“You’re keeping something from me,” she finished, gripping his arm. “Have done, and tell me.”
Callum broke free, then pulled her close for a swift, hard kiss - much to the amusement of those around them. “So, my wife!” he said, releasing her. “Tell Kadlin she’s more than welcome to share her heated blood later this eve, when we seek our bed,” he added, speaking low as he grabbed her wrist and led her from the hall. “For now, you’re coming with me to the Old Tower.”
She laughed, sounding indeed like a fearless Viking maid. “You’re kidnapping me again?”
“Nae.” He flashed a look at her as they neared an ancient stair tower, lit by a few bracketed torches and moonlight. “I have a surprise for you in the tower’s topmost chamber,” he told her, already pulling her up the winding stone steps. “A Yuletide gift.”
Alanna stopped, frowned at him. “We agreed no gifts.”
“I lied.”
“I am beginning to wonder about you,” she said, then laughed again when he swept her up in his arms, holding her close to his chest as he kept on up the stairs.
“You’ll no’ mind the wee untruth when you see your surprise.”
“A friend for Gubbie?” Alanna glanced behind them, knew her beloved cat would be trailing them.
And, of course, he was.
“Nae,” Callum said, tossing Gubbie a smile. “Though he may soon have a new favorite place to nap.”
“Say you.” Alanna shook her head. “No one visits the Old Tower. It’s been empty for centuries.”
“Aye, well.” Callum reached the top landing, lowered her to the warped, wood-planked floor. “Could be a certain crone and your cousin have been here a time or two in recent months,” he owned, opening the room’s door. “Go in, my heart.”
And Alanna did, her immediate cry worth all the trouble it took to create such a haven for her.
For them.
“Mercy!” she cried again, swiping at her eyes. “I never would have dreamed...”
“That was the idea, sweeting.” Callum stepped up behind her, sliding his arms tightly around her as they both admired the artwork of King Robert’s favorite painter. The masterwork he’d crafted to frame one of the chamber’s tall and narrow windows...
As at Blackie’s longhouse Yule celebration, two tall Scots pines rose in silhouette against the ancient stone wall. But these trees were painted, one on each side of the lancet window. Proud, beautiful trees, their trunks and limbs entwined across the window’s stone tracery, their crowns touching at the window’s high and arching top. They could have been living, breathing trees, as was surely the artist’s intent.
They were theYuletide Lovers.
A new stone bench stood before them, set a few paces away, giving a pleasing view to whoever wished to sit and admire them. At the moment that was Gubbie, for someone had thoughtfully placed a folded plaid on bench, and he’d quickly claimed the spot, curling into a plump, contented ball, so giving his mistress and her husband a bit of privacy as well.
“You are pleased?” Callum hoped her silence was caused by a thick throat. Emotion, and not disappointment staying her voice.
“I am-” she broke off, her voice hitching as she gulped back a sob, her eyes streaming again.
“I take that as an aye,” Callum spoke for her, his own eyes misting.
She gulped again, then nodded.
“How did-” she broke off again, pressed a hand to her heart. “Tell me...”
“Ah, well.” Callum stepped round to stand beside her, slid his arm across her shoulders. “I told you Devorgilla and Boyd were here a time or two? I met her up on the moors one day and she asked how we were doing. I told her of my wish to have theYuletide Loverspainted up here. That I wanted to give them new life if only in our hearts. My plan was to paint them myself, but she cackled a storm when I said so, and suggested Boyd bring the King’s master painter to Seacliffe.
“To be sure, I didn’t argue.” He lifted a hand, smoothed the tears off her cheeks. “When she came to see the finished work, she suggested a sitting bench.”
“Why did I never see her?” Alanna peered at him, her sweet brow pleating. “I didn’t see any of them.”
Callum shrugged. “They aye came when you were off to visit fishing or farming folk somewhere. How they knew to arrive on just such days, I dinnae ken.”
Alanna shook her head. “To be sure, we know,” she said, smiling. “Devorgilla.”
