Castle Macgregor lived up to all of Kellie's fantasies. It showed its age as some of the outer stone walls were crumbling but she saw beyond the surface to the beauty and charm of a place that had been built for love. She saw all the possibilities and her face lit up.
Erin watched quietly and listened to the smaller woman's excited chatter as she fawned over everything she saw. She acted like a child let loose in a candy store and the tall woman was mesmerized by the transformation of the heart shaped face.
"As you can see it is rundown," the solicitor said showing her companion through the place.
"It's wonderful," Kellie gasp with delight. "It just needs a little fixing up."
"The little fixing up it needs would run into the hundreds of thousands of pounds," Erin begged to differ. "Than the National Trust would have some say and the whole place would be subject to intense scrutiny."
Kellie made no response but continued to examine the floors and stone stairwells with wooden banisters. The place reeked of decay, but there was an old charm that excited her senses. She thought back to all the lessons she had read in history class and suddenly it all came alive. In her mind she saw so much of what once was and what could be again.
Erin silently followed the smaller woman around. The place had a damp, musty smell that identified its age. The central heating was in despair and there were cracks in the windows. She was a practical woman and saw everything in terms of pounds and pennies. She knew the place could be restored but it would involve a lot of work.
Kellie went from one room to the next unable to stem the flood of ideas that came popping into her head. There was clutter and cobwebs in some of the rooms but others showed signs of extended use.
They finished the tour at one of the two guard towers and she marveled over the scene. She could see for miles and had a clear view of the coast on one side and of the ocean on the other.
"This is simply fabulous," she gushed not quite able to believe what she was seeing.
Erin could not help but be infected by the enthusiasm. A long time had passed but she still could remember her first visit to the castle. As a young child she had explored every crack and crevice allowing her childish fantasies to run wild.
She gazed out over the scenery. She understood her companions delight for the view was magnificent. From their vantage point they could see the swell of the sea and the distant outline of the rugged Scottish coastline.
"There is no phone and electricity is produced by a gas generator. The central heating doesn't really warm the place and it's isolated from the mainland for a good portion of the winter," Erin said when they stepped back outside the towering stone walls.
She didn't know why she was being so negative. She could see by the expression in the smaller woman's face that Kellie had already fallen in love with the place.
"It sounds as if you don't want me to like this place," she said astutely confronting the other woman. Erin smiled weakly.
"I wouldn't encourage it," the tall solicitor was honest. "The place has a reputation that I don't want to see you fulfill."
"What reputation?" Kellie demanded her curiosity piqued.
"Legend has it that those who inherit this place are destined to have a very tremulous love life," she said before pausing to scrutinize the Canadian's features intently. "But I think it's already too late for me to say anything. I think you have already made up your mind."
"Do you think it's stupid?" the smaller woman asked. "Do you think my wanting to live here is a bad idea?"
"No," Erin shook her head. "It is impractical. It will cost you a fortune to run every year."
"But I could fix it up," Kellie suggested.
"Aye," the Scotswoman agreed. "But you have to remember Kellie you also have other responsibilities which will take money. Two hundred and fifty million pounds is an enormous amount but there are plenty of expenses to be considered. Just keeping everything straight with the lawyers and accountants will cost a fortune and than there are the taxes; which can run up to a million pounds per year."
Kellie didn't know what all was involved. She had seen the possibilities and forgotten to consider the realities. She shoved her hands into her pockets and stared out over the lush green fields. In the distance a small flock of sheep were grazing on the land.
"The island isn't self supporting," Erin said gently. "That was one of the reasons Angus got involved in so many other ventures. He needed to raise capital to support the island. The leases from the farmlands don't bring money into the coffers. Unfortunately that is why many of the larger estates are in the hands of the public or run by the National Trust."
"I beg to differ," the smaller woman voiced her objection. "Two hundred and twenty million pounds is more than enough to set everything right."
"Aye, it is," the solicitor agreed solemnly. "But are you ready to devote the time and effort that it will take? Are you ready to put your career plans on hold to see that the job gets done? Once you start something like this Kellie you can't just drop it in the middle because you're tired or bored. The amount of work that is involved is enormous."
It was an honest analysis and one that Kellie seriously needed to consider. She remained quiet. She knew that the other woman was just trying to be sensible but she was not ready to be so easily swayed. She would not accept defeat without first looking at the various options.
"We better get everything sorted out for the evening. It will be dark soon," Erin said with a sigh.
She had seen how her words had extinguished the light in the Canadians face. She hated that she had done that but she was determined to give the younger woman the best possible advice. She didn't want to see the dreams buried under a mountain of responsibilities that Kellie might grow to hate.
While she got the electric generator running in the shed off the pantry, Kellie unearthed enough bedding to make up two rooms on the second floor. Afterwards they retreated to the kitchen and while Erin stoked the ancient wood burning stove she unpacked the few grocery supplies they had brought along.
"I am afraid I wasn't able to get the central heating furnace going," the solicitor admitted in defeat when she returned from the cellar. "I suspect it will be rather chilly tonight, fortunately there is some wood outside that I can use to light fires in the bedrooms."
Kellie nodded and watched as the dark haired woman rinsed the dust from her hands. There was something familiar and comforting in the intimate scene that enveloped them. There was an easy comradeship and for that she was glad. She wanted to be friends with this Scots woman.
That evening they dined at the kitchen table, feasting on spaghetti and fresh salad that they had picked up in the local market in Lamerrant before taking the ferry to the island. The conversation ebbed and flowed naturally in a way that usually only existed in more intimate relationships.
After clearing away the dishes they retired to Angus's old study. A fire was roaring in the grate, heating the chilly room. Together they combed through the old man's papers, sorting through the personal effects the old man had kept and treasured.
It was Kellie who found the box. She dug it out of a bottom drawer of the writing desk. It was worn on the edges and the rubber band holding it together snapped when she touched it. She carefully lifted the lid and found a treasure of old photographs and letters.
"What have you got?" Erin asked curiously leaning over her shoulder.
"A collection of pictures and letters that Angus kept," she murmured quietly continuing to sort through the pile, staring at people she did not recognize and some that she did.
"This is my grandfather," Kellie pointed to a man standing amongst a group of soldiers.
The photo displayed an odd collection of fresh faced young men all decked out in neatly pressed military uniforms. The scrawl on the back noted the names of all those captured on film. It was dated April of 1943.
"You look a lot like him," her companion mused.
"Yes," the blond woman agreed absently as she continued to leaf through the rest of the lot.
She paused when she came to another one that was of particular interest. It was a photograph of Angus and her mother standing next to a horse whose reins were being held by young man. She stared at the photograph lightly running her fingertips over its black and white surface.
"This is my mother," she said unnecessarily for the other woman could see the resemblance. She glanced at the date inscribed on the back and realized that it was taken during her mothers' first visit to the castle. "I was born about ten months later."
