Arch Through Time: Books 1, 2 and 3: Scottish Time Travel Romances (Arch Through Time Collections)

by Katy Baker

Mona cleared her throat and pushed her way to the front of the crowd. The rest of the people began to back away, intimidated by their laird’s obvious wrath.

  "I thought it might lift everyone's spirits to have a little dancing, my laird. It was my idea and if we have done wrong, then I take responsibility for it."

  Annis pushed forward and stood next to Mona. "It wasnae just Mona, my laird. I encouraged it also."

  Andrew said nothing but his gaze bored into the two women and burned with anger.

  "Back to work,” he snapped. “This gathering is over.”

  The clan’s people didn't argue. They kept their eyes downcast as they filed past Andrew through the door and out into the evening.

  Lucy watched them go with a sinking sensation in her stomach. The last thing she’d intended was to cause any trouble between Andrew and his people. And yet, she couldn't help feeling a little angry too. Who did he think he was barging in here and ruining everyone's evening? So what if he was the laird? He always went on about duty but wasn't it also his duty to ensure his people were happy?

  When the last of the villagers had filed out Lucy stepped forward.

  "Don't blame Mona or Annis, Andrew. This was all my idea. I saw the fiddle hanging from the wall and started to play. Everything else happened from there. Please don't be angry with your people. If you're going to be angry with anyone, be angry with me!"

  Andrew's eyes flicked to her. She lifted her chin and glared at him defiantly.

  He looked at the instrument in her hand and his jaw tightened. "That's my mother's," he said softly.

  "It's a lovely instrument," Lucy said. "Your mother clearly took good care of it."

  “Please return it to its place.” His voice was stiff, formal.

  “Andrew, please don’t be angry with everyone. We were only having a little fun.”

  His eyes snapped up to meet hers. "Fun? Is that what ye call it? I would call it frivolity. And while ye have all been having a grand time I've been out collecting the body of one of my men! Malcolm didnae make it and I've just come back from telling his widow that her husband willnae be coming home. So ye'll forgive me if I canna share yer enthusiasm!”

  Lucy's stomach twisted. Malcolm was dead?

  Andrew spun on his heel and strode towards the door. He stormed out, slamming the door behind him.

  Dougie, Annis, Mona, Captain Donal and the men who’d come back with Andrew began dragging the tables back into their proper places. Lucy crossed over to the fireplace and gently replaced the fiddle on its hook.

  "Are ye all right?" Annis said, laying her hand on Lucy's arm.

  Lucy shook her head. "It really backfired tonight. I thought we were having a good time but I had no idea that Andrew would react that way."

  Annis winced. "Our laird can be a little.... defensive. It's not yer fault.”

  "I have to talk to him.”

  “It might be best to leave it until he's calmed down a little."

  "No," Lucy replied. "I need to see him now. And I know exactly where he'll be."

  Before Annis could reply Lucy hurried to the door and down the steps into the bailey. The sun was starting to set and the sky was painted orange and pink. Lucy made her way along the battlements to the door that lead out onto the beach. She rushed down the zigzag path to the small inlet and sure enough saw Andrew standing at the water’s edge, arms crossed over his chest, staring out to sea.

  Her feet crunched in the sand but he didn't turn as she approached.

  “I thought I'd find you here.”

  He sighed. "Why have ye come, Lucy?"

  "To see if you're okay. And to say I'm sorry about Malcolm."

  He turned. She'd expected him to be angry but the expression on his face was sorrowful instead. He shook his head. "Ah, Lucy. Why are ye apologizing?" He took a step towards her. "I shouldnae have lost my temper like that. I’m sorry."

  "So am I. I had no idea about Malcolm. I just wanted to make everyone happy if I could.”

  "And ye did.” He took a step closer until he was less than an arm’s-length away. "When I walked in to the Great Hall tonight I was shocked. Shocked to hear music and laughter. Shocked to see people enjoying themselves. It's been so long since I saw anything like that.” He took hold of her arms and a tingle passed through Lucy’s body. "Ye have bought light and laughter back in to my clan, Lucy. And into my life.”

  Lucy gazed up at him. She didn't seem to be able to think straight when he looked at her like that. She took a deep breath and gathered her thoughts. "You seemed quite upset when you saw me playing your mother's fiddle." She held her breath, hoping that Andrew would open up to her.

