by L. L. Muir
Nae, she wasn’t spoiled, she was sweet, kind, and a wonderful mother and granddaughter.
His determination that she retain her home solidified. Surely it was what he was there for? She needed him. He wished he had money, lots of it. Wished he could play the hero for her. He thought of his plans to go back to his brothers, but this girl needed him even more, didn’t she? He couldn’t leave until he was certain she was safe, protected, and happy. “What do ye say we go back and search for the treasure one more time.”
She gave him another wistful smile and it hit him hard in the gut.
He wished to draw her into his arms and assure her everything was going to be all right.
He turned away to look out the window at the sad little playground, the uninspiring view of cars, and what looked to be a factory in the background.
He turned around and looked at Lilith. Her beautiful face was serious, and with her long, dark hair falling over one shoulder, he understood why the other man had been unable to take his gaze from her. Alan suffered the same affliction.
He’d just met her, but she left him feeling confused, distracted, and less interested in his ultimate goal.
What more could she make him want?
He needed to keep his eyes on the goal, but his gaze continued to shift over to her instead.
They had another frightening ride home, and Alan could tell Lilith was amused by his tense reaction. Cars passed in a continuous stream, but thankfully Lilith kept speed to a minimum.
When they arrived back at the house, she went inside.
He looked up at the mansion, and around the property, feeling a little helpless.
They needed his assistance and he was there to give it, but he just didn’t know how.
He walked to the back of the house and considered digging deeper into the holes he’d dug earlier.
He hesitated and decided mayhap he needed to talk to Miss Celia again. Perhaps she could give him a new place to search. If what she needed was brawn to get the task done, he was her man.
As he headed back to the front of the house, he heard chirping on the ground, looked around, and found a baby bird half-buried in the grass.
He glanced up, but couldn’t see a nest.
With a hungry mama cat living next door, the bird would not last long. He considered leaving it to nature, but thought of the joy it might bring Olivia. Calling himself all kinds of fool, he scooped it off the ground and headed inside.
A few feet into the foyer, Lilith stopped him. “What have you got there?”
He showed her the baby bird. “I thought perhaps Olivia could enjoy the wee creature.”
Miss Celia came out of the parlor, saw what he had, and move forward to pet and coo at the little mite.
Lilith looked like she was about to protest, and then seemed to hesitate. “We’ll have to let it go before we move, but you’ll find a birdcage up in the attic.” Her tone was slightly sardonic, as if she, too, thought him all kinds of fool. With a shake of her head, she walked into the kitchen.
“Well,” Miss Celia headed toward the staircase. “I think I’m going to take a nap before the séance. I need to be sharp and have my wits about me when ghosts are around, don’t you know.”
Alan cupped the baby bird against his chest. “You’re truly to be calling on ghosts?”
Miss Celia turned, part way up the staircase. “Of course. I’ll expect your help what with you being one yourself, all right?”
“Aye. Think ye it will work?”
Miss Celia winked, chuckled, and went up the stairs. “I guess you’ll see tonight, won’t you?”
“Wait! Do ye wish me to dig anywhere else?”
Miss Celia hesitated again. “You’re such a good boy. The holes you dug earlier were actually my best guesses. Let’s wait for the séance. Maybe great-great-grandfather can give us a better location.” With that, she wandered off, seeming tired. Again, Alan stood feeling like a failure.
He headed up the stairs and took the second set into the attic. It didn’t take him long to find a birdcage, and he put the little creature inside before going to find Olivia.
He finally found her in Miss Celia’s parlor, playing with her kitten. At the sight of her teasing the wee little beastie with a string, his spirits rose. “Lass, I have something for ye.”
He presented the birdcage with a flourish. She gasped and her hands flew to her mouth and he felt he’d grown three feet in stature.
He placed the bird cage in front of her, knelt beside her, and gently took the baby bird out and handed it to the little girl.
Her eyes, bright and shining, were wonderful to behold, and when she giggled, he wanted to scoop her up in his arms and hold her tight.
He refrained however, and soon Lilith joined them, leaning in the doorway. “Don’t forget kiddo, we aren’t into collecting animals at the moment. We can’t take it with us.”
“I know, Mama. But if we find the treasure, then can I keep it?”
Lilith smiled. “All right, you little negotiator.”
As Lilith looked at her daughter with soft eyes, Alan felt his own heart melt.
The kitten meowed.
Olivia reached for the beastie and tried to shove it out of sight, but they all knew it was too late. Miss Olivia looked at her mother, and so did Alan, and he knew that his face reflected the same guilt that hers did.
“Is that a kitten? Olivia, you know better than that!”
Alan quickly stood. “’Twas my fault, I gave her the wee kitten.” He moved to stand in front of the little girl and her two new pets, as if protecting them. He realized he’d done it, and quickly moved off to the side once again. “She might not be able to keep them, but she might as well have them for as long as she can.”
“I’ll take care of them, Mama.”
“I’ll help her.”
Lilith shook her head, snorted, and rolled her eyes. “All right, but remember—we can’t take them with us.”
She started to move away and Alan followed. “Miss Lilith, if ye tell me what I can do to help ye in any way, I’ll do my best.”
