“The sun feels good,” she said with her eyes closed. “And the scent of the roses is beautiful,” she said taking a deep breath and then exhaling. “I’ve always loved roses.”
“Would ye like to take a walk with me?” Aiden asked.
“That would be wonderful,” she said as Aiden took her arm and placed it through his.
“The scent of the garden reminds me of my grandmother’s cottage. It was a mixture of roses, heather, and the sea. She had a beautiful rose garden.”
“On the sea? Where was her cottage?” he asked.
“It’s located where the River Lochy meets Loch Linnhe,” she answered.
Looking puzzled, “Tis not far from here, however, I dinna recall a cottage there,” Aiden stated.
“That’s because it’s not there yet,” Jaedin accidentally let it slip. Pausing for a moment, not for certain if she should tell him about the future and where she came from.
“What do ye mean tis not there yet?” he asked.
Shying away at the idea of telling Aiden all about the future for the time being, she said, “Never mind. I’m feeling a bit tired and would like to go to my room now.”
Aiden was even more puzzled by her behavior. After taking a deep breath, “I’ll take ye to the keep.”
They walked in silence briefly before Aiden spoke. “I’ll be leavin’ for my keep in a few days.”
“Your work here is complete?” Jaedin asked.
“For this journey, tis complete,” he answered. “and I need to get back to managin’ my own keep.”
“So you’ve decided to sell your brother’s lands and castle to the MacDougall laird?” she continued to ask questions.
“Not yet. He’s given me a fine bid for it.” Aiden began. “I just dinna ken if I can part with it.” Aiden was impressed that Jaedin was interested in his affairs and had paid attention.
“What is preventing you from selling it?” she asked just before they walked through the doors of the great hall.
Aiden looked around and took a deep breath. “We grew up here. Iain and I,” he clarified as they walked towards the head table. “As lads, we used to run in and outta this hall hollerin’ like we were banshees.” He chuckled a bit. The first time she’d heard him laugh.
“Then perhaps it would be good to hold off on making the decision until you know for certain.” She gave her opinion.
“Perhaps,” he said. “As I was tellin’ ye before, I’ll be leaving for Inverlochy in a day or so.” He helped her sit at the table. “If ye are feelin’ well enough, I’d find it a grand honor to have ye attend me to my keep.” He paused to see if she would protest. “I have a vera fine solar and bedchamber that can be yers if ye chose.”
Jaedin didn’t know how to respond. Truth be told, she hadn’t thought about where she would be. “Aiden, I…” She stopped herself and took a deep breath.
“Dinna make yer decision yet,” Aiden quietly said. “Ye can tell me later. Stay put for tis almost time for our evenin’ feast.”
“Aiden?” Jaedin began.
“Aye, lass?” he asked.
“Thank you for today in the garden,” Jaedin said.
“For what?” Aiden asked.
“For telling that other woman you were there for me. I’ve never had a man focus just on me.” She shyly confessed that she’d overheard their conversation.
Wishing she could see the brief smile across his face, “That I canna imagine, however, tis my honor, lass.” And then he headed across the hall and disappeared up the stairs.
* * * *
Aiden slammed the door to his chamber, disgusted with himself. Christ’s teeth, he’d acted like a green lad around Jaedin. He may as well have pulled her hair and asked her if she could come out to play! Where was his mind lately? Every time he was near the lass, he lost complete control. He was the laird of the MacAlister clan, for Almighty sake! I’ve given the lass entirely too much leniency. He threw his shoulders back, puffed out his muscular chest, and stood up as straight as his six feet and ten inches could stand. “I am laird. If tis my will that the lass goes with me to Inverlochy, she will go.” He sternly announced aloud to the air then removed his shirt and boldly tossed it across the room then puffed his chest out and gave a low primal growl.
A knock came from the door startling Aiden. He opened the door to find Jaedin and Glenna standing there.
“Is all well?” he asked, concerned for Jaedin’s health.
