In Pursuit of a Scottish Lady (Moonstone Magic Book 2)
Page 5
Lili licked her bottom lip and whispered, “Colin.” She saw his look of determination.
Worth inhaled sharply. He nearly lost it as he watched her. Slowly, he told himself. Do not rush her. He needed to gain her trust first. There would be time enough, later.
He noticed the small round moonstone that hung from a small round leather cord about her neck. He took it and rubbed it between his fingers. “Moonstone?” he asked.
She wanted to take it from his fingers but she held the books in her hands. Where his fingers had softly touched her throat felt like it had been burned with fire. All, she could do was nod. She could feel her heartbeat quicken.
“‘The fairies catched the moonbeams and put them in the stone,’” stated Worth.
Lili gave him a quizzical look.
Worth smiled at her look. “My five year old niece gave me that explanation at Christmas time. Seems she was given a teardrop one by Dulcey whom she believes speaks to those fairies,” explained Worth.
Lili smiled. “I like that explanation. I shall have to remember it. My father bought it for me the last time we went to Edinburgh. It is most precious to me.” Lili remembered it was the only jewel Edward had not taken. Simply, because he believed it was of not worth anything. But it was to her, very much. It was the last thing her father had given her.
He took the books from her hands. Lilli’s hand immediately went to her moonstone and held it in her fingertips just as he had done. She could still feel the warmth of his fingers on it.
Worth looked at her for a long moment. She should be dressed in the finest silks and adorned with more elegant jewels than a simple moonstone. But he doubted, she would enjoy such things.
“Let’s get back, before they come looking for us.” He stepped aside and allowed her to go first.
Lili walked out the library with Colin right behind her. She could no longer think of him as Mr. Wells. She just wished, she could do the other things he asked of her, to trust him, but she just couldn’t take that step. The hurt of betrayal was too fresh, too new. Besides, she knew nothing about him. He could be a friend of Edwards’.
Aiden and Alysa were seated by a small make shift desk near the fireplace.
Worth pulled a chair over to where they sat.
“Why do we have to study those people?” asked Aiden with a frown.
Worth raised an eyebrow. But then, he seemed to remember asking the same questions of his tutor. “Because we need to study our past to know where we come from. Besides, if you are to be the laird, you need to know just as much as or more than the people you must deal with.”
Aiden looked at Lili. “Do you know about these people?”
Lili nodded. “Yes, Pappa taught me. They were some of his favorite.”
“I miss Pappa,” said Alysa.
Lili smiled down at her little sister. She was the quiet one. She was the follower, where Aiden was the leader. She was also the one that felt things strongly. She had been Pappa’s little girl. Sometimes, she forgot the death of their father had affected the twins, as well. She had been so busy, trying to keep food on the table and all the rest that went with it, she had forgotten the twins and their feelings. She needed to make it up to them somehow. She just didn’t know how. It was another thing for her to deal with.
Worth watched the exchange between Lili and the twins. He could see how the death of their father had left its mark. He knew that feeling. His own father had died when he was at school. It had been a difficult time.
“I lost my father too, when I was young,” stated Worth.
Lili looked up. Maybe, he did understand how much things had changed for them.
“Let’s get started on these gods. You will find some amazing stories about them, fights and monsters,” he told Aiden, “and kings and queens and twins,” he told Alysa.
Their eyes grew wide with wonder.
For the rest of the morning until the early afternoon, Worth told them stories of Zeus and his wife Hera and how they lived on Mount Olympus. Zeus ruled from the mountain using his lighting rod. Hermes, the messenger, was a trickster. He explained about Poseidon and how he ruled the seas and wielded a three prong spear called a trident. He mentioned Athena.
“That’s Lili’s horse. Only Lili can ride her,” stated Alysa. “Aiden tried to ride her and he fell off.”
Aiden looked at Alysa and frowned. “That was a long time ago.”
