Page 4 of The Highlander’s Gypsy Temptation

Idalia gestured toward the path along the shoreline. “Lead the way.”

Leonor nodded, and they walked arm in arm along the shore in search of Esmerelda’s cottage. Once they had arrived, Idalia knocked on the door; it was opened by a beautiful dark-haired woman. “It took ye long enough to seek me out,” she greeted them with a nod.

Idalia looked at her in surprise. “My sister said you have the gift.”

Esmerelda shook her head. “Only a little. I am nae as skilled as those who came before me. My grandmother kenned much more.”

“Can ye tell me what I seek?”

Once again, Esmerelda shook her head. “I cannae read yer mind, lass. Ye must speak.”

Idalia felt foolish for her childlike faith in the words of a seer, but she had been taught to respect the old ways from a very young age. “August Raymond? Is the threat against me and my family gone?”

Esmerelda met Idalia’s eyes and held them intensely; she reached out and took Idalia’s hands in hers. After several moments had passed, Esmerelda let her hands drop and took a step back. She shook her head. “I cannae see.”

“Our sister said that you saw her coming. She said that you told Dunn he would love one of our kind,” Leonor reminded her.

“Aye, I did, but when I look into yer future, I dinnae see anything. Perhaps I am nae strong enough.” Esmerelda gave Idalia a sympathetic look.

“Is there another who might be strong enough to see?”

Esmerelda thought on it for a moment. “Perhaps,” she nodded slowly. “There is a woman on the mainland who might be able to help ye, but I ken very little of her. She is a practitioner of the old ways, but she keeps herself hidden away. She does nae wish to be burned as a witch, ye ken? She is nae of the traveling Romani but is of the Highlands by birth.”

“Do you know where I can find her?”

Esmerelda shook her head. “I can try to send word through other women of our kind and see if she can be found. If I hear from her, I will send word to ye.”

“I thank you, sincerely, for your help in this.”

Esmerelda shook her head. “I cannae promise ye that anything will come of it, but if this woman can bring ye peace of mind, it is the least I can do for a fellow woman of the Romani. There are certainly more of us on the island now.”

Idalia nodded. “Our family is blessed that Katarina found love with the laird here, giving us all a place to live.”

“And yet, ye need to ken more to believe that ye are truly safe here.” Esmerelda gave Idalia a knowing look.

“I do.”

“Then let us pray that ye find the answers that ye seek.”

* * *

A fortnight later...

The castle chamberlain greeted Idalia as she came down the stairs to break her fast. “A letter arrived for ye.” He handed her a slip of paper, sealed with plain candle wax.

Idalia opened the paper and read its contents quickly, scanning it to see who had sent it. Leonor came to stand beside her. “Who is it from?”

“A seer,” Idalia murmured. “I don’t know if it is the one Esmerelda spoke of, but she has promised to help me. I must travel to the mainland. She is old and doesn’t travel well.”

“I shall go with you. We should take a guard with us.”

“I shall speak with Adamina, but the letter says I must go alone.”

Leonor shook her head. “That is not wise. You should not be going anywhere alone and unguarded. What if August Raymond is waiting for you?”

“Dunn’s men have searched far and wide for him, but there has been no sign of him anywhere. He could be dead. I seek the seer to ensure our safety, not to place us in further danger. I will be cautious, sister, don’t worry. I will not be foolish in my desire for peace.”

“You cannot go alone, no matter what the old crone says.”