‘I’m trying to work out whether she lied to me or not. If she did…’
If she lied to him, there’s nothing he can do about it as long as they’re both inside the sanctuary.
‘I imagine that technically she didn’t lie, and you either heard what you wanted to hear or you made assumptions. She’s going to be a hot-shot lawyer, Declan. They’re a lot like the Kinfolk in terms of principles.’
‘Aye, you’re probably right.’ He blows out a breath. ‘I’m impressed. Maybe she does have a chance in hell of surviving this place.’
‘She’s just my sister’s friend, Declan. She better fucking survive.’
‘Just your sister’s friend,’ he says slowly, and I can hear the amusement beneath his words. ‘Maybe if you tell us in person that’s all she is, then we’ll believe it. But there’s seven guys trapped here. Some of us haven’t seen a woman in decades. And Sal was quite right in suggesting that she might be useful to us.’
‘Shut up.’ Rage is coursing through me, my heartbeat pounding in my ears as thoughts of them taking what I have so carefully kept for myself all these years sends me into a spiral.
‘I’m just yanking your chain,’ he says.
‘Well, as long as you’re enjoying yourself.’ My words are said through gritted teeth.
‘Oh, I’m in a great mood, all seven of us are fecking overjoyed about her arrival. As you can only expect, she’s not getting a free ride and we’re delighted that she’s taken over the cooking, the cleaning and the laundry.’
‘She’s worth more than that, Declan. She has a brain.’
‘Yeah, you said. But we don’t need a fucking lawyer here, Cillian. Or someone to do the accounts. Domestic chores are the Seven’s least favourite. It’ll be the easiest way to get them to accept her and want her to stay.’
‘She’s not your servant.’
‘No, but she is stuck here, so she’ll be whatever I tell her to be, Cill. If you don’t like it, find a way to get her out. The rest of us here work. If she doesn’t, imagine the level of resentment that’s going to build. And when resentment builds, bad things inevitably start to happen. And, I’m just putting this out there now before you come in here threatening to cut off bits of my anatomy, but I’m not going to stand in her way if she does show an interest in any of the others. In fact, I believe she’s gone to the loch with Matt. It’s a beautiful summer’s evening here. Very romantic. And you know how he loves to swim. Naked, of course.’
‘You might want to rethink your priorities, Declan. Keep this up and a lawyer’s going to be exactly what you need.’
I end the call, but I can hear his laughter as I get in my car, and head for the monastery.
Chapter21
Niamh
By the following evening, I decide that I’ve done a reasonable enough job for my first day as cook. I’ve just finished wiping down the surfaces when I see Matt passing the window. It’s been another beautiful day and the evening is still warm. If I needed proof that this place is an alternative version of the Highlands, it’s the weather. I dry my hands, and head for the jetty.
Matt has already reached the end of it. I’m thankful I’m behind him when he bends down and strips his robe off over his head, then dives into the water. I pause, feeling like a peeping Tom, watching him when he’s naked, but he’s in a public place. It’s hardly my fault.
I’ve reached the end of the jetty before he surfaces, and I’m impressed with how long he can hold his breath. He turns, noticing me, and swims back. I focus on keeping my eyes on his face as he approaches.
‘You coming in?’ he asks.
‘Isn’t it cold?’
‘Refreshing.’ He grins. ‘Absolutely Baltic. I’m freezing my balls off in here. But it’s good. I like to swim.’
‘I don’t have a swimsuit.’
‘Neither do I,’ he says, laughing and pushing himself off the dock to float on his back. I roll my eyes, then look away, but can’t help the way my cheeks heat. Thankfully it’s not long before he rolls over and swims off again. I lose sight of him, then suddenly he’s shooting up, out of the water at the side of the jetty, soaking my robes.
‘Matt,’ I chide, but I’m not overly bothered. My robes are hot, the cool water a welcome respite. I’m tempted to join him, but I compromise by sitting down on the edge of the jetty, pulling my robe up to my knees and dangling my feet in the water. I yelp at the first contact, but manage to keep them submerged the second time and lean back on my elbows, as the orange hue in the sky grows more pronounced.
‘You make that look easy,’ I say when he returns to the jetty and pushes himself out of the water. Although it’s not really a push, it’s almost as if he’s catapulted straight out of the water, to land on his feet on the wooden planks.
‘It’s just practice,’ he says, but there’s something about the way he says it that makes me suspect it’s not strictly true. I frown, turning to look at him, then immediately look back out over the loch.
‘Robe,’ I instruct, shutting my eyes.
