Timeless Mist

by Terisa Wilcox

  "Ye are betrothed?" he struggled to keep an even tone to his voice, too keep the dismay he felt from showing. He walked over to the table and took the seat opposite her as nonchalantly as possible. So that was her betrothed he saw in the portrait of her.

  "Oh heaven's no." Kris looked up, startled, only just realizing what she'd said. "At least not any more. I should have said my ex-fiancé. He was a big jerk."

  Iain didn't know why he should be relieved that she was no longer betrothed but couldn't shake the feeling. The thought of her being wed to another was more than distasteful and he couldn't for the life of him fathom the why of it. He sought for something to divert the subject.

  "Do ye think ye are unattractive, lass?" he asked in a quiet voice. Then silently cursed at the look she gave him.

  She shrugged, and blushed again, "my ex always told me I was no great beauty. Among the other things he said I needed to fix about myself." Others had told her the same things, mostly her stepfather, she thought, but did not say. "I've always known it, actually, but it's not something I think about very often. I can't help how I look. I know I have some very annoying habits, too."

  "Is that why he broke off his betrothal to ye? Because he dinnae like the look of ye?" Iain couldn't keep the shock completely from his voice.

  "Oh, he didn't. I mean I broke up with him. He got mad when I wouldn't let him go further than kiss me. I'm glad I put my foot down on that matter. He told me I was being old-fashioned before he stormed out. A couple of weeks later, I found him in bed with another woman," her eyes sparked with anger, "twice. I broke off the engagement because of it and he told me to stop living in the Middle Ages." She shrugged, "maybe I was old-fashioned by modern standards, but I think one girlfriend at a time should be enough for any guy, especially when that guy is your fiancé."

  "Aye, lass. Men are wont to bed women wi'out thinking on it, but they dinnae appreciate it when their betrothed has done the same." Iain nodded in understanding. "Dinnae let some fool tell ye are annoying or old-fashioned because ye would nay bed him before ye had a ring on your finger, Kristianna. And ye are no' annoying either, lass. Ye are a lovely woman, and the mon was a fool to treat ye thusly."

  "Thank you." Kris' blush deepened again and she lowered her head.

  "And ye shouldnae be so foolish as to think ye arenae attractive. Ye are. I find ye verra striking and desirable."

  Kris looked around as she sought for something to say. "Elsbeth told me to pick out a gown. And no, I don't think you can help me dress." She didn't want to be, but she found herself drawn to this man. She rose from her chair and strode to the wardrobe.

  Iain looked startled by her abrupt change of subject.

  "I was answering your earlier question about helping me."

  "I can offer ye my services in picking out something to wear, if ye'd like."

  Kris looked up, astonished by his soft laughter. It made his eyes twinkle and transformed his face into something gentler and more approachable. She returned his smile.

  "You should smile more often." She said without thinking.

  Now it was Iain's turn to be surprised. He realized he hadn't smiled very much in the past few years, mostly because there hadn't been much for him to smile about. Living in the highlands could be hard and harsh. It wasn't for the faint of heart. And recently, well smiling was not something he thought on often.

  "I shall take your suggestion to heart, lass and see what I can do about it." He gave her a small bow.

  Kris giggled when he gave her an exaggerated grin.

  "Anyway, I still have to find something to wear besides that dress." She gestured to the chair that held the soiled gown. "I really hope I haven't ruined it with the ham glaze I spilt on it."

  "I'm sure 'tis something Elsbeth can fix. She is a wonder when it comes to such things. As is my màthair." He went to stand beside her at the wardrobe. "If I might offer my opinion in choosing something for to wear?"

  "Sure, why not. I have no ideas at the moment."

  "I suggest ye wear something ye will be comfortable in."

  "Oh and why is that?"

  Iain cleared his throat and hesitated a moment, "because," he paused, not believing his màthair had blackmailed him this way, "my màthair wishes me to show ye about. She informs me that ye ha'e been cooped up in this room for too many days, and 'tis time I let ye out. She tells me some fresh air will serve ye well."

