“Are you going to miss me?” I asked, resting my head on his shoulder.
“More than you can imagine.” He put his arm around me and pulled me close, planting a tender kiss on my head. “But you are right. You probably would be bored to death waiting for me all day in the hotel room. It is a shame, though. You would have enjoyed Ravenna. It is one of those sleepy Italian cities that most travelers seem to overlook. There is a treasure trove of churches, mausoleums, and rich Roman history going back two millennia. You must come with me next time I visit the factory.”
“It’s a deal.” I raised my head and smiled at him.
I tried to keep my mind from wandering back to my carelessness that could have made for a really bad day for Heather, but as usual, my own thoughts betrayed me. Emrys wrinkled his forehead as he fixed his gaze on me, not so much angry as dumbfounded. I wasn’t sure which made me feel worse but I thought I’d be able to get over his anger quicker than his thinking of me as an idiot. “I know, I know, it was a stupid thing, please forgive me!” I pleaded. “Don’t look at me like that!”
He shook his head and instantly wiped the puzzled look off his face. His eyes grew tender, and he pressed his forehead onto mine. “I must forgive you,” he said softly.
“Yes, you must,” I sighed softly, breathing in his delicious scent.
“I am sure I do not have to repeat the many reasons why you will never allow another peccadillo like this again?” Even his breath was sweet. It was easy to be corrected when there was such tenderness in his voice.
I raised an eyebrow and asked, “Peccadillo?”
With a slight chuckle he explained in one word: “Indiscretion.”
“You would be correct. I’ve learned my lesson well, husband.”
He pressed his lips onto mine very softly and then pulled back, smiling. His self-control was amazing. Had things been reversed, my inclination would have been to continue to go over and over what could have happened, probably many decibels above the normal voice range. I sat back watching him as he read over his notes again, no doubt memorizing his speech for the meeting. He never said another word about my bad judgment that night, and somehow I knew he’d never bring it up again.
* * *
Thankfully - for all concerned, the rest of May went by in a flash. The day before Emrys was to leave, we skipped our fencing practice, and after a leisurely brunch, we headed back to our suite. Even though we had the rest of the day together, I couldn’t get enough of him. In between sessions of lovemaking, we managed to get him packed, and somewhere around dinnertime, I had Kelsey bring a snack up for us. When I met her at the door, still wearing only my robe, she gave me a quick wink and a grin, whispering, “Having fun, are ya?” She giggled and handed me the tray, quickly turned back and scampered down the hall before I could say anything.
We ate our plates of fresh fruit and cheeses, and enjoyed a glass of fine wine. It actually reminded me of our first evening together as man and wife, and I was overwhelmed with happy memories. Emrys caught all of my fleeting thoughts, and said, “As much as I cherish those memories too, my love, each day with you has only been better than the day before.” He then took my face into his palms and said, “I love you with my entire being, Elizabeth.”
“And I love you too, Emrys. More than words can say.”
As we snuggled together that last night, a dismal sadness came over me, and I knew the next few days were going to be long and lonely. I missed him already and he hadn’t even left yet.
* * *
The first afternoon that Emrys was away I spent with Lindy. We had a great time together getting caught up, and just for old time’s sake, we made some popcorn and watched a couple of romantic-comedies on one of the big screens in the TV-room. Half-way through the second movie, we were joined by Fiona and Rufus, but once we got to giggling together, he excused himself and left us to our girl-talk. We had a lot of fun, and I only had a twinge of missing Emrys about every half-hour or so. It was much easier to be away from him when I kept busy.
Melinda and Fiona walked me to my door, and after the guard went inside and searched every nook and cranny, he allowed me to go in. The girls both hugged me and said they would wait outside my door, listening for the locking sounds before leaving. I just shook my head, thinking everyone was acting a bit over-protective. I peeked out the peephole, watching them go down the hallway, and then heard the scraping sound of the guard’s chair as he moved it right in front of my door. His big head blocked my view of the girls until he sat down, and by then they had already turned the corner.
