by Diane Darcy
“We’re coming up on the castle,” Lewis yelled back.
Everyone stirred as they drove down a long drive and through ornate gates, the castle coming into view in front of them was enough to take her breath away.
From the admiring murmurs, she wasn’t the only one who thought so. The reddish colored castle rose up before them, multiple turrets visible from the distance.
Logan stood. “Glamis Castle. This is thought to be one of the most beautiful castles in the UK, and many legends and myths have grown up around this castle from the beginning.”
Logan bent over to get a better look out the large front window. “In 1034, King Malcolm II was murdered here. Also, William Shakespeare used the place for the setting of his play, Macbeth. And a lady of the castle once poisoned her husband.
He held up a finger and swayed a bit and Ashley realized he’d been drinking. She stifled a laugh.
“But don’t you worry, because she didn’t get away with it. Eventually, she was accused of witchcraft and was burned at the stake.”
Logan gripped the side bars tightly. “Let’s see, there is said to be a secret room where a nobleman played cards with the devil himself.”
The bus pulled onto the grounds, directly in front of the castle.
Lewis gestured for Logan to lean down and they had a quick discussion that ended with Logan flapping a hand. “Never mind that!”
Some of their group realized he’d been drinking, as well, and there was some giggling around the bus.
Logan straightened and took a breath. “We have two hours here at the castle. The castle restaurant is expecting us in one hour, and as per what you ordered before-hand, should be ready on time.”
He looked around. “After lunch, we’ll get back on the bus and head toward Crathes Castle. In the meantime, enjoy the guided tour of the castle, and if you get a chance, go take a peek at the formal gardens. They are some of the best in England. See you at lunchtime!”
Logan took off, probably to find a bathroom, and the rest of them slowly made their way onto the dirt parking lot. The place was quite crowded, especially given the fact that it was in the middle of nowhere.
The castle was surrounded by trees and gardens. It rose up high, the turrets giving it a very fairy-tale feel.
“It’s so pretty,” Ashley said.
Ronan barely gave it a glance. He was searching the crowd, no doubt trying to find the familiar face of the thief from the night before.
Garth groaned. “It feels good to get out and walk.”
“Hear, hear,” agreed Monica.
They all made their way to the front door where a crowd seemed to be gathering.
They must’ve hit the tour just right, because they were gestured inside, and Ronan and Ashley were the last ones in.
The place was gorgeous; unlike Stirling, it was fully decorated, and they were led into a beautiful dining room, complete with long table, ornate chairs, and fully set with china, crystal, and silverware.
“Hello, all. If you’ve noticed, you’ve come at the favorite time of the year. It’s very popular in the month of October, due to the fact that we host ghost tours here. As Glamis Castle is famous for its hauntings, it seemed a natural fit.”
The girl, dressed something like a chambermaid with a cloth hat on her head, homespun dress and apron, smiled at them cheerily.
“Glamis Castle has played host to its fair share of ghosts and paranormal phenomenon over the centuries, but its most famous and peculiar tale is that of the monster. Follow me, please, as we make our way slowly through the castle.” She led the way across a beautiful foyer.
“In October, 1821, Lord Glamis and his wife joyfully welcomed their son and heir into the world. But tragically, he died soon after. It didn’t take long for the rumors to start. It was said that the boy was still alive, but was hideously deformed, and that to spare the family such a disgrace, a secret chamber was built within these walls, to hide the newest family member away forever.”
She continued her slow journey throughout the house, walking them into what looked to be a family room with comfortable furniture, a piano, old photos adorning the fireplace mantel, and books lining the walls.
“The monster was said to be quite hideous to look upon, and became even worse as he grew into adulthood. Big, barrel-chested, and covered with hair. Short arms and legs. A misshapen head set directly upon his shoulders.”
Next, they were led into a pink room, with pink furniture, pink walls, and paintings of ancestors. “It was said that at any given time there were only three people who knew about the abomination. The Lord himself, the factor, and the heir, but only when he came of age twenty-one.”
The girl stopped behind a high-backed chair and rested her hands upon it. “Whispers about the monster abounded for sixty years. At one point the new countess had a house party, and they began discussing what the secret could be. They decided to search for the secret room and hung sheets and towels from all of the windows in the house, then went outside. A single window remained unadorned. It is said that the Lord drove up, saw what his wife was doing, and put a stop to it, later divorcing her for her treachery.”
Ashley glanced up at Ronan to see he was as enthralled by the story as everyone.
They started moving again and, passing a spiral staircase that seemed to go up forever, they walked into a chamber with animal heads on a white stone wall, past ornate chairs, suits of armor, and even a small cannon.
“And then one day, all of the stories simply stopped. It has been said that the Monster of Glamis died, and that the secret died that very generation.”
The entire tour followed their guide up the stairs and into a bedroom. “Did you notice the stone seat outside the door as you came in? The ghost of a young servant boy has been seen sitting there on several occasions. He appears as a full-bodied apparition but has never been seen anywhere else in the castle.”