She looked at him for a long while and smiled sadly. “I know you will.”
Feeling helpless, he swallowed hard. This overdose of femininity was doing something to his insides.
He needed work.
Men’s work, or he’d go mad!
He glanced back at Olivia, happy with her pets, and went off to find something to fix.
Chapter 6
A while later, Alan had a stack of wood chopped. He knew in his bones he was here to help do right for Lilith and her family, but since he didn’t know how to make that happen, his frustration grew by the hour.
What he wouldn’t do to have his brothers here with him to test swords and fists against. Just as he had the thought, Lilith’s friend Trent walked up the dirt driveway and spotted him. He’d not offer much of a fight, but he’d take any distraction at this point.
“Yo! Alan! What are you doing?”
Alan set the ax down and moved to meet him. “I’ve nae task to do at present, and ’tis driving me balmy. Why are ye here? Have ye a task to perform?” Even Alan heard the hopeful tone in the question.
“Lilith said to come by early for dinner, plus I figured I’d see if she needed any help setting up.”
“’Tis all done.” He gestured toward the growing woodpile. “I had to find my own tasks to perform.”
Trent shoved hands in his pockets and glanced up at the house as he rocked back on his heels. “You know, it’s just not going to be the same without them here. Some rich types will buy the place, probably fix it up, and it’ll all be different.”
Alan didn’t like the thought of that at all, and his misery must’ve shown in his face because Trent laughed, and clapped him on the back. “Sheesh, your muscles are hard as rocks. Come on. Nothing we can do. Let’s go find Lilith.”
They went through the kitchen doorway and though dinner smelled wonderful, Lilith was nowhere to be
seen. They moved through the foyer and finally found her in the huge dining room, setting up chairs.
Alan’s brows drew tight. “Ye said ye didnae need my help!”
She smiled. “I’m just getting things ready. I think I can handle it.”
Alan grabbed the chair from her. “I told ye I could be of assistance.”
Her lips tilted. “Well, you’re here now. Come on, I’m getting chairs from the ballroom and moving them in here.”
They worked steadily for the next ten minutes and between the three of them, set the furniture in exactly the way Lilith wished, around the long table and at the sides of the room.
Alan was surprised by the number of chairs. “How many people are coming?”
“If everyone comes who was invited—”
“They will.” Trent grinned. “It’s an event not to be missed.”
“Then I guess about forty people.”
Alan counted out seats. They had enough. He looked at Trent and Lilith smiling and laughing together at the other end of the room, and while he felt slightly excluded, a thought came to him. He didn’t like it, truly didn’t like it, but didn’t have a choice, did he? “The two of ye seem to get along well together. If ye were to marry, then Lilith would have a new place to live.”
They both gaped at him, looked at each other, and started to laugh.
Trent shook his head. “I already told you I’m gay.”
Alan nodded. “Aye, I can see ye are verra gay, indeed. It might be just the thing to lift Lilith spirits during this difficult time.”
Trent laughed uncertainly, looked at Lilith, and then back at Alan. “Though it’s small, she knows she can always stay at my place if she needs to, but you see why we can’t be together?”
“I disagree. Ye get along well enough, and ye obviously love Olivia. Friendship cannae be a bad start to a marriage. There are many matches made of less.”
Trent shook his head again.
Alan could feel frustration growing within him. It wasn’t as if he wished Lilith and Trent to be together—in fact, he could think of naught he wanted less. Still, the fact the man wouldn’t step up had his temper rising.
Trent’s mouth was still parted, his surprise at the suggestion evident. “You do understand I’m not attracted to Lilith and vice versa? It would be like living with my sister. Do you want Lilith in a passionless marriage?”
Lilith snorted. “Thanks, but no thanks.”
Trent glanced around. “Where’s Olivia, anyway?”
As the two chatted, Alan’s brows drew together again. How could anyone fail to be attracted to Lilith? Her face, her lips, her figure. Alan could hardly stand to be in the same room without wishing to take her in his arms.
He glanced at the other man, sure he’d see deceit upon his face.
But why would he lie about such a thing?
Mayhap they’d been friends for so long it was if they’d been raised together. He thought of the girls in his village, but none were quite like sisters. At one time, he’d expected he’d marry one someday. He supposed he’d have to take the man at his word. Lilith certainly did not deserve a passionless marriage and seemed to agree with Trent’s assessment. Still …
As Trent left the room, Alan followed, determined to talk some sense into the man. Trent poked his head into the room under the stairs to tease Olivia.
Trent even liked Lilith’s daughter, so why wouldn’t he step up?
When Trent saw Alan behind him he gestured into the room. “Pretty cool, huh? Lilith did it a few years ago. Sort of a Harry Potter thing, you know?”
Alan stood blankly before him.
“I thought you British types all read Harry Potter?”
Alan bristled, fists clenching. “I’m Scots.”
Trent lifted his hands. “Okay, okay. Calm down.” Trent studied him. “You know, you’re good with Lilith. You’re even good with Olivia and Celia. Maybe you should be the one to marry Lilith. I mean, not right away, of course. You guys just met. But what if you stuck around to see what might happen?”