Whatever.
After my normal evening rituals, I slipped sadly into bed. I read for a while, waiting until my eyes felt sleepy, and turned off the light around midnight. I had a hard time falling asleep, and woke up several times; the bed was far too empty and cold. One of the times I woke up, I vaguely remembered a bit of a dream, but it was blurry and hard to bring back. All I could recall was a lovely, sunny meadow and a sleeping dog. As I concentrated on this sweet image, a quiet, peaceful feeling washed over me and I drifted back to sleep.
The second day without Emrys, I spent the early morning out in Kelsey’s garden with her. I had promised to help get the rest of her seedlings planted, since she so unselfishly stuck it out with me the afternoon of my terrible misstep with Heather. After we washed up for brunch, she asked me if I wouldn’t mind taking a quick trip to town with her. Of course, we had to take my big-headed bodyguard along, but I figured getting away for a while would do me a world of good.
We meandered up and down the Creative Quarter on old High Street, a steep cobbled lane in Folkestone, checking out several colorful shops and galleries. Every now and then I’d peek over my shoulder to make sure my huge guardian was still there. It was a good feeling to know that he was never more than five feet away. Being out in the open where anything could happen wouldn’t be too smart a move without backup. After walking around for a few hours, we worked up quite an appetite and decided to stop for some fish and chips.
I was surprised at how great the food was, and when we finished eating our meal, Kelsey said, “You know, Lizzy, a trip to Folkestone would not be complete without visiting the East Cliff and Warren County Park.”
“Why is that?” I asked, wiping my greasy fingers.
“Because there are fantastic views of the White Cliffs from there,” she said with a smile.
“Do we have enough time?” I asked, thinking it would be getting dark soon. I glanced over at my bodyguard, sitting alone - by his choice - at another table. Apparently he could hear every word we’d said and he glanced down at his watch, looked back up at me, and nodded his head.
I grinned at Kelsey and whispered, “The big-headed one says we do.”
Kelsey giggled quietly.
After paying our bill we headed out, Kelsey leading the way. She said, “The park is only a short walk from Folkestone town center; it’s known as the gateway to the Dover-Folkestone Heritage coast.” She appeared to be quite knowledgeable about this area, but then, she had been here a lot longer than most of the people we saw walking about.
“The Warren is a beautiful nature reserve, rich with wildlife,” Kelsey explained as we walked through town, “and this area is the only place in Kent where the Grayling Butterfly can be found.” She went on excitedly, telling me all about the common spotted orchids that grow wild in some areas on top of the cliffs. I should have known she’d be interested in the greenery and flowers; and when it came to the views of the White Cliffs – she was right again. The views were shining and pure and spectacular. But of course, I wished Emrys was there enjoying the scenery with me.
* * *
All the walking and fresh air did me in and I couldn’t stop yawning while getting myself ready for bed. I was hopeful that all this drowsiness meant sleep would come easier this time, and as I clicked off the lights, a sudden chill washed over me. Emrys always liked to keep the air conditioner blowing cold, saying he enjoyed it when I snuggl
ed up to him for his warmth. But since he wasn’t home, I turned the thermostat up a bit.
I fell asleep within two minutes of crawling into bed, but woke up a few hours later – sticky and sweaty. The first thought that entered my mind was bad blood, and the horrid way I’d felt back when I had the fever. But as soon as I sat up, I knew it wasn’t me. The room felt hot and stagnant and I threw the covers off to the side with a disgruntled groan. Still feeling exhausted, I had to force myself to slide out of bed and crank the air back on. Lying flat on my back again, listening for the sound of the cooling fan to click on, all I could hear was the low rumble of thunder out over the sea.
Flaming hell.
Imagining the rain would probably hit by morning - not only would I be stuck inside the next day, it appeared the blasted air conditioner had croaked. With another groan, I rolled over to the cooler side of the bed, fluffed up my lonely pillow, and thought about what I could do tomorrow. I decided that I’d spend the day catching up on reading. At least rainy days could be good for something. Just then another barrage of thunder sounded through the windows. I squeezed my eyes shut, forcing myself to block out the noise.
