It was a bright night with the moon shining in all its glory down upon the earth as Ewan waded ashore with his men. They crept quietly through the darkness aware that their movements could be detected by the enemy at any time. They had until dawn to accomplish this mission.
He led the single file of men up the narrow path to the top of the cliff. It was an easier journey than the last time he had made the trip.
The guard at the first lookout post was asleep and he paid with his life for that indiscretion. Ewan used his scabbard to slit the man's throat. Nothing would stop him from bringing home the woman and his child to his own Castle.
He had thought that he could live with the knowledge that his son would inherit his brother's kingdom but as the month's progressed disillusionment set in. He could no longer stand idly by and allow another man to claim the right of his child from him. He had lost the woman through treachery he would not lose his son too. He would reclaim them both.
He had waited until he had received word from his spy that his brother had taken his leave of the Castle before gathering his small band of men. They rushed the Castle now intent only on capturing their treasure.
The few guards posted offered little resistance and they left a trail of blood leading up and into the Castle. While his men ransacked the place he made his way up to the Lady's chambers. He found her alone in bed. Her stomach swollen with the child they had conceived.
"My love," he spoke out loud and hurried to her side kneeling beside the bed.
"You should not have come," she said quietly tears moistening her eyes. She had longed to see him for so many months.
"I could not stay away," Ewan spoke with his heart.
"Than you are the fool," a voice came from behind him and he whirled around to see his brother and two armed guards standing in the doorway.
"I should have killed you the first time I had the chance," Ewan hissed fiercely.
"Which shows how stupid you have become," Jonas taunted haughtily. "You allow your emotions to govern you and now I will kill you both."
"No," Ewan screamed and lunged at the man with his sword.
Kellie wandered through the gutted rooms of the Castle. The cobwebs were gone, replaced by bare walls and ripped up floorboards. There were signs of construction everywhere and while the progress should have brought her some consolation it only made her more miserable. There was a lot of work to be done and she wondered if she would still be there to see it finished.
She had considered getting a blood test done but knew that the process would be meaningless unless she could compare it to Erin's blood type and even than the results would be in question.
Besides she didn't know how she would approach the dark haired solicitor with such a request.
She thought of the woman, her heart aching. She missed their friendship and the times that they had shared but she had not heard from Erin since their last meeting even though her requests for money had always been promptly responded to.
Kellie knew that she needed to talk to someone; someone who would listen and not pass judgment. The only person she could think of George Ludden. The solicitor had always been kindly towards her and had known Angus better than most.
When she could not live with her conscience anymore she left Morris in charge of the workmen and took a trip into Edinburgh. Upon her arrival the older solicitor immediately made himself available leaving another man in the reception area to wait. Kellie felt slightly embarrassed by the preferred attention she received.
"How is everything going Miss Macgregor?" the solicitor asked motioning her to take a seat before sitting back down in the chair behind his desk.
"Good."
"How is work progressing on the Castle?" he was curious.
"It is progressing more slowly than I hoped but I want everything to be as authentic as possible."
"Certainly," the man agreed and than smiled his kindly smile. "How is it I can help you today?"
"I want you to do whatever is necessary to transfer all Angus' assets and possessions over to Miss Erin Macgregor," Kellie said announcing the reason for her unexpected visit.
George Ludden was shocked by the woman's simple request. What she wanted was unprecedented. He wondered if there was a problem.
"Is there a problem with Miss Macgregor?" he asked a frown decorating his face. "Is she giving you a hard time about the money?"
"No," the Canadian woman shook her head unable to look the man in the eye. "She has been rather splendid about everything."
"Than what is the problem?" the man could not understand the reason behind this unusual request.
Kellie took a deep breathe unable to look at the man when she spoke. She felt shame and guilt, as if she had mastered this deception and not been an innocent participant.
"I am not Angus Macgregor's daughter," she said in a rush. "I am not any relation to him at all. I have suspected it from the beginning but only just accepted the truth. My conscience won't let me live with the lie."
The solicitor listened quietly, his brow furrowing into a pensive frown. He genuinely liked the woman. She was honest and sincere. He had hoped she would have taken a fancy to his son Henry but a match had not happened. He understood the incredible moral strength it took for her to come to him. Now it was time for him to be honest.
"Angus knew you weren't his daughter," he confessed a secret he had held for many years.
"What?" Kellie was stunned by this revelation. "Angus knew? You knew?"
"Yes," the barrister nodded his head solemnly. "I knew the old man for many years and in that time I was privileged to share his confidences. After drawing up his Will I did question him to the contents. I knew you weren't his child but for years he insisted on allowing people to believe it was his indiscretion that allowed you to be born."
"Why?" she wanted to know.
"I suppose it was because your grandfather saved Angus' life during the war and he felt compelled to repay the debt. This was the only possible way he thought of doing that."
"He knew Tommy Cladden was my father," she said quietly.