Erin wisely remained silent. There were no words adequate for this moment and she quietly moved to a chair by the fire.
Kellie stared at the photograph, feeling a whole gamut of emotions from anger to grief and sadness.
"I don't know why my mother never said anything," she spoke her thoughts out loud. "She knew I was curious and I had asked her about my father often but she always refused to answer my questions. I loved her dearly but I don't think I can't forgive her for that."
Erin felt compassion for the woman. Their circumstances were the same yet also very different. They were both bastard children yet she had grown up knowing who her father was. She had been given the opportunity to get to know the man.
"Sorry," the smaller woman apologized looking across the room at her companion. "I am sure you don't want to hear about my mother and me."
"On the contrary," the solicitor disagreed, genuinely sincere. "I don't mind hearing about your family. What happened took place a long time ago and neither of us had any choice in the matter. My opinion is that we should make the best of an awkward situation."
"But your mother doesn't feel the same way?" Kellie blurted out and than wished she had kept her mouth shut as she saw the grimace that briefly flashed across the other woman's features.
"My mother doesn't have anything against you as a person. She just feels that Angus betrayed her. The reason she bore me was so that he could have an heir. I think she felt she deserved something for that."
"Perhaps she has a valid point," the blond woman said softly. She held up a picture of Angus in his military uniform. "I don't look anything like him and yet you inherited so many of his features."
"All the good ones I hope," Erin offered jokingly but the woman did not seem in a teasing mood. She sobered. "Looks aren't everything and it is fortunate you inherited your mother's features, she looked like she was a beautiful lady."
"She was," Kellie agreed quietly and replaced the picture.
There were many more photographs and letters but she suddenly felt to weary to continue the exploration. She repacked everything in the box and than replaced the lid. She would take it with her and go through its contents again when she was less emotional.
That night Kellie had trouble sleeping weighed down with an overwhelming sense of responsibility for the tenants and the people employed by the castle. She snuggled deep under the covers to avoid the chill that hung in the air despite the warm fire that Erin had built. She hadn't realized the responsibility that was placed on her shoulders and she couldn't help but wonder if she would be capable was carrying the burden.
After breakfast the next morning they borrowed some boots and jackets they found in a cloak room and than tramped around the island. It was a bright clear day but the air was chilly and blowing in from the North Atlantic.
Kellie stood at the edge of the cliff and stared out at the ocean. Water crashed onto the rocks below sending up spray and foam. Seagulls circled overhead. It was a glorious morning and the feel of the stiff wind blowing against her face and curling its invisible fingers through her hair was exhilarating. She felt alive and stronger than she had ever been. She felt like a new person.
Erin glanced sideways at her companion unable to tear her eyes away. She was beautiful with the brush of the wind applying its own rouge upon her cheeks. Her heart jerked nervously. Kellie looked like she belonged here and she realized that she had been wrong to discourage her.
She turned to look out towards the sea, throwing out the rock that she had been carrying. She followed its progress as it disappeared into the boiling white surf at the base of the cliffs. She felt as tremulous as the seas below.
For the first time she understood completely why Angus had not left her the island. She had no real love for this place; at least not the love that would be needed to restore it to its glory. Kellie, on the other hand, had fallen in love with it from the first moment she had heard about the castle.
It was a disquieting realization yet one that she accepted without jealousy. In her heart she knew that Kellie deserved the castle and all the money. When they returned to the castle they settled in the drawing room and spent the reminder of the day going over again what the accountants had said.
Kellie bombarded her companion with questions about every aspect of the property and the businesses in the large portfolio. By the end of the weekend she had a good idea of what would be involved in managing Angus's ancestral estates. She had a clearer concept of what was confronting her.
"What are you thinking about?" Erin asked when she dropped her companion off at the Inn the next evening. The smaller woman had been unusually quiet during their return trip.
"The enormity of the situation," Kellie confessed honestly. "I think it's just dawned on me what you were trying to tell me the other day. You were right to question my sincerity. I don't know if I am fit to handle the legacy that Angus left in my care."
Erin silently cursed her thoughtlessness. She had not meant to discourage the woman or her dreams. She wished that she had kept her mouth shut.
"You don't have to decide anything now," she said quietly. "It will be weeks and possibly months before Angus's will goes through probate. You may have changed your mind about everything by than." She paused. "Why don't you take a holiday? Use some of that money that you have already gotten and go see the rest of Europe. That was what you wanted to do anyway."
"Perhaps your right," Kellie flashed a weary smile. "Maybe I am getting worked up over nothing. Maybe a holiday would settle me down."
"Besides it's not like you have to handle everything on your own," the taller woman said. "You have George Ludden, the accountants and me to help."
"You will help?" the blond woman asked.
"Of course, we are family."
"Thank you." Kellie felt as if the burden was suddenly lifted off her shoulders.
Erin watched as the foreign woman strolled up the steps and disappeared into the Inn. She sat for a while in the car before releasing a heavy sigh and putting the vehicle in gear. She could not dismiss the image of the woman.
There was a message for Kellie at the reception desk. She thanked the clerk and than wandered up the stairs to her room. She tossed the unopened envelope on the bed stand and than sat down on the bed. She knew it was a note from Henry but she was not in the mood to see him that evening.
She undressed and than took a long hot shower, washing away the dusty remnants of the weekend. Combing her hair dry she put on her pajamas and sat back down on the bed.
She lifted her carryall and carefully extracted the battered box that she had taken from Angus' study. She had brought it from the castle unable to leave it behind. She set it gently on the blankets.
She lifted the lid and once more began to leaf through the contents. She stared at the different photographs pausing only when she came upon a single portrait of the man who proclaimed to be her father.
It was an old picture of when the man was much younger. By the date marked on the back she knew that he had just returned from the war. She guessed that he had been about the same age as she was now.
She stared at the picture for a long time as if trying to read what he was thinking when it was taken. There was no expression on the handsome face yet the strength of his personality and character seemed to shine through the lens.
"What was going on in your mind? Why did you do it? Why did you leave me everything?" she wondered out loud but only silence greeted her question. It was a perplexing query and she realized that she would have to find out the answer for herself.
She continued to wade through the man's personal effects, trying to discern something about his character by the possessions he had treasured. Unexpectedly she found a set of photographs that she had missed before. At the very bottom of the box was a collection of more recent pictures.
She scanned them intently, recognizing immediately the individuals in each shot. There was one particularly poignant caption of a man and girl standing together by a rock on the cliff overlooking the sea.
She knew instantly that the child was Erin and she guessed that she was about ten years old when the photo was taken. There were no smiles on either face and their dark hair was ruffled from the wind. The most endearing part of the picture was the way the man had his hand casually draped across the girl's slender shoulders.
