“Aye,” Jude said, “as I need ye. But ye have nay idea how long it’s been for me. How much I’ve missed this.”
“I don’t understand,” Cleopatra said as Jude pulled away from her. There were beads of sweat on his brow and his eyes looked as if he’d woken from a dream.
“I…” Jude hissed as his face scrunched.
Suddenly, Cleopatra’s eyebrows scrunched to the bridge of her nose as she watched Jude’s face contorted in ways that she had never seen before. Panic shot through her as if he was in the midst of a heart attack and on the verge of death. She clung to him and cupped her hands to his face. “What is wrong? What is happening?”
Within a heartbeat Jude crumpled to her side and with his eyes closed. Cleopatra’s mind shifted to the worst possible scenario.
She rolled to him, refusing to let him slip out of her as fear coursed through her. “Please tell me you’re alive, please,” she begged as she slapped him on the arm trying to arouse him back to life.
Jude reached out and snatched her hand as he let out a soft little chuckle. “All is fine love,” he said in a raspy voice as his eyes fluttered. “All is fine.”
“You scared me, what just happened?”
Jude’s eyes opened fully as a sleepy little smile drifted over his lips. He released her hand and brushed the back of his fingers against her flushed cheeks.
“Have nay fear,” Jude said in such a soft and loving tone as he pressed his lips to her for head. “Ye pleased well and made me spill me seed in ye.””
“But you looked like you were dying.”
“If I had, rest easy, for yer love brought me back.”
“Why are you smiling if you were so close to death?” Cleopatra asked as she stared at him with concern.
“I pray ye’re with child,” Jude said as his smile stretched over his face.
“What?” Cleopatra looked at him stunned. “How can you say such things at a time like this?”
“It would be a surefire way for ye to stay with me forever,” he said pressing his lips to hers. Slowly he pulled away and flashed her another sleepy smile, “that’s all I ever want. I want ye forever, Cleo. Ye’ve stolen me heart.”
Suddenly, there can a rustle of bushes and Jude lifted his eyes up to scan the area.
“What was that?” she asked scanning the area for any eyes that may have been lurking about them.
“A rabbit, or some other beastie,” Jude said as Cleopatra pushed her dress over her bare legs to hide herself.
“Suppose it is time for us to go in,” Jude said, “ye’ll be cold soon.”
“With you so close to me?” she answered as she cupped his face.
“Aye,” he said bobbing his head. “The night will grow cold and I daenae want ye to catch a fever.”
“But I want to stay,” Cleopatra said as she watched Jude fumble as he rose to his feet. “Besides, you’re in no condition to go anywhere. We should stay here in the garden. The night air has never bothered me before.”
“And what of Hugh?” Jude asked, “if he should come prancin’ through here in the wee mornin’?”
Cleopatra thought for a moment and her heart sank. She knew Jude was right and that they should at least keep up appearances despite their inner passions. Her heart pounded in her chest as she tried to regain her senses. Everything, including the silver light of the moon appeared brighter than before. With her senses heightened, she rose to her feet.
“It was a lovely night,” she said smoothing the wrinkles from her skirt. Every fiber of her being felt as if it were on fire as she took Jude’s hand.
“It was,” he said as he leaned to her to steal another kiss.
“Will ye meet me for breakfast?” he asked as they walked back into the sitting room. Cleopatra glanced over her shoulder, trying to steal one last glimpse of the garden.
“Yes, of course, I’ll be there,” Cleopatra said as Jude escorted her back to her room. He stood at her door with a giddy smile and snatched her hand. She watched as he crushed his lips to her knuckles as gazed up at her.
“I’ll be thinkin’ of ye this night,” he said as he lingered a bit longer with her.
“Promise?”
“Aye, that I will. Ye have stolen somethin’ from me this night and I will nae let ye leave me until ye return it,” he said before stealing one last kiss and turning. Cleopatra reached out for him, but he slipped through her grasp and walked away. She stood in the doorway watching him, longing for him to return.
Surely the night cannot be over so soon?
Jude paused at the stairs and turned. Lifting his hand to his lips, he blew her a simple kiss before he disappeared out of view.
What in the world just happened?
Cleopatra opened her door and stepped into the dark room. It seemed so empty without him by her. Yet, her spirits danced and rejoiced, knowing she’d see him again soon.
Oh come morning. And come quickly. My heart aches to see him again and the wretched night is all that separates us.
14
“Good day, m’Laird,” Ian said as Jude skipped past his mentor. “Ye’re in high spirits.”
“Tis a fine day,” Jude said as Ian passed him a booklet of papers for him to go over. Jude rolled his eyes at the morning tasks. All he wanted to do was spend more time alone with Cleo, but it seemed by the amount of paperwork handed to him, his time with her would be limited.
“Cannae we pass on the business today?” Jude asked, thumbing through the papers.
“Sire?” Ian’s eyebrow rose and he pressed his lips into a tight line. “There are specific obligations that must be looked after.”
“Aye, but must they be done this day?”
