“Are youhungry?” he asked.
“Yes, sure.Let’s distract ourselves with food.”
He nodded,pulling open the door and I led him out to the little kitchen to find hisfamily gone, but the cupboards stocked.
CHAPTER TWELVE
Lennox
TWODAYS LATER, Phineas deemed it was safe for us to emerge from the cabin and headback to the castle. Admittedly, I was a little sad to leave our refuge, but hefelt it was better to be with the family, where we’d be more protected.
He also wantedto be closer to a food source we didn’t need to catch on a daily basis. He wasright, of course. The cabin was extremely primitive and being at the castlewould provide a level of convenience we were both used to.
Still…
I was going tomiss the little home.
“We’ll be back,”Phin promised as we slid into the car Alasdair had dropped off earlier.
“I hope so.” Igave him a sad smile. “I’ve kind of fallen in love with the place.”
He chuckled,pulling the car out of the little lean-to. “Me too, love.”
“How long willit take us to get to the castle?”
“About tenminutes, give or take.”
“Are you sureit’s okay—”
He reached overand took my hand, giving it a gentle squeeze. “If you ask me one more time ifyou’re going to be welcome in my family home, sweetheart, I’m going to lose mymind.”
“I just don’twant to be an imposition.”
“And you’renot.” He lifted my hand to his lips and kissed the palm. “We probably won’teven see them except at dinner. We’re in the west wing which is on the oppositeside of the house from them.”
I sighed.“Right. It’s a castle.”
“Don’t let thecastle fool you, it’s a home first and foremost.”
I nodded, notentirely convinced, but when we pulled into the courtyard of the castle andPhin led me through the side door, I was pleasantly surprised to find there wasno pomp and circumstance, no one fawning all over him, and certainly no onerushing to do his bidding.
I started torelax as we headed up a staircase on our left. And yes, it was grand, the wallsadorned with portraits of generations of ancestors as one would expect in amedieval castle, but it was also warm, like a home should be.
“You’re here!” Iheard Samantha say from behind us.
We turned fromthe middle of the staircase to see her walking toward us from the foyer, herhair pulled back into a ponytail at the nape of her neck, and she looked likeshe’d just stepped out ofHorse and Rider Magazine.
“Aye, Mum,” Phinsaid, descending the stairs again to greet her. “Are you coming or going for aride?”
“I’m meetingPepper in twenty minutes.” She hugged him, then made her way to me, pulling mein for a hug as well. “Welcome, sweetie. I hope you’ll make yourself at home.We’re so glad you’re here.”
Told you.
I ignored him asI smiled at Sam. “Thanks so much. I hope I’m not a bother.”
“Are you kiddingme? I live for a full house.” She pulled her phone from her pocket. “Right, mybestie is a demanding and psycho biatch, but I love her so,” she teased. “Ishould go. We’ll see you at dinner. Love you.”
Then she rushedaway, and I turned to Phin.
