“Aye, ’tis true. I’m glad for him that he had the good sense to do it. Especially for your sake, Jinny—I like that ye live in comfort.”
“I like that you live in comfort, too, Douglass. What is your life like living only among your clan and in such an enchanting castle?”
“’Tis all right for the most part. We engage a lot in hunt and sport. Aside from that, it gets a wee bit boring. ’Tis why I often pass the time reading. We have a broad library where I have many friends and teachers in the form of books.”
A smile widened across Jinny’s face. “I love reading and books. It is how I spend the majority of my extra time.”
“I know.”
“How could you know that?”
“Because I have the book ye lost that day when yer coach nearly toppled over the cliff.”
Her eyes brightened. “Oh, I’m so glad. I thought it had been lost.” She frowned. “But … just because I had a book with me wouldn’t prove it’s my favorite pastime.”
“No, ’twouldn’t prove that. But leaving every page worn and perfumed with the pretty scent of ye would.”
Her surprised gaze met mine again and I didnae say another word, but my countenance could no’ hide my wanting of her.
Being ech-ooshkya, I was very much aware of her quickening pulse and breathing—the escalating rise and fall of her chest only confirmed it. I felt my own heart kick up at the thought of her wanting me, too.
The distant sound of shouting and laughter rose from the castle across the bay and broke the spell. Jinny looked that direction. “What’s happening?”
I drew my gaze from her face and looked at my home.
“A celebration. My sister was born yesterday.”
“Oh, my. I didn’t realize I was keeping you from such festivity. You should be with your family, not with me.”
“I will see them tonight during the fireworks show. I want to be here … with ye, Jinny.”
“No, Douglass, you need to be there with them. Does your family always celebrate the birth of a child with such entertainment?”
“Na, ’tis special. Morgan is the first female born to the clan in eighteen years. The last was Lair.”
“My goodness. That’s a long—Oh! You mean there are no young females in your clan?”
“Nope. Aside from Morgan, Lair is the next youngest.”
“But you stay only to yourselves and don’t mingle with outsiders.”
“Aye.”
“So, you have never … ?” Her word trailed off.
I eased my finger forward to hook hers hanging at her side.
“Nay, Jinny. I have never.”
Her face turned pink. “Douglass, forgive my impudence.” She pulled her hand away and started walking quickly back up the beach.
I frowned and followed, falling easily in beside her.
“I’d really feel better if we did this another day,” she said. “I don’t want to be the cause of you missing out on such a special occasion.”
I felt she truly wanted me to go home, and in truth she was right. I was the son of the laird and brother to the wee babe being celebrated—I needed to be there, but I needed to establish a courtship with Jinny, too. I wished I could invite her to go with me to the celebration, but my clan would no’ accept her.
“Aye, ye’re right. D’ye think me an awful brother?”
She dug her boots into the sand and faced me. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to imply such. No, I don’t think that at all. This,”—she waved her hand between us—“has happened unexpectedly and disrupted your plans, I’m sure. We merely need to get our heads out of the clouds and not get swept away.”
“What if I’m already being swept away, Jinny?”
She didnae answer, only stared at me.
I swallowed. “Can I call on ye again tomorrow?” My fingers brushed hers and her lips parted. She didnae flinch away from me this time, which I took as a good sign.
Chapter eleven
October 2, 1829
Douglass McGrail
“Muireach,” I whispered into the dark room. He didnae answer. “Brother, are ye up?” I went to the bed to shake him awake but he was no’ in it. I heard him enter from the open doors that led out to the courtyard, and turned, realizing he’d just stepped out for a piss.
My naked brother stopped suddenly, but saw ’twas only I.
“Douglass, what are ye doing here so early?”
“I need yer support on something.” I grabbed his kilt from the chair and tossed it to him.
“Of course, if I can,” he said, catching it.
“Oh, ye can, ’tis if ye will.”
Muireach’s eyes narrowed on me as he wrapped his kilt around him. “Tell me then.”
