Love Beyond Compare (Book 5 of Morna’s Legacy Series)

by Claire, Bethany

Of Orick and the wee lad that knew her so well.

  * * *

  Adwen found them in Orick’s cottage. They’d not heard him when he entered, and he could tell by their voices they were deep in conversation.

  “How many times have you seen them?” Cooper’s voice lifted as he asked the question, his interest evident.

  “Ach, at least a dozen times, though they are never there for verra long. ’Tis only a short sliver of movement, or ye will see them walk down the hallway and disappear into the end.”

  Intrigued by their exchange, Adwen stood back, peering around the corner to find them each sitting on wooden stools, bent over buckets as they gutted away at fish. Orick’s was small and manageable, while Cooper’s was larger than the small child’s head. The fish slid from his grasp more than once, but the boy seemed to enjoy the challenge, holding up a hand to stop Orick each time he offered help.

  “Wow. Are you the only one that’s seen them?”

  “Oh no. Callum has seen them many times, even cares for one of them. Says she stays in his bedchamber. And Adwen has heard them.”

  Realizing what they spoke of, Adwen stepped out from the shadows to voice his disapproval.

  “Orick, do ye truly think it the best idea to be speaking of ghosts with a child?”

  Orick dropped his fish into the bucket, standing up in aggravation. “What’s the matter with ye, Adwen? Did ye intend to frighten me so I’d charge ye and run this knife right through yer chest?”

  Before he could answer, Cooper spoke up to his left, still gripping the giant fish with both hands.

  “Why shouldn’t he talk to me about ghosts? Don’t you believe in them?”

  Shrugging, Adwen moved to an empty stool. “I doona know. I havena seen one.”

  “Ach, doona do that. Ye know good and well there are ghosts about. Ye told me yerself ye have heard them. ’Tis no different than seeing them.”

  “Aye.” Adwen threw a quick glance at Cooper who seemed completely unbothered by the talk of spirits. “’Tis verra different than seeing them. Does it no frighten ye, Cooper?”

  “What?” Cooper seemed surprised by his question. “Of course it doesn’t frighten me. I’ve seen Jurassic Park like a gazillion times. Just how many six year olds do you think have seen that movie?”

  Adwen pulled his brows together as he tried to figure out just what the lad meant. He’d heard many stories about the twenty-first century from the Conalls, but he didn’t remember the mention of ‘movies.’

  “I’m afraid I doona know what a ‘movie’ is lad.”

  “Oh, I always forget you guys don’t know everything I do. It’s a shame. It would be awesome if everybody got to live in both time periods. I’m pretty lucky, I guess. You know what is cool though? At least you guys know about the magic, so I can talk about it without you looking at me like I’m crazy.”

  Adwen laughed and sat back for the explanation. “Aye, ’tis right. So tell us, what is a movie?”

  “Hard to explain really. It’s kind of something you have to see. It’s sort of like if a whole bunch of paintings were strung together and they moved and spoke and they told a story that you could watch by staring at a piece of glass.”

  Adwen knew magic existed, but he couldn’t imagine anything as strange as that.

  “Ah. Aye, I suppose it must be seen with one’s own eyes.” Adwen stood and went to grab another bucket, knife, and fish from the large pile still waiting to be gutted. If he was there, the least he could do was help.

  “Yeah, it really is. Anyway,” Cooper paused and pointed the end of his knife in Orick’s direction, “back to the ghosts.”

  “What of them?”

  “I don’t think they’re ghosts at all. You said they were dressed real funny, right? Can you try to describe it to me? And maybe try to do a better job than I did telling you guys about movies.”

  Adwen glanced up at Orick from his work, just as curious as Cooper to hear Orick’s answer. It was the second mention Adwen had heard about the ghosts’ strange manner of dress. He’d thought nothing of it at Griffith’s first mention, but if Orick had experienced the same thing, it certainly piqued his curiosity.

  “Ach, well, I am no a storyteller, but I’ll do my best. They all seem to dress strangely, and I’ve seen many of them. The first lass, I couldna believe my eyes, she wasna in a dress but...think of a kilt but a wee bit shorter and tighter with fabric in between the legs. ’Tis what she wore to cover her bottom. I’ll tell ye, ’tis truly about all it covered on the lass.”