Unexpectedly tears misted in her eyes and she hastily wiped them away with the back of her hand. It was obvious that the man had been proud of his daughter. The evidence was in the way he possessively touched the girl.
She took a deep breathe, and thought that Erin might like this photograph. She had told the solicitor that she was taking the box and the tall woman had seemed unconcerned, uninterested in the old man's personal effects.
There were several more photographs of the two together. They were a variety of shots taken over the years during the different holiday seasons the two had spent together. It was an intimate history of a father and daughter and their relationship. She couldn't help wonder what had happened to spoil the affection between the two.
She set them down together an idea forming in her head. Regardless of what the other woman said, instinct told her that the solicitor would appreciate the record of the time she had spent with their father.
In contrast to the neat pile of pictures of the two together there was only one photograph of her with the older man. It was a rather sterile shot that included her mother. It was taken outside the Castle walls and the three of them stood rather stiffly together. There were no smiles on any of their faces. By the date on the back of the picture she knew that she was five years old at the time. It was funny how she could remember nothing about her previous visit to the castle.
Tears once again blurred her eyes and this time she did not wipe them away. She allowed them to roll quietly down her cheeks, giving vent to the sadness that she felt. She put the photographs away and turned to a small packet of letters that were bound together.
She stayed up well into the night reading the contents of each page. It was a difficult job made harder by the fact that the paper was yellowed and the ink blurred by time.
There were letters from Erin's mother and surprisingly several from her own mother as well. They were brief memos, impersonal in nature and filled with every day news that could easily been passed between distant acquaintances. None contained the intimacy that one would think to find in letters between old lovers.
However, there was one central theme in all the missives. The letters were filled with the details of the lives of two children, growing up an ocean apart yet bound together by only one common denominator, the man himself.
She repacked everything in the box and than stowed it in the cupboard of the nightstand. She turned off the lights and lay down staring through the darkness towards the ceiling. It was a strange mood that she found herself in and in the silent darkness she decided that perhaps she should take Erin's advice.
She had been in Scotland for two weeks already but it seemed like a much longer. She rolled onto her side and closed her eyes, trying to sleep.
The next morning she hurried over to the offices of Ludden, Gates and Mcfadden where George Ludden confirmed Erin's assertion that the Will would remain in probate for several weeks.
"I was thinking of taking a short holiday," she explained the reason for her query.
"That is a splendid idea," he said. He had come to like the unpretentious young woman. "You need a break from here. If you like I could give Henry time off so he could accompany you."
"No, thank you," Kellie said quickly. "I think I need to be alone to sort this all out."
"Certainly," the man acceded and she hoped that he would not be offended by her rejection of his offer.
She liked the man's son but she had no intention of getting involved in any type of relationship with the younger man. She had no intention of getting involved with anyone. To invite the man along on holiday would only be sending the wrong message.
On the way back to the Inn she stopped in at a travel agency and with the help of the friendly agent, booked passage across to the continent. She needed to get away for a while, to clear her head and absorb what had happened in the last while.
Two days later she departed from Edinburgh just as the city was being doused with a heavy rain shower. It was a grey and somber day but it reaffirmed that she had been right to take a vacation abroad. It was sunny and warm when she landed in Portugal.
Lady Shannon allowed her eyes the privilege of following the man as he moved around the room. She watched as her host re-lit the candle that had burned down. She noted the graceful movement of his lean muscular body. The knot in her stomach tightened and her heart quickened its beat. Her husband had lied but she did not know his purpose. This man was not a beast. The attentive way he had administered to her had proven that.
She stared at him, unused to the unfamiliar emotions that the man evoked with his mere presence. Immoral thoughts filled her head and when he turned to look at her, she flushed. There was a small, disarming smile on his lips and a dark brooding look in his deep blue eyes.
Her heart suddenly contracted and she was unexpectedly assaulted with the desire to rush across the room and press her soft lips against his body. Never more than at this minute had she wished that she was still unmarried and free to give herself to any man.
She had been a virgin when she had married her husband and innocent of the ways between men and woman. She had heard whispers from her sisters about their marriages but she had not understood. Now she could not help wonder if all men behaved the same within the marriage bed. Unexpectedly she wanted to find out with this stranger.
Erin had been kept busy with the trial, all her attention wrapped up in the proceedings. As usual she devoted all her energies to the process not allowing herself the luxury of worrying about anything else. However, this time she found her mind wandering.
She knew the source of her distraction. She had been thinking a lot about her Canadian sister. Not all the thoughts had been pure and for that she felt shame. She needed to remind herself that they shared the same father.
She was relieved when the proceedings were finally exhausted and her client was pronounced innocent of the charges. The jury had only taken a few hours to deliberate and the judge had concurred with their verdict.
She felt like celebrating the victory and on a whim she drove down to the Inn intent on sharing her success with her new sibling. Her disappointment was palpable when she learned from the front desk clerk that Kellie had gone off to the continent on holiday. Instead of celebrating she returned to the office.
"You don't look very happy," Debra McHadden remarked when her boss walked through the door. "Was it a bad loss?"
"No," Erin shook her head and than gave her a false smile. "We won."
"Than why the long face?" the older woman queried. It was unusual for her employer to be so stolic, especially after winning in court.
"No reason," the solicitor shrugged and tried to appear businesslike. "Did anything important come in today's post?"
"No," the secretary shook her head, "and I cleared your docket for the afternoon. I didn't know how long you would be."
Erin nodded her head thoughtfully and than collected the letters which needed her attention. She moved towards her office, pausing to look at the secretary only once she had reached the doorway.
"Did you know that Kellie had gone on holidays?"
"Yes," the other woman smiled. "She stopped by last week. You were out of the office. She said that she would be gone a month. I think she mentioned that she was going to Spain and Portugal. It seems she has always wanted to see those countries. She said you had given her the idea."
"Aye," the solicitor nodded pensively and than walked into her office, closing the door behind her.
The month turned into more than six weeks and when Kellie finally returned to the cold grey skies of Scotland she was bubbling with ideas of how she would make it work. While on a day trip through the Spanish countryside she had happened across an old Castle that had been renovated into an Inn.
She had fallen in love with the idea and had gone back to the place the next day and stayed several nights absorbing the ambience and talking with the owners to see how it all worked. She had no illusions that the task would be easy, but she had created a concrete idea.
It was as if the trip had opened her mind to a whole new world for she had picked up her pen and paper and began to write like she had not done in a long time. By the time she returned to Edinburgh she was glowing and the first person she wanted to share it with was her sister.
Erin was surprised yet immensely pleased when Kellie appeared at her office unannounced. For a moment she was unable to take her eyes off the smaller woman's face. Her skin glowed and her green eyes sparkled. The smile was back but her long hair was gone, cut into an elegant short style that accented the delicate features of her oval face.
