She allowed the kiss to go on for a few moments, intent on making her point to the castle employee. Finally, hearing the man clear his throat uncomfortably, Bri pulled away from an open-mouthed, grinning Eoin to hear the custodian’s response.
“Ah, well there are certain places for such things, and this isna one of them. I should have ye escorted out immediately, but seeing as ye are newlyweds, I’ll cut the two of ye a break, aye? But I doona want to catch ye somewhere that ye shouldn’t be again. And why the hell are ye no wearing a shirt, man?”
Bri watched as the man shifted his attention to Eoin, and once again, Bri nudged an elbow of warning into her husband’s ribs. She waved a hand flippantly in the air. “Oh. That. It’s a costume. He wanted to, ya know, get into the spirit of things.”
The man didn’t respond, only moved out of their way so that they could exit the stairwell. Shutting the door behind them, Bri started to thank him but stopped as the man chuckled once, muttering “Americans” under his breath before shaking his head and turning to leave them alone in the empty hallway.
“Lass, I know I agreed that ye would be in charge during our journey here, but do ye really think that was the best way to handle it? That man thinks that we are both mad, and the way ye dinna allow me to speak, why he must think I’m a mute.”
Bri laughed, slightly shocked at her own behavior. “I’m sorry. I didn’t know what to do. When I felt your bare chest behind me, it was the only thing that popped in my head. But what does it matter anyway? It worked, didn’t it? Now, let’s get out of here before another tour passes by. I don’t want to have to explain your clothing again.” Dragging her husband along behind her, they made their way out of the castle without seeing another soul.
*
“Do ye think that she will still be here? If she wanted a different life for herself, this hardly seems the place.”
Bri knocked on the door of the inn before answering Eoin’s question. “No, I doubt that she is, but perhaps they will know where to find her. But it might be a bit of a tricky situation. They thought that Blaire was me, so I’m not sure how we are going to explain my sudden appearance, not to mention yours.”
The door opened, startling both of them. Before Bri could utter a hello, she was pulled into Jerry’s rail-thin arms.
“Bri, it’s good to see ye again, lass. And Eoin, ye sure are quite the big lad, are ye no? My wife will be quite pleased to see ye. Now come inside.” Jerry waved them into the living room and shouted in the direction of the kitchen. “They’re here, dear.”
Bri was certain her mouth hung open as she glanced back at Eoin whose pinched brows and wide eyes matched her own. Once seated, Jerry excused himself, and Bri leaned over to whisper to Eoin, “Did he just call you by your name? How could he possibly know that?”
Eoin answered absent-mindedly as he glanced around the room. “I doona know. Bri, how is the room lit? I doona think the flames above our heads would be easily lit or put out.”
Bri smiled and pointed to the light switch on the wall. “They aren’t flames. It’s electricity. All you have to do to turn them on is flip that tiny switch over there. Flipping it in the other direction will turn the lights off.”
“Ye canna mean it? What a change from our dark, candle lit rooms. Tell me, will we be alive to see lights such as this?”
“No, I’m afraid not. You’ll see lots of amazing things while we are here, and I can’t wait to watch you discover them, but first…” Bri paused as Jerry re-entered the room, Gwendolyn trailing him. Bri stood to give the old woman a hug and, once she returned to her seat back on the couch, Gwendolyn spoke up.
“Bri, you don’t need to worry about how you are going to explain your situation to us. We know that while you were here with your mother at the beginning, it was Blaire for most of the time. In fact, I believe I have some things I must explain to both of you. But first, I’d like to kiss my nephew.”
She moved across the room, grabbing Eoin by both cheeks as she brought him near to her and kissed him on the forehead.
Bri’s mind reeled at the spectacle when Jerry’s voice to her right drew her attention.
“Ach, lassie. That’s no even half of it. Ye best settle in and prepare yerself for some interesting news.”
*
Nearing eleven, Bri and Eoin pulled up in the car they’d borrowed from Jerry as Bri parked it in front of the pub where Blaire supposedly now worked. The lights were on inside, and while she couldn’t see Blaire through the windows, she hoped that their search for her would end, and their evening of overwhelming surprises would be over.
“Are you ready? Blaire already knows you, so I think it might be best if you speak to her first.” Bri reached for the door handle but paused at the touch of Eoin’s hand on her forearm.
“Did ye believe her story, Bri? Do ye think ’tis possible that she really is my Aunt Morna?”