by Nora Roberts
Estelle covered her mouth to keep from crying out.
“I knew then that I had squandered my chance to save not only my little brother but my father and mother as well. I started running toward the great hall, desperate to make up for the time I’d lost. I heard the pounding of feet behind me, and knew that Donan’s warrior was still there. I felt the bitter sting of a sword and knew that I’d been mortally wounded. But as I fell I managed to trip him, and he fell forward, impaling himself on his own sword. He landed on top of me, and I feared I was goin’ to die. But at last I managed to drag myself free. I crawled away and hid, for the castle was alive with warriors.”
Estelle glanced around. “Where did you hide?”
He pointed to the far wall. “There were some loose bricks there, where my brother and I used to play. I slipped inside. I must have been very weak. I don’t remember much, except the sound of fighting that seemed to go on for hours, or perhaps days. Finally, when there was only silence, I slipped out of my hiding place and went in search of my family.”
He slumped down on the edge of the table and sat staring into space.
Estelle walked over and wrapped her arms around him. “It must have been horrible, Jamie.”
“Aye.” His voice was muffled against her shoulder. “There was blood everywhere. Many of the rooms were smoldering, for our enemies had vowed to burn the castle to the ground.”
“And your family?”
“They were all…dead. My father. My mother. My little brother.”
“What about you, Jamie?”
She felt the shimmer of heat before he said softly, “Aye. At least I thought I was dead. I could see my body there in the hiding place. But even after it was nothing more than dust, I was still here. And here I remain, sleeping in that same hiding place for all this time.”
“I can’t see it.”
“About a hundred years ago the castle was remodeled. These walls were covered over with expensive panels of mahogany. So I simply pass through each night and return to my old place.”
“But you can’t…go home?”
He shook his head. “There’s something I still must do.” He pushed a little away and stared deeply into her eyes. “But I dunna know what it is. And I’m so weary. I just want to go home.”
She picked him up and gently kissed his tearstained cheeks. “You will, Jamie.”
“Do you think so?”
“I do. If there’s any way I can help, I will. I promise.” It occurred to her that, though he was hundreds of years old, his heart and soul were still those of a little boy. A very sad, very homesick little boy.
“What about the Star of Scotland, Jamie?”
He shook his head sadly. “I dunna know. It was my intention to hide it, to keep it safe. But I cannot remember. Perhaps I dropped it in my haste. Someone may have found it and carried it away. It was all so long ago.”
They looked up at the sound of a deep voice from the doorway. “So. This is the professor of antiquities who is going to be Rob’s savior.”
Estelle felt the sudden chill and realized that Jamie had disappeared.
She crossed the room and extended her hand. “I’m Estelle Sinclair.”
“I’m Griffin Mackenzie.” He closed his other hand over hers, holding her when she tried to pull away. “Since I hold the mortgage on Castle Clough, I thought I’d take a look at your work and see just what you’ve uncovered.”
She saw his greedy gaze sweep the paintings, the statuary, the gold and jewel-encrusted items.
“Such a pity that Rob will have to let go of some of his family treasures. I told him that if he really cares about such things, he should simply let them all remain within the castle walls. At least then they’ll be here for future generations to enjoy.”
“How generous of you.” Estelle couldn’t keep the ice from her tone. “Perhaps you’d be generous enough to extend the deadline. Then he could remain here where he belongs, surrounded by the things he loves.”
At her boldness he gave her a long, slow, insolent look, then threw back his head and chuckled. “A word of warning, Professor. You’re beginning to sound as though this has become a personal battle. There are those who might say you’ve overstepped your professional bounds.”
“I don’t live my life considering what others say, Mr. Mackenzie. Now if you’ll excuse me, I have work to do.”
“By all means, Professor. Please get back to it. After all, it’s for my benefit as well as Rob’s. Within a matter of a few weeks, all this will be mine.”
