He paused on the stairs, his body taut.How had things gone so wrong already?
Fran folded her hands calmly in front of her apron, and Ian could see her mind at work.She'd been an expert at dealing with the emotional high and lows that plagued his grandfather.Now she was turning that expertise on him.
"Let her be, aye?The poor lass has had a trying day."
What he wanted to do was march right into that room and demand to know why she hadn't said anything—not that she could have, seeing as she'd been unconscious most of the time, but still.It wasn't supposed to happen like this.
"We've our first guest," Fran said, a rush of excitement filling her words."She's here, Ian.This is it."
He grunted in response and then turned his attention toward the dimly lit second floor landing.
"Come have your supper.I'll be checking on the wee one later."
"She's not a bairn," he muttered as he walked down the steps.
"But she's as helpless as one at the moment."Ian rolled his eyes as he past Fran, and she slapped his arm with a tsk of disapproval.
"I'll ring Grace, just to make sure it's her," he said with a defeated sigh as he headed across the Great Hall.As he went, it felt like the weight of the estate was pressing down on his shoulders.They all needed this to work, needed some kind of income to support the house and the land, and the people who worked them.They needed a good review and a glowing article.They needed the American market.And now the best person to make that happen was passed out cold from a pigeon collision.Could it get any worse?
Lucy dreamed of a voice.A man's voice.A deep, sexy, confident voice.An angry, impatient voice.Then she dreamed of softness, of her Gram taking care of her, dressing her and talking to her in that flamboyant way of hers.It made her smile.
Then Gram's voice sounded Scottish.How funny, hearing Gram do impressions.But Grammy Lin was cool like that.Lucy told her to do Italian, but then the fun stopped, replaced by a persistent knocking that hurt her head and wouldn't go away.
"What?"The rough tone of her own voice woke her.Her eyes cracked open as the door creaked.
An older woman entered."I brought you some supper, lass.Not too much after your ordeal, some barley soup, fresh bannocks, and tea."She set the tray on the table by the bed, then sat on the edge of the mattress to gently turn Lucy's chin toward the light."Will be looking worse before it's better, I'm afraid."
Confused, Lucy pushed up with the woman's help and noticed the clean, threadbare nightgown, which buttoned at the neck and had ruffles around the collar.She had the momentary thought that she'd traveled through time and her secret wish of being like Claire from Diana Gabaldon'sOutlanderwas coming true.But she knew she was just 'Being Lucy', as Gram would say.The dreamer.
"You were drenched when Ian brought you in.I feared you'd catch a chill if you stayed in those clothes," the woman explained."It's a bit confusing, aye?Finn, that's our local doctor, was here earlier.Said you'd be fine."
"He did?"
"Aye."
Confusing wasn't the least of it.And, holy cow, her bladder was about to burst."Um, is there a bathroom I could use?"
"Oh, of course.Right through the door there."
When Lucy came out of the bathroom a few minutes later, the woman busied herself with pouring a cup of tea."Go on and eat now.You'd be surprised how clearer things become after you've had a good meal and some tea.It'll give you your strength back too.Put some color in those cheeks."
The kind woman reminded her of Grammy Lin, but without all the bold color and crazy personality.It was the eyes, filled with concern and encouragement, that had put Lucy's mind at ease from the very beginning.
Starving, she sat down and took a bite of the soup.
Not bad.Not bad at all.
Laced with spices, heady broth, and chunks of grilled meat with barley, leeks, carrots and parsley.Lucy knew her food and she recognized homemade goodness when she tasted it."Thank you.It's really good.So who is Ian exactly?You said he brought me here."
The woman's fingers worked her apron."Well, it was Ian's pigeon that struck you in the face.Of course, it was all an unfortunate accident with you being in the woods when he felled the bird.Just what were you doing out there, if you don't mind me asking?"
With the food, Lucy's energy and clarity was indeed beginning to return."My rental car ran out of gas," she said as she chewed."Well, first I got lost.Then, it started to rain.I saw this house and took a short cut through the woods, then–" her spoon dipped into the soup, and then paused on its way back to her mouth."This wolf-thing came at me...It must've jumped me, knocked me down or something."
"My, that's quite a story.You are Mrs.Brooks, aren't you?"
"Who?"
"Mrs.Brooks, from The Ambler.After you arrived, we rang Grace to make sure she picked you up from the airport.She gave us a description.Said you left right on schedule.Though, I don't know what she was thinking, letting you find your own way here.I knew Ian should have picked you up.Told him so myself."
