. “Yes. I wouldn’t tease you. Are you sure you want me to?”
He nodded and reached for my hand before lifting it up to his lips as he brushed them against my knuckles. “Aye, lass. Verra sure.”
“Good. I’ll see you tonight.”
It was all I could do to make it inside my bedroom before I leaned against the door and squealed in delight.
I was excited about this. Truly excited about something for the first time in ages.
Maybe I hadn’t died along with my husband. Maybe the loss of him had just sent me into hibernation, and my metaphorical spring had finally come.
Chapter 14
Cooper
Cooper couldn’t sleep. His conscience tormented him as he lay awake and stared up at the ceiling in his bedroom. Burning the painting wasn’t like sneaking cake before a birthday celebration. This was different. Eating the cake was harmless. This didn’t feel so.
Eventually they would be caught. He just knew it.
It wasn’t only the dread of inevitably being caught that bothered him. It was that ever since they’d burned it things felt worse in the castle—more haunted in some way he hadn’t been able to put his finger on just yet.
He’d seen nothing, but he could sense something in the air he was sure wasn’t there before.
Rosie had said nothing to him, but he had a feeling that she could sense it too. That maybe their desire to end Osla’s haunting hadn’t worked as they’d hoped it would.
Cooper sighed and rolled over on his side, pulling his blankets high up above his shoulders. He wanted to get up, to light a candle as he often did while others were sleeping and run downstairs to read or play on his own, but tonight his fear stopped him. Something was off inside the castle, and he didn’t want to be alone when he discovered just what that was.
“Is something the matter with ye, lad? Ye look as if ye might fall over right where ye stand?”
Cooper jumped at the sound of Duncan’s voice behind him. He was meant to be loading up a pile of stones to move further down the fence line, but after a night of no sleep, his arms and legs were weak, and his mind continued to drift no matter how hard he tried to stay on task.
He opened his mouth to answer, but instead a yawn escaped. “I…I’m sorry, Duncan. I didn’t sleep at
all last night.”
Duncan gave his shoulder a firm pat before pointing back toward the castle. “Go inside and have a wee rest. I’ll be fine by meself for the rest of the day. Ye’ve been a big help to me, but I doona think ye shall be so today no matter how hard ye try.”
The thought of lying down for a while did sound rather nice to him.
“You sure? You don’t mind?”
“O’course no’. I’m no’ paying ye, lad. Ye needn’t work with me anytime ye doona wish to. I appreciate ye whene’er ye are here, but I doona expect ye to be. Go and enjoy yer day.”
That was all Cooper needed in order to set off in the direction of the castle.
Yawning with just about every third step, Cooper moved through the castle as quietly as he could. If any of the younger children saw him before he was able to sneak away for a nap, they would drag him into playing with them. And today, he just didn’t have the patience for it.
To his surprise, he didn’t cross paths with anyone in the castle until he rounded the hallway corner leading to his bedroom. His grandmother and Baodan stood visiting just a few doors down from his bedroom.
He waved at them but neither waved back. It was only then that he noticed the look of concern on his grandmother’s face. He didn’t even think either of them had noticed his presence, they were so engrossed in conversation.
Cooper continued on to his room, opening the door and taking one step inside before he heard the one name that caused his little feet to stop cold.
“Osla.”
His heart pounded in his chest. He stepped far enough into his room so they couldn’t see him, but stayed close enough to the open doorway so he could listen better.
“Ye havena said her name to me in a verra long time, son. What do ye need to tell me about Osla?”
Cooper thought his grandmother’s voice sounded shaky as she spoke. He imagined that if he opened his mouth right now to speak, his would be too. He leaned his ear further toward the hallway to listen for Baodan’s answer.
“I saw her.”
Cooper’s legs began to tremble, but he didn’t move a muscle. He had to know what Baodan was going to say next.
“What do ye mean ye saw her?”
“I mean precisely that. Last night, as I made me way around our bedchamber to blow out all of our candles, I glanced into the looking glass, and there she was—standing behind me, staring over me shoulder, her eyes as sad as I’d e’er seen them. Mitsy said she’d ne’er seen my face so pale. I still shake when I think of it.”
If it hadn’t truly been before, his grandmother’s voice was definitely shaky as she answered Baodan now.
“Did…did Mitsy see her?”
“Nae. No’ then.”
“Mayhap ye were overtired. I ken that Osla must cross yer mind from time to time. Mayhap she was on it last night, even if ye dinna realize it at the time.”
“Nae.” Baodan’s voice was firm in his answer. “Ye doona understand. Mitsy dinna see her last night, but she did see her this morning. She woke before me, and Osla was standing at the foot of our bed. Mitsy screamed so loudly I couldna believe the whole castle dinna wake.”
Cooper’s mind began to reel.
Was that why he’d been unable to sleep the night before? Had some part of him been able to sense Osla’s ghost within the castle?
Whatever it was, Cooper knew one thing for sure.
Burning the painting had only made everything so much worse.
They hadn’t given Osla any sort of peace.
All they’d done was let her loose, free to roam around the castle tormenting them.
Tears pooled in Cooper’s eyes as he slid to the floor and pulled his knees tight to his chest.
What were they supposed to do now?
Chapter 15
Madeline
“Mom. You need to take one real big deep breath. Get a grip. It’s going to be fine. It’s just dinner. You’ve already eaten dinner with him once before.”