Estelle watched as he sauntered out of the room. She looked down to find Jamie hiding behind her skirt. On his face was a look of pure terror.
“It’s Donan. Come back to pillage.”
“Nonsense. He said his name is Griffin Mackenzie.”
“Aye. The name may have changed through the centuries, but his heart is still evil. I know this man. The same eyes. The same heart.” He looked up at her. “Did ye know that he was once married to Lord Cameron’s sister?”
“Patience?”
“Aye. When he married her, he thought he was marrying an only child who would one day inherit all this. The arrival of Rob, so many years after his sister, caught everyone by surprise. By that time Patience had already told her family of her expected baby. As I recall, when Mackenzie learned that her parents would be having a baby of their own, he wasna happy. He suggested that his mother-in-law was too old to give birth to a healthy child. He even went so far as to give his father-in-law a list of doctors, in case there were any second thoughts.”
“Obviously they didn’t take him up on the offer.”
The lad nodded. “But consider this. Shortly after Rob was born, Patience suffered a terrible accident, and she was found dead. The babe she was carrying died as well.”
“Are you suggesting that her death wasn’t an accident?”
Jamie shrugged. “There was speculation that the marriage hadna been a love match. Now that there was an heir apparent to Castle Clough, Griffin Mackenzie had no need of a wife, or her child, for they could do him no good.”
“You’re frightening me, Jamie. Do you really believe he has waited all this time to steal the Cameron inheritance?”
“Ye tell me. Do ye think these things only happened hundreds of years ago? Or do ye believe that even today greed can drive a man to madness?”
Jamie’s voice trembled. “For years, Donan was consumed with jealousy, until it drove him to kill all who stood in his way. For years, Griffin Mackenzie has coveted Castle Clough but has kept his distance. But a greedy man knows how to bide his time and how to use the weakness of others for his own benefit.”
Estelle shivered. The boy made sense. But it wasn’t her battle. She had been brought here for one thing.
To get her mind off her troubling thoughts, she forced herself to return to her work, picking up an ancient jewel-handled sword.
Jamie hopped up on the end of the table and began walking along the edge, staring at the sword as he did. “That belonged to my father, ye know. And one day it was to have been mine.”
Hearing the pain in his voice, Estelle said, “I’m sorry, Jamie. I hate it that you and Rob must part with such special treasures. But he is…” She glanced up in alarm. “Be careful, Jamie. You’re going to fall.”
“Not a chance of it. It was always my little brother who couldna balance…”
Before he could finish the sentence he tumbled headfirst. Estelle scooped him up and hugged him fiercely. “Are you hurt? Are you bleeding?”
“Nay.” He looked up and, seeing her concern, wrapped his arms around her neck. “Oh, it’s been so long since anyone worried about me. You see? You’re just like my mother.”
She carried him back to her chair and sat down, cuddling him on her lap.
He snuggled against her for a moment, clinging to the warmth of her. “When you hold me like this, I see my mother’s face. I even smell her.” He reached up and touched her head. “But your hair is a
ll wrong. Why do you wear it like this, Estelle? It should be all soft and loose.” He pulled a strand out of the neat knot.
“Jamie, stop that.”
Just as she reached a hand to his, a stern voice from the doorway had her stiffening in surprise. “So. The job has you talking to yourself already?”
She looked up.
Lord Cameron was walking toward her, looking at her in the strangest way.
“I was just…”She glanced down and saw Jamie grinning up at her. “Jamie and I were…”
At that moment she felt a cool breeze and realized that her arms were empty. Jamie had fled.
Rob crossed the room until he was standing directly in front of her. “Say that again.”
She got to her feet. “It was nothing.” She shook head, trying to pull herself together.
“You said ‘Jamie.’ Have you seen him?”
“Don’t be sill…”She stopped. Started over. “You…know of him?”
He arched a brow. “Then you have seen him.”
She swallowed and lifted her chin. “Yes, I’ve seen him. And I’m not crazy.”