I tossed him his belt. “As ye are aware, I’ve been seeing Jinny every day for nearly a month.”
He nodded. “Aye, leaving me to make excuses to Da.”
I grimaced. “If it’s any consolation, I appreciate it.”
“Well, at least there’s that.”
“Muireach, I’m here to ask ye to stand with me against Da and the rest of the clan.”
He frowned, cinching his belt. “That’s a mighty brazen request, Dougie. What would I be standing with ye against them for?”
“I’m in love with Jinny. I want to marry her, and plan on asking her today.”
His eyes stretched wide. “Have ye gone off the cliff? When Da finds out, ye’ll get yer head in yer hands and yer teeth to play with!”
“If I’m alone I will. But if ye stand with me, I’ll have a better chance of winning him over.”
He groaned and turned away. “Stone the crows, brother! Why did ye let yerself fall in love with the lass? Could ye no’ have just had some fun with her and then only liked her enough to no’ eat her after? How could ye let this happen?”
“I didnae let anything happen. I think I loved her from the beginning. I didnae plan to save her in her coach all those months ago, and I certainly had no desire to dwell on her as I did afterward—a lass I didnae even know and had no reason to believe I’d ever see again. But I couldn’t get her out of my mind. And I absolutely didnae intend to find her beneath some mad bastard trying to beat and bugger her right in front of me on the beach. ’Twas the fates that set our coming together in motion, no’ I.”
Standing, legs apart, Muireach propped his hands on his hips and nodded with a sigh. “Aye … ’twould seem so. But the question is, am I willing to stand against no’ only Da and the whole clan, but centuries of tradition and inborn behavior so ye can have something ye want?”
“Ye know I don’t ask ye for much, Muireach. And ye also know I’d do it for ye if the tables were turned.”
Muireach frowned, lips pursed. “Aye, well, ye don’t have the pressure on ye I do. Sometimes I wish it had been ye that was born first so I could be the one free to conjure up romantic ideas of going to war with other clans for the chance to win a lover, or standing against my own kind for the chance to wed a human I’d gone off and fallen in love with.”
I felt a pang of guilt that I did have such freedoms and my brother did no’. There were times in our past I’d seen Muireach let his guard down, and had felt he was as much a romantic as I, only he did no’ have the freedom to entertain such whimsical notions.
He frowned at me, the love behind the frown shining like a beacon.
“Are ye sure, Dougie? Ye know once we do this there’ll be no undoing it.”
“I’ve never been so sure of anything, Muireach. I’d no’ ask it of ye otherwise.”
He shook his head. “I must have a death wish.”
I sucked a breath with a big smile. “So ye’ll stand with me in front of Da and the clan then?”
“It appears I will. It’s either that or go to war with another clan. I know ye, and ye’ll no’ be happy until ye’re mated. Ye’re going to owe me for this one.”
“Gladly, brother. Thank ye.” I gripped his shoulder.
With a nod Muireach
headed for the door. “Well, if ye’re set on getting us both clobbered with this proposal today, we might as well take the bull by the horns and face him head on.”
***
I turned off of High Street onto a shabby lane, opposite the direction of Jinny’s house, thoughts of the morning playing over and over in my mind.
Muireach and I had sought out Da privately in his quarters. He was furious to learn I’d gone against him and socialized with humans, and more furious that I wanted to bring one into the fold. Even with Muireach’s support as he addressed the issue of our needing mates and reminded Da that Morgan and Lair were our sisters and unavailable to us, he would no’ allow me my wish.
Although I had seen hints of his look softening the more I spoke about Jinny and how I felt toward her, he still would no’ budge, and even forbade me to see Jinny again.
My countenance had turned to stone, my jaw muscles clamping my teeth so tight I thought they would shatter. I’d drawn myself up and said, “I’ll have Jinny, even if it means leaving with her to never return here.”