"Yes," the man nodded. "Angus was no fool though everyone always considered him an eccentric."
"But why would he not share his wealth with his own daughter?" she didn't understand and the man sighed.
"He did love Erin in his way. He was proud of the girl and knew the lass's grandparents had raised her properly, but he wasn't as kindly to her mom. I suspect he knew that if he gave the money to the girl her mother would get her hands on it and he didn't want that."
"Why did he hate the woman so much, she did give birth to his daughter?" it was all very confusing.
"He never did tell the reason but I think she might have done something to incur his wrath," the man said. "Either way he was determined that she not get her hands on the money or the Castle. I think he feared that she would have to much influence over Erin even if it was only for sentimental reasons."
Kellie thought about the whole situation and felt a little sad. She wondered what had happened to make the couple hate each other so much. It was an unanswerable question and she shook her head to dispel those thoughts. Whatever had occurred still didn't change her mind.
"Regardless if Angus knew the truth, I wouldn't feel right taking any more of the man's money. It rightfully belongs to Erin."
"Are you certain?" he knew the girl was penniless and without employment.
"Yes," Kellie was quite certain.
"You sound afraid?" the lawyer astutely recognized the thread of fear in her voice.
"I don't want anyone to think I have tried to defraud them," she voiced her fears in a hesitant manner and the lawyer understood immediately.
"There was no fraud," the solicitor gave his acknowledged opinion. "Angus wanted you to have it."
"But it doesn't belong to me," she countered. "I couldn't keep it knowing that."
The solicitor looked at the young woman and knew that there would be no changing her mind. She was handling the situation in the only manner she knew how. He truly regretted that they would no longer be associated.
"What will you do?"
"I suppose I will go back to Canada and try to find a job with a magazine there." Kellie said. Somehow the thought of returning to her former home was depressing. She had grown to truly love Scotland in the short time she had been there.
"Is there some place you could be reached?" he asked.
"I will be at the Inn." Kellie hated the idea of staying at the place and not paying for her keep, she just hoped that Erin would understand and not hold it against her.
"The papers should be drawn up within the week."
"Thank you and I am sorry for all the trouble this causes," she said quickly before making her exit.
Ewan leaned his head against the bed, his hand pressed against his side where the sword had wounded him. He surveyed the scene and saw the death around him. There had been no option for him but to slay them all.
"My Lady, it is safe for you," he managed to mumble as he staggered to his feet.
The passage door swung open and the woman emerged. Her eyes were large and round as she viewed the horror that represented itself everywhere. There was blood spilled around the room on the bed sheets and floor. Somehow her lover had survived while her husband had been defeated.
"You are wounded," she gasped at the sight of the injury.
"I will live," he assured her. "Quickly grab your things. We must go before the rest of his army returns with his allies."
Lady Shannon nodded her head and hurried to her wardrobe to grab a few clothes. She dressed and than followed her lover out of the Castle. Already she could smell smoke from the fires that had been set inside the walls.
There were horses waiting to take them down to the boat that would take them back to Loch Loe. Dawn was beginning to settle over the land and the fires of the Castle burned brightly illuminating the graying sky.
It was morning when they landed on the island and the Castle servants were there waiting with blankets to greet their victorious Master home. Ewan had slipped into delirium and was unable to enjoy the celebration of victory. The servants carried him back to the Castle and put him to bed to tend his wounds. Lady Shannon begged to stay by his side.
"But your child," the handmaiden said. "You must think of the Masters child."
It was only than that she conceded. She was fraught with weariness and her eyes strung with tears. She lay down on the bed that had been prepared for her return. But she could not sleep and so slipped back into her lover's bedchamber. After all that had happened, he could not die. She lay down by his side and prayed that God night forgive her adultery and let the man live.
Ewan woke four days later, after the fever had broken. The room was hot and smelled of sickness. He breathed deeply and felt a weight upon his body.
He turned his head and saw the small head that lay resting on his chest. His heart contracted painfully as his arm went up around the woman's slender shoulders. He brushed her hair with his fingers and than kissed her brow.
Lady Shannon stirred. She was momentarily confused but the memories quickly returned. Her eyes flew to her companions face and she saw the tender smile painted on his pale features. Hope for the future began to dawn brightly once more.
"My Lord, are you well?"
"I will recover," he answered softly. "Now that you are here by my side, nothing save God himself could make me die."
Her heart sang with joy and she leaned forward to embrace him with her lips. He had stolen her, and than he had stolen her heart and now he was giving it all back to her with so much more.
"I love you my Lady," he said in a gallant whisper allowing his heart to speak.
"I love you my Lord," was the honest reply.
Erin was busy preparing for a trial when her secretary announced she had received a call from George Ludden. She was curious about the urgency in the man's voice. They agreed to meet at a local pub for lunch.