  Kris stifled a giggle at the look on his face. He looked like a small boy who'd been told to do something he would really rather not do.

  "I'm glad to know your mother has some sense. She's right, you know. I was about to go stir crazy being shut up in this room with nothing to do."

  Iain thought over her words a moment. When he'd gone to speak with his màthair early this morn, she'd said nearly the same words. She refused to speak to him about anything else, clamping her lips shut tight and then locking herself in her bedchamber. He'd told her he had questions for her, but she shook her head, refusing to e'en hear them until she got what she wanted. "When ye take Kristianna out of that room, spend a bit of time wi' her, let her get some fresh air, then I will speak wi' ye. The poor lass must be going nigh onto stir crazy in that room by now."

  "I will leave ye to dress then." He made her a small, but formal bow and strode to the door where he turned to look at her again, "I shall return in an hour if that will suit ye."

  Kris smiled and nodded at him. An hour should be plenty of time. Maybe she could convince Elsbeth to filch her a pair of pants. Depending on what Iain wanted to do, and where he planned to take her, pants would be the most comfortable for her to wear. Although it might earn her more trouble than she needed at the moment.

  Kris was so excited she merely stared at the contents of the closet. What she wouldn't give for a cup of coffee right now.

  Elsbeth arrived a short time later, a lass of about twelve in tow.

  "This is Margaret, lady Kristianna. She will assist ye in bathing and dressing."

  "Very nice to meet you, Margaret." Kris offered the girl a friendly smile and extended her hand. "I'm Kris."

  . "Please call me Meg, my lady." The girl curtseyed and gave returned Kris' smile. "'Tis what e'eryone calls me."

  "I will do that, and you must feel free to call me Kris. That's the name I prefer. Kristianna is such a long name to say all the time." She winked at the girl, causing her to giggle.

  Elsbeth smiled, "I shall leave you two to be about your business then."

  "Before you go," Kris stopped her, "I have a question for you."

  "Aye?" Elsbeth stood with her hand on the door and quirked a brow at Kris.

  "Do you think, well, would it be possible for me to wear a pair of pants, err trews rather, do you suppose? Or would I send the entire castle into fits?"

  "Nay, Kris." Elsie smiled, "Lady Sorcha and Caitlyn have often done the like and 'tis no' looked at askance around here. The people are quite used to it. I shall see if I can find a pair of Caitlyn's for ye."

  "Oh, thank you so much." Kris rushed over and kissed the woman on the cheek, much to Elsbeth's surprise. She blushed and fumbled for the door, hurrying out as soon as she got it opened.

  "We have to hurry, Meg. The laird said he would return to collect me in an hour and I don't want to keep him waiting. He might change his mind about letting me out of this room if I do."

  * * *

  A little over an hour later, Kris stood by the window waiting impatiently for Iain. Just as she was about to give up on him, a tap sounded on her door. She turned as Iain entered, her heart lurching madly at the sight of him. He looked around the room, his eyes finally coming to rest on her. His stare was bold and appraised her candidly.

  Kris' feet shifted in nervousness as his gaze roved over her, scanning her critically. She tried to judge his unreadable features, but he gave nothing away. Her pulse pounded under his examination. He let his gaze wander lazily back up to meet her eyes. She tried to throttle the dizzying current racing thro
ugh her at the look of approval in clear, blue eyes. The smoldering flame in his look made desire rise. She quickly tried to throttle that unwelcome thought.

  "Will this do?" She asked at last, her voice barely above a whisper.

  "Oh, aye lass, 'twill do verra well." He grinned and Kris had to fight the sudden overwhelming need to be close to him.

  She returned his smile, although she knew it came out a bit on the shaky side.

  "Come, Kris." He held out his hand, "I will show ye my keep. Then mayhap ye would like to go for a ride wi' me and I will show ye some of the countryside."

  Her breath caught in her throat. "That would be wonderful." She exclaimed, delighted to be free of her room. She put her hand in his and looked up at him. Her heart lurched madly as she felt the electricity of his touch. His nearness kindled feelings of fire, his gentle touch causing a delicious shudder to race down her spine.