That night one of my dreams was so realistic, that when I woke up, I was positive it actually happened. In this dream, Emrys and I had gone back to visit the Callanish stones, arriving just before twilight. We decided that it would be awesome to capture a few photos of the stones with the setting sun just behind the circle. However, when we arrived, the sky was overcast, obscuring the entire sunset.
We were just about to leave when suddenly some of the clouds parted - revealing a brilliantly huge full moon. As we stood quiet and still, gazing at the magnificent scene, we heard a noise. Turning to the sound, we witnessed a flock of ravens flying high above the stones – swooping and circling around several times - all in unison, as if someone had trained them to do this choreographed dance just for us. It was incredible!
Emrys decided to make his way closer to the stones to get a better view, but I refused to take another step closer. There was something ominous about them that gave me the chills. As I gazed toward the circle, a shadowy figure stepped out from behind the largest stone. When he deliberately advanced closer to Emrys, and I realized that it was Rohan – carrying two swords, my heart stopped.
Neither one said a word, almost as if this moment had been planned. Rohan tossed one of the swords and it landed at Emrys’ feet. Emrys had no choice but to snatch up the weapon and defend himself; Rohan was already charging ahead, his sword arm outstretched forward.
Petrified, I watched in horror as the two of them battled; swords clanging and banging into the otherwise quiet night. Suddenly, Sibelle’s words echoed in my head: The truth revealed and not ignored-Assures one ending - by the sword.
Several minutes later Emrys swung violently, delivering the final blow. Rohan crumpled to the ground. As my eyes fixed on his lifeless body, luminous waves of relief surged over me, punctuated with cold ripples of remorse.
Breathing heavily from exertion, his face etched with torment, Emrys staggered back - closer to the stones. His entire being - the very atmosphere around him - radiated such an intense anguish from taking a life - that I could feel it vibrate right through me. Sword still dangling loosely in his hand, his head fell back; and with his face to the dark sky, he stared up, painfully silent. The ravens now flew in low circles, uttering their tortured, sorrowful cries.
I woke myself up crying, and it took several moments to realize that this was a dream and not a memory. The rest of the night was terrible. I was uncomfortable - hot and sticky, depressed and edgy. I tossed and turned and barely slept at all.
And somehow I knew that the next day was going to be even worse.
CHAPTER 8
MAN IN THE MIRROR
The dark gloomy day mirrored my emotions to a T. I was quite sure that if it started to rain, I would dissolve into tears. The morning sun stayed hidden behind a gray fog as thick as a brick wall. As the day went on, it became hot and humid, and the opaque air seemed to cling to everything like tacky glue. The very weightiness of it gave me a sense of foreboding, as though the broken air conditioner was a sign of things to come. The weatherman had called it “unstable air” but predicted the fog should lift by nightfall, promising that a cool front would blow in. When all was said and done, his promise proved to be the only piece of good news that day.
I sat at my vanity brushing my hair, as I did every evening before bed. A gentle breeze finally started drifting in, which was delightful and refreshing after the dank tropical day came to a close. I sighed, wishing Emrys would hurry home. I knew how important this particular meeting was, but just couldn’t get used to sleeping alone and, already, he had been gone for two nights.
I heard a commotion in the hallway outside of our suite and assumed it was Kelsey and her puppy. She had gotten into the habit of letting Frosty follow her everywhere she went, even into my dressing room. I really didn’t mind, as long as she kept my clothes free from all that clingy, white dog hair.
My eyes were closed while I brushed, and out of sheer habit - still counted the strokes - remembering the times Melinda and I did this together each evening - our private sister time. It had been a time for daily catching up, news, secrets, and newfound joys. I missed that sometimes, but especially when I had too much free time on my hands - like now with Emrys out of town.
