Celtic Peril (Celtic Storm Book 6)

by Ria Cantrell

  “How do you know?”

  “I don’t know, but that is how it is in movies.”

  “Tom, this is no movie. Talk to Morag! She may be able to help you with it.”

  With his head lowered, and eyes cast down, Tom asked, “Why does it matter, really?”

  “Because you’re into her. You’ve said how you wish you could find a love like Derek and me. Don’t discount anything. I have had to learn that the hard way.”

  “Well, I still don’t know all the details on how the two of you got together. I think I may need to hear about that once this is all behind us.”

  Kiera looked thoughtfully at her cousin Tom and she said, “I really wish you would tell me what’s on your mind.”

  “God knows I need to share it with someone, but, well, it could mean messing with history.”

  “Oh my God! It’s something you know from reading all your history books, isn’t it? You know something is about to happen.”

  Quietly, Tom replied, “Yeah. And I need to do something so that it doesn’t.”

  “But you can’t.”

  “I know. That’s what Morag said. But here’s the thing and I am trying to wrap my head around it. The freaking painting--it is commissioned because you somehow charmed the king. I mean, is all of this already in place because we are here? Here’s another thing; the ‘Your Majesty’ reference. I remember reading that many kings only used Your Grace when being addressed and it was a king later in line that decided Your Majesty was a better way to be greeted. I made that slip and now Richard wants to be noted as ‘Your Majesty’. Did I change history with that little mistake?”

  “I don’t know.”

  “So, my point is, if I know something and can prevent it, what I have read in history books may be a result of something done here and now by one of us.”

  “You’re giving me a headache.”

  “Don’t I know it! It gives me a headache just thinking about it, but I have to wonder. I mean, I know I promised Morag, but I have to do something. Doing nothing is as good as aiding and abetting the criminal who is intent on doing the deed.”

  Kiera tilted her head and glanced at the man, whose brows were drawn together in concentration. She knew that he carried a heavy burden and she felt sorry for having drawn him into this whole mess. She patted his hand and said, “Okay, if you don’t want to tell me, I get it. I won’t push. Look, why don’t you see if Bronwyn will let you use her harp. I bet a few moments plucking on that will make you feel better. You always seemed to find comfort in playing music.”

  “Bronwyn plays the harp?”

  “Yes, really beautifully, I might add. She was playing it the other day for a short time. I suspect she does it for the same reason you do at times. You know, to release the pressure.”

  “Hmm, well maybe I will seek her out later. For now, I need to think what to do.”

  “Sure you don’t want to tell me?”

  “Yeah and thanks for not pushing,” he said with a wink. He was really quite a sweetheart. Kiera hoped that he and Jenna would be able to work things out. It would be good for both of them. Jenna needed a good man; one who would not go all medieval on her. Someone like Tom.

  ~

  Chapter Forty ~

  Tom spent the next few days training in the lists with Sir Erik and Sir Drew. He thought perhaps they were going easy on him because he was still very much alive. He was glad for the cooler weather, because the heavy mail over the padded gambeson was like being inside an oven. Coupled with the parrying of a heavy sword, and Tom thought it was like the heat of a summer afternoon. They trained every morning at first light and then again when the king was in Privy Council after the midday meal. Tom’s arms were getting used to wielding the heavy metal of the sword and he felt quite good that at least he was doing something instead of standing about like a sitting duck. He was no closer to finding a solution to his dilemma of preventing the assassination attempt on the king’s life, but at least he did not feel so helpless now.

  He had really grown to like Sir Erik and Sir Drew. They were truly honorable men and they had proven to be strong fighters, despite not being in their proverbial prime. They were both forces to be reckoned with and Tom wished he had years of training with them instead of a few days. After the first day, Tom had hobbled up to his room and collapsed on the bed, too tired and sore to even think, but after that, it seemed to get easier. He was glad he was in veritably good health and in decent shape. His muscles stopped screaming by the second day that he trained. Both Erik and Drew said he was naturally born to be a soldier. Tom was not so sure about that, but maybe he was actually lucky to be from Highlander stock after all.

  After one such morning, Tom was removing the heavy mail hauberk. He took a ladle of water from a wooden bucket and he dunked it over his head. It was cold and icy against his heated neck, but it felt wonderful. He shook his hair from his eyes and he said, “Ahhh,” to no one in particular. When he turned to leave the list field, standing there before him was Jenna. Her eyes were wide and he could see she was breathing heavier. He had peeled the sweat-soaked gambeson off of his body and he stood bare-chested in the frigid air. He smiled at Jenna and gave her a wink. Her mouth opened slightly and Tom could not help but laugh. If she could be any more obvious, she would have jumped his bones right there and then.

  She stammered, “Wh--what are ye’ doin’?”

  “What does it look like?”

  “It looks like ye’ are tryin’ to get yerself killed.”

  “I think I was doing quite well, thank you, considering I have had less than a week to train. I would have thought you could appreciate my efforts.”

  “Tavish, ye’ dunna’ need to do that fer my benefit.”

  “Well, my love, as much as I do like your approval, this is not being done for you.”

  She blushed and looked away. He must have thought she was a self-absorbed little brat. How could she have been so foolish?