Worth looked up at Lili who was trying hard to suppress a smile. It appeared, she knew about the escapade. “Some horses are like that. I’ll have to remember that. Athena is Lili’s horse.”
He talked of Apollo and his twin sister Artemis. The twins sat listening with wide-eyed interest. He explained to them Artemis was the protector of children. She was the goddess of the hunt. She armed herself with a bow and arrows as did her brother Apollo. Artemis was born first.
Alysa looked at Aiden. “I was born first Ali, so I have to protect you,” stated Aiden.
“But I need to learn to shoot the bow so I can protect all of us,” replied Alysa. She was not about to be left out. “Do you know how to shoot a bow and arrow Colin?”
Colin looked at the twins. “Yes. Maybe, when the snow stops falling we can see what we can do.”
“We have some bows in the dungeon, don’t we, Lili? Maybe, we can get them after our studies.” asked Aiden.
Worth noticed Lili’s face pale and fear flicker in her eyes. Why was she afraid of the dungeons? She had lived here all of her life.
“How do you know about the bows?” asked Lili.
Aiden looked sheepishly down at his shoes.
“Did you go down to the dungeons, when I have specifically told you not to?” asked Lili, though she knew the answer. She did not want anyone going into the dungeons anymore. She was afraid something would happen and she would be unable to go down there to help them.
Aiden did not answer.
Alysa chimed in, “We went down right after Uncle Edward left.”
Lili looked at Alysa then back to Aiden.
“We haven’t been down again, Lili,” corrected Aiden.
“Neither of you are to go down into the dungeon without an adult with you. That means, me, Elsbeth or Rab. It is too dangerous.” Lili was in a panic, thinking she would have to go back down into the dungeons. She had done it for the silver candlesticks she had hidden down there. It had taken everything in her to go down there. If they hadn’t been so desperate, she would have never gone down there again. She truly doubted, she could go down one more time without going into hysterics. She was not the hysterical type.
Worth watched the panic engulf her. He had seen it so many times on the battlefront. She was terrified about going into the dungeons. Of that, he was certain. He was determined to find out why. What secrets were hiding in the dungeon that had her so terrified?
“Colin can come with us,” offered Aiden.
“I will have to talk this over with Lili,” answered Worth. He watched the relief cross her face at the possibility of him going into the dungeon instead of her.
Aiden and Alysa looked up hopefully to Lili.
“Yes, Colin and I will talk about it. Neither of you can do anything today with the snow falling. Maybe once it clears and we can go outside, we can see about getting them out of the dungeon. We may also have some stored elsewhere.” Lili realized she shouldn’t have added that last part because she knew what would happen next.
“Where are the other ones, Lili? Can we get them now?” asked Aiden. Alysa nodded.
“Lili said we would not be using them today, so there is no need for us to get them now,” stated Worth. He needed to support Lili and her decision. He wanted her to realize, he was on her side.
Elsbeth had heard the conversation and interrupted. “Lunch is on the table. A think we have had enough talk of Greek gods. Them be long dead and buried.”
Worth took the interruption and ended the studies for today. “Yes, let’s leave the rest of these gods for tomorr
ow’s studies.”
“Yes,” agreed Lili eager to stop this talk about the dungeon. “Let’s sit down and eat.” She could see their long faces and was never so glad to have it snowing outside.
“What do we have to eat?” asked Aiden.
“A made a fish stew with the fish we had left over from yesterday,” answered Elsbeth.
“It’s not mutton,” muttered Aiden.
Lili shook her head, but silently had to agree with him.
Chapter 5
He that is thy friend indeed,
He will help thee in thy need.
William Shakespeare
For the next several days, the snow fell intermittently, keeping everyone indoors except for Rab and Worth, who checked on the animals in the morning and again in the evening. During the day, Worth taught them about the Greek gods. After the evening meal, Lili pulled out Robinson Crusoe and read to everyone. Each night, Worth carried Aiden while Rab carried Alysa to bed.