“There’s somethin’ different about ye,” Ian said as Jude handed him back the paperwork. “Ye typically daenae shy away from yer responsibilities. Are ye feelin’ well?”
“Better than fine,” Jude said slapping Ian on the shoulder as he spotted Cleo walking down the stairs.
“I see,” Ian hissed. “Perhaps yer time would be better spent on yer clan and nae chasin’ after that particular lass.”
“Ian,” Jude paused and turned to face his old mentor. “What is yer grudge against Lady Cleopatra?”
“She is the Earl’s daughter,” Ian said in hushed tones. “If it werenae for her, me son would still be…”
“It was nae her fault for what happened to Adam. If it werenae for yer son sacrificin’ his life for me son, this clan would be in turmoil. It was a bad situation and a foiled assassination attempt.”
“Who’s to say there willnae be another with her here?” Ian asked as Jude’s eyes drifted to Cleo. “And what of Adam? Ye daenae think it’s a coincidence that the events that happened on the road were nay of her doin’? She cannae be trusted.”
“What happened to Adam was tragic. He died savin’ me son and it is a pity it cost ye Adam. But nothin’ has happened since we returned. Cleo was with me durin’ the raid. How could the lass be involved? Ye’re bein’ paranoid.” Jude said as he placed his hand on Ian’s shoulder and stared at him a moment. In the corner of Jude’s eye, he noticed Cleo walking by and wanted to flash her a smile but didn’t dare knowing that Ian was in pain.
“Am I? Time will tell.”
“Ian,” Jude drew his attention back to the old man standing before him. “The Lady has joined us here and has agreed to stay. I daenae see the point in draggin’ this on. Ye leave her be, ye hear me? She is innocent and dinnae have a hand in Adam’s fate. Now if ye’ll excuse me, Hugh and Cleo are waitin’ for me at breakfast.”
“Take heed sire,” Ian said glancing over his shoulder to Cleo. “I feel in me bones that somethin’ foul is comin’.”
“And ye, me dear friend, need to lighten up a wee bit,” Jude said patting him once more before walking to the sitting room. The strong hint of fish and freshly baked bread swirled around him as he stepped into the room. His heart quickened as he noticed Cleo sitting beside Hugh on the settee. There was a book in Cleo’s hands
and Hugh was snuggled into her arm as he stumbled over the words she pointed out.
“Very good,” Cleo said, ruffling Hugh’s shagging hair before glancing over her shoulder. “Come now, go greet your father so we can eat.”
Hugh’s head whipped around and his face beamed. Jumping to his feet, Hugh scrambled to get to Jude. “Mornin’, faither.”
“Sleep well did ye?” Jude asked as he couldn’t remember the last time that he had felt so joyful.
“Aye, but ye look a wee bit peeked,” Hugh said as Cleo walked over to him. Her eyes barely met his before they dropped back down.
“Good day, my Laird,” she said.
“Good day, Lady Cleo,” he said as he extended his hand to the table.
“What’s goin’ on?” Hugh whispered. “What did ye say to her?”
“Nothin’,” Jude replied as he walked to the table. Jude pulled the seat out for Cleo and watched her sit down as if she floated on a cloud. The moment she glanced up to him, it sent his heart fluttering and his palms grew sweaty. Instantly, his mind shifted to the events that had unfolded last night.
“The meal smells wonderful,” Cleo said breathing in deep as Hugh sat on one side of her and Jude on the other. “There is an herbal hint about it. Almost nutty.”
“Is there now?” Jude asked arching an eyebrow as the servants began staging the table with biscuits and an assortment of smoked meats. “Does it please ye?”
“Yes, it all smells wonderful,” she said as she shifted her attention to the servant coming in through the side door. Jude noticed her nose wrinkle as a of oats was brought to Jude first.
“What is that?” she asked glancing to the porridge.
“Barley and oats, I believe,” Jude said as a second bowl was served to Hugh. She glanced at Hugh’s bowl before returning to Jude’s.
“It pairs well with the biscuits,” Hugh said as the boy reached across the table for the steaming hot biscuits with a huge smile. “Just add a wee bit of honey and it goes down well.”
A third bowl was placed before Cleo and Jude couldn’t help but notice how she pulled in a deep breath of the porridge in front of her.
“Have ye never had this before?” Jude asked with a chuckle.
“No,” she said. “But,” Cleo paused as she leaned over and took a whiff of Hugh’s bowl. “Something smells different. Do you always have different herbs added to the dishes?”
“What are ye goin’ on about?” Jude asked as he reached for the biscuit and scooped up the porridge with it. Cleo’s arm darted out and curled around his wrists as she shook her head.
“Don’t eat that,” she warned as Jude noticed Hugh just about to take a huge bite himself. “There’s something wrong.”
“How can ye be so sure?” Jude asked nodding to Hugh to put down the food.
“Here, smell mine,” she said pushing her bowl to Jude. “It’s not like yours or Hugh’s.”