  Tom moved closer to her and he lifted her hand to kiss it gallantly. Dismissing her little embarrassment, he said, “You look very lovely today. Aren’t you afraid of being seen by the king?”

  “Aye, but he is holding court and I needed to get some fresh air.”

  “And are you well? You haven’t been punished for your little trip to the MacDougals, have you?”

  Jenna’s face flooded with deeper color. Somehow the mention of being punished made her think of being paddled as a child for some infraction a time or two. She said softly, “Nay, I have no’ been punished.”

  Tom raised one eyebrow and teased her again, “You’re sure? I thought I heard your Uncle Erik telling your father that he would have taken a switch to his daughter if she had pulled such a stunt.”

  “Uncle Erik is a cad.”

  “Really? I think he is quite a nice guy actually.”

  Placing her hands on her hips, she answered, “No one has punished any parts of my posterior and ye’ are an even grander cad for asking.”

  Kissing her hand again, Tom said, “If you will excuse me. I am greatly in need of a bath.” With another dangerous wink, he said, “Care to join me?”

  If Jenna was shocked she did not show it. Instead, she pasted a bland expression on her face and said, “No thank you. I have already had my morning ablutions.” Suddenly she had spoken with the most perfect English accent. He liked it better when she spoke with her regional vernacular. He gave her a mock bow and he said, “Hm, indeed. Perhaps you would wish to meet me later to play a little game of chess or to maybe take a walk.”

  With her hands still fisted upon her hips she said, “Are ye’ tryin’ to court me, Tavish MacCollum?”

  Tom smiled. He loved when she called him that. It reminded him of a dream he had long ago and even when she was piqued at him, it sounded like an endearment. He continued teasing her and stated, “Well, dear love, we have gone past that, don’t you think?”

  “T’was only two kisses, Tavish. It will take more than that to claim my
virtue.” She was good. She was not a shy little maiden, to say the least. Still, not to be bested by her, he said, “Then I shall have to try harder, won’t I?”

  With that her mouth fell open and she looked horrified.

  Despite being semi-unclothed and not feeling particularly fresh from his training session, Tom pulled Jenna against him and planted a less than chaste kiss upon her lips. Somehow they tasted sweet even when she wanted to pummel him. He thought about his recent conversation with Kiera and he had to admit to himself he had never really felt like this for any other woman. What if she was right that being Morag’s son had some side benefits like being able to move through time? That would certainly level the playing field. When he did not feel her push him away, he gently broke the kiss and said, “There now, that was three kisses or was it five? One step closer to being passt the courting phase. You still did not answer my question? Will you meet me later? I really would like to spend some time with you.”

  Seemingly without hesitation, Jenna just nodded. She was amazed that he had been keeping track of every kiss. If truth were to be told, she had thought he had been avoiding her the last few days. She was angry at herself for brooding over it but she felt all of that evaporate as she had watched him train with her uncle and father. Had they seen Tavish kiss her? They were still in the list area and were engaged in conversation so she hoped they had not witnessed it.

  ~~~~~

  They had.

  They chose not to address it now, but Drew was fairly certain he would take it out on Tom in the morning when they trained again. Part of him was glad that someone had kissed his little ice princess and the other part that was her father wanted to pound Tom into dust. Instead, Erik patted him on the back and he said, “She’s all grown up now. I felt the same way about your Ian the first time I saw him kiss Mariana. It’s just the way of things. He’s a good man, Drew. He cares for her.”

  Drew sighed and said, “I know and we have been waiting for just the right man to win her heart. It still does not sit well that I will lose her.”

  “You won’t lose her. It’s time for her to find love and to have a family of her own. Now, shall we go one more round? You can pretend I am young Tavish.”

  Drew laughed and then said, “I swear if he hurts her, I will kill him.”

  “I know.”

  ~~~~~

  Before Tom took his leave of Jenna, he turned back to her and said, “Have you seen my cousin?”

  “Aye. She is sitting for a painting; a painting of me, apparently.”

  “Yes, it is a gift for our betrothal.”

  “Oh my goodness. Ye’ mentioned seeing a painting of me. Could this be the one?”

  “I believe so.”

  “But then it is of Kiera, not of me at all.”

  “Now that I think of it, it sort of looks like both of you. It looks more like you than Kiera. There was something very captivating about the eyes. Her eyes are more green with golden flecks and yours, well yours are more golden with green flecks. It’s your eyes that pulled me here that first time. I just know it is.”

  Jenna wanted to think that he was just trying to fill her head with inane flattery, but something in the tone of his voice told her he was speaking the truth; a truth that came from his heart.

  She found herself running up to him and she kissed him again, of her own free will. With his best try at a Scottish burr, he said, “Ach lassie, ye’ make me forget my past.”

  They both remembered words from some long ago encounter. Dunna’ let me go.

  Never, I have nowhere else to go.

  Tom kissed her quickly and said, “Later then? You will agree to see me?”

  “Aye, I already have, haven’t I?”

  “Aye, lassie. That ye’ did. And for the record, that is now six kisses, we have shared.”