“Yes, I’m fine. I’m just a bit tired from our outing today and wanted to let you know that I’ll be taking my meal in my room tonight,” Jaedin said.
“Glenna, ye go on ahead and tend to yer duties for the evenin’. I’ll escort Jaedin to her chamber.”
“As ye wish, laird MacAlister,” Glenna said with amusement in her tone of voice as she left the two alone.
Without taking the time to put on another shirt, Aiden closed the door behind him then took Jaedin’s arm in his and led her down the hallway and up the stairs to Iain’s chamber.
After opening the door, he escorted her through, “Which chair do ye want to sit on?”
“Honestly, I’d like to just crawl into bed,” Jaedin replied.
“I’ll send for someone to help ye get undressed,” Aiden said.
“No, it’s not necessary. If you’ll just loosen the ties in the back I can wiggle my way out,” she said as she turned her back to him and lifted her hair out of the way.
Aiden paused briefly then picked up the end of the laces and began loosening them.
“Thank you, Aiden. Now turn around so I can take this thing off,” she said as she began wiggling out of her dress.
Aiden could do nothing but stare at her while she twisted and wiggled her way out of the tight fitting garment. Christ Almighty, but the lass was bonnie he thought to himself as he recalled the day he found her crawling around in the storm. “I should go,” he quickly said as he headed towards the door.
“Aiden,” she said causing him to halt.
“Aye, lass,” he said without turning to look at her.
“If the offer is still available, I’d like to go to Inverlochy with you,” she said as she crawled underneath the covers. “I don’t have any reason to stay here.”
He slowly turned around to look at Jaedin. “Aye, good. We leave in two days, so I’ll have Glenna help ye pack in the morn.” And then he left the room.
ChapterFive
Her Noble Destiny
Chapter Five
It was a rainy morning when Aiden assisted Jaedin up to sit astride the massive charger that the two would share on their journey to Inverlochy castle. He looked up to see how the large horse dwarfed her then adjusted her skirts to cover her shapely legs. “Yer welcome to come to Inverlochy, Glenna,” he said as he turned to face the older woman.
“My place is here, MacAlister.” She gave her answer. “The people here need me. Besides, if I leave who would patch up all the lasses that are brought here to heal?” Glenna said with a smile spread across her lips.
“Thank you for that, Glenna,” Jaedin genuinely said. “Thank you for everything.”
“Yer welcome. Now ye make him treat ye well, lass.”
“I will,” Jaedin replied as Aiden mounted up to sit behind her then wrapped his large arms around her waist and kicked the horse into stride.
Glenna called to her as they left Dunstaffnage behind. “If he’s harsh to ye lass, then ye come home to me.”
For about an hour, they rode in silence as they listened to the rain gently fall upon the land and the sound of the horse’s steps. Aiden had the reins in one hand and his other arm was wrapped tightly around Jaedin, holding her close to him.
“Greer isna a common name. Where is yer family from?” Aiden finally broke the silence between them.
“All over, you could say. However, mainly Scotland ,” Jaedin answered.
“All over?” he asked.
“My dad was in the United States Army, so we moved all over the place
,” She said.
“United States ? Where is this United States ?” he continued asking.
Uh oh, she thought to herself. “It’s across the ocean,” she simply said.
“Ah, like the Norsemen that invaded our Orkney Islands.” He looked down at her. “We have no concern as to whether or not the United States will attempt to invade Scotland , do we? We already have our hands full with the English and their wretched king.”
Jaedin couldn’t help but laugh at his concern. “No, not unless you consider tourists an invading force,” she grinned.
“Tourists? Is that what ye call yer warriors?” Aiden genuinely asked.
Jaedin broke into laughter again; thanking God that Aiden had a good hold on her for she surely would’ve fallen off the horse.
“I fail to find jest in what I’ve asked,” Aiden annoyingly stated.
Jaedin tried desperately to stifle her giggles, but to no avail, she broke into laughter again. “I’m sorry Aiden. I don’t mean to laugh…”
Grumbling with a frown on his face, “Perhaps I shoulda let ye fall in the loch.” he interrupted as Jaedin continued to giggle.