"What is so urgent that you needed to see me immediately?" she inquired of her colleague thinking that he had a client that was in serious criminal trouble.
"I have been instructed by my client Miss Kellie Macgregor to turn over all assets and monies received in the estate of Mr. Angus Macgregor to your sole possession," George announced clearing his throat.
"I won't take it," was the immediate response. She did not want any of it. "I told her that month's ago."
"Please hear me out," the elder solicitor said heavily and Erin paused to look at his colleague. "It seems Miss Macgregor is not Angus's daughter."
"What?" Erin was shocked by the news. The blood drained the colour from her face. "Kellie isn't Angus' daughter?"
"No, Miss Macgregor is of the mind that she is the product of a liaison between a Tommy Cladden and her mother."
"Is it true?" the dark haired woman knew that George would know the truth.
"Yes," the older solicitor nodded his head gravely. "Tommy was a stable boy working for your father. He had a wife and a child in another county."
"Angus knew all about this?" she demanded and the older solicitor flushed.
"Yes," he nodded gravely. "It appears that when he learned that Kellie's mother was pregnant he claimed the child to be his own. It was a noble gesture on his part to spare her the humiliation of the truth."
Erin was momentarily silent as she digested this bombshell. For a brief instant a flood of anger flashed over her features as she thought of the deception the old man had created. It was quickly replaced with the knowledge that Kellie was not her sister. She instantly knew how upset the Canadian would be at the truth.
"She wants me to draw up the necessary papers transferring ownership of the property to you," George said breaking the silence which was beginning to make him grow uncomfortable. He could not tell what the other woman was thinking. "You must understand this is a highly unusual situation and that was why I needed to talk to you immediately."
"Yes, I understand," Erin nodded her head
"She regrets the money spent on the renovation of the Castle but she is willing to repay any other money spent. She said that she would contact me at a later date to arrange an appropriate payment schedule. She deeply hopes that you will see it in your heart not to press charges."
"Not press charges?" Erin was still having a hard time absorbing what she was hearing.
"The girl was completely ignorant of the fact that she wasn't Angus's daughter. You can't blame her," George tried to mediate.
"I don't blame her and I would never think of pressing charges," the younger solicitor finally managed to get the man's attention. "I have to talk to her, where is she?"
"She is staying at the Inn," the older man said eyeing his colleague thoughtfully. "She was quite serious about this matter."
"So am I," Erin frowned. "I don't want any of Angus's money but I do want to see Kellie."
"This is a most difficult situation," the other lawyer muttered shaking his head.
"No, it's not difficult at all," Erin disagreed, rising to her feet and tossing some bills onto the table to pay for their meal. "I don't want the money. Angus gave it to Kellie, it's hers. Sorry mate, I'll be in touch."
With that Erin hurried out of the pub and back to her office. She rang the number of the Inn and was disappointed to learn that Kellie had left earlier that morning and wasn't expected back until evening.
"May I make a suggestion?" Debra McHadden said popping her head into her employer's office.
Kellie had popped in to say goodbye when the younger woman had been out. Over the course of the last few months they had become friends and the girl had felt compelled to explain the whole situation.
"What?" Erin was ready to listen to anyone right now.
"I suggest you go down to the florist and buy her a dozen of the most beautiful roses," she instructed. "Than go over to the Inn and wait for her to come home and than beg forgiveness for the way you behaved."
"Do you think that will be enough?" she wondered. "I did make it quite clear that I wanted nothing more to do with her."
"Aye, but that was before either of you knew that you weren't related."
"You knew?" Erin flushed, embarrassed that the older woman had guessed the truth.
"Not until this morning when she came here to tell me what was going on," Debra admitted. "Have you had a change of heart?"
"No change of heart," the woman flushed embarrassed by her revelation. "I just don't know if she will forgive me for the way I have treated her."
"I think it was a shared sentiment," the secretary said.
"Why?" the woman was puzzled.
"I think she is scared that you might hate her for what she took from you," the older woman was honest.
"I could never hate her," Erin shook her head quietly. "That is the last thing in my heart."
Kellie had spent the whole afternoon wandering about the city, mulling over her thoughts. It was towards the end of her journey that she had come to understand why she acted the way she did.
She was in love with Erin and there was no going back on that emotion. The tall solicitor had been the sole reason for everything she had done and now she would have to learn to live without her.
It had only been a day and already she missed the island and the Castle and knew both would be inevitably imprinted on her heart and mind. She had grown to love the place and it would forever be a part of her life. She hoped that George Ludden would be quick in drawing up the legal documents.
It was later than she planned before she returned to the Inn. It was dark and only the light from the street lanterns glowed to show her the path she knew from memory. She was weary and not paying particular attention to her surroundings. It was only when she prepared to mount the front steps that she heard her name called.
"Kellie?"