  Adwen turned his attention to Cooper as the boy laughed, interrupting Orick.

  “Yeah, those definitely aren’t ghosts. The girl was wearing shorts, but that’s okay, keep going.”

  It took Orick a moment to regain his train of thought while both Adwen and Cooper waited patiently.

  “On top, she wore a shirt with no sleeves that hung loosely over her bottoms. And I shouldna be saying this to a child, but she dinna wear any under dressings. I could see her breasts right through the fabric of her top.”

  “Were the other ladies dressed kind of the same way?”

  Orick nodded. “Aye, two of the lassies I’ve seen wore bottoms that covered their legs, but the fabric lay right against the skin, going up and in between their legs in an albeit fetching but shocking fashion.”

  For the first time, Cooper released his fish, laying it on top of the innards that lay at the bottom of the bucket before setting down his knife and moving to clean his hands. Whatever he meant to say, Adwen could tell that the boy was very serious about it.

  “Orick. Adwen. I really don’t think there are ghosts in Cagair Castle.”

  “Ach, I swear to ye lad. If they werena ghosts, then I doona know what a ghost is. Manner of dress aside, they were the very embodiment of spirits left to roam—one moment here and the next nowhere to be found.”

  Adwen watched as Orick shook his head, obviously hesitant to believe that his eyes had been wrong.

  Adwen spoke up, eager to hear Cooper’s meaning, “If they arena ghosts, then what are they?”

  “Well, I don’t know what you’d call them, but ghosts are spirits of the dead, right?”

  Both he and Orick nodded so that Cooper would continue.

  “The way those ladies are dressed is just how ladies dress in the time I was born. That’s in the future, so they couldn’t be dead. If it was spirits of dead people, they’d be dressed like ladies do now, right?”

  Adwen couldn’t deny the child’s logic. He didn’t know if he’d ever seen a child so smart. “Aye, ’twould only seem fitting. So what do ye mean, lad?”

  Cooper crossed his arms and sat back down on his stool. “I’m not sure. I can only guess.”

  “Then tell us.” Both he and Orick sat riveted with curiosity.

  “Maybe you guys are just seeing little flashes of things that are happening at the same time, but in the future.”

  Orick sailed from his seat, smiling and pointing a pleased finger in Cooper’s direction. “Why, Adwen, I think the lad must be right. There was once when I saw one, near the bottom stairwell, and I tried to speak to the lass. I swore that for a brief moment she twisted her head like she heard me, but before she could speak, she disappeared.”

  “Yeah, exactly.” Now, Cooper stood, both excited by their discovery. “And I bet that means there’s a portal somewhere that connects the two times together.”

  Adwen shook his head, even if what Cooper said was true, such a portal would have been found long ago. “No, lad, I doona think so. People have lived in Cagair Castle for many, many years. Such a powerful magic would have been found long ago if it existed.”

  Cooper shrugged. Adwen couldn’t help but admire the boy’s self-assurance. It was a quality he could relate to. “Maybe, but maybe not. And if it’s here and hasn’t been found, I’m going to find it.”

  “Aye, fine.” Adwen thought it might do the lad good to have a purpose here, some enjoyable task to fill his time. He’d grown
up with brothers and had never known what it was like to be alone. Cooper, he imagined, had spent many years finding ways to pass his time singly. “Just swear to me ye will be careful in yer search for it. Doona go or get into a place that might harm ye.” He paused, knowing full well the possibility that the magic could exist. “And Cooper, should ye find it, doona ye dare go through it. Aye?”

  The curious child smiled at him, nodding as he mimicked their Scottish brogue. “Aye, I swear it to ye, Adwen.”

  Adwen grinned and nodded in appreciation of Cooper’s acknowledgment. “Good. Now, I came to seek the help of both of ye, no to speak of ghosts and magical portals.”

  Orick crossed his arms, the smug look of rightness crossing his face just as Adwen had expected.

  “Oh, now ye seek my help. Now that ye know I was right, and ye have seen what a foolish sot ye are.”

