“He’s a bit of a hermit from what Eoin and Arran told us. His wife died decades ago, and he lives all alone far away from anyone else. Seems a bit crazy to me, but Eoin seems to think he’s just shy. Regardless, does it matter if he’s crazy when he looks that good?”
I laughed loudly, garnering questioning glances from the three men walking in front of us. Bri liked to think she was my polar opposite, but she was more like her Mama than she wanted to admit. “Well, it does matter a bit, yes, but I don’t think he’s crazy.” We were approaching the castle. “Let’s not gossip anymore now, the boys will give me a hard time. I’m going to find some food for this little one to eat.”
Once inside, the girls dispersed, and I carried the sleeping pup down into the kitchen while I thought on what I’d just learned about our new visitor. He was unmarried then.
And I was not displeased to hear it.
Chapter 8
All was abuzz within the confines of Conall Castle the next day. It was decorating day and, with the visitation of her brother, Mary’s spirits rose as high as I’d ever seen them. As a result, everyone else in the castle couldn’t help but be merry as well.
I’d not expected us to put the tree in the castle’s main entrance. I worried that with the modern ornaments we planned to put on the tree, it might raise suspicions of other castle workers. I could not have been more surprised when I made my way down in the morning to find that Eoin, Arran, and Kip had placed the tree there.
“Do you not think it would be best if we set up the tree in the basement? I won’t be able to hang the ornaments on it otherwise, right?”
“Aye, ye will. Feel free to hang anything that we wish from the tree. I willna have us hiding our celebrations. All who work within the castle know of Morna’s legacy and her spells.” Eoin walked up to me and bent to briefly kiss me on the cheek. “Good morning, Adelle.”
I smiled, so very pleased that my daughter had found such a wonderful man. “Oh great, that’s wonderful. It will look beautiful in the corner there, next to the grand fireplace.”
“Aye, it will. Look.” Eoin pointed to the staircase behind me. “Here come the other lassies. Let us eat and then we will begin the festivity of decorating.”
*
Over breakfast, I couldn’t help but notice Hew’s absence from the table once again. I was fairly sure he hadn’t left already. The snow still had not melted enough for travel, and there was little way for him to get food in the cottage without someone bringing it to him. I didn’t understand why he seemed so set against joining us in the castle. I leaned over to Mary to ask her about it. “Why won’t your brother join us here to eat? He knows that he’s welcome, doesn’t he?”
Mary pulled one corner of her mouth to the side uncomfortably before casting sad eyes in my direction. “Aye, he knows it, but he insists on being alone.”
“Why is that?” I looked down at my food so that my interest wouldn’t seem too eager.
“He’s painfully shy. He’s spent so much time alone, I’m afraid he doesna know how to be around other people any more.”
That seemed a hard concept for me to grasp. I loved spending every second in the company of others. It was unhealthy for someone to live in such a way. It might be one thing for a person to spend time alone by their own choice, but another to feel that they were prevented from joining others due to shyness. “Well, the only way to get less shy is to practice. Will you see him this morning?”
Mary nodded. “Aye, I shall bring him something to eat as soon as we finish here before we begin decorating.”
“Ask him to join us and help in the decorations. It’s going to be a lot of fun. Insist on it, Mary. You can be very persuasive.”
Mary chuckled but shook her head. “That may be true with many people, Adelle, but nay with me brother. I can insist until the stars have risen, and it will no persuade him to do something he doesna wish to do.”
I frowned. I didn’t like the thought of Hew being all alone in the cottage while the rest of us spent a joyous day decorating. “Well, will you ask him at least?”
Mary stood, covering a plate to take to her brother. “Aye, lass. I’ll ask him.”
*
Perhaps he’d been too short with his sister. It wasn’t unreasonable for her to wish that he would spend some time with her by joining in the festivities. He would make time to see her later, when she was alone, but his shyness would have done nothing but dampen the spirits of everyone else.
Hew no longer knew how to behave comfortably in front of anyone, let alone an entire family of people who evidently were quite close to one another. He’d managed well enough when he’d bumped into Adelle the day he’d found the pup now sleeping at his feet, but that was an unusual occurrence. He would be certain to make an effort to spend a little more time with his sister before he left.