Worth stood at the door and watched as Lili put them to bed. The more time he spent with them, the more he came to realize exactly how desperate things were for Lili. Each night, he walked Lili to the door of her room. She quietly bid him goodnight. He in turn, returned to his room to lie in his bed for several hours, trying to figure out how to help her and the twins without letting them know who he truly was.
The one thing he was certain of, Lili would balk at any interference on his part, if it did not come as her idea. If nothing else, in the last couple of days, her stubborn streak had been very apparent. Several things he had suggested had been met with an icy glare from those beautiful clear blue eyes and a definite shake of her head. This was proving harder than he first imagined.
Finally after five days of snow, the sun came out and shone its face brightly. After being ensconced within the walls of the castle for days, the twins were anxious to be out of the keep. As soon as breakfast was over, they were out the door. Worth followed them shortly.
Lili talked with Elsbeth about what to cook, not that they had much of a choice. She walked out the door of the keep into the side yard to the sounds of shouts and laughter. She looked around and saw no one about. Three heads popped up in different places. Snowballs flew from all three directions to hit her in the midsection.
Startled, Lili screamed. She heard laughter from her attackers. Alysa was by the barn not far from Colin’s side. Aiden was closer to her. Lili ran to Aiden’s side, picking up snow along the way, balling it into a tight ball of snow. With all the force she could muster, she threw her snowball straight at Alysa. She watched as Colin rushed to block her throw from hitting Alysa in the face. She hadn’t meant to hit Alysa there but at the very last second Alysa moved. She hit Colin mid back.
Lili watched as he bent down. It appeared he whispered something to Alysa. He turned around. The look in his eyes, Lili knew she was in trouble. She turned around searching for a hiding place but there was none to be found. She looked to Aiden for help but he had eased over to their side. She was on her own. She bent down grabbing some snow balling it up, but it was only one ball. She threw it at Colin and hit him in the chest.
She turned her back knowing retaliation was in the making. She felt her back hit by one, then two and finally three snowballs. She turned as she grabbed some more snow only to have Aiden and Alysa racing toward her. She ran and tried to avoid them. She felt herself falling, only to feel strong arms grab her. When she landed, she lay against a strong hard body. Two small bodies landed on top of her.
The fall knocked the breath out her. She opened her eyes to find herself staring into gold flecked eyes that shone with humor. When the twins jumped on top of her pounding her against his strong hard body beneath her, every part that touched him felt like she touching burning embers. Her heart began to pound in her chest, her breath became chaotic. She had never felt like this before. It had to be from the running.
The twins were chattering above her but she could not focus on what they were saying. All she could do was feel. She closed her eyes afraid to continue to look in his eyes, afraid of what she would see there.
“Aiden, Ali, off me.” Lili said brusquely. When Aiden and Ali got off and started apologizing, she realized just how brusque she was. Colin rose and pulled her to her feet with him.
She looked at them smiled. “How about we get Elsbeth to make us some hot chocolate to warm us up and maybe we can convince her to make some of her shortbread. What do you think?” She needed to make up for the brusque tone she had used. She desperately needed to get her mind off her body’s reaction to Colin.
Her harsh words were immediately forgotten by the twins as they ran circles around her.
“And what about me? What’s my reward for breaking your fall?” asked Colin.
Lili had no choice but to look up. She found laughter reflected in his eyes as though he could read her thoughts and feelings. She also saw something more in them. She did not want to go down that path. She was afraid of where that path would lead.
Lili started to answer him, but Colin answered, “I think I already have my reward, well maybe partial reward for now. I’ll collect my full reward at a later time, my Lili.”
Again, Lili tried to answer him, but Alysa grabbed Colin’s hand and led him back to keep. Lili was left standing there, abandoned. She let out a deep sigh of frustration and followed them in.
When she walked in, Elsbeth was serving the twins hot chocolate. Colin sat at the table a cup of coffee in his hands. That same look was in his eyes when they met hers. She quickly looked away. She heard a soft chuckle. She wanted to throw something at him to wipe that smug look off his face.