  He stroked her cheek and then took his leave of her. He really needed to get a bath and he hoped he could convince someone to draw a tub for him. Servants were busy with royal tasks, but surely someone would be able to help him fill the vat so he could rinse the sweat and grime from his body. He wanted to be sweet smelling for his afternoon date with Jenna.

  Jenna stood behind and watched Tom go. She placed a hand to the spot on her face that he had just caressed and she breathed deeply. She had been feeling it for days now; that memory of a dream. Dream walker; the words had hung like a cannon blast from Morag’s mouth when she had spoken it. Had she walked into Tavish’s dreams more than once? She remembered that dream and heard her own voice proclaim, Yer’ soul and my heart beat as one. More and more, she felt the truth in those words. Was it that this man from so distant a place and time was the one who would turn her resolve to naught? Was he the one to break down her carefully constructed barriers of safety? Jenna felt the lingering touch on her skin and lips and she had to admit that it was a definite possibility.

  ~

  Chapter Forty-One ~

  After Tom had a good soaking and a wash, he felt worlds better. He dried himself off, grateful for the help in preparing a bath that seemed so long overdue. He rubbed the drying cloth over his head and put on a fresh pair of trews and a clean leine. They had provided him with clothes and he was happy for it. The clothes he had traveled with were badly soiled and in need of laundering so when a maid appeared with an armful of things for him to wear, Tom felt like he had been granted a fine treasure. It was amazing what he took for granted in his regular life. As he put on the warm, clean clothing, he realized what a gift it was. This family was so busy with their many responsibilities taking care of the royal envoy and the countless guests that traveled with the king that even the smallest kindness was not discounted. Tom did not want to think that he would actually miss them, once he returned to his time. No, he would not think of that now. He had a date with Jenna and he intended to enjoy every minute he got to spend with her.

  As he combed his damp hair, he thought about seeing her and how beautiful she had looked when she was at the list field. She was really starting to get under his skin, but in a good way. Words of that dream kept haunting him. I have nowhere else to go.

  Tom was not sure he was comfortable with that implication. He tried to put it out of his mind. She was in the study waiting for him. They were going to have an innocent game of chess and then if they could sneak out, they would go for a walk. After that, Tom was not sure what would happen, but he anticipated relishing each precious second he would have in her company and maybe even getting to steal another coveted kiss in the process.

  As he stepped out of his ample bedchamber, he nearly collided with Jenna head on. She had a strange look on her face and Tom wondered if he had hurt her. He said, “Oh my gosh, I am so sorry. Are you alright?”

  She nodded. She did not say any words, but looked at him with a mixture of fright and something else. Desire. Yes, that was it. Tom would know that expression anywhere.

  “What are you doing up here? We shouldn’t be seen near my bedchamber.”

  “I know. I-I came to find you.”

  “And so you have. Did you wish to speak to me?”

  She shook her head mutely again.

  “Oh.”

  Tom swallowed deeply, his large Adam’s apple bobbed slowly and his tongue licked his lips which suddenly had gone dry.

  He looked to see if anyone was around and when he saw that the corridor was empty he said, “Well, would you like to come in?”

  It felt weird to ask this medieval girl into his chambers. He probably wouldn’t have worried too much about it when he was home. Things were very different here, though. A girl’s virtue was an extremely protected commodity. Simply being alone with a man had very distinct implications, but when Jenna nodded, Tom ushered her safely into his rooms and carefully shut the door behind her.

  He gazed at her and noticed she seemed a little frightened; his beautiful and brave Jenna looked like he was going to do something terrible to her. He said, “Love, I will never do anything that you don’t want me to do.”r />
  She believed him. She knew it in her heart, though she was reluctant to admit it. He had been in her dreams and she had been in his. She realized that she was taking a big risk to be with him in his private quarters but she just had to see him. She had been walking through the less used corridors and passageways thinking about those unspoken words that had been suspended before them and then she realized it was him. It had always been him. The reason she had resisted so many other suitors and the very notion of them was because she had been waiting for Tavish MacCollum her entire life, ever since she was a child. It had all come back to her as she walked through the silence and finally listened to her heart.

  The more Jenna thought of it, the more she remembered. It was like a floodgate had been released and the memories poured into her soul numbing the thoughts of resistance she had nurtured. There were so many. How many times had she sought him between the hours of wakefulness and sleep? Jenna knew that it was too many to count. Even as a little girl, she sought him, when he was a child, when he was alone or felt lost. Why had he called to her through the centuries and why had she responded like a ghost caught between the worlds of the living and dead? The answer had become plain. Because they were linked! Their souls must have sought one another, else he would not have come to her now, in this place so far from his own.

  She did not know how long he would be with her, but she knew she had to make the time she had with him count. It was now or never.

  Tom watched the woman who had risked much just to be near his room and he said, “You don’t have to do this.”

  “Yes, yes I do. I have run from it for as long as I can remember but yer’ soul and my heart beat as one. Please dunna’ tell me I am being foolish to think that.”

  Where had he heard that before? It was like a cherished memory. Tom stepped closer to her. Her back was pressed to the closed door and she was unsure if he would ultimately reject her. It was a chance she was suddenly willing to take.