“Leave the key with me and I may be able to do something about that. If you go back now, you’ll come out the way you came in.”
Heather thought about Tony, what she’d found out about him since coming back to the medieval highlands. “What’s a collector?” she asked.
Tanya smiled sadly. “Not someone you want anything to do with. He would not be happy to have you return without the knife.”
“And what if I give him the knife?”
“That’s up to you. What did he offer you for it?”
“A promotion at work.”
Tanya frowned. “There must be more than that. You’re not that shallow.”
“He said it would improve my family history.” Heather waved at Gavin as he glanced across at her.
“You already have.”
“What? How can you possibly know that?”
“I’ll explain it to you sometime if you’re really interested. You know, I never believed in magic until I came back here. Spells and enchanted swords and candles that entrance people. Who’d have thought it was actually real?”
“You haven’t answered my question.”
“Because it would take a long time and you’re meant to be celebrating.”
“Are they really happy?”
“History is in the past. You’re in the present. What happens to future generations isn’t up to you. Or me. It’s up to people to live their lives. All you can do is focus on your life. Or you can keep the key and go home.”
Heather looked at the key, then placed it in Tanya’s hand as Gavin made his way across to them. “I think I’ll stay right here.”
“Oh, I was hoping you’d come with me,” Gavin said. “The music’s about to start.”
Heather got to her feet. “I didn’t know you did dancing.”
“Fastest feet in the highlands,” Gavin replied with a smile. “You’ll see.”
She leaned up and kissed him. “Modest too.”
He paused, throwing his arms around her. “I love you,” he said.
“I love you too.”
They danced, they laughed, they ate and drank some more. At some point, Heather had no idea when, they made their way upstairs to her room.
Once inside, Gavin bowed deeply. “I shall leave you to sleep.” He turned to go, pulling the door open.
She caught his arm, stopping him from walking out. “I would feel safer if you stayed.”
He smiled. “Just for one night,” he said, pushing the door closed. “To keep you safe.”
