Unable to hold back a gasp, she braced herself for more, but he retreated and her stomach grew heavy, as thought weighed by stones.
“But no’ tempting enough, I’m afraid, my lady.As I said, I willnae fall for yer tricks.”
She broke away from his hold, unable to believe the mirth in his eyes, the mockery on his lips.Where was the man she had once known?How was it possible for him to change so much?
But instead of giving into despair, she thrust up her chin.“Ye shallnae break my courage.Ye will see I am right soon enough.”
Lorna did not know how, but somehow she would make him see.She had survived battles, sieges and an abusive husband.She would survive this too.
“That sounds like a challenge, Lorna.”
“Mayhap it is.”
He grinned but it was a bitter one.“Good.Hold onto yer courage.Ye shall need it.”
Without allowing her a response, he pivoted away.As he closed the door, he gave her a brief look and a warning.“Dinnae try anything else.Next time ye may not be so lucky to have me rescue ye from the danger of yer own making.”
Lorna wrapped her arms about herself and sank to the bed.His ominous tone ate into any warmth that kiss had created.Whoever he had become, it appeared he was almost as cold-hearted as the laird himself.She resigned herself to the fact she would find no ally in him.
But that did not mean she would give up on him.Not yet.
Chapter Five
Tèile’s wings nearly gave out when she spotted the dark-haired man by the well.She flew down and floated in front of him for a while.Sure enough, her eyesight had not deceived her.By the stars!She lowered herself to the cold stone and gaped up at him.
So he was alive.The woodland nymph she had questioned on her journey back to the human world had been right.But he was meant to be dead!The Fae Council had to have known he was still alive, so why did they not tell her?
Mayhap because they knew she’d return.They were hopeful that after her previous matchmaking successes, they could keep her busy in the land of the fae.And they had.
She smiled.She’d enjoyed many fun times.Her friends esteemed her as one of the greatest matchmakers of their time now, yet the council still feared her meddling.The Green Faery snorted.As if she’d make a mess of things again.Had she not proved them wrong?Had she not brought about two happy endings and righted all the wrongs shemayhave created the first time around?
However, it had always been her intention to return to Lorna and help her.She rubbed a spindly finger over her scalp and watched the man draw up water.It was certainly him.He was a mess, she thought grimly, but there was no doubting it was Logan.They had always been intended for each other, so why had the council not sent her to fix things?
She had to admit; a lost memory would not be easy to deal with, but had she not already battled many obstacles?Poisoning, arranged marriages, Vikings!Conquering a little memory loss would surely be as easy as persuading a faery to indulge in drink.
Stretching out her wings, she pondered how to force them together.Using magic was a last resort.She’d already messed with fate before and too much magic threw things out of line.The human world was in such a delicate balance.Unfortunately that meant more hard work for her.
She’d check on Lorna first.See if there was not some way of forcing her into his arms.A little stumble and she’d have her pressed against him.He couldn’t ignore her then, could he?
The shutters on Lorna’s window were shut, so Tèile flew past the men scurrying about the bailey.She dodged a man carrying a large barrel and another herding some sheep out of the gate before flitting through the front doors.The faery stilled when she heard the lady’s name mentioned.She lowered herself onto the shoulder of the serving girl, who scowled and nearly swept her from her shoulder.
Tèile jolted back.Few humans felt her unless she really wanted them too.The lass must have better instinct than others.So Tèile settled for fluttering nearby.
“Take this up to the lady,” the young woman ordered a serving girl with bright red hair sneaking from her coif.“She’s no’ well and needs food.”
“Is it true, Anne?She used to be the lady here.”
Anne nodded.“Aye and married to the laird’s brother.So we should treat her well, even if Logan doesnae think we should.”
“The laird willnae care about her welfare.”
“He’ll want her alive.Dinnae fear, Logan willnae want to deny her food.”
“Ye’d better be right,” the red-haired girl said.“I dinnae want to be shouted at.He scares me.”
“Ye’d be scary too if ye’d lost yer memory.”
“I dinnae trust him,” the girl confided and Tèile listened with interest.How Gillean had persuaded Logan he was one of his men, she knew not, and why had no one drawn attention to the fact he used to work for Lorna?“Some say he used to be the enemy.”
