Nathaniel shifted. “Well, I wasn’t entirely sure about you—”
“You couldn’t do a bit of investigating?”
Nathaniel looked at him seriously. “I didn’t want to.”
“Now, there’s a piece of truth,” Jamie said. He set his glass aside and looked at Nathaniel seriously. “Tell me the tale whilst your lady is out of earshot, and spare no details. I’ve all night to listen.”
Nathaniel wasn’t sure if he should fall to his knees and kiss Jamie’s ring or simply burst into tears. Since he couldn’t decide, he took a deep breath and spewed out everything.
It sounded daft, even though he’d lived it. The round of golf, his own time in the MacLeod dungeon, the fact that his uncle was now—or had been in the fourteenth century—masquerading as the laird’s most trusted priest.
“He will have had a house,” Jamie said, “and enough to eat. Can’t say I blame him.”
Nathaniel conceded the point. “He does seem happy. I believe he’s even learned to use a sword.”
“You’ve done well enough with that yourself,” Jamie said. “Who taught you?”
“Malcolm himself.”
“Well,” Jamie said carefully, “I can see how he might want to do that.”
Nathaniel frowned. “Why?”
Jamie waved him on. “Not important at the moment. Keep on with your tale.”
Nathaniel had another strengthening sip of whisky, then made quick work of describing trying to keep himself alive and the terror of never knowing if he would get back to his proper place in time.
When he was finished with that, he gave Jamie a brief summary of his life in the present, the madness with his grandfather, and his never having any idea how long he would have to take care of his business.
“And then Emma Baxter walked into your life.”
Nathaniel nodded. “She stepped into the past as easily as you would step into another room. I thought I was losing my mind. Or, rather, she saw me step into the future. I’m not sure which it was.”
“At the edge of the forest,” Jamie finished for him.
“Aye. She was standing there, I was in the middle of a skirmish with the Fergussons, and I almost ran into her bodily. She definitely saw me. That seems to be what started the whole madness for her.”
Jamie sat back and pressed the tips of his fingers together. “And then?”
“She’s been back to the same place in time, the exact same situation, three times now.”
“And you let her go?” Jamie asked in surprise.
“I didn’t know she was going.”
Jamie shook his head. “Have you thought about locking her in your house?”
Nathaniel supposed telling the man sitting across from him that such would be considered kidnapping in the current day was unnecessary.
“I would prefer she stay because she wants to,” Nathaniel said firmly.
“Then woo her to your bed, ye wee fool,” Jamie said, throwing up his hands. “Lads these days.”
Nathaniel smiled in spite of himself. “She’s got a mind of her own.”
“They generally do,” Jamie said with a snort. He considered for a moment or two, then frowned. “I do have a thought or two for you.”
“That’s why I came, my laird.”