  "Do ye know how to ride, lass?"

  "Pardon?" She looked up at him again before she realized what he said. "Oh, yes, actually, I do. I had lessons when I was younger. Got pretty good at it too, even if I do say so myself." She wondered at the sudden change that had come over him. What was he up to? She shrugged to herself. She wouldn't let herself worry about it. Right now, she just wanted to enjoy the freedom she had acquired.

  * * *

  When they finally reached the courtyard sometime later, Kris was dizzy with all she'd been shown and all the people Iain had introduced her too. She knew she'd never remember all those names and put them with the proper faces.

  The keep was bigger than she'd imagined it to be looking at it from the outside. She hadn't had much time to investigate more than a couple of rooms when she'd been in her own time. She turned to Iain, her hand on his arm stopping him before he headed down the steps.

  "You have a lovely home." She smiled up at him.

  Her smile hit him right behind the knees, which near to buckled beneath him.

  He returned her smile, "thank ye, lass. I know 'tis probably no' what ye are accustomed too, but 'tis a place to live whilst the clan recovers from the trouble the Campbell's ha'e stirred up yet again."

  He turned away before he saw Kris wince at his statement. She promptly changed the subject before he noticed.

  "So where are we going next?"

  "I thought mayhap ye would enjoy a quick trot around the countryside. No' too far of course, as we must be wary of enemies, but enough to gi'e ye a fair taste of the beauty of the Scottish hills and valleys."

  Kris nodded with enthusiasm and hurried to follow him to the stables.

  "Wait here, lass, and I shall see to our horses being brought out."

  While she waited, she let her gaze roam around the courtyard. It held the usual buildings, stable, guard tower, and such. The people milled about, going about their daily chores. Every now and then, one of the women would look up at her, catch her looking at them, offer a quick, shy smile and return to their work.

  She turned when she felt a nose bump her shoulder. She turned to see a chestnut mare nuzzling at her. She rubbed her nose, speaking softly to her.

  "Aren't you a beauty?" She looked over to see Iain with his own horse. "What's her name?"

  "Hopes Destiny. She belongs to my màthair."

  "She's lovely. And quite friendly too." She laughed as the horse nudged her again when she stopped petting her.

  "Aye, she is. My màthair has treated her more as a pet than a means of transporting herself from one place to another."

  Kris walked around to shorten the stirrups a bit for herself and got her first good look at Iain's gelding. Her breath caught in her throat and seemed to stop. She coughed then sputtered a bit, causing Iain to slap her on the back with perhaps more enthusiasm than was warranted.

  "I'm fine," she wheezed, waving him off. "It's just your horse is enormous." She didn't need him to know she'd seen his horse before in her dreams. She should have expected it, seeing as she'd dreamt of Iain before she'd seen him as well. It would only be common sense that the horse she'd seen him riding would be the same as well.

  "Elvis was a gift from my father when I was knighted."

  Kris' eyes widened so much they began to hurt. Her body stiffened in shock as she stared at him in astonishment. It couldn't be. It was too ludicrous too even be thinkable. She wet her suddenly dry lips and tried to speak. When no words issued forth, she closed her eyes, swallowed a time or two and tried again.

  "Y-your horses name is E-Elvis? Are you kidding me?"

  Iain looked at her as if she'd lost her wits entirely. The inner bailey began to spin with nauseating speed. She sat down right where she stood and put her head between her knees, willing the dizziness to cease.

  Chapter Eleven

  "Kidding? What mean you by that?"

  She heard Iain speaking to her, but his voice sounded like it came through a tunnel. He squatted down in front of her and tried to lift her face up. She wouldn't let it budge from between her knees.

  "Kristianna, what did ye mean by that?" His voice finally broke through the fog, and she carefully lifted her head and rested her chin on her knees.

  "I meant joking, you know, a jest. Surely you jest about your horses' name." Her voice came out muffled from between her legs.

  "Why would I jest about it? And why would such send ye into fits? Ye look near to ha'ing apoplexy, lass."