She turned on her heel, her heart thundering in fear. She held her breathe and watched as a familiar figure emerged from the surrounding shadows. Erin stepped out from the darkness into the light of a lamp shade. She was dressed casually in dark trousers and a woolen pullover.
She had been waiting in her car across the street for hours.
"Kellie," Erin breathed the name again, aware of the stricken look on the smaller woman's delicate features, her eyes feasting on her beauty. Kellie had let her hair grow and it was knotted in a French braid down her back. Her skin was tanned a honey colour from the early summer sun.
"Erin," the smaller woman was shocked to see the solicitor and the revelation of her emotions were never clearer than at that moment. "What are you doing here?"
"We need to talk," the dark haired Scotswoman said calmly. "I had a visit from George Ludden today."
"Oh," Kellie said quietly swallowing the lump in her throat. "If there is anything you need to know you can speak with my solicitor."
"No," Erin shook her head. "There are some things that can't be discussed between lawyers."
Kellie flushed and turned her face away, glad that the darkness hid her embarrassment.
"I'm sorry I didn't mean to deceive you. I know you must be horribly angry," she began to explain but she was abruptly cut off.
"Can we go for a walk?" the taller woman asked shoving her hands into her pockets. She didn't want to talk about this here where the doorman could overhear their conversation.
After a brief moment the blond woman nodded, glancing down at the sidewalk and folding her arms across her chest. Any weariness she felt was gone, replaced by an uneasy anxiety that was making her stomach twist into knots.
Erin said nothing, her heart strings tightening as she glanced at the smaller woman's profile and spied the downcast expression on her face. She shoved her hands deeper in her trouser pockets resisting the urge to reach out and hold the other woman.
"Would you like a drink?" she asked when they came to the street corner where a local pub was located.
Kellie nodded silently and followed her companion inside. The place was busy but they were able to find a table in a quiet corner away from the darts boards. There was silence as they waited for the hostess to return with their drinks. Kellie ordered a pale ale to booster her courage while Erin had chosen a single malt to calm her nerves. Blue and green eyes met for a moment than looked away.
"George said that you wanted to give everything that you received in the will to me," Erin broke the lengthening silence between them.
"Yes," Kellie nodded fingering her chilled glass. "It truly belongs to you. Your mother was right you are Angus' only heir."
"But he willed it to you," the solicitor said softly.
"But you are his daughter."
"It doesn't matter," Erin shook her head. "He wanted you to have it."
"Only because he had some outdated sense of honour," Kellie said. "I know that he must have felt responsible for my mother and what happened while she was here in Scotland. He probably thought he had let my father down."
"Aye he probably did," the dark haired woman agreed. "But he could have merely put you in the will with a nice yearly income. He didn't have to will you everything."
"Than why did he?" the smaller woman wanted to know.
"Probably because he worried that if he willed me the money I would be pestered into giving my mother a healthy yearly income," the Scotswoman said nonchalantly almost repeating verbatum what George Ludden had stated earlier in the day. "He would have been right. As tiresome as my mother can be I still love her and would have given her a good portion of the money to make her happy."
"Well, now you can," Kellie said simply. "I don't want the money."
"What about the Castle and the Island?" Erin wanted to know her blue eyes narrowing thoughtfully.
The smaller woman hesitated. She had grown to love Castle Macgregor and the island. She hated the thought of never being able to see it become the place she had envisioned in her mind. It was just another disappointment in her life.
"They rightfully belong to you," she said simply.
There was silence again as the older woman pondered what had been said. She could see that the smaller woman was determined to return the money and she was almost as determined not to accept the inheritance. She sighed heavily.
"We are at an impasse than," she said taking a sip of her drink. "Perhaps if you are so determined to give up the money maybe we should just give it to charity."
Kellie glanced up sharply clearly confused by the situation. "You truly don't want the money? But what about what you said in January?"
"You got me at a bad moment," Erin replied waving her hand airily to dismiss her earlier assertion. "I told you once before that it had no importance to me. What I wanted from Angus he never gave me." She paused and than changed the subject. "How is the work on the Castle coming?"
"It's only just begun," the smaller woman was glad for a slight reprieve in the conversation. She enjoyed talking about the castle and her face lit up at its mention. "I contacted a stone mason from the neighbouring county who says that he will be able to repair the outer walls and I have some carpenters, relatives of Morris Leach, tearing out the inside. They have pretty much gutted everything but the few rooms that I have been using."
"It's a pity all that work will go to waste," the solicitor said sadly.
"You won't finish it?" Kellie asked knowing the answer already.
"I haven't the time to oversee a project as massive as that," Erin shook her head, an idea forming even as saw the crestfallen expression on her companions face. "It's a shame I have been hoping to see what the Castle is like when it is finished." There was a pause as green and blue eyes met. "What about the promise that you made to me?"
"What promise?" Kellie racked her brain for what she could have promised this woman.
"You promised me that once you started working on the Castle that you would finish the project."