  A range of emotions flickered across his face. Pain, uncertainty, fear. Then he sighed. "Aye. Seeing ye playing that instrument brought back painful memories of my family."

  "What happened to them?”

  His eyes locked with hers and they were clouded with remembered hurt. “They died. In a fire. All of them. My parents, my two younger brothers, and Jamie’s ma and da as well.”

  Lucy gasped, clutching his arms. "Oh my God, Andrew. I’m so sorry.”

  She thought back to what she'd seen at the castle. The obviously repaired parts and those that still bore the black scorch marks of fire. It all made sense now: why nobody liked to talk about Andrew's family, why the laird of the Harris clan ruled alone with only Mona and Dougie to help him, why his people seemed so wary and yet so protective of their laird.

  “I've never spoken of it," Andrew said, his voice hoarse. "I’ve never felt able to. Not with anyone. Until now.”

  Lucy nodded. "I know what it's like to lose people close to you. My parents died in a car accident when I was eight. I don't have any brothers or sisters."

  “Ah, lass. I had no idea. I’m sorry.”

  “Don’t be. It was a long time ago and I was brought up by my aunt and uncle. I still miss my parents and probably always will but I've accepted that they're gone and I've let them go. Perhaps you should do the same."

  He shook his head. "Ye dinna understand, Lucy. It's my fault. My fault they died."

  "What do you mean?"

  Andrew’s eyes clouded as though he gazed on something far away, a painful memory perhaps. "I was the eldest son, the heir to the lairdship. My father believed that his sons should take turns at all the duties needed to run a clan. One such duty was keeping guard on the battlements at night. The night my family died that's what I should have been doing. But I was young, arrogant and foolish and I had better things to be doing with my time than walking the battlements. I left my post. So when a fire broke out in the stables I wasnae there to spot it. It spread quickly and engulfed the eastern tower where my family had their apartments. They died because I failed them."

  So that was it. Why he was so aloof, so constrained, so bound by duty. She reached up and placed her hands on either side of his head, pulled him towards her and planted a gentle kiss on his forehead.

  “It wasn’t your fault. You have to let it go. You have to live.”

  For a moment he stiffened and looked at her with wide, startled eyes.

  “Aye,” he muttered. “I do.”

  Then he cupped her face in his hands and kissed her on the lips.

  Lucy found herself melting into his embrace. His arms tightened around her, feeling as strong as oak roots. He crushed her against his rock-hard chest and his lips massaged hers, becoming hungry with desire. Lucy moaned and opened her mouth to invite him inside. Andrew obliged and his tongue slipped inside her mouth, circling her lips, then cavorting with her tongue.

  Desire flared within her and an ache lit between her legs. Something hard pressed against her belly, telling her that Andrew felt the same way. She wanted this man. She wanted him badly, and that scared her a little.

  Finally, after an eternal moment, Andrew broke the kiss but still held Lucy in his arms.

  “Andrew,” she whispered. “What’s happening to us?”

  “I dinna know, lass,” he whi
spered back. “I was hoping ye could tell me."

  "Sorry. I've no idea."

  "Me neither.” He looked around and pulled in a deep, shaky breath. “By the way, ye are a wonderful musician, lass. Thank ye for playing for us.”

  Lucy shrugged. “It’s my way of trying to pay you all back for being so good to me."

  “Ye dinna need to pay us back for anything. Ye are my guest.”

  "Even so, I like to pay my way. Aunt Helen and Uncle Nathan were very keen on instilling that into me when I was a kid."

  "They sound like very wise people. Very well, if ye wish to play again, ye'll be more than welcome."

  Lucy's eyes lit up. "Seriously? You don't mind if I play your mother's fiddle?"

  "Mind? I would be honored. And my mother would be too. I'd like ye to take the instrument as a gift."

  "Wow," Lucy said. "That's quite some gift. Thanks."

  He smiled impishly. "Besides, it would bring great honor to Clan Harris if we had a player at the summer fair."

  “Summer fair? Jamie keeps going on about that. What is it?”

