Rose laughed, holding up her hands. “Whoa! No, I haven’t seenany of that. I’ve only just arrived.”
“Then Papa and I will show ye around! Willnae we, Papa?”
“Not yet, we willnae. Our guest is wet and cold and no doubt tired from her journey. Perhaps she might like to change and rest first?”
Rose would indeed like to change first, but Catriona had other ideas. “But there’s no time!” she cried, taking Rose’s arm. “Sister Beatrice is already looking for me. Dinna make me go back to Latin today, Papa, please!”
The pained outrage on the girl’s face was enough to make Rose laugh. “We couldn’t have that, could we? I think a tour is just what the doctor ordered.”
Catriona beamed, stuck her arm through Rose’s, and led her off, a frowning Cailean and a capering Patch following close behind.
Rose was led through the big doors into the main keep where she found an echoing entrance hall just beyond, decorated with hangings in the same tartan color that made up Cailean’s plaid and that of many of the people she’d spotted so far. Beyond this, a long corridor led deeper into the castle and she could hear the sounds of a busy household: people talking, dogs barking, the chink of pots and crockery.
“This way!” Catriona said brightly.
Rose was given a whistle-stop tour of the keep, then the kennels, the stables, the storehouses, and the kitchen, which was a large building separated from the rest of the keep to reduce the risk of fire.
Rose took it all in as best she could but the more she saw of the place, the more she felt like she’d stepped into a dream. It was so far removed from everything she was used to she kept thinking she would wake up in a moment and find it was all a dream.
But everything felt all too real. The smell of baking bread that tingled her nostrils. The weight of Catriona’s arm through hers. The glowering presence of Cailean behind. The sound of the sea crashing against the shore in the distance.
Oh, yes, it felt all too real all right.
They were just crossing the courtyard, heading back to the main keep when a stern voice rang out behind them.
“Catriona MacNeil, stop right there!”
Catriona froze, wincing as though a lash had struck her across the back. Rose turned to see a formidable-looking woman in a nun’s habit striding across the courtyard towards them.
“I’ve been looking everywhere for ye!” the woman snapped. “I said ye could go for a few moments to greet yer father and his guest. I didnotsay ye could be gone for over an hour!”
“Sorry, Sister Beatrice,” Catriona said, looking sheepish. “I… um… lost track of time.”
“Lost track of time, my eye!”
“It’s my fault,” Cailean said, stepping smoothing up to his daughter’s side. “I said she could give our new guest a tour.”
“Humph.” The nun put her hands on her hips and glared up at Cailean, not in the least intimidated by the man’s size. “Be that as it may, my lord, how am I supposed to teach her to be a lady with constant interruptions? I have a hard enough task as it is!” She took a deep breath and turned to Rose. “But I’m forgetting my manners. Ye must be Rose. I’m Sister Beatrice. Welcome to Dun Mallach. Now, if ye will excuse us, my unruly pupil and I have Latin verbs to catch up on. Catriona, this way.”
Catriona shot Rose and her father a pleading look as Sister Beatrice took her by the arm and led her away, Patch dancing along at the girl’s heels.
Rose watched them go and blew out a breath. “Phew. Please remind me never to get onherbad side.”
Cailean snorted. “If ye figure that one out, please let me know. Seems I’malwayson Sister Beatrice’s bad side.”
Rose raised an eyebrow. “You? With your sunny disposition and charm? Never.”
He scowled but she thought she detected amusement in his dark eyes. “I get the feeling ye are making fun of me, lass.”
She smiled sweetly. “Wouldn’t dream of it.” She took a deep breath and let it out slowly before straightening her shoulders. “Now, shall we start at the beginning? Why don’t you tell me why a goddess thinks I might be able to help you?”
Chapter Four
You can’t, Caileanalmost said.
The words danced on the edge of his tongue, the all too familiar unease with anything mystical welling up in him, but he bit back the words.
Rose watched him steadily, awaiting his response. She had a disconcerting gaze—clear and direct as though she could see right into his soul.
