Ally just looked at her.
“I didn’t mislead you, I withheld information, so don’t give me that look.” Adele did love her granddaughter’s spirit. “Do you really think I would hand you over to a barbarian? I will admit that James is a bit of a caveman in some aspects, but everything he has done is out of love for you.” She winked at Ally. “Besides I know you will knock the caveman right out of him.”
Ally couldn’t help but smile at that, “If anyone can it’s me.”
Adele knew that she had to use a different strategy with Ally to make her see beyond James the immortal. “Before you knew all this and worked out that James was involved, what did you think of him?”
She shrugged and a smile that she couldn’t fight no matter how hard she tried crept across her mouth. “I thought he was wonderful. I think I was almost in awe of him to be honest. ” Ally looked at Adele and arched an eyebrow, “I get what you are trying to point out Gran. There was something there tonight, something powerful and strong but after everything that I have learned, I just don’t know now.”
“Yes you do. You’re just not ready to admit it yet,” Adele smiled gently.
Ally casually shrugged and looked out the window for the first time. The sun was beginning to rise in the sky above the plane and below was a vast deep blue ocean.
Looking back at her grandmother, she said with a smile, “You could have woken me up once we got there. You know I hate flying.”
Adele laughed. “Sorry honey. Next time I promise I won’t wake you.”
Ally rose an eyebrow at her again. “Next time also get my consent before taking me out of the country unconscious.”
Ally looked around and wondered if Coco had been brought along. She could use a cuddle from her dog right now. “Where is Coco?”
“Don’t worry we made sure she came with you. Actually James did. She is quite taken with him you know.”
As if on cue, James came sauntering towards them having calmed down, with Coco walking behind him.
“Traitor,” she said to her dog.
As usual Coco just cocked her head to the side and then flopped down beside her new best friend, James.
“She has good taste in people don’t you think Alessandra?” James teased scratching the dog behind her ears. Coco grinned up at him in her own doggy way and pawed at him for more, when he stopped.
Ally watched the two of them and rolled her eyes at the scene before her. “Normally she does, she must be having an off day today.”
He couldn’t help but laugh, and what a laugh it was she thought. The laughter seemed to vibrate throughout her whole being. It was smooth and deep just like his voice. And that smile…Oh my god, what am I thinking? Ally scolded herself internally.
“I think I might take a stroll about, my old legs are starting to stiffen up.” Adele interrupted Ally’s thoughts and sent a pointed look towards James as she was leaving.
“Now is your chance to make things right.”
“Thank you Adele.”
“You’re welcome, caveman.”
James looked at her with a confused smirk then turned back to Ally and smiled at her with all the charm he could muster. “Alessandra, I’m so sorry I snapped at you but you need to take this whole situation more seriously. Your life depends on it”
“Whether I take this seriously or not is nothing to do with you. It’s my life.” She snapped back, not willing to have a rational conversation with this man right now. He had hurt her with his betrayal and his arrogance in removing her memories without her consent.
“That is not true. Adele told you we are soulmates. Anything that concerns you is my concern too.”
“You really are a caveman, aren’t you?” she said, her voice lowered from agitation.
“Ah, you and Adele were discussing me while I was gone.”
“Hmph.”
“I had hoped you would be happy to see me after all this time,” he said, drawing her attention by laying his hand on hers. “You felt the connection that day, I know you did.” He started to rub his thumb against her hand. “And last night, you can’t deny that there was something strong between us, there still is…”
She flinched at his touch but was captivated at the same time.
“If I was that important to you, why did you walk away from me?” Truthfully, she was hurt that he had left her, when he was supposedly her soulmate. Ally felt the connection. There was no denying it, even if she wanted to.
“I never left you. I was always there, you just never knew.”
“So you’re a stalker then?” she snapped back.
He chuckled, “Yes but not in a creepy way.”
She couldn’t help but smile at that.
“I promise I didn’t desert you, little one. It only appeared that way,” he said with a smile that was so mesmerising her heart skipped a beat.
Ally contemplated what he was saying. How he could have been there without her knowledge was something she couldn’t grasp. Surely she would have seen him. Even if it had only been out of the corner of her eye as he turned a corner to avoid being seen. An image of James watching her from the shadows rose unbidden in her mind. Looking up into his eyes she was pleading for him to explain how he had been there. Even if it had been from a distance, it would have lessened the hurt that she was now feeling.
“What do you mean?” she asked, fighting the trembling sensation that was trying to take hold of her at the thought. James might have been there all along and not abandoned her when she might have needed him most. “For five years you watched me? Why didn’t you approach me?” she asked.
James looked at her tenderly, “It wasn’t the right time,” his voice was filled with regret. “I wanted to Ally, believe me, I did but I couldn’t.”
Ally searched his eyes for every emotion she might find. Regret, sadness and heartbreak were staring back at her, with a stark honesty that he wasn’t trying to hide.
“So you never left me?” A sense of relief spread to her soul. The man that she was destined to love hadn’t deserted her after all.