"That was before I knew the truth," the smaller woman defended herself.
Erin was silent as her mind considered a wealth of ideas. The fact that Kellie was not her sister was the utmost important thought but she knew that for anything to happen between them they would have to re-forge their friendship.
"Alright, we are clearly at odds here so there is only one thing that I can think of to break the impasse," the solicitor said pausing to take a sip of her drink before continuing. "I will accept what Angus gave you in the will but only if you agree to do something for me in return."
Kellie looked across the table at her companion. She was unusually interested in what the other woman had in mind. She swallowed and nodded her head.
"Aye good," the taller woman began to feel in control again. "I will accept the money only if you promise that you will remain in Scotland and continue to oversee the restoration of the Castle. I like the idea of turning the place into an Inn."
"You want me to stay on, even after everything?" the blond woman was startled by the proposition.
"Certainly," Erin said. "None of this was your fault. Of course, I don't intend for you to do this for nothing so I will pay you a proper salary for your services."
"What happens when the Castle is finished?" Kellie wanted to know.
"Than I should think I will need someone to look after it in my absence," the solicitor said.
"Are you sure?" the Canadian wanted to know.
"Yes, Kellie I am sure," Erin hoisted her glass. "What say we toast to our new partnership?"
Kellie had never imagined that her life would change so much again. So much had happened in the last year she wasn't certain she was even the same person. She looked across the table but did not immediately raise her glass.
"There is another problem?" the solicitor asked astutely lowering her glass. "Perhaps you have a problem working for me?"
"No," the blond woman shook her head. "It's just that I don't want it to be like it has been the last few months," she took a deep breath and decided to plunge forward. "I've missed you."
Erin sucked in her breath unable to move her eyes from the downcast face that was right across the table from her. She had not thought that their separation would bother the younger woman as much as it seemed. She cursed herself for becoming so wrapped up in her own feelings not to consider the other woman's.
"I missed you too," she said and green eyes glanced up from where they had been staring at the table.
"You did?"
"Aye," the solicitor nodded.
"I thought you hated me," Kellie said.
"I could never hate you."
"Than what happened?" the Canadian wanted to know.
Erin swallowed. This time she was the one who had to look away from imploring green eyes. She stared at the liquor in her glass for a long while gently swirling it around.
"I was going through a bit of a rough period," was the solemn and evasive response.
"Why didn't you tell me, maybe I could have helped?" Kellie said and than thought of the redheaded woman that she had once met at the solicitor's home. "Did you break up with your girlfriend?"
"What girlfriend?" Erin was a little confused now.
"The woman that I met at your house that night I heard from the National Trust Board," the blond woman said quietly. "I'm sorry but I can't remember her name."
"Rosemary," the dark haired woman said absently amazed that she had almost forgotten about a woman who she had been seeing on and off for the last two years. God, she hadn't even talked to the redhead since that night Kellie had come to her home to celebrate.
"No, it had nothing to do with Rosemary," she sighed and decided to confess her thoughts. She opened her mouth but before she could speak they were interrupted.
"Kellie, Miss Macgregor," Henry suddenly appeared at their table and the tall woman expelled a huge breath.
"Henry, what are you doing here?" Kellie smiled at the young man though the look didn't reach her eyes. She instinctively knew that Erin had been about to say something important and now the moment was gone.
"I popped round to see if you were in town and the doorman at the Inn said that you had popped in here for a nightcap," the young solicitor said glancing around the nearby vicinity for a vacant chair. "You don't mind if I join you do you?"
"No, you have great timing, I was just about ready to leave," the dark haired woman said tossing the remainder of her drink down her throat and rising to her feet.
"What about what we were discussing?" Kellie didn't want to be rude but she was annoyed by the interruption.
"I think we covered everything," the tall solicitor said looking down at the blond. "I expect you to carry on work with the Castle as you have been doing and sending updates as usual. The money will be at your disposal as it always has been."
There were a dozen more questions that Kellie wanted to ask but she knew that the opportunity was gone. It was obvious that Erin wanted to leave and there was nothing she could do to prevent that short of telling Henry Ludden to disappear. She watched with a heavy heart as the dark haired solicitor strolled out of the pub leaving her with the young man.
Chapter Ten
Sarah Liddell was very different from Erin yet Kellie liked the woman immediately. There was a boundless energy to the interior designer and together they went from room to room discussing the various options available. She showed the woman the storage room where antique pieces of furniture where being stored and explained her desire for most of it to be restored.
"I want everything to be restored to its original look," Kellie explained when they had finished the tour.
"I can have some designs and give you an estimate within a week to what it could cost," Sarah said jotting down some notes on a pad she held. She knew that she would have to visit the Scottish archives for more information. "I don't know what other designers have suggested but I hope you didn't change any of your ideas. You have excellent taste."
