Every creature nestledalong the road either paid them no mind or didn’t think they were any threat. Either way, it made for a rather uneventful trip. A trip that should have only been a few hours stretched for what seem to be eternity. But Theodore wasn’t paying any heed to the time really, so long as he was able to catch little glimpses of Madison as she slumbered within the carriage.
She waslike an avenging angel with her dark hair thrown about her like a wreath. He wondered what thoughts troubled her mind and if maybe he would find some way to calm the storm that raged within her.
“Nay, get off,”she screamed and shot up. Her cry startled Theodore’s horse, causing it to rear up. Taking control, Theodore guided the horse around, letting it stamp out the jitters that were causing it distress before attempting to go to the carriage.
“Lass.Tell me what's frightened ye and I'll handle it,” Theodore growled as he came up to the window. Madison’s eyes were wide with fright.
“Where are we?Where have ye taken me?” she asked as she held her head out the carriage window. He could see the flush of the dream still on her cheeks as the horrors lingered just behind her eyelids.
“We’ve cometo Castle MacLeon, see,” Theodore said, pointing to the small orange lights flickering in the distance. “We’re nearly there. I’m sorry ye dinnae sleep as soundly as I hadhoped. But, we’ve come to the end of the journey by carriage. Ye’ll be gettin’ out and stretchin’ yer legs as soon as we stop.”
“I’m nae groggy,”she uttered in disbelief as Theodore started for the driver. As much as he wanted to comment, he bit his tongue as he looked out over the still waters with relief.
“The barge will only holda wee bit at a time. I will take the lass over first and meet ye on the other side,” Theodore suggested to the driver as he guided his horse to the bank of the loch and slipped off his saddle. He couldn’t help but feel a wave of gratitude come over him as the carriage came to a stop next to him.
“This is where ye get out,”Theodore said as he opened the door to the carriage. Madison glared at him as she scooted to the door.
“Why doI get the impression ye’re enjoyin’ me sufferin’?” she asked as he cradled her close to him and carried her to the barge. “It’s because ye are, arenae?”
Theodore's lipscurved into a smirk. Madison's scowl deepened, her lower lip jutting out. He stepped onto the barge with her still in his arms.
The boat rocked beneath them.Madison gasped, her hands flying to his neck, fingers digging into his shoulders. She pressed against him, her breath coming in quick, warm bursts against his skin. Heat spread from where her body touched his, radiating down his spine.
“What are ye doin?”she asked, as she held him tighter.
“If ye’d stopand look, I think ye’d be pleasantly surprised at what ye see,” Theodore implored as he lowered her to the deck of the barge. “Welcome to Castle MacLeon. I promise, ye’re safe. Nay one would be foolish to come for ye here. ”
7
Madison’s eyes narrowed. She had gotten a glimpse of the castle, but it was too short. So short in fact, that she glossed right over seeing it in the first place. Sleep clawed for her to come back, begging at the edge of her mind to lull her back to the cradle of darkness. Madison would have gladly accepted such an offer had it not been for the shimmering lights over her head.
The stars twinkledas if they were brand new, come out of their hiding place to light up the whole world. Her heart skipped as her mouth parted. She’d never in her life seen anything so dazzling. It was right out of one of her books she was so fond of.
“This is yer home?”she asked, feeling rather small as the barge slid across the top of the water, barely disturbing the refection of the stars. It was all too pretty for her to take in. The balconies and turrets that kissed the heavens greeted them like a welcoming hand shake.
“Well,what do ye think? Tis nae so bad of a place to be held captive, is it?” Theodore said. She bobbed her head, uncertain how to answer his question. The castle was far bigger than anything she had ever seen before. It encompassed the island with the main house perched in the center. Madison counted three rings of torch lights, a massive compound if there ever was one.
“This place is huge,”she muttered, completely taken back by the fact that she was on a boat, going to the island in the middle of the loch. If she had to go through this much effort to get to the place, far too many people would be witness to her feeble escape attempt. No, she was stuck the moment she had been brought onto the barge.
“Aye,ye’d think a man could lose himself in a place like this,” Theodore said. His voice was husky and low. She wasn’t certain if he was trying to keep his voice down so others couldn’t hear them, or if maybe there was something about his home he cherished. “Ye’ll find that these walls are a lot closer than ye think. Even the walls here have ears, best remember that.”
“Was this yer home growin’up?” Madison asked as she marveled at the sheer size of the castle against the inky backdrop. If it weren’t for the fact that Theodore was there, she would have believed it all to be a dream.
“Aye,”he answered. It was then she could hear the malcontent lacing his tone. “Suppose outsiders will never see it the way I do. But then again, I wouldnae want that knowledge passed to anyone, friend or foe.”
The boat slippedon through the placid waters barely disturbing the reflection of the starry sky. Madison didn’t know what to say, not when there was so much to take in. She glanced at the laird with suspicion as she pondered his angle. Surely there had to be some reason for his kindness. Men certainly were never just generous unless it suited them. And she was certain there was something he wanted from her. What it was, she couldn’t figure out and for a moment, wondered if she really wanted to know.
“Ye look as if somethin’has ye troubled. Are ye gettin’ seasick? I thought I was goin' slow enough through the water. Just hang yer head off the edge if ye feelin’ like yer goin' to… well, lose yer stomach,” Theodore said as he took as step back from her. She glanced at him bewildered. His recoil was far more dramatic than she had expected.
“I’m fine,”she said as her stomach started to tighten into knots. “It’ll pass.”
“We’re almostto the island. Just a bit further. If ye can hold off till then, I’m sure Edith will have somethin’ for ye to ease yer stomach,” Theodore encouraged as Madison felt the barge shift. Theodore had picked up the pace, causing the boat to cut faster through the water. The rocking was far more intense than anything a carriage could do. She cupped her hand to her mouth and tried not to think about the rocking of her insides.
“Dowe have to go so fast?” she asked as she closed her eyes wishing that the nausea would pass. But she knew the only way was for them to stop. She peered through the slants of her eyes.The castle that seemed so far away was towering over them, threatening to swallow them whole as the came to the dock.
Tossingthe line to the dock, Madison watched as Theodore secured the vessel from both ends. Only when there was absolutely no chance of the boat going anywhere, did he reach down and pluck her from the boat.
“Yereally daenae have to do that. I can walk, I promise,” she huffed as his eyes narrowed. He shook his head.
