Still, as we rode in silence through the sleepy village near Cagair Castle, I couldn’t help but think of the kindness he’d shown Isobel as I watched the villagers going about their daily lives down the small trail of a street. He did have the ability to care for others, to show kindness. I couldn’t help but think these people would be lucky to have him as laird.
As we reached the edge of town, a flash of movement in a window on the last house to our right caught my eye. I glanced up to see a woman, naked for the briefest of moments before she shrugged into a thin robe. On the story below, the front door opened and a man whose face he covered by pulling up his coat, glanced quickly from side to side before slipping around the side of the house.
I thought nothing of it for a second. Then a flash of green caught my eye, and I glanced back to see the tartan hanging from the bottom of the man’s coat—Adwen.
“Better man, my ass. What a horny, rotten bastard.” I muttered it under my breath as I watched his horse take off into the woods.
CHAPTER 15
Cagair Castle
The approach to Cagair Castle brought back memories I’d nearly forgotten; they seemed a lifetime ago, and in some ways, I guess they were. My time as co-owner and resident of the grand structure had been brief but had been filled with hard work, laughter, and the inevitable woes that one would expect when trying to renovate a five-hundred-year-old castle.
“Holy moly, this place is beautiful.” Cooper’s voice was filled with awe as he gazed up at the magnificent sight.
I glanced over at Isobel whose eyes were misty as she fought back tears. “Aye, I dinna know such beauty could exist.”
I’d seen the castle before both in the twenty-first and seventeenth centuries. While it was even more breathtaking now, the magnificence of it had been able to choke me up even in my own time when the structure was in shambles.
The castle sat on its own island that was just big enough to hold the castle itself along with about a hundred yards of greenery and a hefty set of stables. It sat high enough off the ocean that even strong winds wouldn’t wet the grass but low enough that you could watch the waves from every window. A long, wide bridge made of stone, wood, and what I could only assume was more than a little bit of magic provided access from the main shore to its doors. The ocean served as Cagair Castle’s powerful and natural moat.
I couldn’t imagine a more beautiful castle anywhere in the world. Magic seemed to hang almost visibly in the air here. Only an idiot as big as Adwen would be distraught at the thought of having to spend the rest of his life here.
Only one man stood at the entry of Cagair Castle awaiting our arrival. It wasn’t Adwen, although the resemblance to him was striking.
Adwen was probably off somewhere washing away the remnants of his lovemaking before making his entrance. I hoped he didn’t offer me his hand in greeting; I wouldn’t go near it if he did—I knew how well men washed.
“Welcome, I hope that ye fared the journey well. My name is Callum, the laird’s younger brother. I doona know where Adwen has gone, but I expect he will be along shortly. Ye can dismount here, and I’ll have yer horses seen comfortably to the stables.”
“Thank ye.”
It was Gregor who spoke, climbing off his horse before giving Isobel assistance. She was exhausted from the travel, but her outlook was positive and it did wonders for her health. Tired as she was, she didn’t look nearly as sick as she’d appeared every day since I’d known her.
Callum moved to greet Gregor and Isobel while Orick, Cooper, and I dismounted and handed over our reins to the men who stood waiting to see to the tired and hungry horses.
By the time Callum moved toward us, Adwen appeared in the doorway, grinning like a recently-laid fool.
“Isobel, ye look well, lass.” He moved to kiss her hand before moving to greet Gregor who thanked Adwen graciously for the invitation. I stood back, watching their exchanges, all the while dreading the moment he would head my way.
After a moment, he turned to me and Cooper and threw me a wink before moving to say hello to Cooper.
“I’m pleased to see ye again, Cooper. ’Tis wonderful that ye’ve come.”
“Thanks for having me.” Cooper smiled but stayed close to my side. I wondered if the perceptive child could sense my irritation and meant to comfort me by his presence. It did help, and I reached to grab Cooper’s hand so that it wouldn’t be free for Adwen’s grabbing.
“Adwen.” I nodded but said nothing else in greeting.
“Jane, ye look lovely.”
I did not look lovely. Nobody looked lovely after three days on the road. His flattery meant nothing.
“Will ye no extend me yer hand?”
I gripped Cooper’s fingers a little tighter so he’d know not to release me. “The last time you asked me to shake your hand, it didn’t go so well, remember? Besides, I have…” I hesitated, but still the words escaped me, “I have a…a rash.”
“Ye have a rash, lass?”
“Uh, yes, on my hands.”