“No I didn’t. I watched and guarded you for twenty one years. The moment you were born I knew that you were my soulmate, but it wasn’t appropriate for me to approach you till you had reached a certain age. Then after your parents died, I continued protecting you and watching over you till the time was right.” James smiled and the emotions swimming in his eyes changed to what she imagined love looked like.
Her heart skipped a beat the moment she became aware of how much love this man felt for her. Previously, it had been all about soulmates and connections, but that had only been words that were bandied about to her.
For some reason, Ally hadn’t been able to understand the depth and reality of the emotions that James felt for her. She was captivated by the moment and couldn’t have pulled her eyes away from the love she felt pouring out to her, if her very life had depended on it.
James was the first to speak. “We should be landing soon. Think about everything that you have been told. If you listen to your heart it will all make sense.”
Still caught in his gaze Ally said softly, “Like I would be able to think of anything else.”
Despite finally understanding the depths of emotion and love that James felt for her, she wasn’t ready to leap into a relationship or the soulmate equivalent. Ally needed some time to process things and decide what she wanted and how she wanted to do this.
Destiny was playing a major role in her life, that couldn’t be denied, however she felt like there was still some control that she could take back. Knowing that it would be difficult to hold James back for a while, she decided that it was essential for her to get some space from him. Which is going to be hard, considering I’m staying at his house, she thought to herself.
Nevertheless, Ally was always one who knew what she needed. A few days of normality was at the top of her list, followed by getting to know James, slowly.
Despite everything, she still felt hu
rt that he hadn’t moved heaven and earth to be with her. According to him it wasn’t possible but she didn’t believe that. Slowly she began to feel the irritation rise within her at his words, but outwardly she wore a mask of calmness and what she hoped passed for serene. Once they had gotten off the plane, then Ally could start putting some space between them, just until she had taken things in and made some sort of sense of it all.
At that moment, Adele came wandering back to her seat. She sat down and looked from Ally to James and smiled at them with happiness.
“Give her time James. It appears Ally is coming around.”
James looked over to Adele and sighed internally at the dilemma he knew was coming. Ally needed time but that was something that they had in limited supply. “I can give her anything but that. We have already wasted too much time as it is.”
Adele sighed quietly, with frustration and resignation. She knew that his words were true, but that didn’t mean she had to like it.
Chapter Thirteen
SCOTLAND WAS A WELCOME SIGHT AFTER having been away for so long. It almost felt like a century had passed to James. Grey clouds were gathering force in the sky. Light rain fell around them as they stepped off the plane. It looked calm enough, but James knew they would soon be taking cover from a severe storm.
The weather was hard and fast in Scotland, much like the terrain. It was a wild untamed country that he called home. Heavy rain fell for much of the year and the snow in winter made this place of beauty seem magical. Scotland had a tranquillity that he felt in his very soul. No other place on this earth was like it and it suited him perfectly.
James was the first one off the Jet when it came to a stop on the runway. Adele and then Ally followed behind with Coco in her arms.
“It’s beautiful,” Ally sighed with delight, forgetting for a moment the irritation that was brewing inside of her. Vast wild snow-capped mountains as far as the eye can see, Ally was thinking.
Ally also knew, deep down, that from now on things would be difficult, to say the least, so she decided to savour the moment.
“Ruff,” Coco barked and looked around, her doe eyes almost sparkling.
“It’s magical isn’t it, Coco?” Ally said excitedly.
James knew how she felt and agreed with his entire being, but they had to keep moving. “Come on Alessandra. It’s even more magical at my house. We have to keep moving,” he said with a smile.
“I was just savouring a moment of peace and tranquillity in this amazing country before reality sets in again.” she said pensively, “But that’s fine, let’s go.”
James held back a groan while Adele sniggered beside her.
Waiting for them was another shiny black Mercedes, but this one was a chauffeur-driven vehicle. A local man was waiting next to the car with a big grin on his face. He was obviously very happy to see them all.
“Henry! How have you been man?” James greeted him with a man hug and big smile.
Ally could see the genuine warmth and affection between these two men.
“Things have been good but very dull since you left. Sophie keeps complaining about having no one to cook her biscuits for,” he smiled. “You should have seen her face light up when I said you were coming back home, and with Alessandra too. She thinks of you as another son, you know.”
James laughed. “Her very old son, but I have missed you both and her cookies.”
He turned to Adele and Alessandra and motioned them forward. “Adele, Alessandra, this is Henry Muir. He fills the position of chauffeur, head gardener, butler and everything in between. His wife Sophie is also my cook and housekeeper. As you will see though, they are more friends than anything.”
Ally smiled at Henry and he warmly smiled in return. “Welcome lass.”
Adele spoke to Henry next. “It is a pleasure to meet you. I assume we will meet your wife back at the house?”
“Oh yes mam, she is baking James’ favourite cookies as we speak.”
“That sounds delightful,” Adele said with a warm smile.
James turned to the puppy encased in Ally’s arms and scratched her behind the ears. “And this special pooch here is Coco, Alessandra’s puppy and dear friend.”
