With a sigh, she pushed it away. It was late. Outside the window, all was black and the only illumination in the little study came from a single candle perched in a holder on the edge of the table.
“Time for bed,” she told herself. “You can pick this up in the morning.”
She hated the delay. Who was to say how many more people would get sick in that time? How many others would have to pay for her lack of progress?
But there was nothing she could do. She was so tired she could barely think straight and in her current state who could say she wouldn’t miss a vital clue? She heaved herself up. Picking up the candle holder and shielding the flame with one hand, she let herself out. The corridors of the castle were eerie at night, lit only intermittently by candles in sconces along the walls.
She made her way through the keep until she reached the staircase that led up to the guest wing. Here, she paused. The door to the great hall lay on her left and it was slightly ajar. Firelight glowed within. Perhaps she wasn’t the last person awake after all.
She stuck her head around the door and peered inside. It took her eyes a moment to adjust to the gloom. The tables and benches had been cleaned down and the floor swept but a fire still burned in the hearth, casting warmth and light through the room.
A figure was sitting by the fire, sprawled in a chair, staring into the flames.
From this distance the figure was nothing more than a silhouette, but even so, Rose recognized Cailean. Nobody else in the castle was as big as he was. His eyes were fixed on the dancing flames. A bottle dangled from one hand.
She ought to go to bed. She ought to turn around, hurry up the stairs, and leave Cailean to his thoughts. But she didn’t. He’d been on her mind all afternoon.
So instead of retreating, she stepped silently into the hall. Her shoes made no sound on the flagstones as she wove through the tables and approached the fireplace.
“Couldn’t sleep, huh?”
Cailean whirled at the sound of her voice. In a flash, he was on his feet, dagger in hand.
Rose swallowed thickly, eyes fixed on the glinting metal so close to her face.
Cailean’s eyes widened as he realized it was her. He tucked the dagger back into his belt.
“Rose?” he growled. “What are ye doing here? Ye shouldnae sneak up on me like that! I could have hurt ye.”
“Yeah, I noticed,” Rose replied. Jeez, how did somebody so big move so fast? “I won’t make that mistake again, believe me. Remind me to never get onyourbad side.”
“My… my apologies,” he said, running a hand through his hair. “I hadnae realized anyone else was still awake.”
He slumped back into the chair, indicating for Rose to take the other. She lowered herself into it, enjoying the warmth that washedover her from the fire. Cailean stared in the flames, saying nothing. After a moment, he took another swig from the bottle.
“Drinking alone, eh? Never a good sign.”
His dark eyes flicked to her. “Nay, never a good sign,” he agreed, his words slurring slightly. He was, she realized, a little drunk. Several empty bottles were scattered on the floor around him, enough to knock most people out.
He held the bottle out to her. “Drink?”
She reached out and took it. “Thought you’d never ask.” Setting the bottle to her lips, she took a large gulp. And then nearly choked as her throat lit on fire.
“Ugh. You could have warned me it was whisky!”
He raised an eyebrow. “This is Scotland. What else did you expect it to be?”
Okay, he had her there. With a shrug, she took another long gulp. This time she managed not to choke and almost enjoyed the warm feeling that settled in her stomach.
“What are you still doing up?” she asked him.
“I could ask the same question of ye.”
She took another swig of whisky. “Working. I lost track of time. How about you?”
Firelight danced in his dark eyes as he watched her. He was utterly still, most of him hidden in shadow. “Do ye ever wish ye could have yer time over and do things differently?” he asked.
Rose snorted. “All the time. If I had a penny for every mistake I’ve made, I’d be a very rich woman.”