I didn’t hear the door open or close. Although, even if I had, I would have guessed it was Kelsey, putting more laundry away. The only reason I opened my eyes was because I felt the heat of a presence at my back, and at the same time, got a whiff of a sweet-smoky scent. The angle of the mirror reflected only a black shirt behind me, and then I saw his hands as he placed them gently on my shoulders. I spotted Emrys’ thumb ring. The light reflected off the red designs, and, sighing - I smiled to myself - so happy and relieved he was back.
“You’re home! Oh, Emrys,” I whispered, “what a great surprise.”
His hands were so warm and comforting; I leaned back into them, relishing his touch.
“I see you finally found your ring,” I said softly. “I knew you would.”
He didn’t say a word.
I sighed again and put my head down, closing my eyes when he started rubbing my neck and shoulders, kneading with his thumbs exactly as I liked. The electrical connection was as strong as ever, and I finally relaxed, knowing I wouldn’t have to sleep alone. After a minute or so, his right hand came up and over to my front. With a quick, gentle movement, he slipped his hand under my nightgown, and then slid further down, giving me a sudden quiver. Two nights away was more than I knew either of us could tolerate, and I set my brush down on the vanity, reached up, and touched his other hand saying, “It’s about time you came back. What took you so bloody long?”
He didn’t answer, but just continued to caress me. I kept my eyes closed, enjoying his caresses.
“I missed you, my love,” I whispered through my pleasure. “I can see that you missed me too.”
He leaned close to my ear and gave an excited moan, squeezing a bit harder than necessary now. And that’s when I noticed the distinct stench of alcohol. My eyes flew open. “You’ve been drinking?” I asked, surprised. This was unexpected and odd for Emrys.
At first his laugh was quiet, but it sounded strange; it mocked me.
What the flaming hell?
And then it hit me. Like a fierce and unmerciful punch in the stomach. Tensing up, I froze.
He’s back!
And the moment Rohan realized I had recognized him, he no longer suppressed his contemptuous snicker. The sudden recognition sent caustic waves crashing through me. With a loud gasp, my mind reeled, mortified at the sound of his continued laughter.
This can’t be happening! How did he get in here? Please let this be a nightmare!
How did he get so close as to be able to… get his hands on me? Seething with rage and fear, skin crawling at his unwelcomed touch, I wrenched free and ju
mped up, shuddering in revulsion. My skin burned searing hot as if his hands were still there. Unnerved and exposed, I wrapped my arms around myself, twirling around to face him. His loathsome laugh grew even more wicked as he observed my reaction. His expression mocked me with nefarious glee. My hatred for him intensified by the second.
With a gloating tone, he smirked, “Why Scarlett, didn’t you miss me?”
“How dare you! Just who do you think you are?” I yelled, enraged. “Get the hell out of my room - now!” I pointed a shaking finger at the door in an attempt to appear bold and fearless.
Oh my God! The door! Where’s my bodyguard?
I tried to remain as steady as possible, yet my insides quaked. My heartbeat was wild and my blood boiled through my veins like molten lava.
“Well now, my lovely Scarlett,” he began. His eyes darted down at my chest. “I bet no one ever told you that a large part of this wing used to belong to my family,” he announced, sweeping his arms out wide. With a sideways glance he added, “Of course, that was before Ambrose killed my father.” The venom in his voice was unmistakable, reminding me of the hatred he held for the Bertrand family. I took a step back as he went on. “So you see, in reality, Ravenswynd is still my home. I belong here.”
“That has nothing to do with me. I think you had better leave before Emrys gets back,” I said sternly, hoping my eyes didn’t betray me. And then, forcing myself to sound calm and convincing, I added, “He should be home any minute.” I couldn’t afford to let him hear an edge in my voice and I swallowed hard.
“Ah, pretty little Scarlett, you are such a bad liar.” He took a step closer, eyeing my chest again. Wishing I hadn’t been wearing my sheer gown, I tried covering myself with my arms and took another step backwards.
The Ravenswynd Series - Boxed Set Page 63