  “Aye. Despite yer talent for repelling lassies, ye seem to know a lot about them. I need yer help with Jane.”

  “Aunt Jane?” Cooper spoke up, resuming his work on his fish. “I thought she liked Orick.”

  Adwen’s teeth ground together involuntarily. “No, she doesna care for Orick.”

  “Oh. Okay.” The boy shrugged and bent to his fish, no longer interested at all.

  “Adwen, as long as ye realize that lassies are no to be treated like objects then ye doona need me help. Just be yerself around her, no a stranger.”

  “Yeah.” Adwen twisted toward Cooper, who obviously missed little no matter the direction of his focus. “That’s good advice, ’cause Aunt Jane loves me, and I don’t try for anybody. It’s something my Bebop taught me. I just need to be me because there’s nobody else that can be…me.”

  Adwen laughed and moved to squeeze the boy’s shoulder. “Aye, I hope ye never do change, lad. Should I know of anything to no do with yer Aunt Jane? Things that she doesna care for?”

  The boy shrugged beneath his hand, glancing up over his shoulder at him. “Nah. Aunt Jane’s pretty easy. There’s only one thing that puts her in a really bad mood really, really fast.”

  “And what might that be?”

  Adwen laughed at the boy as he extended his leg and wiggled his toes within his shoes, giving his answer.

  “Cold toes.”

  CHAPTER 18

  The wind woke me from a deep sleep and, despite the sound of the cold breeze, I lay warm beneath thick wool blankets. I stretched lazily, spreading my legs out across the bed and twisting my arms over my head until I squealed from the yummy stretching sensation.

  I made my way slowly out of the bed and walked curiously to the door, pessimistically not expecting the same luxurious treat to be awaiting me. I smiled as I eyed the tray of breakfast sitting just outside my door, just as it had been the day before. I appreciated it immensely. It did nothing but thaw my quickly melting resolve against Adwen a little bit more.

  I’d never understood the desire or expectation that everyone gather for breakfast together. Who wanted to eat in front of others first thing in the morning? It’s not like anyone ever did any talking anyway. Everyone just sat around chewing their food and wiping the sleep crust from the corner of their eyes. It pleased me to know that Adwen must feel the same way, to have food delivered to our rooms two mornings in a row. It was reminiscent of a stay at a fancy hotel, one of the things I missed most about the twenty-first century.

  Living in New York City, there were tons of fabulous hotels to explore, and it had been a luxury I indulged in regularly—my mini “stay-cations” within the city when I would book a hotel room only two blocks over just to get away for the weekend. What I wouldn’t give for just one more of those weekends—the fancy sheets, the mini bar, the room service, the spa—oh God, the spa, it made my toes curl just thinking about it.

  Steam from the hot tea reached my nose, and I shook my head, dismissing the daydream. I bent down to gather the tray, bringing it inside so I could scarf down the meal in early morning solitude, just how I preferred.

  Underneath the bread, I found a small note, scribbled in legible but scribbly writing, no doubt the hand of a man.

  “Baked by my own hands, just for ye. Mayhap I could give ye a lesson. –

  Your friend, Adwen”

  I smiled, biting into the loaf as I thought back on the way Orick had nearly barfed at the first bite of my bread. It was a reminder of that night, a subtle gesture to show me that he remembered more about that evening than my refusal of him.

  The bread was the best I’d ever tasted, twenty-first century included.

  The note came as a pleasant surprise. All I’d seen of Adwen the day before was at the evening meal and then he was so engrossed in conversation with Isobel that he hardly noticed me. I was fine with that. To me, it meant that he was trying. After all, I didn’t see or speak to most of my friends every single day.

  Cooper, on the other hand, I did speak with every single day, and I found it hard not to take his sudden disinterest in me too personally. Normally, I couldn’t pull him from my side, but since meeting Orick, I’d become far less interesting. The only interaction I had with him at all the day before was when he came to show me the fresh fish he caught and gutted clean. It stunk worse than a men’s locker room, but he was so proud of it, I couldn’t help but smile when he showed it to me. But afterwards, he ran back to Orick, making himself suspiciously vacant for the rest of the evening.