Kellie appreciated the compliment. She had been nervous at the beginning of the meeting uncertain what to expect from someone related to Erin. The redheaded woman had immediately put her at ease.
"Thank you but I'm afraid most of the ideas came from the books I've been reading," she confessed. "I hope to keep the place looking as authentic as possible. The family diaries I found have helped me recreate many of the rooms."
"That's smashing," the woman said enthusiastically. "Not many people care about these old relics any more. They are beautiful to look at but you need a deep pocket to keep it maintained. I think it was probably a good thing you got the island and the Castle instead of Erin."
"You really think so?" Kellie was anxious for this woman's opinion. It had been more than a month since their meeting in Edinburgh but it was obvious that Erin had not yet told her family about her change of fortune.
"Yes. I remember talking to her once and asking her what she was going to do when she inherited the monstrosity. She thought she would probably turn it over to the National Trust even though she hated the idea of letting it go out of the families hands."
"What do you think she feels about my fixing up the place?"
"Erin is a very practical woman. She likes to think she can't be governed by emotions but deep down she's a romantic. She might grouse about fixing the old place up, but I know she's happy with what you are doing with it."
"She could have done the same thing if she had inherited everything," Kellie suggested but the other woman only shook her head.
"No, she's to busy with her law practice. She would never have spared the time to oversee the work as you are doing."
"I hope your right," was the wistful reply and the decorator looked at her. After a minute she just shook her head and looked at her note book.
"When do you expect to make your decision on who you are going to hire?"
"Decision?" Kellie was mildly confused and than she understood. "You have been hired. I am not having anyone else look at the place."
Even though Sarah was delighted by the prospective commission she felt compelled to caution the other woman.
"Perhaps it would be in your best interests to get ideas and estimates from several other designers."
"No," Kellie was quite certain. "Erin referred you and I trust her judgment."
"I will tell her that," the red haired woman smiled brightly. "In that case I can start whenever you want."
"As you can see it will be a few months yet before we can get at it, but I guess you can start by restoring the furniture."
Sarah was incredibly excited at being handed the job. She rang up her cousin the next day and invited her for lunch as a way to thank her for the recommendation. Erin was pleased to see her cousin so happy.
"The place looks fabulous," Sarah described the changes that had been made. "It's incredible the work that has been done. I know I was only there once years ago but it was always so dingy and damp and now it's so alive."
"I thought she was keeping it authentic," Erin said with a frown.
"Is it," Sarah gloated. "Everything is being restored to its original look. Once it opens for business it will be very popular."
Erin listened as the woman prattled on. She had not been to the Castle since Christmas though she had kept herself abreast of the developments through her secretary Debra McHadden who seemed to know everything that was going on. From the expenditures she had seen, Kellie had spent several hundred thousand pounds already.
"You should go up and have a look you would be amazed and proud."
"Yes, I was hoping to make a long weekend of it this weekend," Erin replied. "I thought I would pop in to see grandma and granddad first."
It had been a month since she had last spoken directly with Kellie though they had conversed over the phone on numerous occasions. The blond Canadian had issued several invitations for a visit but she had been unable to get away until now.
She left Edinburgh midday on the Thursday to avoid the afternoon traffic and it was the dinner hour when she reached her grandparents place. The elderly couple were delighted to see their granddaughter and after eating and washing up the old man invited the girl for a walk. It was as if he sensed that the girl needed to talk to him.
"What's up lass?" he asked once his pipe was lit and they were strolling down passed the barn into the meadow. There was a full summer moon out to light the path they were following.
"I told you, work's been busy," Erin replied.
"That's not what I be referring to lass and you know it."
"Aye, granddad you're right."
"So what's on your mind?"
"Kellie Macgregor isn't related to me," she didn't immediately know where to begin. She had told no one in the family about her discussion with Kellie and she had put off George Ludden. So far nothing had been changed in regards to the estate or money.
"Aye, that be a good thing right?" The old man said sucking on his pipe.
"Aye, but I don't know what to do granddad. How do I make her see that I want more than friendship?"
"Have you told her how your feeling?"
"No," Erin remembered that night in the pub when she had come so close to confessing the truth.
"Than perhaps that's what you need to do," Ewan Mctavish stated the obvious.
"But what happens if she rejects me, what if all she feels for me is friendship?" The tall woman lamented.
"You won't know that until you ask," the man sighed, pausing to look up at his tall grandchild. He had seen her present a case in court, so confident and strong of presence that it was hard for him to understand the insecurity that she was showing now. "What are you afraid of lass?"
"I'm afraid of scaring her off granddad," Erin admitted. "We're just getting back our friendship I don't want to do anything that might make her run from me."
"Well, you'll never know unless you ask," the man repeated and the woman knew that was the only advice that the man would be giving her. She knew her granddad trusted her to behave sensibly but when it came to Kellie there were few things that she did that were sensible.