Their tour guide went on to tell of the woman without a tongue, a gray lady, who was supposed to have been burned at the stake, and the ghost of Earl Beardie, a cruel, twisted man who gambled with the devil, lost his soul, and could still be heard swearing and shouting throughout the castle.
They were soon excused to make room for the next tour, and Ronan tugged Ashley outside.
“What did you think?”
Ronan shook his head. “I think I’d not spend much time in that castle were it up to me.”
Ashley grinned. “A nice place to visit, but you wouldn’t want to live there?”
“Exactly,” he said emphatically. “Give me a green field under the stars any time.”
“A green field?”
"Aye, like the moor.”
She chuckled as hand-in-hand they started to walk the castle grounds, and down a long path with tall bushes on either side.
She just felt happy, and determined to enjoy it because part of her was waiting for the other shoe to drop. Waiting for whatever this was to be snatched away, because it was too good to be true.
They walked past a fountain spouting water when Ronan turned and she noticed the front zip on her backpack was unzipped.
“Ronan!”
Gaze sharp, he glanced at her, then studied those around them. “What is it?”
“My backpack!” She reached for it, slid it off his shoulder and turned it around to show him that the zipper was open. She quickly opened the other zip and breathed a sigh of relief to see her laptop still there.
Going through the front pouch her heart sank to realize two thumb drives were missing.
She let out a little moan of distress.
“What is it, lass?”
“I had two thumb drives in here. They’re gone.”
Ronan’s face darkened as he glanced around the area, but there was no villain to see, no one running away, just other tourists enjoying the gardens.
He drew in a breath, and exhaled loudly. “I’ve failed ye.”
Ashley felt in her bra, where she’d stored the thumb
drive earlier. “No. I still have my thumb drive and he didn’t get the laptop. They’re not the ones that counted, they don’t have my newest program on them, though I’m sad to lose them, I have the information backed up, so I’m okay there.”
She looked up at him. “But it worries me that someone was that close.”
Ronan looked devastated. “I’m sorry, lass, truly I am.”
“It’s not your fault. I didn’t see anything either, but we were in a crowd of people, and no one said anything.”
Feeling sick to her stomach, Ashley stood and hugged the pack to her chest. It was over a year’s worth of work. She couldn’t lose it. “Maybe coming to Scotland wasn’t such a good idea after all.”
Ronan bunched his fists, open, then closed again, and looked around at the crowd.
She took a breath, and headed blindly down the path. “I don’t blame you for this, I promise. I didn’t see anything either.”
But from now on, she was just going to have to make sure she had her hand on it at all times.
The tour ended tonight, and she flew back home tomorrow morning.
But what about Ronan?
Feeling disoriented, she stopped, checked her laptop once again, just to make sure, and repacked it again. She drew in a breath, but couldn’t seem to get enough oxygen in her lungs. “It’s probably getting time for lunch. Shall we?”
Ronan nodded, reached for the pack, then drew his hand back when she didn’t offer it, but continued to hold it to her chest.
His head hanging, he walked beside her, his fists still opening and closing.
“I will do better by you, I swear it.”
“I know. It’s okay. I know.”
He released a harsh breath, placed a hand on her back, and they headed to the castle once more.
Ronan wanted to hit something.
Hurt someone.
Specifically, he’d like to wrap his hands around the thief’s neck and squeeze, or perhaps pummel, or throw him as far as he could.
The fact that he’d been standing there, guarding her pack, and the man’s slender fingers had dipped inside without his knowledge, made him want to break things.
Ashley’s trust in him was shattered.
How could it not be?
Soni had sent him here to protect her, to protect her ideas, and instead of proving himself strong and capable, he’d proved exactly the opposite.
They went into the dining room and were soon being served as Monica and Garth sat across from them.
Monica looked between the two of them. “Is everything all right?”
Ashley’s smile was more of a grimace. “Of course, just a little tired I guess.”
He’d noted before that she did not talk about her business, even with her friends. He was the only one who had been trusted with her secrets, with her possessions.
Ashley carried on a conversation with her friends as they talked about the different ghosts, and the monster, and if the rumors could’ve been true.
He cared not for any of that. He looked around the dining room frequently, but didn’t know why he bothered.
The man, the thief, would be long gone by now, thinking he’d gotten away with her plans.
He carefully considered who’d been in their tour group, but he’d been paying more attention to the stories, and Ashley, than to those around them.
Why had he considered them safe in such surroundings?
Of course, a thief would strike when they had their guard down.
He knew that Ashley hadn’t actually lost her ideas, that she still had the information and it had not been compromised, but he couldn’t get past the fact that it could have been.
On his watch, she could have lost everything.
As the meals were served and eaten, Ronan barely touched his food, feeling he didn’t deserve to eat.
“Ronan, you’re not eating. You need to keep up your strength.”
The strength that had failed her? No wonder she worried. No doubt her trust was completely gone.