"How was your holiday?" the solicitor asked leaning back in her chair.
"Great and I have the most wonderful idea for Loch Loe and Castle Macgregor," Kellie said, her enthusiasm bubbling out of her. The smile seemed permanently fixed on her lips and in her eyes. The taller woman looked at her dubiously.
"Is it going to cost money?"
"Everything costs money," the blond woman said blithely walking around the desk and looping her arm through the taller woman's and helping her to her feet. The younger woman smelled of fresh air and good health. "Come to lunch with me and I will explain everything. Mrs. McHadden said you had no appointments scheduled for this afternoon."
Erin had cleared the day so she could clean up work that she had been putting off. She saw all those plans suddenly go up in smoke yet she was not upset. She retrieved her coat and they walked down the block to her favourite pub. They ordered fish and chips and mugs of ale.
"So tell me about these plans you have?" she said when the waitress had set their glasses on the table.
"First let me tell you about Spain," Kellie said taking a huge swallow of her drink before launching into a complete expose of her brief holiday.
Erin listened unable to tear her eyes away from the small face. Kellie's hands were moving animatedly as she explained the places she had been and the people she had met. There was a natural excitement and the solicitor's heart did unexpected things.
Suddenly she found herself wishing that she had been there with the other woman. She remembered the wonderment that Kellie had expressed when they had first visited Loch Loe. She wondered if the younger woman would ever lose that childlike awe and she found herself hoping not.
"Which leads us to my idea," Kellie said finally, winding down her story.
"Aye," Erin said lightly infected by the enthusiasm, "here it comes. What is the problem?"
"It is no problem," the blond woman said the smile slowly disappearing from her face.
She had forgotten the solicitor's cryptic words when they had been at Loch Loe together. She had been so excited by her idea that she had not stopped to consider others would be less enthusiastic.
"I remember what you said about the Castle and the island not paying for itself. I found a way it could."
"What did you find out?" Erin was intrigued.
"I found this really delightful place along the coast of Spain. It was an old Castle that once belonged to some minor Spanish nobleman. It was a beautiful place positioned on a cliff overlooking the sea.
"The owners were a middle aged couple and they turned it into an Inn. When I saw it I thought it would be perfect for Castle Macgregor. A vacation resort or it could be marketed as a place to honeymoon. The setting and its history would be perfect."
"It would cost a fortune to put the place into shape for paying guests." Erin didn't want to appear negative but she felt compelled to advise of the risks.
"I realize that and I know you said it would cost a fortune to fix up the place but once it was done, Loch Loe could support itself," she said.
"The National Trust might not agree to the idea," the dark haired woman said doubtfully, not wanting the smaller woman to get her hopes to high in case they were flattened by the authorities.
"I will persuade them," came the confident reply. "Certainly they could have no objections if they knew we were going to restore the place."
Erin was silent as she pondered the idea. She had to admit that the concept had merit. She had always thought the island would be an excellent place for a vacation spot and the notion of appealing to newlyweds was certainly a positive idea.
"I know I'm not a businesswoman but the more I thought about it the more sensible it seemed," Kellie explained. "It would create jobs for the people living on the island and the Castle would become self supporting."
"You could be right," Erin agreed after a lengthy silence. "The hard part will be the National Trust."
"You mean you don't think it's a stupid idea?" the smaller woman was incredulous that her companion had so easily agreed with her idea.
"Does it matter what I think?" Erin asked lightly. "The Castle and Loch Loe belong to you. You can do whatever you want with them."
"It does matter what you think," Kellie disagreed. "I was left the castle but you are also Angus's heir. It's important that we agree on this."
"What would you do if I didn't?" the tall woman wondered curiously and the other woman shrugged.
"I don't honestly know," there was a slight pause and their eyes met. "I do know that it would hurt me to think of the centuries old treasure standing alone and empty, neglected until it settles into a crumbling pile of rocks."
The image of her words evoked a caring attitude in her companion. Loch Loe was her ancestral home regardless if Angus had not left it to her. She knew the place was integral in her family history.
"Well, I suggest the first thing you do is write up a business plan and approach the National Trust and see if they will let the idea fly. You need to be prepared, have all your ideas formulated and be willing to commit all the time and money that will be needed."
Kellie smiled aware that she had won her sister over. She knew that it would take a lot of hard work yet she was buoyed with a sense of purpose that had long been missing from her life. She wanted to fling her arms around the taller woman's neck and kiss her soundly but she restrained the urge.
"Thank you," she said instead and the woman glanced sharply up in her direction.
"For what?"
"For not being priggish about this," Kellie replied.
"Don't thank me yet Kellie Macgregor," Erin warned. "Once you have started this project I will make certain you complete it. I, too, have an affection for the place and would love to see it restored to its former glory."
"I shall not fail you," the blond woman gave her a quick salute. "And you are hereby cordially invited to be the first official guest."
"Do I have to bring a spouse?" Erin asked drawing a laugh from the other woman.
"Spouses will be optional," Kellie paused. "However, I do have a favour to ask of you?"
"Okay, here it comes," the Scotswoman said soberly. "What is it you want?"
"Well, I want this thing to work so I will need your help," the small woman confided. "I don't mean with the physical labour or anything like that but it has come to my attention that you are a well known solicitor and if you were to attach your name to the project than I suspect it would help me."
Erin was silent as she considered what the other woman said. It was true the National Trust would look on the project with a different light knowing that there was a local resident as one of the sponsors.
"Is that all you want?"
"That and some help with writing the proposal," Kellie added and the tall woman laughed.
"I think I can help with that," Erin nodded with satisfaction before digging into her plate of chips. "Oh, and before I forget, I like your new hairstyle."
Kellie beamed, pleased that the other woman had noticed.
Chapter Six
The first thing that Kellie did after leaving Erin at her office was to return to the Inn. She sat down on her bed with a pen and paper in hand and very carefully priorized her life. There were certain things that needed to be done and she had to have all her affairs straightened out before she could commence with her plans.
She decided to retain Ludden, Gates and Mcfadden as her solicitors and after meeting once again with the accountants she continued her business association with them. To that end she pestered them relentlessly about various details of Angus's holdings. She spent endless hours scrutinizing the accounts ledgers and analyzing all the available data. After endless hours of research it was finally beginning to make sense.
It was a vast and disconnected empire and Kellie saw immediately where changes could be made. She discussed her plans for the island with Erin who approached each suggestion with thoughtful caution.
With Erin's help she managed to secure reliable transportation that gave her the freedom to move about independently. Rather than look for a flat she decided to remain at the Inn. The stay was costing her nothing and she was starting to think of the staff as an extended family.
Over the next several weeks she spent her time traveling around the Kingdom, visiting the various places in which Angus had investments. She toured the shops and spoke with the managers hoping to gain an insight into the way the businesses were run.