He smiled then, and she was amazed at the transformation. His eyes crinkled at the corners. His lips curved in the most enticing manner. He threw back his head and roared. “Believe me, Estelle. You’re not crazy. I’ve seen him, too. Though I have to admit it’s been years now. When I was a lad, Jamie was my playmate.”
“Truly? You’re not making that up?”
He nodded. “Jamie was my friend. My only friend when I was very young, and alone in this house with a father who hardly knew I existed. Jamie and I had some amazing experiences together.” He shook his head, remembering. “I can’t tell you how many times he got me into trouble.”
“I can imagine. He’s quite a little scamp. In fact, he was the one who tugged my hair loose just now.”
She lifted a hand to push her hair back, but Rob closed a hand over hers, stilling her movement. “Don’t. I like it better this way.”
Estelle’s eyes widened. At the mere touch of him, she experienced a rush of heat that left her trembling.
“I’d like it even better if you’d let me do this.” Rob reached up and removed the pins from her hair, watching through narrowed eyes as the rich red waves tumbled about her shoulders. It was as though he’d been cast under some sort of spell. And he thought fleetingly that Jamie might be the cause of it. Still, the scene when he’d held the brush flashed through his mind once more, conjuring an image he couldn’t forget.
It seemed the most natural thing in the world to plunge his fingers into the tangles. He drew her head back and stared into her eyes. Saw them widen with surprise, then slowly heat as she realized his intentions. He lowered his gaze to her lips and tested himself for just a moment, holding back until he could almost taste them. Then he could wait no longer. Moving as slowly as though in a dream, he fitted his mouth to hers, and on a sigh he drank in the sweet, clean taste of her.
At that first contact Estelle felt the floor dip and tilt dangerously, and her hands reached out, clutching blindly at his waist. Though she tried not to react, she couldn’t help the way her breath hitched, then released in a long, slow sigh. She could feel her pulse rate speed up and her blood begin to heat. Though she thought about resisting, she was afraid to move. Afraid that if she did, she would shatter like crystal. And so she stood, absorbing the most delicious sensations.
As he took the kiss deeper, all thought fled. All she could do was hold on while he took her on a roller-coaster ride of emotions.
He’d never met anyone quite so exciting to watch. He kept his eyes open, loving the way she responded to that simple kiss. Color flooded her cheeks. Her lashes fluttered, then lowered.
He changed the angle, keeping his mouth on hers, and found himself deeply aroused by the touch of her hands at his waist. The thought of them touching him everywhere aroused him even more. Though he was tempted to crush her to him and take what he wanted, he forced himself to go slowly, allowing the merest stroke of his hand along her spine. Her little shiver of delight only excited him more.
It took all his willpower to pull back. “I was tempted to blame this on Jamie. He was always getting me to do things I wanted to do, but was too cowardly to try.” He smiled then, and there was an edge of danger in it. “But that would be a lie. This wasn’t Jamie’s doing. It was all mine.” He tilted her chin, lifting her face to his, and brushed a light, butterfly kiss over her lips. “And you’d best be warned, Estelle. Given the chance, I’ll do it again.”
“Don’t I have anything to say about that?”
He chuckled. “I didn’t see you resist.”
She felt the heat stain her cheeks. There was no denying the truth of what he’d said. Not only had she not resisted, but she had fully participated. And judging by the way her body was continuing to vibrate, she would gladly do it again.
“I wish I didn’t have to leave to meet someone.” Because his hands were shaking, he tucked them into his pockets and took another step back. It was dangerous standing too close to her. “Why don’t you join my uncle and me in the library at six for drinks?”
“I…Yes. All right.”
“Until then.” He was, he realized, already looking forward to it.
He turned away and caught sight of Griffin Mackenzie standing in the doorway. When he realized what Griff had witnessed, his smile instantly disappeared.
Without a backward glance he stormed away.
