“Me father?” Me voice croaked as I said the words, and I made to dismount me own horse as I was afraid that I might faint right off the top of it if I dinna. As far as I knew, me father believed that it was I married to Eoin. He had no idea that I had spent the last months in a different century. He would have to be told the truth. Whether or no he would be able to believe it, I knew not.
“Aye. His arrival was unexpected. He said he was eager to see his daughter. I’ve done what I could to distract him, but he is very disgruntled and losing patience. ’Tis best that we get all of ye back as quickly as possible so that the two of ye,” he pointed to Bri and meself, “can give him whatever explanation ye choose.”
“So ye told him nothing?” Part of me hoped Eoin would have explained everything to him, but it seemed that he’d left that unpleasant task undone. No that I could blame him.
“Nay. I told him that ye’d accompanied Mary into the village to gather some supplies for the castle, and he was no too pleased to hear it. He thought it unwise of me to allow ye to go alone. I canna imagine what he would think of me if he learned I’d allowed ye to travel as far off as ye did.”
Eoin ran his hand over his face, clearly exhausted after dealing with me father. I’d yet to see him, and fatigue was already overcoming me at the prospect.
He was a good man, and I loved him, but me independent spirit had made me a difficult child to manage. He’d been pleased when he’d finally been able to marry me off into the hands of another to oversee me behavior. He would no be pleased to know that his efforts had been unsuccessful. I was afraid he would feel it meant that he had ownership over me once more. If so, he would be disappointed. I would no be going back home with him, even if I had to work with Mary in the Conall’s kitchens. I re-mounted me horse and gestured to Eoin, Bri, and Mary to do the same.
“Let’s be on with it then. I doona wish to keep him waiting.”
*
“I canna believe it, truly. If ye dinna both stand before me now, I would never be able to believe such a story. I always knew Morna was a witch, but I never believed she would be capable of such a grand spell. Why, ye’ve given an old man the shock of his life.”
Me father laughed deeply as he squeezed me around me middle as I sat upon his lap. His reaction to our story was astonishing. Rather than doubt or anger, he’d accepted our explanation with pure curiosity.
“So ye are no angry with me? And ye will go along with what we told Edana, claiming us both as yer daughters?” I returned his squeeze, no longer nervous at his being here, but simply enjoying the feeling of safety that came with being wrapped in me father’s arms.
“Nay, I’m no angry. I doona see how either of ye had a choice in what happened. And aye, I shall be pleased to call Bri as me own. I’ve thought she was for some time now.” He smiled in Bri’s direction. “Ye did a remarkable job of fooling me. Ye are a magnificent trickster.”
Bri laughed and shook her head in disagreement. “With all due respect, I believe your bad ear went a long way to making my performance believable to you.”
“Ach, I’m sure ye are right, lass.” Father reached up and touched his left ear that lacked any ability to hear.
Bri stood from her seat in the spell room and moved to give us some privacy. We’d met him down there hoping that the presence of Morna’s spell books would help him to believe.
“I’ll leave the two of you to visit alone for awhile. You know, I think it’s fitting that I should be known as your daughter. You bear a striking resemblance to my real father.”
She winked at both of us. Once she was gone, me father stood and grabbed me hand so that he could lead me out of the spell room.
“Let’s go for a walk down by the sea, shall we? I’m anxious to hear of me bonny lass’ adventures while she was away.”
I nodded, and together we left hand-in-hand. In that moment, I felt closer to me father than I’d ever felt before.
Chapter 24
The Castle Formerly Known as Kinnaird
“Ye have been drinking less as of late, have ye no?”
Her voice startled him. Arran turned away from the window he’d been staring out of, imagining where Blaire was, what she was doing, and if she was thinking of him as well. One week had passed since Blaire had returned to Conall Castle. Although she was days away, his world seemed brighter just knowing he could get to her, and she was no longer out of his reach in another century.
Every night since their departure, Edana had come to him, softly knocking on his door in the middle of the night. He’d ignored it, never giving explanation, hoping that within time she would give up and cease seeking his affection.
Tonight was the only night she’d entered his room uninvited. He faced her, doing his best to feign a smile. Over the past days, he’d come to learn more about his new wife, and what he’d seen from her had made it all the more easy for him to push aside any guilt he might have felt over his feelings for Blaire.