“Ruff,” Coco said in greeting to Henry.
“Well nice to meet you Coco.” Henry held out his hand for her to sniff and Coco returned the gesture with a lick of approval on his cheek.
“Och, now aren’t you a sweet lass Coco,” Henry gazed at her already charmed. “I shall get my wife to make you some special cookies too.”
“Ruff,” Coco barked with obvious approval of the plan.
“Shall we get you all home James?” Henry asked.
“Yes Henry. Please take us home. Looks like a storm is headed this way and we are all exhausted from the flight,” James said feeling weary.
“Aye,” Henry replied.
Alessandra and James got in the backseat of the car while Coco decided to sit up the front with her new best friend, Henry and Adele.
Dogs were intelligent but Coco was almost human. She seemed to know instinctively who was to be trusted and who wasn’t. Perhaps she would be a most beneficial extra pair of eyes around Ally. She proved her loyalty the other night with Vincent.
“How far is the house James?” Adele enquired.
“Only twenty minutes the way Henry drives,” he smirked.
Henry gave him a wink in the rear view mirror.
The drive was quick and easy. Upon a hilltop in the mountain range, nestled in amongst the forest, was the most beautiful piece of architecture that Alessandra had ever seen.
The driveway leading to the house was lined with green trees and the path was made of a primitive sandy gravel that suited the setting perfectly.
As they approached, the tall iron gates opened. There behind them sat Carlisle Manor.
The structure was five stories high with a charcoal tiled roof. There were two wide terraces on the ground floors and elegant white french doors behind them, doubling as windows. A small tower appeared off the side with a balcony attached. The gardens were simple but sophisticated. In short, Carlisle Manor was breathtaking. Ally found herself speechless in the presence of the majesty in front of her.
James looked at her and smirked at her expression. Her eyes were wide and captivated while her chin was practically touching the ground. It gave him the confidence he needed. She clearly was impressed by the house and that was a good start.
He threw her a dazzling smile and looked at her over his black sunglasses. “Welcome to our home, Alessandra.”
Heat crept through her from her toes all the way to her face. “Would you stop looking at me like that?”
How am I ever to resist you James? she thought.
“Like what?” he said, faking his innocence.
He was toying with her. Oh god that’s worse! Ally thought.
“You know what,” Ally said, trying to inject a warning into her voice, that didn’t sound as menacing as she had planned when she actually delivered it.
James chuckled, “What do you think of our house?”
“Well for a start it’s your house, not our house, and you know perfectly well I am begrudgingly impressed. It is completely breathtaking,” she pouted. “It’s a bit of a stretch to call it a house though don’t you think? Mansion doesn’t even do it justice. Perhaps Castle is more to the point.”
He laughed at her point of view. Ally was right that it wasn’t just your everyday house, but that was part of what made it so special. This house held a place in his heart. “You are beautiful even when pouting sweetheart,” James murmured to her.
She groaned, “And you are impossible.”
“Oh Alessandra, you will come around,” he said with confidence that bordered on arrogance.
Ally’s groaned in response and said no more.
She was amusing and she definitely had spirit. James longed for her in ways she could never understand. Ally was still only half immortal. When the conversion
took place she would understand what he was suffering for her. James could just take what was rightfully his but she deserved better than that.
James wanted her to want him and to love him, to come to him of her own free will because she couldn’t bear to be without him. He wasn’t above pushing things to his advantage, but ultimately the choice would be hers.
At least Ally was safe from Vincent in his homeland for the time being. He would come, but it would not be for some time yet.
The car pulled to a stop out front of the grand marble steps leading to the house.
“Come inside. I will introduce you to Sophie then she can show you to your rooms. I’m sure you could both use some time to yourselves after our flight,” James said.
“That is a good idea James, thank you,” Adele said with a warm smile to their host.
Ally turned and looked at James with a smirk. “Yeah I agree, I could use some James free time.”
James put a hand to his heart, mocking Ally. “Lass, you wound me.”
At this, Henry burst out with a wonderful hearty laugh, which earned him a glare from Alessandra’s direction. They all hustled up the steps and in the front door when Sophie came running towards them.
“James, you’re home.” Sophie threw her arms around him in an embrace.
“Hello Sophie,” he smiled warmly and began the introductions. “Alessandra, Adele please allow me to introduce Sophie.”
Ally looked at Sophie. She was an older woman well into her sixties with greying hair that was pulled back in a loose knot. Despite her age, she was a beautiful woman and would have been quite the stunner when she was younger. Her demeanour was kind, gentle and open.
Ally instantly liked her but didn’t want too.
The group began walking from the entrance hall into the lounge room, to recuperate from the long flight and partake in afternoon tea with the Muir’s and James, before being shown to their guest bedrooms.
Everyone took a seat on the comfortable cream sofas and matching chairs around the spacious elegant room. Looking around the exquisite lounge she found herself in, Ally noticed the dining room off to the left which was equally glamorous.
Immortal Prophecy (The Immortal Prophecy Saga) Page 12