  He looked at her as though she'd gone daft. "Only the most important occasion of the year! It's the feast of Saint Hilda on the third day of August. The whole island gathers together on that day. There'll be a market selling everything ye can think of, food and drink available by the barrel, and tournaments of every kind, including musical competitions. I'm surprised Jamie hasn't explained all this. The lad has been talking about nothing else for months."

  “Will you be going?"

  “Aye, all the lairds will be there. It's a chance to discuss island business, set up trade deals and sell off surplus crops. Most of the household will be coming as well. I'd be a fool to try and stop them! Ye are more than welcome to accompany me." He paused. "In fact, I would be honored if ye would be my guest.”

  There it was. That look in his eyes, the one that made her heart thunder in her chest. She nodded.

  “I’d like that. I’d like that very much.”

  Chapter 14

  THE DAY OF THE FAIR dawned bright and sunny with a light sea breeze that ruffled Lucy's hair as she opened the window and looked out. It was early but already the castle was abuzz with excitement. Down in the bailey donkeys were being loaded with goods to sell at market and people stood around in groups chatting in excited voices.

  In the Great Hall it was just as bad. Mona and Dougie were busy trying to direct operations and get the household ready to move. Annis beckoned Lucy over. The maid wore her finest dress and had ribbons tied in her hair.

  “Ready?” Annis asked.

  “Of course. Although I didn't think it would be quite this hectic!"

  Annis laughed. "Oh it will get a lot more hectic than this before the fair is through." Then her face turned serious. "Actually, there's something I wanted to talk to ye about. I've heard rumors of a fortune teller at the fair this year. She's very good by all accounts and has a reputation across the islands. She calls herself Madam Irene."

  "Madam Irene?" Lucy asked, hardly daring to hope. "You think it could be Irene MacAskill?"

  Annis shrugged. "I canna be sure but it’s worth investigating dinna ye think?"

  Lucy did think. It was the first rumor they’d had of Irene MacAskill since Lucy had arrived. None of Dougie’s messengers had heard word of her and Lucy had almost begun to give up hope. But now it sounded as though the crazy old woman might be posing as a fortune teller. And if that was the case, Lucy would damn well find her and get some answers!

  Andrew came down the stairs and stepped into the hall. He paused for a moment, scanning the hubbub and then headed over to Lucy and Annis. He wore his Harris finery with his plaid wrapped round his waist and over one shoulder and a fine linen shirt underneath. Knee-high leather boots finished the outfit. He gave Lucy and Annis a small bow but had eyes only for Lucy.

  "Ye slept well, my lady?"

  All the better if you’d been beside me, Lucy thought. Two weeks had passed. Lucy had spent a great deal of time with Andrew. They'd been riding, played chess in the Great Hall, and herself, Dougie and Rory had played music several times after the evening meal. It had been a wonderful fortnight.

  The changes in Andrew were pronounced. He seemed more relaxed, more carefree. Dougie had informed Lucy that Andrew had sent word to the mainland, to his old mentor Ewan Murray, inviting him to come visit after the summer fair. Lucy understood from Dougie’s amazement that this was a big deal. It seemed Andrew hadn’t seen his old friend in years.

  “I slept very well, my laird,” she replied, giving him a small curtsey.

  A flicker of a smile passed across his face. "Very good." He looked about and nodded at Dougie who tapped a scroll in his hand. “It looks as though everything is ready. Would ye care to ride up front with me, my lady?"

  “I would," Lucy replied. "Although please don't give me that nasty horse you made me ride yesterday. He hates me!"

  “Ye mean Firefly? He's the best stallion we have at Dun Arnwick. He's a bit strong willed that’s all.”

  “Strong willed? He tried to throw me at least twice. As bad tempered as his owner, obviously."

  Andrew held up his hands in surrender. "Obviously. Very well. Ye can have Snowflake. More placid a mare ye could not hope to find. Does that satisfy my lady?”

  “Yes. It does satisfy my lady.”

  An hour or so later Lucy found herself riding at the head of a long column, Andrew by her side. They were flanked by three guardsmen but Donal wasn't amongst them. This puzzled Lucy for a moment until she spotted him riding next to Annis.

  Lucy smiled to herself. It seemed her matchmaking was going well.

