As Oskar urged the horse forward, Lily held her bag tightly with one hand, the saddle pommel with the other, her mind racing with questions. The wind whipped through her hair and the rhythmic galloping of the horse beneath them filled the silence. They rode across the vast expanse of moorland, the landscape transforming into a blur of green and gray.
The air grew colder as they rode and a mist began to rise from the ground, clinging to their clothes and obscuring their surroundings. Lily shivered, pulling her coat tighter. The unease in her gut only intensified.
She twisted in her saddle and looked at Oskar. His face was only inches from hers, his eyes set on the road ahead. “Who is this person who needs help? Are you a friend? A relative?”
Oskar snorted, one eyebrow curling in amusement. “Hardly. I just need him patched up so he can travel.”
Lily wasn’t sure what to make of this answer. His eyes met hers and the intensity behind Oskar’s gaze sent a shiver down Lily’s spine. There was something about him that felt familiar, like a distant memory tugging at the corners of her mind.
He was attractive, that was for sure. His deep red hair was tousled by the wind, his jawline sharp and defined. The proximity between them meant she could feel the warmth of his body seeping through his clothing, and she could feel the strength in the arm that he kept locked securely around her waist.
Who was this man named Oskar Galbraith? And how did he fit into what had happened to her?
Lost in her thoughts, Lily barely noticed the horse slowing. Ahead, a large, imposing building rose out of the mist, looking halfway between a castle and a country house. Oskar broughtthe horse to a stop in front of the entrance. He dismounted then extended a hand towards her.
Lily looked around. “Where are we? This isn’t Abbotsfield.”
“Nay, lass. This is Dunhaven Manor.”
“But you said we were going to Abbotsfield!” She felt a little panicky and clutched her bag tightly.
“Nay, lass,” he replied, shaking his head. “I said ye hadcomefrom Abbotsfield, not that we were going there.” His face folded into a frown. “Ye told me ye could fix a broken bone. If ye’ve been wasting my time—”
“I can take a look but I’m no doctor,” she said, cutting him off. “If you have someone here with a broken leg, they need to go to hospital—”
“Can ye patch him up or not?” Oskar snapped. “It’s a simple enough question.”
Lily sucked in a deep breath. She felt shaky and disorientated but she was still a therapist and someone needed her help. Fine. She could call a cab once she’d seen the patient. This place hopefully had a land-line phone she could use.
“All right. I’ll see what I can do.” With a deep breath, she took his hand, and swung down from the saddle.
“This way.”
Oskar led her through the heavy wooden doors, revealing a dimly lit hallway. The air inside Dunhaven Manor was stale and heavy, filled with the scent of aged wood and dampness. Lily followed Oskar, her footsteps echoing along the corridor as they walked deeper into the ancient building. The flickering candlelight barely illuminated their path, casting shadows that twirled across the walls.
Why were they using candles? Had there been a power cut? It was unnaturally cold inside and Lily pulled her coat closer about her. Jeez, who lived here? Some dusty old aristocrat too stingy to put the heating on?
As they walked deeper into the manor, Lily couldn’t shake off the feeling of unease that clung to her like the mist outside. The silence seemed unnaturally thick, broken only by the soft rustling of their footsteps. She stole a glance at Oskar, who seemed unaffected by the eerie atmosphere. His gaze remained fixed ahead, his jaw set with determination.
Suddenly, a voice boomed from behind them. “Ah! Ye are back!”
Lily turned to see a figure emerge from the shadowy depths of the hallway. The man was huge, towering over them with broad shoulders and a thick frame. He wore a sleeveless tunic that left his muscular arms bare and he had the physique of a footballer. His face was smooth and unlined, framed by dark, unruly hair, and a warm twinkle shone in his brown eyes.
“Didnae I tell ye I’d bring her, Magnus?” Oskar replied.
Magnus walked up to them and nodded in greeting. “Ye must be the healer, lass.”
“Um...sort of,” Lily replied. “Although I’m not really—”
“I’m Magnus. An honor to meet ye.”
To her surprise, he took her hand, bowed, and kissed the back of it. “I canna tell ye how grateful we are for ye coming at such short notice. I hope Oskar wasnae too bad-tempered on yer journey.”
“Bad-tempered?” Oskar said with a scowl. “I’m not bad-tempered.”
“Nay, and I’m the king of Scotland.”
Oskar’s scowl deepened and Magnus grinned. Lily wondered what the relationship between these two was. They obviously knew each other very well but they looked nothing alike which suggested they weren’t related.