“As soon as you finish your chocolate, we’ll begin your studies for today,” stated Colin.
The twins started asking him questions which he answered easily. Lili only half listened to his answers. She took the cup of hot chocolate Elsbeth handed her and sipped it trying to calm her chaotic thoughts. She needed to stop thinking about Colin.
“I’ll be in Papa’s study,” she announced, turned and walked out.
She sat in the chair her father always used. She always felt closer to him when she sat here, but today she was restless. It was because she had been cooped up in the keep. No, her mind said, it was because of Colin. He had only been at the keep but a few days, but his presence seemed to overshadow everything now. How could that be? The twins were quickly becoming attached to him. He was a strong man in more ways than one. She could tell he was used to being in charge. In fact, in many ways, he had already taken charge here at the keep. But was that such a bad thing, she wondered. She was so tired.
She pulled the ledger out of the top left drawer. She opened it and looked at the numbers. The money she had gotten from the robbery days ago would only last so long. And then what was she to do? She leaned her head back in the chair and let out a deep sigh of despair. With Colin as a guest, she would not be able to go out again. Not that she wanted to. In fact, she dreaded the thought of it. She had been terrified each time, but it was the only thing she could think of. It still was. She sighed again. She would just have to let things play out. Lili closed her eyes. Tears prickled behind her lids. She shook her head. She did not have the luxury of wallowing in self-pity. This burden was hers to carry, hers to carry alone.
Now that the snow had stopped, they would need to go into town for more supplies again. Bare necessities. But for how much longer? Lili put both hands in her hair and rubbed the sides of her head. So many things to worry about.
“Oh, papa, I did not realize you had so much to deal with.”
With a deep sigh, she put the ledger away in the drawer. She walked out the study and headed across the keep to the far corner stairs that lead up to the tower. The tower had always been one her favorite places. From there she could see across the countryside that surrounded Glendenning. She leaned against the balustrade and looked out over the land. The snow made the countryside look pristine. This was her home. This was the only place she
had ever known. She could not imagine selling it, but it was a possibility, a very real possibility. She was deep in thought and did not hear him come up.
“T’is beautiful. I can see why you love it so,” said Worth softly. He noticed the look of terror in her eyes when she turned. She closed them for a moment and when she looked at him the terror was replaced with wariness.
Lili nodded. She did not trust her voice. When he came up behind, she had felt startled and that momentary terror gripped her again. She did not like being approached from behind. For some reason, she was emotional today. She didn’t understand why.
“Can we talk?” Worth watched her closely. He could tell she was worried. He wanted to relieve that worry. But how exactly, he wasn’t sure. He had an idea. He just hoped she agreed to it.
“I may have a solution to both our problems,” began Worth .
“Both of our problems?” she asked. What kind of problems did he have? She knew hers all too well.
“The twins need a tutor. Rab needs help as well.”
“Yes, I am aware of what is needed here,” she said impatiently. She looked at him questioningly.
Worth paused a moment. “I am willing to help.”
“I cannae pay you.”
Worth noticed that when she became upset or stressed, her Scottish brogue became more pronounced. “No, it is I, who is looking for a place to stay. I find I am weary of traveling, the war and such and I find myself liking it here. I have some coin and I am happy to pay my way, for my food and board.” Worth explained, hoping she would accept his offer of help.
Lili looked at him caught off balance by his request.
“I’ve found I have enjoyed tutoring the twins. Glendenning, you, Elsbeth, Rab, the twins have made me feel welcome. This has felt like, I could be content here. I haven’t felt that in a very long time. I thought, if I stayed, it would be of help to both of us.” He hoped he was convincing her to allow him to stay.
Lili stared at him trying to assess his motives. She had become leery since Edward’s visit. Could she trust him? Colin had not given her any reason to distrust him. In fact, he had tried very hard to be helpful. The twins were becoming attached to him, especially Aiden. They had not liked Edward and neither had Edward liked them. It was definitely different with Colin.