Initially many of the people were distrustful when she mentioned who she was and why she was there, but her natural charm and disarming manner quickly won them over. On several occasions she was invited into the manager's homes for dinner. All the while she took notes and observed.
It did not take her long to see how wisely Angus had diversified his money. Besides the Inn, which catered to an older clientele, Angus owned a small glass works factory and several dozen retail properties. He had commercial interests in several larger international firms and a multitude of shares in a foreign shipping company.
October was suddenly upon them and before she realized it she had been in Scotland for four months. The weather was turning cold so she went out shopping and purchased the necessary clothing to shield herself from the onset of winter.
"When will you be coming home dear?" Aunt Margaret asked the next time they talked on the phone.
"I don't know if I'm coming home," Kellie admitted honestly. She took a deep breathe and than told the older woman everything that had been happening in the last month. "Until I know what's going to happen, I can't say for sure when or if I'm coming back."
"I suppose this was bound to happen," Margaret sighed. "It was inevitable that you leave. You always had this ambition to do something different. In that way you are a lot like your mother was when she was younger."
"What happened?" Kellie asked with some emotion.
"She had you," came the soft reply. "Don't misunderstand, she loved you and wouldn't have traded having you for anything but it changed her life. It changed her plans."
There was silence for a moment as Kellie struggled with her emotions.
"I want all of you to come out for Christmas," she said changing the subject. "I want you to see Loch Loe and the Castle."
"I'm not sure we can afford it dear," the older woman sighed regretfully.
"You don't have to worry about money, it will be my treat," the younger woman reminded gently. "I want you all to come."
"I'll talk to Shaun and Marnie," Margaret promised.
Kellie felt slightly depressed after ringing off. She missed her Aunt and cousin and the dinners they used to share every Sunday after church. To dispel the feelings that the phone call evoked she decided to make another trip out to Loch Loe.
Returning to the island she tried to image herself as a tourist coming to see it for the first time. This trip was different than the rest as a thin blanket of snow covered the ground. The trip across the narrow channel was treacherous and the cold wind against her skin was rough and chafing. As she stood out on deck, staring at the island, a flush of pride swept over her at the knowledge that it was all hers.
She spent the next two days wandering over the property taking down notes and trying to get a picture of what it would be like when it was completed. She walked the whole width and breadth of the island and at the evening she sat in front of a crackling fire. She talked to Morris Leach about taking care of the Castle in her absence and he readily agreed.
In the evenings she spent hours pouring over the two tomes that Erin had sent to her. It had vivid descriptions of the people who had once lived in the castle and details of their everyday life. There were sketches of various ancestors and even an occasional drawing of the castle or a room within. It was an abundant source of information that Kellie knew she could use in the restoration process.
When she returned to Edinburgh she shared her findings with Erin as she did after every fact finding trip. They discussed the various things she had seen and learned while developing a business plan. Kellie was eternally grateful to her half sister for all the support that she was receiving.
"We have to get together soon to write that proposal for the National Trust," Kellie reminded her companion when they walked back to the solicitor's office one afternoon after having shared lunch.
"I managed to secure a meeting with them in two weeks time when I collected the necessary forms from their office this morning. I didn't know that there would be this much paperwork to fill out." Kellie held out a brown leather satchel that was filled with official looking papers.
"They do thrive on their paperwork," the tall woman chuckled and suggested. "Listen I'm finished for the day so why don't you let me take you home tonight and cook you dinner?"
Kellie knew she should reject the invitation, she had made plans to go out with Henry that evening, but she suddenly wanted to be with this woman more than anyone else in the world. She knew that she would have to stop and analyze those feelings but for now she pushed them down and gave in to her desire.
"I'd love that," she readily agreed. "Is there a phone I could borrow, I need to make a call?"
"Certainly, there is one in the conference room," Erin said and directed her to the room once they reached the office.
Kellie called Henry. The man was considerably disappointed. He had been courting her as attentively as he could yet he seemed to be going nowhere. She was deliberately keeping him at a distance and he didn't understand why.
They took a car from Erin's office. Kellie settled comfortably into the plush seat of the sedan and watched the streets go by. The solicitor lived in a wonderful old row house in an upscale area of the city.
It was a charming three storey affair unusually large for a single woman. It had hardwood floors and real wood moldings. The ceilings were high and the place had a light airy feeling. It was completely modern with plush throw rugs and sofas. There was a fireplace in the sitting room and a private study on the second floor. The kitchen had all the newest gadgets.
"This place is wonderful," Kellie gushed after getting the grand tour. "Did you do it all yourself?"
"I had help from one of my cousins," Erin admitted pleased that the other woman liked the place. "She owns a decorating business. Remind me to give you her number. She would be a good one to call to help you with the castle."
"I will have to keep that in mind," the smaller woman nodded thoughtfully following her hostess into the kitchen. "This is such a big place don't you ever feel lost."
"Sometimes," the Scotswoman agreed amicably collecting a variety of food stuffs and pans from the cupboard. "But when I bought this place I considered that eventually I would get married and have children."
"What if your husband didn't want to live in the city?" the blond woman asked leaning against the counter and watching as she worked.
"I never thought about that," the solicitor shrugged and than flashed her companion a smile. "I guess I would have to throw her back and find someone else."
"Typical," Kellie snorted and lightly punched her companion's arm. She felt an unexpected thrill at the knowledge that her sister was gay. "Do you want some help?"
"Nope, just sit back and enjoy," Erin said turning the dials on the stove, glad that her admission had not changed the other woman's opinion of her. She had worried about making the confession but she knew that evidently the truth would have to come out if they were to remain friends.
"You really know what you are doing?" the blond woman seemed unconvinced.
"Absolutely," the tall woman assured her. "Why don't you believe me?"
"You seem like a person who would have a housekeeper or something," Kellie paused and looked critically at her companion. "Do you do your own cleaning too?"
"The daily chores," Erin admitted reluctantly. "Mrs. Brown, a local lady comes in twice a week to give the place a thorough go over and occasionally she will cook me up something but otherwise I do it all myself."
"I am impressed," the small woman smiled impishly. "Perhaps if your law career ever goes down the tubes I might be able to hire you to work as a chambermaid at my new Inn."
"Will I have to wear a skirt?" the solicitor inquired innocently.
"Do you have the legs for it?" the Canadian asked with a laugh.
It was a pure sound that came from deep inside her and bubbled up through her body and out between her lips. It was a pleasant sound and Erin found herself wanting to hear more of it. She determined in that instant that she would do whatever she could to make the smaller woman laugh.
She cooked a rice and vegetable dish, steaming the concoction to a tenderness that left Kellie a definite fan of her culinary skills. Throughout the whole preparation and meal she kept her sister laughing with anecdotes of her childhood and mixing in the occasionally story of her days in public school and than later in university.