6
“GOOD EVENING, MY dear.” Sir Charles looked up from his position beside the fire. “You look lovely tonight.” He glanced at his nephew. “Doesn’t she, Rob?”
“Aye.” Rob’s eyes darkened as he studied her.
Estelle braced herself before meeting Rob’s gaze. Ever since their kiss, she’d been fretting over how she would react in his presence.
“Wine?” Rob handed her a fluted glass, and as their fingers brushed, he felt a rush of heat that left him shaken. He tempted himself further by placing a hand beneath her elbow as he led her to a chair beside his uncle.
She felt heat stain her cheeks. She’d taken pains to look just right this evening. The dress was a vibrant shade of body-skimming green silk. At her throat was a single strand of pearls, a gift from her aunt. On a whim she’d brushed her hair long and flowing, but now she wished she had pinned it up. She suddenly felt silly and frivolous.
“My nephew was just telling me that you’ve met Jamie.”
“I…Yes.” What was happening to her? She was an intelligent, sensible woman who had slowly worked her way into a position of respect and authority in one of the finest auction houses in the world. She held art history degrees from two universities and was regarded as one of the most knowledgeable curators of Scottish artifacts. In less than two days, however, she had compromised her position by shamelessly flirting, and worse, was openly admitting to seeing and talking to a ghost in her workroom.
“I remember him as being such fun.”
“Are you telling me that you’ve met him also, Sir Charles?”
“Of course. All the Camerons have met the lad, since his…demise in 1620.”
“Have others outside the family seen him?”
Charles shrugged. “Only if he wants them to. Through the centuries there have been dozens of reported sightings. He’s become an accepted member of the family.”
“He told me the rest of his family has gone home. Why does he stay? Why doesn’t he…join them?”
The old man shook his head. “I don’t really know. It seems there’s something he feels he must do before he can enjoy his eternal rest.”
“He mentioned the Star of Scotland. Have you heard of it?”
“Of course. It was rumored to have been an important piece of Cameron history. But there are no paintings of it, no sketches, no written history of it. All we have is word of mouth handed down through the centuries. It appears to be more fiction than fact.”
Estelle sipped her wine, conside
ring what she was about to say. Then, after taking a deep breath, she turned to Rob. “Jamie told me that you’ve only agreed to auction off your belongings because you’re about to lose Castle Clough. Is that true?”
His hand tightened on the glass, the only indication of his pain. “It is.”
“I’m sorry. I can’t even imagine what it must feel like to have to give up something this beautiful.”
“It isn’t only the beauty of Castle Clough that I’ll lose. It’s the land that has been in my family for generations. And the pleasure I take from my work.”
“Not to mention,” his uncle added, “all the people who live here and in Dunfield who depend on Rob to see them through the hard times. It’s been a tradition for the Cameron family, one we take very seriously.”
Now Estelle understood the sadness she could sense in Desmond and Alfred Snow, and Arley and Fergus Barclay. Then she thought about what Jamie had told her of the man who held the mortgage. “Jamie said that Griffin Mackenzie has long coveted your land.”
“Aye.” As always, when Rob’s temper grew, his burr thickened.
Estelle knew that if she but closed her eyes, she could imagine Rob Cameron as a warrior of old, sword lifted, ready to do battle with his enemy.
She leaned forward. “There has to be a way to stop him from taking what is rightfully yours, Rob.”
“Don’t you think I’ve tried to find a way?” He stood and walked to the fireplace, resting a closed fist on the mantel. “I’ve been to every banker. I’ve had lawyers going over the documents, looking for a loophole. Griff was clever. Everything is legal and binding. And in just a few weeks, unless I find a pot of gold, everything I’ve ever loved will be his.”
Estelle could hear the pain in his voice, could actually feel the sorrow he was feeling. It pierced her heart like a knife. She set down her drink and clasped her hands in her lap. “It isn’t fair.”
Rob stopped his pacing to look at her. On his lips was a heart-stopping smile. “No one ever promised that life would be fair.”