Yearning filled him as the desire to do so flooded him. If only he could! Visions of having Lilith as his own, waking up to her every day, drawing her into his arms at will, being there for her …
Once again, he studied Trent. Why wouldn’t the man jump at such a chance?
Why wouldn’t any man risk all for the opportunity to marry her? He certainly would.
Of course, that was assuming Lilith would want him in return. Why would she, when no woman ever had?
Whatever Trent saw on Alan’s face had him smiling. He slapped him on the back. “Don’t worry about it so much. As Celia likes to say, it will all work itself out. Life always does. The thing you need to know about Lilith is even though she presents a calm facade to the world, she’s simply afraid to take a chance again. But don’t worry. She’s really a softie on the inside.”
“She’s soft on the outside as well.”
Trent laughed. “Oh, really? And how would you know that?”
Heat rushed into Alan’s face.
Trent laughed again at his obvious discomfort. “Come on, let’s go eat dinner. Lilith will kill us if we’re not ready for the séance on time.”
As they walked to the kitchen, Alan thought about why Lilith would be fearful of a relationship. Why wouldn’t she be? What male had she ever had to count on? And she’d much to shoulder. She needed a husband. Someone to take the burden off.
He had shoulders big enough to support any weight.
Would that he could.
Alan opened the door for yet another guest. He welcomed everyone, having taken on the role of gracious host. He wasn’t sure how he’d ended up being greeter for the evening, but was certainly willing to do his part.
Quite a crowd gathered in the foyer and spilled into the parlor and down the hallway. Some even stood on the stairs talking, sipping drinks, and eating Lilith’s hors d’oeuvres.
He had to admit he felt more than a little overwhelmed. So many people made the large house shrink. He was used to the wide-open spaces at Culloden Moor, used to floating where he wished to go. Within the boundaries of the moor, anyway.
Excitement permeated the room. everyone seeming to know everyone else, as they made quite a racket, with much conversation, laughter, and eating. Several guests mentioned that these invitations to Miss Celia’s events were quite coveted.
On more than one occasion, he’d been mistaken for Lilith’s boyfriend. Which in turn, set up a yearning within him he’d no business feeling.
One man introduced himself as the police chief of Salem, and dug for more information about Alan. He’d met such hard-eyed men in the past, constables and government men, and knew the type. Fortunately, he’d been able to excuse himself quickly as the doorbell rang yet again.
The banker, George Porter, arrived and immediately made a beeline for Miss Celia.
Trent was there, talking to a group of five, but Lilith was nowhere to be seen.
He could hear people asking Miss Celia, repeatedly, what she’d do and where she’d go. Much was made of the fact her family had lived there for generations. He’d even heard a few offers of money.
As usual, Miss Celia smiled, waved a hand, and said it would all work out.
He knew she had her hopes pinned on the séance tonight, and if there was aught he could do to make sure it worked out, he would.
He had to admit his hopes were high as well.
Finally, Lilith came out with another tray of hors d’oeuvres, looking beautiful in a blue, figure-hugging dress. She sat them on the high table in the middle of the room, which usually held a flower arrangement. When she headed straight for him, his heart squeezed within his chest. “Do ye need my help with anything, lass?”
She looked a bit frazzled. “I have a few more trays I want to bring out, and I’m going to refill the beverage dispenser.” She glanced around. “If you could just keep everyone entertained, that would be wonderful.”
�
��Entertained?”
“Uh, yes, somehow.” She waved a hand and smiled. “Just keep everyone happy until the ghost arrives.”
“Aye then, all right.” He said the words with more confidence than he felt. He wasn’t sure what he was supposed to do, but he said he’d help, didn’t he? And he did wish to take some of her burden.
With a wink, she headed back to the kitchen.
He’d not let her down. He walked partway up the stairs, turned around, and raised his arms in the air. “All right, settle now.” He cleared his throat and tried to ignore the sudden nerves tickling his stomach.
It was just until the ghost arrived.
When everyone turned around, quieted, and all eyes were upon him, he took a deep breath. “In the year of our lord 1746 two major battles had already been won, and a third, filled with treachery and incompetence, was soon to take place, the consequences of which live on to this day. In a manner of speaking, anyhow.”
He glanced around at the rapt crowd and started to tell the ghost story he knew best.
On her way back to the kitchen, Lilith roped Trent into helping her carry hors d’oeuvres. She rushed around, slightly nervous about what this evening might bring.
“You okay, Lilith?” Trent asked as she handed him a tray in the kitchen.
“I’m fine. I just … I’m just worried Grandma has high hopes for tonight. Too high, perhaps.”
Trent nodded sympathetically. “I know. We’ll just have to be here to catch her when she falls.”
She showed him her first genuine smile of the night. “Thanks, Trent.” She took a breath. “Let’s serve these, and get this show on the road.”
They both walked into the foyer to see Alan standing on the stairs, talking to the well-dressed crowd and looking fantastic and foreign in his kilt.
What was he doing? She could tell he was nervous and remembered she’d just instructed him to entertain the crowd and dismay made her heart thud. Surely, he hadn’t taken that to mean …