  ANDREW DREW A DEEP breath, letting the crisp summer air fill his lungs. The sun rode high in the sky above and the light glinted like tiny diamonds on the ocean to his right. Behind rode his household and beside him, Lucy. She clung to her horse’s reins like her life depended on it and he smiled to himself. Yes, today was a good day to be alive.

  He felt lighter than he had in years. He'd told Lucy about what happened to his family—which still surprised him when he thought about it—and she hadn’t turned away from him in horror. In fact, if anything, it had brought them closer. It turned out that Lucy Jennings was well acquainted with loss, having lost her own parents when she was young.

  He shook his head in wonder as he watched her. She was a marvel. She was wild, full of strange notions and as wilful as a colt. But she was also clever, beautiful and resourceful. She understood him. It felt like an age since anybody had done that.

  She noticed him watching her and pressed her lips together in a frown. "What?" she demanded. "If you are laughing at my riding you'll regret it, Andrew Harris!"

  He laughed, joy blowing through him. Aye, that was his fierce outlander all right.

  "I wouldnae dare. I was just thinking how pleasant this ride is, with ye beside me."

  "Oh," she said, looking a little sheepish. "I see." She looked around, taking in the surroundings. "Yes, it is isn't it? How long before we reach the fair?"

  "We should be there soon after midday. Then I'll give everyone free rein to do as they want for the next two days—except some of the guard of course."

  Lucy grinned. "Free rein? Isn't that a little dangerous? You never know what they might get up to."

  "Aye. Don't I know it? They'll be catching up on gossip, drinking too much, getting into fights, arranging trysts with people they shouldn't. So all in all, I reckon it best if I dinna ken what goes on."

  Lucy's grin widened. "Very wise." Then her expression turned more serious. "Do you really think Irene MacAskill will be there?"

  Andrew struggled to keep his face neutral but the hope in Lucy's voice cut him to the quick. Although he'd promised to help Lucy find Irene MacAskill—a promise he would keep—he secretly hoped the old woman wasn't at the fair, despite these rumors of ‘Madam Irene’. The woman was a threat to Andrew's happiness. She might be the very thing that took Lucy from him.<
br />
  Stop it! he said to himself. Ye have no right to keep Lucy here if she wants to leave. She never said she'd stay. She's been honest with ye from the start and ye knew she'd be off home the moment she found a way to do so.

  He forced a smile onto his face but it came out as more of a grimace. "Aye. Maybe."

  "Don't look so worried," Lucy said. "I'm sure you can handle any more dire portents she has for you."

  That's not what worries me, lass, he thought. It's the possibility of losing ye. I want ye to stay, lass, but I dinna have the right to ask ye.

  He nodded and smiled, "Aye. Mayhap yer right."

  They rode on. Andrew pointed out native flora and fauna to Lucy as they traveled and she soaked it all in enthusiastically, asking questions and demanding detailed explanations of this and that. Andrew smiled to himself. His wild outlander had a sharp intellect indeed. She would be a handful for whatever man managed to tame her. A man he fervently hoped would be himself.

  Towards mid-morning they began meeting other travelers heading to the summer fair. Many were leading wagons laden with surplus crops or wares for sale whilst others trudged along in their summer finery, hoping for nothing more than a good time. The travelers called greetings and waved as Andrew and his household passed by. Everyone was in high spirits.

  Finally, as the sun reached its midday zenith, they came in sight of the fair. It was traditionally held on the north coast in a village that had grown up around a little kirk that had been built to Saint Hilda. A huge market ringed most of the village.

  "Wow," Lucy breathed. "It's massive. It looks like Woodstock!"

  "Ye have fairs like this in yer homeland, lass?" Andrew asked.

  "Yeah. Kind of. Except we call them music festivals." She laughed at Andrew's blank look. "It's where loads of bands—musicians—come to perform. People travel from miles around to see them and there are lots of stalls where you can buy things. It's like a little town. Just like this, really."

  They rode to the eastern side of the village and to a modest lodge he used during the fairs. It wasn’t large enough to accommodate all his household but big enough for himself, Lucy, Dougie, Annis and Mona to pass the fair in relative comfort. He pulled his horse to a halt, swung his leg over the saddle and jumped to the ground. He held out a hand to help Lucy down and she grabbed his hands and slid ungracefully from her mount. Andrew held her up as she stumbled and found himself looking down into her face.