Page 18 of The Lady of Her Highland Clan

5

"Good lass!"

Clyde leaped up, and for a minute, Fiona thought he was going to kiss her all over again.

Exhilaration ran through her every pore. Just the thought of his touch was doing strange things to her. But she wished it would not.

Now she knew the true reason for Clyde's sudden reappearance, things were different. Chiding herself bitterly for being so stupid, Fiona pressed on. After all, why should Clyde want to come all this way just to see her anyway? It was a perfectly reasonable thing for him to be interested in the gold.

Truth be told, she was too. As a child, she had grown up with the rumors of the buried treasure on the estate, but she had assumed them to be just that—rumors. The famous clan’s treasure ruby that had been in their possession for decades... There was meant to be a map, but no one had ever found it. Fiona had assumed that was because it wasn't real. But now, with Clyde so obviously enthused, she was beginning to feel differently. Maybe, just maybe, those rumors might be true.

Getting to her feet, Fiona picked up a candle and beckoned to Clyde to follow her. "Come on," she said, leading him on. "I ken where tae look, an' it's nae far from here..."

It took a few moments for them to reach her father's chambers, by which time, Fiona's heart was pumping hard. It seemed crazy, but he had really got her believing in this buried treasure. There was something in Clyde's enthusiasm that was infectious.

"Here," said Fiona, opening the door to what had been her father's private chambers. Once inside, Clyde blinked, a little startled.

"Jings," said Clyde, his eyes adjusting to the light. Briefly, he looked at the candle that Fiona was carrying as if he realized why she had brought it.

It was dark in the chamber, with heavy shutters covering the windows. With no candles lit, it took a while to see properly. But while Clyde was still getting his bearings, Fiona was going straight for the bureau.

"Was this...yer...father's..." said Clyde, picking through the cobwebs and finding his way through the chamber.

Fiona looked blankly around.

"Aye," she said. She was trying to shut out as much emotion as possible, but it was not very easy. The fact was, she had not come in here since her father's passing. With a quick look to Clyde, she led him further into the chamber.

Clyde looked about, his green eyes darting from side to side. It was shut up but still retained its splendor. Fiona lit the nearest candelabra, bringing some light to the corner of the chamber. The pale-yellow light leaped over the bureau, illuminating the parchments on it.

Momentarily, Fiona rifled through them. These were handwritten documents, mainly clan business or letters. She quickly discounted them.

Then, reaching in further toward the corner of the room, she turned to a small door. With some effort, Fiona turned the handle, and the small oak door creaked open.

"Och," said Clyde, clearly surprised. He bowed his head and followed her in. Grinning, Fiona led him into the small closet. His eyes opened widely as he glanced around. The small chamber was filled with books.

"My father's," she said with a smile. "Tae everyone else, it was just a wee closet, but tae my father, it was a library!"

"It's easy tae see why," said Clyde. Clearly, he was impressed. He ran his finger along the bureau, collecting a big pile of dust, and picked up a parchment that lay there. Gingerly, he looked to Fiona for permission to look at the manuscripts.

Fiona nodded, bringing the candle she was carrying a little closer. Being here was strange. It was like nobody at all had been here since her father had passed. Perhaps they hadn't.

Most of the servants didn't even know this place existed; it was only the family and a few of the counselors.

The closet was small but full of parchment. And cobwebs. Fiona shivered as a mouse scurried across the dusty stone floor. Then she ran her hand across the bureau. It was hard to know where to start.

Without talking, the pair split up to separate ends of the closet, with Fiona taking the bureau to the right and Clyde starting on a pile of parchments opposite. For a while, they sifted through them in silence, Fiona engrossed in her pile.

There was a stack of correspondence between her father and her mother, something that Fiona was not at all expecting to see. Picking one of the sheets up, she brought it closer. Despite her attempts to stay calm, her eyes misted with tears.

Seeing her emotion, Clyde looked at her unsurely. "What is that?" he asked kindly.

Unexpectedly overcome, Fiona just waved her arms dismissively. But Clyde was not that easily brushed off. Coming over, he offered her his arm.

Before she could stop him, Clyde's gentle hand was upon her, soothing her instantly.

"Sorry," she said, embarrassed. A lock of hair fell, covering her face, and before she had a chance to brush it away, Clyde helped her.

He was close. Really close. Almost touching her lips.