He saw in my eyes that I was no’ bluffing, and his look of heartbreak had twisted my gut. But I’d stood up to him, and I meant it. I did no’ want to have to carry out my threat, but I would have if he had no’ relented and if Jinny would agree to marry me.
Da had conceded. His mood had even lightened a wee bit when I told him of Jinny’s compassion for our kind, and how her courageous spirit had captured my heart with her story of saving the merman.
Once he’d granted his support, he called a meeting in the great hall to inform the clan. Though there were a good number of sour faces, they didnae dare buck him.
If Jinny would have me, and say yes to my proposal today, ’twould be the happiest day of my life.
Third house on the left—white stucco with brown shutters and a green door. I studied the dwelling. It looked to be the right place, so I hopped out of the buggy and headed up the walk, still beaming about the morning.
I tapped a knuckle against the green door, hoping the day’s good fortune would continue. I didnae want this visit to be just another blind alley. I’d been led down nothing but blind alleys for nearly a month now, and bloody well wanted some answers.
Having no’ often come to town or come around the townspeople before meeting Jinny, I’d learned my way here and there and started discreetly asking around about Ewan’s past. I’d been able to do this while courting Jinny, as I was now in town every day when traveling to and from her house.
This was how I’d spent my mornings, going to various shops where I’d been directed from one lead to another. I knew Jinny’s attacker had to be the bastard son of her uncle; there was no denying that, but who was his mother? If I could find out about Ewan’s past and locate the woman he’d gotten with child, I would likely find the attacker close by her. I was told I might get answers here, as the home belonged to someone who’d known Ewan well during his youth.
A plump woman with wiry gray hair peeking from beneath a dingy cap opened the door. Her eyes grew round and her gaze dropped to follow my form, starting at my thick calves, all the way up to the dark, knotted locks of my head.
“Sweet Mary and Joseph,” she murmured.
I knew I looked like a wild one, it could no’ be helped; I was ech-ooshkya, and none of us looked quite civilized, though women never minded it.
“Good morning, Mistress. I’m sorry to come so early. My name is Douglass McGrail. I was told I could find Mrs. McGregor living at this address.”
She blinked several times. “I’m Mrs. McGregor.”
I smiled at her, hoping to put her at ease. “Are ye the mother of Aileen McGregor?”
“Aye. Though ’tis Aileen Higgins now. She does no’ live here. Lives in England. Has for many years. What would ye be wanting with my girl?”
I felt a pang of hope to find this might no’ be another dead end after all, and I might find out about Ewan’s past.
Using my charms on the woman, I found myself sitting and laughing with her at her kitchen table over a cup of tea … three, actually. But after the second cup I was no’ laughing.
By the time I left the old woman I was so downcast I didnae know if I could even face Jinny, much less do what I intended to do today.
I’d gone to that house as I’d learned Aileen and Rose had been best friends. I’d reasoned that if Ewan had actually known about the bastard son, he might have confided it to Rose, and Rose might have confided it to Aileen, and if I was lucky enough, Aileen might have confided it to her mother, who might confide it to me. ’Twas usually how gossip traveled.
So would I be fortunate enough to find this the case? Well, no, no’ exactly, but I found out more than I wanted to know. And now I had to face Jinny, knowing she lied.
Chapter Twelve
Douglass McGrail
Jinny and I rode in silence through town and then all the way to the coastline. My mind whirred with thoughts of Jinny, her lie, and a name the old woman had given me: Dr. Sinclair.
I turned onto the castle road and then veered off onto a path leading down toward the base of the bluff below the castle, near the water.
Drawing to a stop, I hopped down and lifted Jinny out. I’d yet to even kiss the lass, but the simplest touch, even through her clothes, got me wanting her so badly I thought my heart would burst.
I looked at her for a long moment, wanting to kiss her now, but kent it would be a mistake, and took my hands from her waist.
I turned to grab the basket and blanket, tucked them under one arm, and took Jinny’s hand, leading her down through some low brush and then onto a winding forgotten path.
“Where are you taking me, Douglass?” She ducked beneath a tree branch I’d pushed up with my shoulder so she could pass.
