In place of hatred, bonds of friendship and loyalty grew toward the men he served alongside, every day. He ate with them, sang with them, grieved with them. When Kielder Castle was razed by English troops, he shared his comrades’ anger and despair. He gazed upon the bloody pile of lifeless bodies inside the curtain wall, and did not think those deaths were any less senseless because of their Scottish descent.
It was not until he beheld the youthful beauty of Lady Esme, that he realized how much time had passed by; how old he had become.
Adam patted the horse, who was diligently eating his way through a bucket of oats, before picking up his saddle and carrying it out of the stable.
Despite his misgivings, he had been right to visit Clara’s old home and remember exactly why he had barricaded his heart.
He must take care to ensure those defenses remained in place.
Adam took the horse’s tack to the harness room and nodded to the grooms gathered there. Lips tightening with purpose, hewalked through the arched front door of Ember Hall, stepping into a different world.
Heat and light enveloped him, making him blink after the gathering darkness outside. His mouth watered at the scent of roasting meat and garlic which was wafting from the kitchen. But the most transformative element of all, was the singing.
He sagged against a carved dresser in the stone-flagged entrance hall as the emotions he had tried to lock away instead burst free and enveloped him. With every sweetly sung note, more of Adam’s defenses crumbled. Tears pricked at the corners of his eyes when the lady’s voice soared high, and when she finally drew to a close, he was done for.
Praise be, no one was there to witness his temporary vulnerability.
Adam straightened his back and waited for his customary calm rationality to take over. Once he was sufficiently composed, he continued his path to the great hall, where domesticity awaited.
Orange flames flickered in the hearth. Esme sat on a tapestried chair, drawn close to the fire. On her lap was curled the little black cat of this morn. Esme still sang, only quietly, as if to herself. One hand stroked the purring cat whilst the other supported her head. Her hair, golden as the sun, rippled down her back.
Adam wanted to melt away, to preserve this vision of beauty without spoiling it with his big boots and sullenness. But Esme was already turning towards him, her rosy pink lips turning up in the bright smile he had come to associate with her.
“Adam,” she said warmly as if they were old friends.
He made an awkward sort of bow. “Lady Esme.”
“I am so pleased to see you. Felicity and I have been longing for some company. Come and sit beside me.” She indicated another chair, close to the hearth.
Adam’s legs carried him forward, even as his mind conjured myriad reasons why he should walk away.
“Have you had a pleasant day?” she asked innocently.
Adam gave her another glance as he perched on the chair. She did not seem cross at her abandonment, only happy that he had returned.
“Pleasant enough.” His voice was too rough for this room, for this lady.
“The day has dragged for me.” She threw him another smile. “Tell me, do you know how to play chess?”
The question startled him. Aye, he knew. ’Twas one way to pass the long hours of darkness in a highland winter. He shifted uncomfortably in the grand chair.
He should lie.
But her cornflower blue eyes were fixed upon him, and he could not tell an untruth under her all-seeing gaze.
“I do.”
She clasped her hands together, startling the cat who gave a quiet mew of protest.
“Excellent. There is a set in the solar. We can bring it in after dinner.”
“Do you play, milady?”
He couldn’t help himself. He was curious.
And her smile is radiant, and life is short.
“Badly.” Her expression grew mischievous. “Perchance you can instruct me in how to improve my game?”