Kellie ambled through the debris littered castle carefully stepping around the workman's tools as she made her way to the kitchen, the one room on the main floor that had not yet been touched by the contractors. It was getting dark so she turned up the lights before settling at the table with the scrapbook that she had been working on in the evening hours.
She had just sat down when she heard the knock on the large wooden doors in the hallway. The contractors were gone for the weekend and she wasn't expecting any visitors. She wondered who would come calling that this hour. She was pleasantly shocked to find Erin standing on the stone steps in front of the main door.
"What are you doing here?" She asked in surprised as she ushered the tall woman into the castle.
"You have invited me up here so often I thought it was time to accept," Erin smiled feeling an unexpected happiness at the sight of the smaller woman. She glanced around noticing immediately the evidence of the construction that was going on.
"The place doesn't look like much now," Kellie said feeling slightly shy of the other woman. "Hopefully in a few months it will start to take shape and begin to look like something."
"I am sure it will," the solicitor agreed and than motioned to the carryall that she was holding. "Where do you want me to put this?"
"I hope you don't mind sharing," the smaller woman said. "There is only one room on the second floor that hasn't been gutted."
"I don't mind sharing," Erin replied with a bright smile to hide her real feelings. She wondered if she would be strong enough to lie beside the woman without making a fool of herself.
"Have you had dinner?" Kellie asked.
"Yes, I was early for the ferry so I grabbed a bite to eat in the village," the solicitor said following her hostess into the kitchen. She paused at the doorway noticing the way the small woman had rearranged the furniture to create a small sitting room.
"This is about the only room that hasn't been torn apart," the blond woman explained. "I figured that if I was going to live here while the restoration was taking place than I had to have at least one small corner comfortable enough to live."
"Smart idea," the tall woman nodded her head placing her bag down by the table before slipping onto the bench. "What were you doing here?"
"I am making a scrape book," Kellie answered feeling suddenly shy. She grew silent as she watched the older woman slowly flip the pages. She could not see what the dark haired woman was thinking for there was no expression on her face.
"These are pictures of me," Erin said softly not knowing what to think.
"Yes," the smaller woman shifted nervously on her feet. "I know what you said about not wanting anything that belonged to Angus but I figured you might like the pictures, so I arranged them in the order that they were taken."
"That was very thoughtful of you."
"You aren't upset?"
"No," Erin felt a twist of emotion that she could not explain as she leafed through the pages of photographs of Angus and her time together.
"I was going to give it to you when it was done, as a birthday present," Kellie continued when the other woman didn't speak.
"I'm sorry I spoiled the surprise," the solicitor said sincerely. Blue and green eye met for a long moment. "Thank you."
"You're welcome," the smaller woman replied and than moved to the wood stove. "Would you like some tea?"
"Yes, thank you." Erin replied though she would have preferred something stronger.
She watched as the smaller woman boiled the water and than brewed the tea before pouring it into several cups. Mentally she composed the words in her head that she would say. She had the strong sense that the case she would be presenting tonight would be the most important one she ever argued. She waited until the woman was sitting across the table from her before speaking.
"You look awfully serious," Kellie remarked adding some sugar to her tea before taking a sip.
"Sorry, I am just going over something in my head," the taller woman replied wrapping her hands around the warm cup.
"Would you like to share it?" the blond woman asked a knot beginning to form in her stomach. She sensed that it was something important and that it involved her.
"The last time I talked to you in Edinburgh when we popped into the pub for a drink I lied to you," Erin begin choosing her words carefully.
"What did you lie about?" Kellie asked softly the knot in her stomach tightening.
"I didn't tell you the truth about the reason I was so nasty to you in January."
"Okay, than why were you nasty to me?" the blond woman said quietly.
Erin knew it was now or never. She took a deep breath before continuing. "The truth is I was angry because I thought you were my sister and I didn't want you to be."
"Why?" Kellie was confused and a little hurt by the other woman's admission. All the thoughts of them continuing as friends and more was suddenly very much in doubt.
"Because the thoughts I was having about you were decidedly unsisterly and I was afraid that if I continued hanging around you I would end up doing something stupid."
"You were," Kellie said hesitantly not certain where the conversation was leading. She wanted to be hopeful yet was so very afraid to be. Her heart was trembling. She searched the other woman's face for some clue as to what she was thinking.
"Yes," Erin nodded her head and turned her gaze away for a long moment before meeting the green eyes that were searching her face. "Every time we got together I felt my feelings for you grow."
"And now?"
"And now I would like the chance to win your affection," the solicitor said in a rush. "I don't know how you feel or if I am overstepping my bounds here but I love you Kellie, not as a sister but as a woman."
"You love me," the blond woman repeated the endearment feeling a little dazed.
"Yes," Erin ran a trembling hand through her hair. "Maybe I spoke to soon, I know you probably don't feel the same way, but if you give me a chance, if you could just try not to think of me as a sister."
