Jenna scowled and crossed her arms. “Come on. Out with it.”
Ingrid giggled. “Oh, all right. It’s all over the castle anyway.”
“What is?”
“Stories about how ye and laird Arran went out together in the middle of the night.”
Jenna stifled a groan. Great. This was all she needed. It wasn’t hard to figure out what conclusion the gossips had reached when the guards had seen her and Arran returning together in the small hours.
“It’s not like that,” Jenna protested. “We were just… working.”
Her protests sounded feeble even to her own ears. Sure, the night had started with Jenna merely wanting to see the anchor stone and see if she could get the magic working. But the night had most definitelynotended that way.
Thoughts of the kiss she’d shared with Arran flashed through her mind and the heat in her cheeks only intensified. Oh, my. That kiss…
Even now, as she thought about it, as she thought abouthim, she felt her heartbeat quicken and her skin tingle. She’d never felt anything like it. In that instant on the beach she’d wanted him so badly that nothing,nothingelse in the world had mattered.
And that terrified her.
She was here to do a job, get paid, and go home. Getting involved with the man who’d employed her was a bad idea. She couldn’t afford to get distracted. And besides, hadn’t she sworn off men? That she would never, ever, risk her heart again?
Risk your heart?she asked herself.Don’t be ridiculous. Your heart is the last thing that’s involved in this. It’s just lust. Nothing more. So forget it and get on with what you’re being paid for.
She swallowed, then looked at Ingrid. “Well, I’d be grateful if you could set the gossips straight. There is definitely nothing going on between me and Arran MacLeod.”
Ingrid dipped her head. “As ye wish.”
Jenna scowled. Why did she get the impression that Ingrid hadn’t believed a word she’d said and that denying it would only incite the gossips even more? She threw back the covers and swung her legs out of bed in annoyance. “Have I missed breakfast?”
“No, my lady. It’s being served in the great hall.”
“Good. I’m starving.”
She climbed out of bed, had a quick wash, and then allowed Ingridto help her dress in a long yellow gown that matched the primroses that grew outside the castle walls. This done, Jenna made her way through the corridors to the great hall.
She thought through the events of last night. She had gone to the anchor stone alone in the hope of being able to connect with it somehow, to find a clue as to what she’d done wrong the first time. But as she’d examined the stone—and had a blazing row with it, truth be told—she’d discovered no hints as to what she needed to do to make the magic work.
But that didn’t mean she was about to give up. She felt a renewed sense of purpose this morning.
I’ve no doubt ye will succeed, lass. Lir wouldnae have sent me to ye otherwise. I trust her judgment, and I trust ye.
A warm sensation lit in her stomach as she remembered the earnest look in Arran’s eyes as he’d spoken those words to her. Arran was not a man to say things lightly and his belief in her was like a warm breeze that lifted her up, made her feel a little lighter. She couldn’t remember when anyone other than her aunts had said anything like that to her. Certainly not Alex.
She would try again today. She wouldsucceedtoday. Pulling the folded map from the pocket of her dress, she unfolded it and studied it as she walked down the stairs. Running her fingers along the ink that marked the coastline, she saw that there was another anchor stone slightly south of Dun Tabor. She bit her lip. Maybe that one would work…
“Good morning, Jenna.”
She looked up to see Rosaline waiting for her by the door to the great hall. “Oh, morning! Sorry, I was miles away.”
Rosaline glanced at the map. “So I see. Are ye joining us for breakfast?”
Jenna nodded and the two women opened the door only to be met by a group of men coming the other way, Arran in the lead.
He froze as he spotted Jenna. “Er… Mother,” he said, giving Rosaline a slight bow. “Jenna. Good morning.”
Jenna’s insides fluttered as his gaze landed on her. Unbidden, memories of last night’s kiss flooded through her, and she had to swallow a few times before she could speak.
“Um. Good morning.” She brandished the map at him. “Actually, I’m glad I caught you. I’d like to go to the second anchor stone today.” She pointed at the mark on the map. “It’s not far and with any luck, it might have more residual magic than the first one. What do you think?”
