Love Beyond Compare (Book 5 of Morna’s Legacy Series) (12 page)

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.”

At that, Cooper jerked his hands from my grip before shaking them out in disgust. “Then what are you holding my hands for? I don’t want a rash, Aunt Jane.”

I opened my eyes as wide as I could force them as I tried to show Cooper I was fibbing, but the damage was already done.
 

“Let me see yer hand, lass. If ’tis a rash, perhaps we can find ye a salve.”
 

I’d backed myself into a corner, and I knew there was no way I could get out of the situation without drawing even more attention. Cringing, I extended it toward him.
 

His ran his fingers across the soft flesh of my palm, glancing down at them with feigned concern.
 

“I doona see a rash, but riding can be rough on yer hands. I’ll have a solution sent to yer bedchamber to soothe it.”
 

“Thanks.” I pulled my hand from his grasp, hating the fluttery sensation that shot through my abdomen as he touched me.
 

“Now,” Adwen turned to address the group, “allow me to show ye the castle. Then I’ll see ye each to yer chambers so that ye can rest and refresh yerselves before the evening meal.”

I didn’t feel the need to traipse around the castle by Adwen’s guided hand when more than likely I knew its hallways better than he did—I’d lived in it longer than he had. “Actually, would you mind just telling me which room is mine? I’m sure I can find my way there.”

Adwen spoke over his shoulder at me as he guided us all inside. “I’d forgotten that ye’d been to the castle before while we were away. Are ye sure ye doona wish to join us?”

Cooper spoke up, always ready to be helpful. “She’s done more than visit, she used to live here!”

Adwen said nothing but threw me a questioning glance before Isobel spoke up in confusion.
 

“Ye have lived here, Jane?”

I moved in close to her and tried to dismiss her question where Cooper couldn’t hear me. “He’s got a vivid imagination—likes to come up with all sorts of stories.”
 

I suspected that Isobel didn’t quite believe me, but she said nothing more. Once we stepped indoors, Adwen moved to my side.
 

“If ye truly wish to go to yer room now, ’tis the one at the base of the tower. Do ye know the one I speak of?”

“Yes.” I rustled Cooper’s hair before taking a step in the room’s direction and twisting to face Adwen. I leaned in close, reaching my hands up to pull at a long strand of blonde hair sticking out from underneath his winter coat. He stilled as he realized what I held.
 

Without expression, I twirled my fingers so that the strand fell to the ground. “Seems your hair is changing colors, Adwen.”

Leaving him speechless, I took my leave.
 

CHAPTER 16

I settled easily into the room, familiar with it upon first entry—it had been the very room I’d chosen for myself during my time here. A bath sat waiting. Whatever his whoring habits, I appreciated that he’d at least been thoughtful enough to think about what we would need and have it prepared for us ahead of time.
 

It took me all of five seconds to strip out of my filthy riding clothes and sink into the decently warm water. Scented with lavender oil, the smell did help ease my frustration. I moaned as I bent to rub on my heel, pushing and pressing to ease pent-up pressure.
 

 
There was a light knock on the door accompanied by the sound of a woman’s voice.
 

“I doona wish to disturb ye. I just mean to let ye know that there’s a robe for yer use on the bed, and yer belongings have been placed just outside the doorway. Can I help ye with anything else?”

“No. Thank you.”
 

I’d not noticed the robe before but, sure enough, as I twisted in the tub, there it was. Once I heard the woman’s footsteps retreating, I decided it was time to get out of the tub. After slipping into the thick, warm robe, I opened the door to gather my belongings, all of which had been placed with separate horses that had ridden ahead of us.
 

Adwen stood in the doorway.
 

“Jane, I see ye’ve enjoyed a bath.”

“Yes.” I waved my hands downward at the robe in a sort of duh motion that only seemed to cause his eyes to rake over my slightly suggestive apparel. “Are you finished with the tour? Where’s Cooper?”

“Cooper asked if he could stay with Orick. Orick dinna mind so I gave the lad permission.”
 

“The permission wasn’t yours to give, Adwen.” I brushed past him, stepping out into the hallway to gather some of my things. He stopped me before I could reach them, gathering everything up in one armload as he moved to place it near the bed before returning to the doorway to yank me inside.

“Doona expose yerself in the hallway, lass. Ye are no dressed properly.”

I rolled my eyes, thinking back on the naked woman in the window. I hardly thought it proper for her to be baring her nipples for all of the village, but she sure hadn’t seemed to have had any problem with it.
 

Adwen huffed at me with a sound of annoyance, closing the door and trapping me inside with him. “If ye doona wish for Cooper to stay with Orick, I’ll have the lad’s things brought to yer bedchamber, lass. But I can assure ye that Orick will keep him safe. He told the lad he would teach him to shoot a bow, but mayhap ye doona think it a good idea.”

“Of course I don’t care if Cooper stays with Orick. But it should have been me that granted him the permission to do so.”

There was a change in his eyes, as if it was only then that the thought occurred to him. “Ye are right, Jane. Forgive me.”

“Fine. You’re forgiven. Now, leave so that I can change into some real clothes and get ready for supper.”

He nodded and turned away but took only a few steps before he turned around again, a resolve in his eyes that made me immediately nervous.
 

“Is it true what Cooper said? Did ye really live here? In yer own time?”

The question was much more innocent than I expected, and I felt myself relax a little as the warm memories of my time here came back to me once more.
 

“Yes, I did.” I smiled, thinking of the shambles that Kathleen and I had spent several happy months in. “My friend and I—Kathleen, she’s married to Jeffrey—you might have met her at McMillan Castle. Anyhow, we bought this place together with intentions to restore it, but then we ended up back here and all of that sort of came to a stop.”
 

“Restore it?”

“Yes, sometime throughout the next few hundred years, this place falls straight to crap. When we bought it, it was in ruins.”
 

There was real concern in his eyes—anyone who’d witnessed the beauty of the place couldn’t help but be saddened by the knowledge that it wouldn’t remain. “Did ye save it?”

“A little of it, but we were sent back here before we finished, and neither of us have returned since. I’m afraid to see what it would be like now.”

He shrugged. I could tell he wasn’t one to worry about things he couldn’t change. “Mayhap someone else has come along to continue yer work.”

“I hope so.” I caught his eyes sweep over my robe again. “All right Adwen, now it’s time to go.”

“I’m no leaving yet, lass. The hair ye pulled from me coat—it angered ye.”

I ground my teeth together to keep from punching him in the nose. He looked ridiculously pleased with himself.

“Just how did you get that impression? Your private activities are none of my concern.”

He crossed his arms, oozing an air of arrogance that had me twitching in irritation. “Lass, ye believe I bedded the lass whose hair ye found, and ye doona care for it.”

“You are something else, you know it? I didn’t want you. Over and over I made that clear to you. Therefore,” I could feel myself turning into Cooper, over-blabbing as my frustration grew, even though I knew I had no real reason to be frustrated with Adwen. He’d been kind to me, kind to Isobel, and if he slept with every girl in Scotland—which I suspected he was getting pretty close to doing—it was none of my business. In truth, I was frustrated with myself for wanting to drop the robe wrapped around me and pounce on him like a hyena in heat. “I don’t care who you choose to ‘tup.’”

“Aye, ye do, Jane. Ye wish it was ye that I bedded instead.” He took a step toward me, closing the distance between us. I raised my arm to keep him away.

“Are you crazy? Like hell I’d want to sleep with you right after you finished banging somebody else not three hours ago.”