"Yes."
"Yes?"
"Yes," Kellie said a wide smile breaking across her face. "I don't think of you as a sister, or I haven't since that day I heard back from the National Trust and stopped in at your place. When I saw you with the other woman I was incredibly jealous."
"You were?" Erin was shocked by the knowledge.
"Yes."
"Than why didn't you stay when I invited you?"
"Because I figured you were on a date and I didn't want to intrude," there was a short pause. "Are you still seeing Rosemary?"
"I haven't been out with her since that night when I realized that I would rather spend time with you in a platonic fashion than spend it with her."
"So where do we go from here?" Kellie wanted to know.
"First, I would like to kiss you," Erin said bluntly and flushed, "and than I would like to court you."
"I like both ideas," the Canadian said with a smile.
With her heart thudding loudly Erin leaned over the table and cupped the smaller face between her hands. Their eyes met in a steady gaze for a long moment before she leaned in and kissed the blond woman like she had never kissed anyone before, releasing the passion she had kept locked so tightly inside for so long. Kellie responded in the way that left the taller woman in no doubt that their feelings were shared.
The baby was born as the first winds began to sweep the leaves from the trees. Ewan held the tiny infant feeling an incredible sense of power and love. He had witnessed the birth and despite the blood it had been the most beautiful thing he had ever seen.
He glanced from the sleeping babe to the woman lying at his side. He reached down and gently combed the errant strands of her hair behind her ear. The love he had felt for her had grown a hundredfold.
He leaned his head back and closed his eyes. His brother and enemy was dead. The home of the Macgregor's burned to the ground. His small army had stood guard in fear that an ally of his brothers would attack but treaties had been quickly negotiated so that now they would be left alone in peace.
"You are worried my love?" Lady Shannon said seeing the pensive look on the man's face.
"Only that you might someday fall out of love with me," he sighed.
"That will never happen my heart," she assured him and his heart trembled. "You will be stuck with me until I am an old maid."
"I will hold you to that promise My Lady," he said and leaned his head to embrace her lips with his own. "I love you my Lady with all my heart and soul."
"I love you My Lord," she smiled. "Until you came into my heart I knew not what the word meant."
"Then let me find the wet nurse and I shall show you."
"I will be waiting," Lady Shannon promised her heart trembling and her body already excited by the prospect of her possession. She was home and she was loved on Loch Loe.
"What do you think?" Kellie asked curious when she saw the taller woman close the book. "Is it any good? Do you think the publishers will like it?"
She had spent two years working on a book that centered on the love story of the man who had built the Castle for the woman he adored. She had borrowed details from the family diaries and than allowed her imagination to run free.
"It's great and I think the publishers are going to love it," Erin smiled at her companion setting the book on the night table before sliding down under the covers next to her lover. She wrapped her long arms around the smaller woman and pulled her in for a kiss. "I like what you did to the story. You gave it life. It's almost a fairytale."
"Only it really happened."
"Yes it really happened."
"I am glad you liked it," Kellie sighed as if a heavy weight had been lifted from her shoulders.
"How could I not, after all you wrote it?" the dark haired woman asked.
"You aren't just being nice are you?"
"Nope." The taller woman shook her head. "I missed you this week."
Since the Castle had been opened for business six months earlier Kellie had been to busy to join her in Edinburgh during the week. For the last two years they had been juggling their relationship and dividing their time between Loch Loe and Edinburgh. The solicitor knew that it was time to change their arrangements, especially now that Kellie was getting her writing career established.
"I missed you too," the smaller woman said leaning in to kiss her companion and than tapping the older woman's forehead with a finger. "I fear there is something serious going on up in there."
"Aye you're right lass," Erin smiled. "I was thinking that now that the Castle is running smoothly, maybe you would think of moving in fulltime with me in Edinburgh. You have a qualified manager here now to look after things and we can always come back for a long weekend...."
Kellie put her hand over the other woman's mouth. "You don't have to say anymore I have most of my stuff packed and I am ready to go back with you on Sunday."
"Really?" Blue eyes brightened.
"Really," the smaller woman replied with a grin. "I realized that we were spending far too much time apart. Besides how are we ever going to get me pregnant if I am out here?"
"I love you," Erin laughed and kissed her soundly as her heart tumbled over itself in her chest.
She pulled her back into her arms and than rolled over on top of her when the phone rang impatiently. Kellie snatched up the receiver and listened intently though it was hard to concentrate with Erin nibbling on her breasts. She put the phone back and sighed.
"I have to go," she said wrapping her arms around her neck and kissing her. "There is a problem."
"Let them handle it," the taller woman muttered hoarsely unwilling to let her go. "This is my time now."
Kellie laughed at the pout that formed on her partners lips. She reached up and kissed the woman as she wrapped her arms around the slender frame of her lover. The Castle business would have to wait for she had something much more serious to contend with.
THE END