“Ye’ll see.” I could no’ muster even the slightest happiness in my voice.
I unlocked the heavy door at the side of the bluff within the stone base, and it gave a loud groan when I tugged it open.
“Go in, Jinny.”
She frowned and looked at our surroundings. “What is this place?”
I didnae answer, only waited for her to pass through the opening.
“Is everything all right? You seem upset about something.”
I swept my hand toward the opening again. “Please, Jinny, just go in.”
She did, and I followed, pulling the door closed and taking the lead down through the winding narrow passage.
“I can’t see, Douglass.” Her voice echoed through the cave tunnel. “How can you see where you’re going? I’ll break an ankle on these stones.”
“Och!” I cursed myself and went back for her. “Forgive me. Here, hold these.” I opened her hands and put the basket and blanket into them, and then scooped her into my arms.
I tried to be attentive concerning Jinny’s poor human senses, but with so much on my mind, I’d forgotten—while I could see fine, she could no’ see a bit.
We headed down through the dark tunnel, and the farther we went, the more I forgot any other thoughts as I suffered Jinny’s nearness—the heat of her body, her softness against me.
Her hand held me at the opening of my shirt, leaving the backs of her fingers tucked inside and brushing against my bare chest. It began as a slow burn, but now I was on fire and I didnae think she realized, as she was only trying to hold on to me.
I was ech-ooshkya. My kind preyed on Jinnny’s kind. We baited them with the promise of pleasure, bringing them to that point, and then fed on them instead. It’s what we did, part of how we survived. It was within us to read one’s pulse rate, fever, respiration, and the pressure in their blood—the state of one’s vital bodily functions—and we knew when they were ripe to be baited.
Every part of me was aware of Jinny’s craving for me—her racing heartbeat and her lungs working to draw more air to compensate for it. I wanted her so badly it was all I could do to walk without falling down the damn tunnel.
The movement of her soft body
rubbing against mine with each step was too much. I spotted a large boulder and quickly sat, resting Jinny on my thighs and sitting her forward so my standing cock would no’ offend her.
“I’m sorry, Jinny. I need to stop.”
“Am I heavy? I can walk. Surely we don’t have that much farther? I see a faint light up ahead.”
“Na, lassie, ye’re no’ heavy. No’ in my arms, anyway. But I can scarcely bear to embrace ye. Yer nearness is a torment.”
She sucked in a sharp breath. “Oh!”
“I want to kiss ye so badly I can barely walk without falling.” I wanted to do more than kiss her, but I would no’ tell her that.
“Then why … why don’t you?”
I brushed a loose curl from her bonnie face. I knew she could only make me out as a vague image, but I could see her clearly. She looked rosy, and a bit hopeful.
“Because, Jinny, I’m afraid I’ll no’ be able to stop myself with only a kiss.”
She studied me through the dim light filtering in through the mouth of the cavern up ahead, where I was taking her.
“Would you be able if I stopped you?”
My heart bounced around in my chest. Was she really thinking of letting me kiss her after what I’d just confessed—warning I’d no’ be able to stop? Surely she knew I’d take her if I got started.
I swallowed. “I would hope I could, but I’m in such need of ye right now I don’t think so.”
“I trust you, Douglass.”
Damnation! Those words affected me. Jinny knew what I was, and had been witness to the brutality men were capable of, including myself when I tasted her attacker’s blood, yet she was alone with me in a place where I could easily use her and then make her my next meal. She knew that. I’d just told her I didnae even trust myself, yet she said she trusted me.
Her fingertips traced along my jaw and I nearly toppled off the damn rock. She kissed my cheek. My chin.
My chest rose and fell at an increasing rate. “Jinny, I don’t think—” Her lips touched mine and I fought for control. I felt her soft tongue barely tease me and I opened to her, touching the wee thing with my own. Bloody hell. She tasted like paradise. I groaned once into her mouth as it opened and closed in rhythm with mine.
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