Jude shook his head and chuckled. For a moment he thought she had lost her senses, but when he leaned over her bowl, the smell coming from her bowl was indeed different. “There’s an oak hint to the bowls.”
“I have read about certain herbs causing such an odor,” Cleo said. “I pray I’m wrong, but I’d rather look foolish than to see you dead. Call for the healer. Have him test the food.”
“We have tasters,” Jude said as he turned to glance over his shoulder at the servants standing in the corners of the room. “Each day a new servant tests the food so that there is nay one man doin’ the deed. And as ye can see, they are all standin’ upright.”
“Please,” Cleo said as she stared at him. “Indulge me a moment. When do they taste the food?”
“Only before it is served to us,” Jude answered as he glanced over to Hugh.
“So, the poison may not have had time to cause any affect,” Cleo said.
“Come now, ye’re scarin’ Hugh,” Jude said in a hushed tone.
“I don’t mean to,” she said, “honestly I don’t. But I feel it in my gut something is not right here. Why would the bowls smell different if they were cooked in the same pot?”
“Faither,” Hugh’s voice rose as Jude’s eyes shifted to his son.
Hugh’s finger trembled as he pointed beyond Cleo. Swiftly, Jude pushed away from the table and glared at the servant in the corner of the room. The servant’s face grew paler by the second as his eyes widened. A thick foam protruded from the servant’s mouth before he dropped to the ground.
“Fetch the healer,” Jude ordered as Cleo jumped to her feet and rushed around the table. She pushed the bowl as far from Hugh as it would go before turning his head to her torso.
“Don’t look,” Cleo said as she drew Hugh to his feet.
“Get him out of here,” Jude ordered as both horror and relief crushed him.
“Quickly now,” Cleo said, cradling Hugh as she walked to the back door and exited the room. Jude’s heart plummeted as he realized just how close he had been to death.
She kenned somethin’ was off and I mocked her for it. Yet, she saved us.
Jude watched as the servants scrambled. In the distance a lone scream filled the back rooms and Jude knew word was spreading like wild fire. Before he could move, Ian bolted through the door.
“What has happened?” Ian asked as Jude moved slowly to the servant lying motionless on the floor.
“An assassination attempt,” Jude said glaring at Ian.
“Did I nae warn ye of bad things comin’ this way?” he scolded. “It is that woman, she is responsible.”
“Cleo is the one who saved us,” Jude snapped back as he glared daggers at Ian. “It was she who caught the scent of the poison first and told us nae to eat.”
“But,” Ian said befuddled as he stepped back. “She must be in on the conspiracy.”
“Daenae be a fool,” Jude said as the healer entered the room. “Healer, check the pot of porridge. I must ken if the lot of it was tampered with or just the bowls.”
“What will that prove?” Ian said through pursed lips.
“Cleo’s bowl gave off a different odor than mine and Hugh’s. My guess is that the bowls were tampered with and the conspirator was targetin’ us, nae Cleo.”
“I can tell ye now it was poison,” the healer said as he leaned down and lifted the poor servant’s hands. “The black fingertips are a tell-tale sign of such things.”
“But who would do this?” Jude asked. “I daenae have that many enemies. I’ve served the clan well.”
“Perhaps Cleopatra–” Ian started as Jude flashed him a menacing glare, daring him to continue. “Hear me out, m’Laird,” Ian said lifting his hands in surrender. “Perhaps it was her faither, the Earl. He’s been known to handle indifferences in such a manner.”
“Still, it begs the question why,” Jude said as the healer quickly pulled part of the rug over the body to hide it from prying eyes.
“Ye took his daughter,” Ian said. “And instead of bloodshed and stormin’ the castle, he took a more indirect approach.”
“Nay,” Jude said shaking his head. “From what the Earl told me, he was glad to be rid of Cleo.”
“What?” Ian’s eyes widened as Jude moved to the table and dipped the spoon into the mushy food.
“The Earl practically gave her to me,” Jude said. “He found her a burden.”
“Then why did ye take her?” Ian asked as his brow scrunched with a quizzical glare. “Daenae answer that. I think I already ken.”
“What else was I to do?” Jude asked. “The girl was a stranger in her own home. Neglected and practically abandoned. If I dinnae take her, there’s nay tellin’ where she would have ended up.”
“Does she ken the truth?” Ian asked. “About why she is still here? And why ye’re showin’ her such kindness takin’ her in?”
“Nay,” Jude said shaking his head as he dropped the spoon. “She’s under the impression there are still things needed to be worked out before she can return to her home.”
“But she’s nae goin’ home, is she?” Ian asked.
“I’ve asked her to stay here, to teach Hugh to read and school him properly. I cannae see her harmin’ him or me. Or anyone else for that matter. She’s too kind, and gentle. Too inexperienced for such things.”
“M’Laird, please forgive me,” Ian said. “I may have been too harsh on the girl. I dinnae ken the whole extent of why she was here. But if she is nae a suspect in the crime…”
“It means we have a killer in the castle,” Jude said.
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