  I tried to tell myself not to be bothered by it. It only made sense for him to enjoy all of the new people there were around him. I was still his constant. When we returned home, I’d be fun Aunt Jane to him once again.

  Finishing my breakfast, I dressed and readied myself for the day. While I was unsure of how I would fill most of my day, I knew exactly what I wanted to do first.

  * * *

  The tallest tower sat directly on top of my room, and the winding stone steps that led up to it were many. The trip to the top was worth it every single time. I smiled as I rounded the last step, landing in the doorway of the windowed room.

  The room was completely round and long. The tall windows normally flooded the room with light but, on this morning, the clouds were too thick and stormy for much sun to shine through. Even without the sun, it provided spectacular views of the ocean, and I walked over to the windows to look down at the rocks below.

  The waves rose high onto the rocks, fierce with their fury. I shivered as I watched the storm pick up speed. It was storms such as this that could make the bridge impassable, not because of rising water, but the winds would cause great buildups of snow that would make travel nearly impossible. I found myself hoping that no one was out in such weather. Just as I turned to track down Cooper to make sure he was safely inside, Adwen appeared in the doorway.

  “Orick has gone to take all of yer horses into the village. The storm will frighten them in the stables here; there is a place in town where they will be safe.”

  “And where is Cooper?” I held my breath. Surely, Orick hadn’t taken Cooper with him.

  “Charming Isobel and pestering Gregor. He’s fine, lass, safe within the castle walls.”

  I nodded. As long as Orick made it back safely and I knew everyone was out of harm’s way, the storm could go on as long as it wished, but I wouldn’t be able to relax completely until everyone was accounted for. The air held a nervous edge to it. As the rain beat against the windows, I couldn’t shake the ominous feeling settling deep inside my abdomen.

  As Adwen stepped inside, I tried to distract myself from my worry. “I wanted to thank you for suggesting that Cooper’s fish be cooked for dinner last night. He was so proud…seeing us all eat it made his week.”

  “’Twas my pleasure, Jane. I am no really such a bad man.”

  “No. Just a sex-crazed one.”

  I watched as his eyes flashed dark, and I immediately regretted my quick clip at him.

  “Enough, Jane. How can ye expect me to try or to even believe myself that I can behave differently with ye when ye doona believe it
yerself?”

  I moved toward him, embarrassed by how impulsive and inconsiderate my words could sometimes be. “I’m sorry. Really. There’s just something about you that just brings it out of me.” I reached out to squeeze his hand in apology, immediately jerking back once our fingers made contact. “Eeek. Why are your fingers so freezing?”

  He shrugged, confused as he held his fingers up to examine them. “I doona know, lass. Why doona ye warm them for me?”

  I stood back and stared at him. His eyes held a mischievous glint, and I knew he didn’t really care at all if his fingers were cold. I only hesitated a brief moment before taking his large hands in my own, blowing them with warm air before rubbing my palms back and forth across his hands.

  “I hate cold skin,” I muttered it under my breath, half to Adwen, half to myself as I continued the warm friction. Just touching his freezing fingers made me cold all over. “I know people always say, ‘cold hands, warm heart,’ but I think that’s a bunch of pancakes.” I laughed, thinking back to Cooper’s use of the phrase, but when I glanced up to see Adwen didn’t understand, I shook my head and continued. “Anyway, seriously, it’s a stupid saying. You know what sort of things have cold skin? I’ll tell you. It’s things like snakes, and lizards, and sharks.”

  He started to pull away, but I was moving my hands too quickly over his own. “Are ye trying to call me a snake, lass?”

  “No.” I stopped rubbing his hands quite as frantically and went about massaging some heat into them instead. “Sorry, I didn’t mean it at all like that. I was just saying that I don’t get the saying. And…I really don’t like cold body limbs.”

  He laughed and smiled down at me, knowingly. “’Tis true then, I see. The lad knows ye verra well.”

  “What’s true?”

  “Cooper told me that ye dinna care for cold toes.”

  I frowned. His fingers were now warmer than mine, but I didn’t release them. They were large and strong. I had to resist the temptation to guide his palm straight to my breast. “You talked about my toes?”