* * * *
The day’s journey had been long and tiring. The rain had finally let up just as Aiden’s horse carried the two travelers across the drawbridge and into the courtyard of Inverlochy.
Duncan emerged from the castle just as Aiden halted the horse and dismounted. “Welcome home,” he said as Aiden was helping the lovely woman from the horse.
“Tis good to be home.” Aiden acknowledged the young man then turned his attention back to Jaedin. “Easy now, lass,” he coaxed as her legs were attempting to readjust to walking instead of riding.
The last time Jaedin had ridden horses was a long time ago when she was at Girl Scout camp. And all she could remember about that experience was the sore muscles the next day and that was after riding for just an hour. She cringed at the thought of how she would feel in the morning. She grasped Aiden’s arm to steady herself.
“Who do ye have here?” Duncan asked.
“This would be Lady Jaedin Greer,” Aiden answered as he led Jaedin across the courtyard and into the great hall. “Mairi, prepare some warm cider and food for us and have them delivered to our chambers. Have Katie take our guest up to the large bed chamber in the southern tower. She’ll be stayin’ there.” He took Jaedin’s hand and placed it in Katie’s. “I’ll visit with ye in the morn.” He left her in the young girl’s care and left with Duncan to catch up on the affairs of his own keep.
It didn’t take Mairi long to realize that Jaedin was blind. “Come, lass. Katie and I will get ye fed and a hot bath to ease yer achin’ bones.” She motioned to Katie. “Take our guest to her room,” the older woman ordered.
ChapterSix
Her Noble Destiny
Chapter Six
Jaedin stood before the window with her eyes closed, enjoying the cool gentle wind blowing on her face. There was the scent of rain on its wings and she could hear the rolling of thunder off in the distance. She kept her eyes closed as she allowing herself to concentrate, trying hard to remember the way Scotland looked when she was a child visiting her grandmother.
She used to visit her grandmother every summer. Gram Greer lived in the cutest little cottage in the country with no electricity and a breathtaking view of the sea. Gram said they didn’t need it any of those modern things. Jaedin giggled as she remembered all the times they would stay up at night by lantern and Gram would tell her stories of old Scotland. She was truly a tough old woman who tilled the land for what she needed.
When Jaedin had joined the army, Gram finally gave in to the notion of modern things and had electricity and a phone line installed.
A few more tears came to her eyes as she remembered her grandmother. It had near killed her when Gram died. Jaedin had been on a deployment at the time and by the time she received the Red Cross message that she had died, it was too late to make it back for the funeral. Gram had left the cottage to her knowing she had been the only one who had truly loved it and after that particular deployment ended, Jaedin had spent all of her leave time at the cottage, sorting through all of Gram’s things. Then after that, she spent every chance she had, every leave, every holiday; she’d go back there to retreat from the world. The cottage had become her sanctuary.
In one of Gram’s stories, she told her about one of the castles that used to belong to the laird of the MacAlister clan and how it held a grand magic. Jaedin remembered Inverlochy castle and running around its broken walls and playing hide and seek with a little boy from the town close by. But it had been in such ruin that it was difficult to imagine what it looked like in all its glory. Well, now she was here, in the castle, in all its glory. She wondered what it looked like now without all the power lines and modern buildings cluttering its landscape. And she wondered if her traveling back in time was what her Gram had meant about magic. Could she have known more than she’d let on?
It was then the flood gates opened, the rest of the tears finally came. What would she do if her sight never came back? She was a nurse and without her sight, she wouldn’t be able to help anyone. All her training, wasted. She grasped the window ledge to keep her balance, feeling the cold stone beneath her fingers. That is if she got to go back to being a nurse.
Aiden leaned against the doorframe watching Jaedin’s hair blowing in the wind as her shoulders shook while she sobbed. He knew something was wrong because of how quiet she had been all evening during their meal. He could only presume that she was now coming to terms with her loss of sight and situation. As a warrior, he would be worthless if he were to lose the use of his eyes.