In response Kellie confided the joys of growing up in the country on her grandfather's farm where she learned to ride horses and cows alike. She described some of the antics that Shaun and her got up too when they were children and finished on a more serious note by telling of the chilling days that surrounded her mother's illness and finally her death.
They shared stories of their school days and commiserated about the difficulties they faced in their working lives. They talked non-stop and it was late before either of them realized how much time had passed. They were sitting in the drawing room in front of a fire when Kellie happened to glance at the clock on the mantle.
"I think it's time that we tackle the paperwork," the smaller woman suggested even though she would have rather spent the rest of the evening talking with the tall woman.
"Aye," Erin agreed as she watched the other woman retrieve a stack of papers from a satchel she had brought with her.
It was after midnight when they finally noticed the time again. They had managed to fill out most of the necessary forms and sketched out a basic formula for the letter that they would be including with their submission.
"Oh goodness, look what time it is," Kellie muttered jumping to her feet.
"I will drive you back to the Inn," the solicitor offered slowly climbing to her feet. She didn't want this evening to end.
"No, I will call a taxi," Kellie declined. She didn't want Erin to go back out on a night like this. It was cold and windy. "Thank you very much for a lovely evening."
"We will have to do it again sometime," she said following her to the door and helping with her jacket.
"I would like that," the blond woman agreed not pleased to be going back out into the night. Their eyes met. "It's nice to have a home cooked meal. The staff at the Inn are wonderful but sometimes you just want a place of your own."
"Than why don't you move in here with me?" Erin asked uncertain as to where the words had come from. "As you can see I have plenty of room."
Kellie smiled her heart beating rapidly. If circumstances had been different she would have jumped at the opportunity but as it stood now she could not accept.
"I appreciate the offer but I will only be at the Inn for another month or so. Regardless of what happens with the people from the National Trust, I have decided to move out to Castle Macgregor and fix it up," she smiled and instinctively leaned forward and laid a kiss on the other woman's cheek. "Thank you again for dinner."
Before Erin had a chance to say anything she was gone, out the door and down the steps to where the taxi was waiting. The skin on her cheek burned and she felt an incredible sadness as she watched the commercial vehicle drive away.
Ewan was uncertain he could abide by the promise he had made to the Lady. His heart ached with love and his loins burned with desire. He had never wanted anyone as much as he wanted his brother's wife.
He paced around his bedchamber cursing the world for his misfortune. He had entered into a legal contract with her father and had trusted the man to honour the bargain. But the man had betrayed that trust and now he lived with that agony.
All evening he had struggled with his control, behaving as a true gentleman when all he longed to do was reach out and pull her into his arms. He would have taken her there on the rug in front of the fire, exhausting them both with pleasure. He would have satisfied her like his brother would never be able to do. He longed for that one chance.
He stepped to the window and stared out. He longed for the storm never to end so that he could keep the woman here forever. But already the winds were beginning to abate and the flurries of snow had grown less thick. It would only be a matter of hours before it ended and than the fight would surely begin.
Lady Shannon waited for the handmaiden to return with the warm milk she had requested. She was unable to sleep. Her mind was tormented with thoughts of the man who held her captive. There were still so many unanswered questions. She knew of her husbands hate for the man but no longer believed the reason.
"The Lord seems a lonely man," she said idly to the maiden when she returned. "Why is it he has never married?"
"The Lord was betrothed to a young lady for a very long time. He built this Castle in her honour but as their wedding day approached her father broke the engagement and she married another man. My Lord has not been able to forget that."
"Surely he will marry?" Lady Shannon said curiously.
"Perhaps in time," the handmaiden said sadly shaking her head. "But for now the Lord's heart is still to deeply consumed by the woman."
Lady Shannon watched solemnly as the old woman departed. She felt envy for this woman that her host loved and she wondered what it would be like to have someone so besotted with her. She had no illusions, though her husband coveted her, there was no special affection for her in his heart. She was but a vessel for him to plant the seed of his next generation.
She lay under the blankets. The storm was abating and soon her husband would be coming for her. That realization made her unhappy.
Kellie huddled into her down jacket and stared out at the sea. It was a cold day. The sky was grey and snow was falling in huge flakes, cloaking the ground. She stomped her feet and shoved her hands deeper into the pockets of her jacket. She turned and walked back to the Castle savouring the biting chill as it crept through her clothes and into her body.
She had been at Loch Loe for two weeks now. She had traveled there directly after her meeting with the people at the National Trust. They had been skeptical of her motives and worried that she would change the island into some gaudy tourist attractions that was so popular with North American resorts.
It had taken all her skill as an orator to convince them otherwise and her passion had finally breeched their Scottish reserve. They were satisfied with her plan but needed to take it before the Board to pass and approve the plan.
She had come here to Loch Loe to await the news, spending the long idle hours writing and rummaging through the Castle. It was a glorious time and words seemed to pour from her head and onto the paper. The Castle seemed to make ideas explode inside her head.
She wandered down to the village Loch Loe. Morris Leach always collected the post from the
mainland and kept it there at his house for her to collect. It meant spending an hour having tea with his wife but the woman was pleasant and eager to fill Kellie in on all the local gossip. Roma Leach was a great source of information, filling her in on the area's local history.
That morning she had received the news she had been waiting for. The letter from the National Trust offices informed her that all her plans conformed with their ideals and that she was granted permission to proceed with renovations using certain guidelines underlined.
She was ecstatic at the news and immediately wanted to share it with the world. She rang Erin but she was in court. Her disappointment was palpable and she was assaulted again with the knowledge that she was really alone in the world.
She moped around only for a minute before deciding to head back into Edinburgh and surprise her sister with a visit. In the last two weeks she had missed her company. She had missed her much more than anyone she had ever met. She initially put it down to being alone in a strange country but she knew that if she bothered to analyze things more she would come to another conclusion, so she preferred not to think of the reasons.
She had to wait for the evening ferry and she stood now on the deck as the boat slowly pulled away from shore. She hunched her shoulders against the cold kept warm by the fire of her thoughts.
It was dark and well after the supper hour by the time she finally got into Edinburgh. She stopped at a local shop and bought a bottle of wine for celebrations. She parked her car in front of the solicitor's house and than bounded up the path. The door was answered after the second summons.
"They gave me the okay," she exclaimed as soon as Erin opened the door. She flung herself into the taller woman's arms.
"That's great," the solicitor was genuinely happy for her sibling.
"Now I can get started," Kellie said when they finally stepped apart and held up the bottle of champagne she carried. "I thought we could celebrate."
Erin smiled as the smaller woman waved the bottle in front of her. There was nothing more that she wanted to do than celebrate the occasion but there was something else. Before she could say anything their intimate scene was interrupted by a shrill feminine voice.
"Who is it Erin?"
