“So if you are born to a family of servants, is it always the case that you will be a servant too.”
“Most often. I imagine there have been those who have become something more, but ’tis not what would normally happen.”
“And what of your parents. Where are they now?”
“Me parents died of an illness that swept through Breaghacraig when I was a wee lass. The MacKenzies took me in. They gave me a place to live and a job to do.”
It didn’t make sense to Zeke that the MacKenzies wouldn’t have simply adopted Helene and let her live as one of the family. “Did you have to work for them?”
“Nae. They wanted me to be one of them, but I wished to honor me Ma and Da and earn me keep. I didnae wish to be an added burden to the family. They had much to do after the illness was finally gone. So many needed their help.”
Zeke smiled. Helene was a truly special woman. She had a completely different set of values but, then again, she’d had a completely different life.
They ate and drank and laughed. When they were done, Helene packed away the leftovers to take back home with them. “Zeke, this has been a truly wonderful day. I’ve never done anything like this before. I will remember it always.”
“I’m happy I got to share it with you,” Zeke put a gentle arm around her shoulders. He never wanted to push Helene. He was moving at her pace, or the pace he thought she would be most comfortable with. They walked around to the front of the building and Zeke hailed a cab.
They rode the entire way home without uttering a word. Zeke was happy to have Helene nestled under his arm and he was afraid to move for fear it would break this magical moment they were sharing.
The cab pulled to the curb in front of the house. Zeke paid the man and then helped Helene from the cab. She smiled up at him, her clear blue eyes shining brightly. He couldn’t help himself. He dipped his head and gently brushed his lips across hers. He felt Helene stiffen and though he was disappointed, he pulled away, leading her up the stairs to the house.
“I’m sorry about that. I don’t know what came over me.” Yes, he did. He was developing feelings for Helene. It was probably one of the dumbest things he could do. She obviously still loved Dougall and the last thing he wanted to do was complicate matters for her.
“Good night, Zeke. I had fun with ye today.” Helene stood on tiptoe and kissed his cheek before heading up the stairs to her room.
He watched her go and silently berated himself for ruining a perfect day. He didn’t know if it was possible to steal Helene away from Dougall, but he wasn’t about to stop trying.
Leaningagainst her closed bedroom door, Helene thought about the kiss she’d just shared with Zeke. Unable to control her reaction to it, she realized it had embarrassed Zeke. She liked him very much, of that she was sure. He was verra handsome and so kind, but he wasn’t Dougall. Granted Dougall was the only man she’d ever kissed in a romantic way, but kissing Zeke hadn’t been the same at all. There were no butterflies, no sense of being lost in the moment, no feeling of wanting it to go on forever. Maybe she just needed to kiss him again to be sure, but it seemed to Helene that the only man she wanted to kiss was Dougall.
She went into the bathroom and gazed at herself in the mirror. She was a different lass than the one who had arrived here in San Francisco covered in dirt, with hair that looked like birds were nesting in it. She’d also found her voice. Zeke and Sara had taught her not to bea doormatas they called it. It felt good to be able to say what she wanted, when she wanted. Back at home she’d always been a bit reserved, knowing her place in the world. She had no say in the running of Breaghacraig, she merely did what was expected of her without complaint. As for Dougall, he made all the decisions when it came to their relationship and Helene could see now that having a voice, speaking up and asking questions could have saved her from the heartbreak she was now enduring.
Cold water splashed on her face as she removed her makeup. She should really speak with Zeke. Tomorrow morning would be time enough. He was her friend, her savior and possibly someone she could build a life with. As for Dougall, yes he was here for her, but he assumed she would go running back with him. It was important to him to be laird of the MacRae clan and she would not keep him from it even if it meant he would marry another. She would not, however, be his mistress. That much was clear to her, that and the fact that she just might have to build a new life here in San Francisco. She’d speak to Sara about it when next they met. Sara was good at helping her understand exactly what it was she was feeling. Ashley was good at that as well. It made Helene sad to think she might never see her friend again, but she didn’t think she could go back to Breaghacraig knowing the possibility of seeing Dougall there and knowing that he could never be hers.
Zeke was kickinghimself for being so stupid and for moving too fast. Helene was from another time and perhaps what he’d done would be considered completely inappropriate in the sixteenth century. He opened the refrigerator and noted that for once since he’d lived here, it was full. Helene had really taken to grocery shopping and she kept it stocked with all his favorite things. No more old cold cuts for him. She was a special lady. He laughed thinking about the first few days she’d been living with him. She had wanted to do all of the things she’d done back home, but she wanted to do them for him. He hadn’t seen any harm in letting her feel like she was contributing, so he agreed. Much to his surprise she’d prepared a bath for him and not wanting to disappoint her with the fact that he was a shower kind of guy, he’d lowered himself into the tub. He had found the warm water relaxing and had just sunk completely in so he could rest his head when the door opened and Helene appeared.
“Can I help ye with yer bath?” she asked.
Zeke wasn’t sure what to do. She stood there with those big blue eyes sweeping over his body. “I’m fine, Helene. Thank you, though.”
He thought that would have done it, but no, Helene had a wash cloth in hand which she lathered with soap and then began washing his back. “Surely ye cannae reach back here. I’ll just help with this and then I’ll leave ye be.”
Zeke’s hands shot to his hardened manhood, covering it so she couldn’t see what she was doing to him. “Helene, really. You don’t have to do that. I guess back in your time it’s okay for a woman to help a man bathe, but it’s not… so much… now.”
“I’m so sorry, sir. I didnae mean to…” Helene’s hands stilled and she looked very embarrassed.
“It’s Zeke, Helene. I’m not sir. I’m Zeke and it’s okay. You had no way of knowing.”
“I’ll leave ye then.”
She had disappeared out the door and Zeke breathed a sigh of relief. She’d been there little more than twenty-four hours and he’d already been drawn to her. She was the damsel in distress and he wanted to be her knight in shining armor.
He closed the refrigerator door, deciding he wasn’t hungry after all. Better to get a good night’s sleep and not think about his disappointment.
Chapter 16
Brightand early the next morning, Dougall rousted Logan from bed. “Get up. We’ve got work to do.” He was back in charge and barked out orders to Logan as he would have done back in his own time.
“Work? What are ye speaking of, Dougall?” Logan rubbed the sleep from his eyes and stretched.