Since arriving at Inverlochy, things seemed so strained between the two of them. It seemed no matter how hard he tried, he just couldn’t find a way to bring peace between them. Jaedin wasn’t allowing him close to her at all. Aiden had always been the peacemaker in the family, yet when she fought him, he fought right back. He took in a deep breath, giving away his presence.
“Who’s there?” Jaedin asked as she turned around, still grasping the ledge of the window, her eyes red and puffy from crying.
“Tis only me, lass.” Aiden said as he completely entered the room. “I see…” he trailed off in mid sentence, feeling a bit awkward in how to talk to her. He wasn’t used to dealing with the tears.
“You see what?” she asked in a curt tone. “You see the sun or the moon…the colors of the rainbow?” Jaedin turned back to the window, swallowing hard to keep from crying again. “Please, by all means, point out your strengths to me, mighty warrior!”
Feeling the sting of her sharp words, Aiden’s eyes narrow as he replied, “Ye mistake my meanin’, lass. I was about to say…”
“Mistake?” The volume of her voice rising, “Mistake? I think not! I know how it is here, in this time! Without my sight, I’m as good as dead!” Then there was a loud clap of thunder that struck the ground just outside the window sending Jaedin into high alert and she dropped to the floor.
Aiden quickly crossed the room to help her up. “Tis only thunder and lightnin’ lass. No need for dismay.”
Embarrassed, she pulled from his grasp, losing her balance only to fall back into his arms. “I’m not dismayed, now leave me alone!” she cried as she tried to break free from him again.
Aiden picked her up into his arms and held her in his embrace for a moment before saying in a low brogue, “Tis time for bed, Jaedin.”
There is that low seductive voice again , Jaedin thought to herself. Snap out of it girl, then she began kicking and fought him with all she had, becoming frustrated at the fact that she seemed to have no effect on him. “I’m not a child! Put me down now!” she continued her assault. “I order you to put me down!”
Aiden couldn’t help but laugh. “Order me!? Listen to the queen herself ordering me as if I’m a lowly commoner! Do ye remember whose castle yer in?” He tossed her over his shoulder as he walked out of the solar and down the hall
way.
Jaedin wouldn’t give up. She kicked as hard as she could and then she felt the sting of being whacked on the backside. “Be still, lass, before ye wake up the entire keep!”
Jaedin quieted as she processed what just happened. “Oh, hell no! You did not just spank me!” She took her hands and felt up his sides to find the pressure points just under his arms, then squeezed with all her might.
“I dinna ken what this spank means, but I…” Letting out a loud howl of pain, he dropped to his knees, toppling her onto the floor.
Jaedin could hear footsteps rushing in their direction and then another set of hands helping her to her feet.
“I could hear ye two all the way into the great hall! What is goin’ on? Is all well, lass?” Duncan asked.
“I’m the one in pain, Duncan ! Why not ask if I’m well,” Aiden proclaimed as he rose to his knees. “Get her to her room, Duncan. She wants no help from me.”
Duncan looked back and forth between the two, confused.
“Please, Duncan ,” Jaedin asked. “I’ve have my fill of superiority this evening.”
Nearly choking, “Superiority, is it?” Aiden growled as he advanced on her.
Jaedin could feel the warmth of his breath just inches from her lips. “I wasn’t the one throwing daggers with her callous words, lass!”
“Aiden…” Duncan began to warn by grasping his friend’s arm.
“Stay out of this, Duncan , or soon enough you’ll find her daggers at yer back too!” Aiden warned, never taking his eyes from Jaedin. Then in an unexpected maneuver, he grabbed the back of her head, grasping hold of her hair with his free hand and brought his mouth crashing down on hers, kissing her fiercely, elated that she didn’t shove him away from her.
Stunned, Duncan released Aiden’s arm, “If ever I understand the dealings between a woman and a man…” Duncan ’s voice faded as he headed back to the great hall, leaving the two alone again.
Her Noble Destiny Page 4