Kellie glanced over her companions shoulder to see a lovely red headed woman standing in the hallway. Erin immediately released her grip, her blue eyes lingering on the small woman's oval face. Slowly she turned and made the introductions.
"Rosemary this is my sister Kellie," she introduced the two women. "Kellie this is Rosemary Townsend. She is a colleague of mine."
"Sister?" there was surprise and skepticism in the other woman's face. She looked at Erin. "I didn't know you had a sister."
"Until four months ago I didn't know I had a sister either," Kellie blurted out with a smile that did not reach her eyes. She was unexpectedly devastated at finding a woman here but she didn't let it show. She moved forward extending her hand.
"It was quite a surprise to the both of us," she continued hoping to ease the tension of the awkward situation. "Angus wasn't the most discreet man there might be more of us out there."
"You don't look at all a like," the woman murmured doubtfully and Kellie glanced back at Erin and flashed a smile.
"I keep telling her it's a good thing too," she shot back with humour and the other woman relaxed.
"Kellie was the one who inherited Loch Loe," Erin interjected and the woman was surprised again.
"Yes and I just came to tell Erin that I got the okay from the National Trust. You see I am going to convert the Castle into a holiday Inn."
The woman looked genuinely alarmed as her eyes flew to the solicitor.
"You didn't tell me you didn't inherit the island?" There was a hint of accusation in the redheaded voice.
"It didn't seem important," Erin defended herself. "The place is expensive and Kellie's idea is very practical. I will always be able to go back and visit."
"And I will give you a discount on your room," Kellie teased good naturedly and than turned back to the solicitor. "I do apologize for intruding. This was such good news I had to share it with someone."
"We can still celebrate," Erin offered but Kellie immediately shook her head. She could feel the tension that her appearance had brought.
"No. I won't intrude any longer," she smiled brightly and shook the redhead's hand. "It was nice to meet you and I hope we will meet again."
With that she turned and scampered back out into the night. Erin didn't want her to leave yet under the circumstances she couldn't make her stay. She shut the door and turned to her companion. She knew that Rosemary would have more questions. They started the instant she turned around.
"Is she the reason I haven't seen you lately?" the redhead asked bluntly.
"What are you implying?"
"That something is going on between you two," Rosemary said with a hint of jealousy.
"For God's sakes we are sisters," Erin retorted angrily, hating the insinuation, aware that it was very close to the truth of what she was feeling. "And even if we weren't it is none of your business. We have never had an exclusive relationship."
"No, we haven't," the other woman said. "But that is only because you haven't wanted to make any type of commitment."
"No, I haven't wanted to make a commitment," the dark haired solicitor agreed. "If that is what you are waiting for from me than I am sorry if won't happen."
This dinner date had been a spur of the moment decision and the result of being unable to get thoughts of Kellie out of her head. She had tried to reason that she was just lonely and that seeing someone else would rectify the situation. She hadn't been with anyone since before her sister's appearance. But almost from the beginning she had sensed that it was a mistake. She could not replace one woman with someone else.
"Perhaps I should go," Rosemary made the suggestion, hoping that the other woman would beg her to stay.
"Perhaps you should," Erin agreed aware that this was the end of the relationship they had shared.
In the end Kellie did not go to the Inn but headed back to Loch Loe, driving through the night disturbed by the feelings of jealousy that had assaulted her at the redhead's presence. Erin was only her sister and could do what she wanted with her life, including having a girlfriend. Angrily she chided herself for being foolish. Erin had a right to have a life beyond her existence. She caught the morning ferry to the island feeling more alone than at any time since her mother had died and not understanding the reasons for her feelings.
Kellie moped around the Castle for the next two days, the joy of her project somehow gone. She did not want to analyze her feelings. She did not want to think about there source. The only way she was able to stop dwelling on her feelings was to throw herself into work and for that Morris Leach proved invaluable. Kellie consulted him on all aspects of the construction including which of the local contractors to employ. As a newcomer to the tightly knit community she knew she had to earn these peoples trust and respect. One way of doing that was to use as many of the locals as possible.
To that end she hired a local stone mason to do the work on the exterior of the Castle. Not only did the man come highly recommended but he worked with his two sons. She liked the idea of a small family enterprise working under her service.
For the next few weeks there was a steady stream of contractors tramping through the Castle giving her ideas and cost quotes while she gave them various specifications. She was on a limited budget and she was determined to stay within the financial constraints that she had drawn up. She had no desire to approach Erin about getting additional funds.
At night she had time to contemplate her situation. She wandered through the draughty castle trying to image what it would look like when she was done. She also wondered where she would be. She had grown to love Scotland in the short time she had been there and she knew she could adjust to the damp cold winters. She just did not know whether she would find peace in her personal life.
She thought what Erin had said. According to legend those who dwelled in the Castle had tremulous love lives. It appeared that she would also fall victim to the same legend. She had hoped the state of her feelings would lessen being away from the woman but they continued to linger. She had enjoyed the solicitors company too much to forget so easily, and that bothered her.
It was the first of December when Kellie received word from George Ludden that the Will had cleared probate and that she was needed in Edinburgh to sign the final papers that would transfer all of Angus's assets to her possession. She was happy with the news for it meant that work on the Castle could go ahead.
The very next day she headed to the city, intent on completing the paperwork and getting back to the Castle to start the renovations. She had lined up all the contractors who were now just waiting for the word to get under way.
"Just sign here and you will become the wealthiest woman in the land," the solicitor said and after a moment of hesitation Kellie dutifully signed the papers where he pointed. "There everything is now complete. You are now officially the owner of Loch Loe and Castle Macgregor."
She smiled and accepted the congratulations from the small contingent that had gathered to witness the transfer of ownership. Kellie glanced uneasily around the room. She was not entirely comfortable with the knowledge that she was the richest woman in Scotland.
"Perhaps we should celebrate," Henry suggested. He was not at all pleased about the amount of time she had been spending in the country.
"I had planned on getting right back to Loch Loe," she confessed.
"Surely you could postpone the trip for one evening," he lamented with a pout. "I haven't gotten a chance to see you hardly at all this last while and I've missed you horribly."
"That is very nice of you to say," she doubted the man's sincerity but said nothing. "However, I do have some other business I must take care of."
"Well, if you change your mind I shall be here until five and than at home," the man could not hide his disappointment. "You do still have my number, don't you?"
"Yes, Henry," she smiled. "If my plans change I will call you."
"I will wait patiently by the phone," he said gallantly giving her a gentlemanly bow.
It was nice that he was such an attentive suitor and she wished that she had some affection for the man. She thought that he probably could be quite a pleasant husband and lover unfortunately she had no interest in him.
She paid a visit to her banker to ensure that all her accounts were straightened out and than drove over to Erin's office. She sat outside in her car for a long while before she summoned the courage to go inside.