  "Right, of course." Kris put up her index finger. "Why would you jest about your horse's name? That would just be silly wouldn't it?" She lifted her head a bit and looked at him with a raised brow. "I think I'm really losing it here. I did hear you right didn't I? You named your horse Elvis."

  When Iain nodded, she shook her head then started to laugh. She couldn't help it. The incongruity of it all rushed over her and she doubled over, tears of mirth streaming down her cheeks.

  "Lass?"

  She heard Iain call her, but couldn't stop laughing long enough to answer him. Her stomach started to cramp from the fits of giggles and still, she couldn't stop.

  "Kristianna, ye must get a hold of yourself." Iain could not fathom what was so funny. Her laughter was infectious, however. The corners of his mouth turned up before he could stop them. "Kris," he tried again.

  He stared at her, her laugh marvelous and catchy. He couldn't help but laugh himself, although he had not the faintest idea why. He continued to watch her, having not the least notion what she found so funny, but enjoying her laughter immensely. She held her stomach with one hand and with the other reached to hold onto him, as if to keep herself from sprawling backwards in the dirt if she let go.

  Kris heard Iain's mirth. His laugh floated up from his throat, deep, warm and rich. She tried to catch her breath, to get her laughter under control, but his amusement added to her own, especially when she knew he had no idea what she found so funny.

  "You don't even know what you're laughing at, do you?" She asked, after several long moments, when she was finally able to contain herself enough to speak.

  Iain shook his head; a grin still split his face. "I cannae help it though. Lass, ye have the most infectious laugh I ha'e e'er heard. Mayhap ye will now tell me what ye found so amusing?"

  Kris chewed her bottom lip, wondering if she should tell him now or wait. She looked around and caught sight of all the people in the courtyard. Every one of them had stopped what they were doing stared at her and Iain as if they'd both lost their wits. She noticed quite a few wore wide smiles though, while several others grinned and still others wore looks of mild amusement.

  "Doonae let them concern ye," Iain said, with a look around. He reached for her hand, "'tis just they ha'e no' heard me laugh like that for quite some time."

  It was true, too, he thought. He had no time for laughter and amusement. No time for the jesting nor the camaraderie that came with it anymore either. Life was too short and right now too dangerous to give in to such frivolities. Not to mention he had not let his emotions go since his last betrothal too Isobel ended. But damn i
f it had not felt wondrous and not just a bit liberating to do the like again.

  "Oh." Kris blinked a time or two when Iain swung her into the circle of his arms. A familiar shiver of awareness raced through her and she inhaled sharply. She struggled to keep her wits about her while butterflies danced wildly in her stomach. She wished he would quit doing things like that; it was beginning to unnerve her.

  "Well," she cleared her throat, "I think you should do it more often." She strove to keep her tone light. "You look ten years younger than you usually do, Iain. Laughter is good for a person don'tcha know. It keeps them young."

  She grinned at him, then pulled from his embrace, turned and boosted herself into the saddle before she did something stupid, like kiss his socks off. She looked down at him and smiled, he wasn't wearing socks.

  "Are we going for a ride?" She asked before she started for the outer bailey.

  Iain looked at her, shook his head and mounted his own horse. He'd determined earlier, when she'd told him of what her betrothed had said, that he would make Kris realize how desirable she was. The why of that he didn't want to begin to fathom. He just knew he never wanted to see that look on her face he'd seen earlier when she'd been talking of her former betrothed and how he'd made her feel with his insulting remarks.

  If he had the man before him now, he'd throttle him, before he avenged his ladies honor in the lists. He shook his head and followed Kris out of the bailey. He caught up with her quickly, slowing his mount to match the pace of her own.

  "I will ha'e an answer to my question, Kris."

  She shrugged and waved toward the drawbridge, "shall we?"

  Iain looked at her, a bit startled. Determined he would have the tale eventually, he started over the bridge. He glanced around him again at the people still milling about. Mayhap it would be better if he didn't push her for the reason in front of everyone. He dinnae know what was so funny, but something told him it would be better to wait for her to tell him.