I smiled at Rosie, and closed my eyes as I drew in the deepest breath I could manage, which honestly wasn’t deep at all. She kept her grip on my arms as she stared into my eyes.
“You look great. Duncan is nice. Just relax.”
This wasn’t the way this was supposed to work. Rosie wasn’t supposed to be reassuring me. I was supposed to be convincing her that it was okay for me to date.
“Are you sure this doesn’t bother you? I know it has to feel weird.”
Rosie let go of my arms and took one step away from me before crossing her arms and sighing dramatically.
“Mom. It’s only dinner. You’re not marrying Duncan. And yes, it’s fine. Dad’s been gone for years now. It’s time for you to enjoy yourself again. I’m ready to have my old mom back.”
Those words plucked at the ever-present knot of guilt I suspected all mothers feel from the moment their children leave the womb. While my grief after Tim’s death seemed unbearable at the time, I could now see that Rosie’s grief had been even worse. She hadn’t just lost her father. For quite a long time, she’d lost me, as well. I wasn’t sure I would ever stop feeling horrible for all that I’d put her through.
“I’m better than I was, surely?”
Rosie nodded and dropped her arms to come and give me a hug. “Much better. But still not the same.”
Was anyone ever the same after losing the person that seemed to make the world spin for them? I wasn’t sure ‘same’ was possible.
“I’m not sure I ever will be that person again, Rosie. Not entirely.”
With her face pressed against my chest, I hugged her tightly as she answered me.
“I know. But there’s got to be more happiness out there for you than you feel right now.”
“Are you happy, Rosie?”
She shrugged in my arms. “I’m thirteen. Nobody is happy at thirteen. At least that’s what Grandmother told me the other day.”
I laughed and bent to kiss the top of my daughter’s beautiful red hair.
“Your grandmother’s right. Thirteen sucks.”
Sensing that Rosie was now fully over her unusual display of affection for me, I released my grip on her and moved to give myself one more check in the mirror.
At least I looked better tonight than I had on the first night Duncan met me.
Rosie was right. It was going to be fine. Even if it wasn’t, even if Duncan ended up being a total loser, it was good to feel nervous again—to feel anything again.
Duncan
“All is cooked and warm for the two of ye. Gregor and I willna move from our room until after the lass has left, I promise ye. Ye willna ken we are here.”
Isobel had gone far beyond her duties as innkeeper for him more than once. But tonight’s spread of food and candles astounded Duncan as he looked at all that was laid out before him.
“Isobel…I dinna…” Duncan was beside himself. “I dinna mean for ye to go to so much effort, lass. I expected ye to serve what ye usually do. And I dinna mean for ye to run everyone else away from the inn.”
She waved a dismissive hand at him. “Nonsense. I enjoyed every bit of it. And sending the one-night stay travelers away has given Gregor and me a chance to have an evening of rest.”
Isobel pointed through the window before turning to run upstairs.
“She’s nearly here. Have a lovely evening, lad. Ye deserve it.”
Madeline
Duncan met me at the door, and the sight of him rattled me so much that for a moment, I thought perhaps someone else staying at the inn had simply stepped outdoors as I entered. But the way his lips turned up at the corners, making him look perpetually friendly, was unmistakable. The feast of a man standing before me was most certainly Duncan.
I’d only ever seen him either soaked to the bone from rain, or covered in dirt from work. But cleaned up, in a fresh kilt, with his hair pinned back at the nape of his neck, he was a splendor to look at.
“You…you look great, Duncan.”
He ch
uckled and stepped back inside the doorway to usher me inside.
“’Tis a surprise to me, as well, lass. I canna remember the last time I was no’ covered in dirt.”
I smiled at him as I slipped off my coat and offered it to him.
“That’s not how I meant it. You always look nice. You just look different tonight, is all.”
“Ye look lovely, as well, lass.”
I turned away so he wouldn’t see me blush as I took in the surroundings of the room.
It had Isobel written all over it.
“Isn’t Isobel great?”
“Aye. Consider yerself lucky that I dinna cook any of this. I am wretched at it.”
I honestly couldn’t remember the last time I’d cooked anything.
“That makes two of us. My work has always kept me so busy that I never really mastered the art of home cooking.”
He stepped up close behind me to lean around me and pull out the chair at the small table set for us.
“Caring for the elderly, lass? ’Tis noble work.”
“That isn’t what I’ve always done. I used to…” I stopped, realizing in that instant that I couldn’t tell Duncan the truth about my work in a hospital. He didn’t know about the time travel, and it wasn’t my call whether or not I could tell him. “I used to have different work.”
He must’ve sensed my hesitation, and I could see him make the decision not to press me on it as he walked around and sat down at the other side of the table.
“If this is half as delicious as anything else Isobel has cooked for me, we willna be disappointed.”
“Oh, I’m certain we won’t.”
Duncan dug in first, and the soft moan of delight that escaped his lips only confirmed the treat I was in for.
“I guess it is half as delicious then?”
“’Tis at least twice as delicious.”
He continued to eat while I began to sample the meal. After a short period of silence as we relished in Isobel’s cooking, Duncan spoke again. “What happened to yer first husband, lass?”
The Curse of McMillan Castle - A Novella (A Scottish Time Travel Romance): Book 12.5 Page 6