Erin was overjoyed when Mrs. McHadden announced that Kellie was there to see her. She had not been able to contact the smaller woman after that evening she had come round to celebrate for Kellie had locked herself away on the island out of immediate reach. She knew she could have left a message or sent something by way of post but instinctively she sensed the blond woman wanted to be alone. She hoped that whatever had caused the Canadian to run away that evening was gone.
She waited anxiously for the smaller woman to enter her office. She had missed her incredibly over the past several weeks. Her heart beat just a little faster and a butterfly fluttered in the depths of her stomach. Quietly she reined her emotions in, realizing that it was fruitless to think of anything more than friendship. They were related by blood.
Erin watched as Kellie came bounding into the room, her body hidden under a thick layer of clothing. Her cheeks were pink from the chilly fresh air and a red woolen cap was perched on top of her head. There was the usual smile on her face but it didn't reach her green eyes. Her voice sounded happy but it had a false ring to the echo. She wondered if she was only imagining things.
"I was just in the city to sign some papers for Mr. Ludden when I thought I would pop in and invite you to the Castle for the weekend. I am clearing out the place room by room in preparation for the contractors and I thought you might like some of the stuff."
"You're not tossing everything out are you?" the solicitor asked with a frown.
"Of course not," Kellie assured her. "I'm getting all the furniture restored for later use. The stuff I'm talking about is the personal effects and the other invaluable junk."
Erin was thoughtful. She couldn't think of anything that the old man had that she wanted. She shook her head and said as much. Kellie eyed her carefully sensing her mood. She was not her usual self.
"There are so many wonderful pictures there," she said quietly.
"I said there was nothing that Angus had that I want."
Kellie was silent for a moment as she studied the older woman's features. There was something distinctively odd about her this day. She longed to ask her the source but thought she might invade her privacy. She shrugged helplessly.
"Perhaps than you would like to just come up and see what changes I plan to make."
"I am sure they will be fine," Erin said. She longed to accept the invitation but felt that because of her feelings it would not be a good idea. "I am sure you are following the National Trust's guidelines to the letter."
"Yes," the Canadian nodded, there was a soft appeal in her voice, "but I would like your approval."
"Why?" the solicitor repeated a question she had asked once before.
"The Castle bears your name. I want you to be as proud of it as I will be."
Erin looked at her and saw the seriousness of her other woman's features. She knew that Kellie was only trying to include her where their father had left her out. She wanted to share her joy but she knew a weekend at the Castle would not be a good idea.
"I have other plans for this weekend," she lied and Kellie saw the truth. She was indelibly hurt but controlled the disappointment.
"Well, if you change your mind or your plans fall through you are welcome," she said and than paused. "You are always welcome at the Castle. It is yours as much as it is mine."
With that she departed, leaving the solicitor staring after her. She knew that her casual rejection of her invitation had been a way of protecting them both.
In an attempt to erase the scene from her head, Kellie called Henry the minute she stepped out of the office, arranging to meet him for dinner. She had not brought any fancy clothes to the city so they had to settle on going out for a casual meal and a film. But no matter how hard she tried she was unable to put the disappointment she felt about the older woman out of her head or her heart.
Lady Erin watched from the window in her bedchamber as her host tramped through the snow towards the Castle. The storm had abated and though grey clouds still hovered over the sky, the snow had ceased and the wind had fallen to a whisper.
It was odd how her thinking had changed over the last few days. She had gone from feeling like a hostage to that of a guest, and the man who had captured her, she could only now think of as a host. He had treated her better than most of the homes she had visited since her marriage.
She stared at the man as he approached. He was tall with broad shoulders and thick arms. She found herself wondering what it would be like to be crushed in his embrace or how it would feel to have the power of his body move in her.
She shivered and stepped back from the window, sitting forlornly on the edge of the bed. She did not love her husband and certainly there would be no pleasure in going back with him, but there was nothing else she could do. She was his wife.
Ewan entered the warmth of the castle, stamping the snow off his boots before replacing them with a dry pair. It had been three days since the storm had died and still there was no sign of his brother. He could not believe the man would not come to retrieve his bride. He cursed the older man and wondered what game he was playing. He retired to his bedchamber and dressed for dinner. He eagerly looked forward to spending time with the woman yet it was becoming hard for him to contain his emotions.
That night she looked as radiant as ever and his heart pounded deafeningly in his chest. They played cards and other games and he had a hard time keeping his eyes off her face.
Lady Shannon was warm, flushed with a fever of unknown origin. Her eyes watched his large hands as they dealt the cards. She wondered how they would feel cupping her tender young breasts. She stared at his lips and wondered how they would taste, firmly pressed against her mouth.
She squeezed her legs shut aware of the erratic way her breathing had become. She had never felt such a yearning and attraction for anyone. She tried to remind herself that she was married but feared it was a losing cause.
"Would you like something to drink?" he asked casually when the game was finished. He had noticed her doe like eyes watching him intently through the evening and he felt his gentlemanly resolve failing.
He had treated her with kindness hoping that she would see the light in his heart. He had noticed a softening in her resolve but still no hint that he had broken through her reserve. He knew he was running out of time. Her husband would return to claim her at anytime. He had the foreboding sense that this would be their last night together.
"A sherry please," she requested and than watched as he stood up and walked across the room.
He poured them each a glass and walked back towards her. She rose from her chair and held out her hand to accept the glass but in her nervous way, she accidentally bumped her hand into the glass and its contents spilled upon her hand. She was about to hastily wipe it dry when his voice stopped her.
"Let me," he offered setting the glasses on a nearby table while reaching for her hand. He pulled a
handkerchief from his pocket but he did not use it. Instead he lifted her hand to his mouth and than gently licked the sweet nectar from her skin.
She trembled involuntarily, unfamiliar with the shivers of pleasure and excitement that rippled through her body. His touch was warm and so exquisite. She stood paralyzed, unable to move from beneath his ministrations.
She watched as he dipped his finger in one of the glasses and than traced it over the skin of her exposed breast. He than bent his head and ran his tongue over the moisture and a new series of sensations flooded her body. She felt warm, flushed with a delightful fever. Her head said that this should stop but her body betrayed her to this pleasure.
Ewan delighted in the taste of her perfumed skin. He dipped his finger again and held it up to her lips. Instinctively she opened her mouth and wrapped her lips around the wet digit. With eyes wide open she sucked on it, her tongue teasing its tip.
He gasp at the pleasure that washed over him. He grew hard and full, an ache beginning in the pit of his loins. He wanted her now more than anything else. He wanted her more than anything.
In a flourish he bent and lifted her into his arms and carried her out of the room and up the stone stairwell. Lady Shannon did not resist. She had seen the material across the front of his breeches tighten and felt a thread of lust course through her body. She did not care that this was wrong her desire was so strong it overruled all common sense.
Continued...