He picked up his food, barely noting what he ate, and finished it quickly.
However the thief had tricked him, it would not happen again.
Dark thoughts shifted within him as he glanced at the pack Ashley had settled on her lap.
When the thief realized his failure, he’d no doubt try again.
Ronan would be waiting.
Chapter 12
They were back on the bus, heading to their next stop, and Ashley was worried about Ronan.
He was acting weird.
She knew he blamed himself for the theft and, though she’d assured him repeatedly it wasn’t his fault, he obviously didn’t agree.
She was surprised at how much he was taking it to heart. But then, she’d heard some men were like that, feeling they had to be perfect when, in fact, no one ever was.
Monica and Garth had decided to try riding upstairs for a change and so they weren’t there to offer a distraction.
With a sigh, she pulled out her computer, knowing her program was safe, but needing to check just the same.
She turned it on, and the first thing she did was check her firewall and anti-virus software to find all were still in place.
Not that she’d been too worried as she’d disconnected the internet on this computer a long time ago.
Next, she opened the program, muted the sound and started to play the game.
After a moment, Ronan looked interested. “Is this it?”
“This is it.”
Ronan continued to watch her play, and after a moment, she asked, “Do you want a turn?”
“Aye.”
She turned the laptop toward him, started a new game, and he quickly used the arrow buttons to play.
Alien Hunt was a fast-paced, alien killing game, with three game modes and 48 levels. It enabled players to team up with friends to face off against a myriad of aliens, monsters, and space-raiders. There were 52 weapons, 25 military suits and a weapons exchange that allowed teams to earn points and trade up for more massive weapons to blow bad guys up.
Ronan was clumsy with the keyboard, and lost the game quickly. She wished she dared turn on the sound effects for him, but didn’t want anyone looking over here, and didn’t want anyone asking questions, as she was still feeling paranoid.
Still, when he started the game again to play another round it made her very happy. She was hoping others thought the game was as addictive as she did.
He quickly lost again. “How did ye learn to make this?”
She shrugged. “I don’t know, I’ve always been good at doing stuff like this. I guess the interest started with my mom. She was into anything sci-fi or fantasy. Books, movies, TV shows, anything like that. And every Halloween, she was a different character, and made her own costumes.”
She shrugged. “So, I was very into it all from a young age. Add to that the computer skills I inherited from my dad and,” she shrugged again, “it was just a good fit for me. I’ve been doing web design since junior high. Plus, of course, I was in love with Captain Kirk.”
Ronan scowled.
Which made her giggle.
“Who is he?”
“You don’t know?”
His jaw lifted and his eyes fired. “Nae.”
She giggled again. “An actor from Star Trek.” She might actually have to rethink her crush on Ronan.
She powered down her computer, closed it, and put it back in the backpack. When she glanced up Ronan was looking at her, pure admiration in his gaze.
“What?”
“Are ye a witch, then? Do ye know Soni?”
She chuckled. “I’ve dressed as a witch on many occasions if that’s what you mean. And no, I don’t know anyone named Soni.”
“I think ye’d like her. She’s able to do quite wondrous things, just as ye do.”
Okay, maybe she’d keep him after all. “She’s good on computers?”
He shrugged. “I have seen her with a phone upon occasion.”<
br />
She chuckled again. “Well, that seals it, then. I’m sure I’ll like your friend, very much.”
She was glad to see he was no longer upset, and also hinting that she’d meet his friends.
She was more than open to it, now that she was calm once again too.
She drew a breath, almost asked him when she could meet his friend, but exhaled instead. There was still a lot of daylight left. He knew she was leaving tomorrow, and frankly, she’d rather he was the one that did the asking, if anything was to come of a relationship between them.
She caught him looking at her lips and her cheeks heated. She turned to glance out the window.
Not that she wasn’t all about getting another kiss from the guy, but not in a bus full of people.
Maybe, at their next stop, she’d have to make sure they wandered away by themselves for a while.
An hour later, the bus pulled up to Crathes Castle.
It was tall, with beautiful turrets, and surrounded by woodland and gardens.
As they exited the bus, Logan was talking about the family that lived there for over 300 years, and when Ashley glanced up at Ronan, he looked sharp, alert.
“Do you like this one?”
“I’ve been here before, lass, many years ago.” Ronan adjusted her pack in his arms. He’d been visibly relieved when she’d given it to him, and no longer slung it over his back, but held it against his chest with one arm, his expression slightly dangerous.
She’d say the likelihood of someone getting inside of it was zero. She wanted to be amused by his protective gesture, but was more relieved than anything.
“Does it look the same?”
“Nae, tis been built onto since I first saw it. We were trying to raise support for the Jacobite army, though we didn’t hold out much hope as they’d remained neutral in 1715.”
A man in plaid slacks overheard Ronan. “That’s right! The Burnett’s owned this castle, and managed to stay unaligned in both Jacobite uprisings. It turned out to be to their credit, as if they had not, the king would have removed them and relieved them of their possessions.”
