Chapter 22
TWENTY-TWO
The hall was a very lively place. Everyone was talking and eating and generally having a good time.
Jenna had been grateful to Cormac for switching seats with Ashley.
The two had a lot to catch up on and talking to her best friend was making her feel better.
She could hear Cailin and Cormac trying to one up each other on the things they’d seen and done in the twenty-first century.
“So, does everyone here know about time travel?” Jenna wondered.
“Not everyone, but the immediate family and a few others. We try to keep it to ourselves. It might cause problems if the wrong people knew,” Ashley explained.
“Who are the few others? I don’t want to make any mistakes while I’m here. You know, say the wrong thing to the wrong person.”
“Sure. Well, Helene, she’s my ladies’ maid and her man, Dougall know.
You don’t have to worry about saying anything in front of them.
That’s them over there. Helene is the pretty blonde and Dougall is the handsome highlander sitting next to her.
” She directed Jenna to look their way and when she did she saw Helene waving and smiling at them.
“Some of the men know, but not all of them. Those who do have been sworn to secrecy.”
“And they’re really okay with it? I just can’t imagine. I was a total nonbeliever when Cormac told me about it. I thought he was nuts.”
“I can imagine. What did Dylan think?”
“He believed him right from the start, but then Dylan is a bit of a sci-fi geek and it was like a dream come true for him. I wasn’t on board until I found myself on my way to Breaghacraig.”
“You didn’t believe him when he told you about me and his brother?” Ashley asked.
“He never told me about you.” Jenna’s relaxed posture began to stiffen. “He lied to me. There are so many things I just can’t get past right now.”
Ashley took Jenna’s hand, “Jenna, you have to believe me when I tell you Cormac is a great guy. If he didn’t tell you about me, it was because he had a good reason. You need to ask him about it. He’ll tell you the truth.”
“That’s what he always says. He always tells me that if I ask him something he’ll always tell me the truth.”
“He’s a man of his word, Jenna. So is Cailin and Robert. You’ll see. Just give them a chance.”
“I don’t seem to have much choice in the matter, Ashley. I’m stuck here.”
“Jenna, you know I wish you’d stay here with us, but I understand if you want to leave. We’ll help you contact Edna … I promise. In the meantime, just enjoy the experience. You might be surprised at how much you like it.”
“I doubt it, but I’ll do my best,” Jenna smiled warmly at her dear friend.
“And don’t be so hard on Cormac. I don’t want to see either one of you get hurt.”
That may be unavoidable. Jenna pulled Ashley into a hug, dreading the time she’d have to say goodbye to both she and Cormac.
Jenna avoided contact with Cormac for the rest of the evening.
She needed time to process everything that had happened and letting him get close would just muddy her thinking.
Exhaustion was creeping up on her and she really felt the need to get some sleep.
The others in the hall were laughing and talking and she felt very out of place.
She couldn’t think of a thing to say to any one of them.
She could feel Irene’s eyes boring a hole through her.
Irene didn’t trust her, she could tell and she looked angry with Jenna, who didn’t think she had much of a chance of winning her over.
Strangely, Ashley fit right in. She was tucked up under her husband’s arm and they looked like two people completely in love.
Jenna felt a pang of jealousy, but also felt a great sense of happiness for her good friend.
Ashley had been pretty down the last time Jenna saw her, but now here she was, practically glowing.
She hated to disturb them, but she really wanted to get to bed.
“Ashley, I’m really tired. I’m going to go upstairs to bed,” Jenna said. “Good night, Cailin. It was a pleasure meeting you.”
“Good night, lass. I’m so happy yer here. My Ashley has missed ye a great deal.” Cailin’s smile brought to mind the smile of another handsome man. A man she didn’t want to think about right now.
“I’ll get Helene to help you with your dress,” Ashley said, and as Jenna was about to protest, “Don’t say no, you’re going to need help.” Ashley turned from her and waved to Helene who hurried in their direction.
“Helene, this is my best friend, Jenna. She came back with Cormac.”
“Pleased to meet you, Lady Jenna,” Helene said.
“Lady Jenna? What …” Jenna was baffled by that one.
“Just call her Jenna, Helene. No need for formality. You know that,” Ashley said.
“Of course, come with me … Jenna.” Helene led her away towards the stairs.
“Thank you, Helene. I appreciate the help.” Jenna said.
“’Tis my job. I help Ashley and Lady Irene every day.”
“I’m just adding to your work load. I can probably get out of this dress on my own, really.” Jenna didn’t want to be a burden. She was capable of taking care of herself.
“Please, Jenna, let me help ye. ‘Tis no trouble. ‘Twill take but a moment.”
They reached the door to Jenna’s room and opening it went inside. Jenna shivered. “Ooh … it’s chilly in here.”
“Dinna fash. I’ll get a fire started right away.” Helene offered.
“Can you show me how, Helene? You know, in case you’re not around and I’m cold.”
Helene nodded and called Jenna over to watch as she expertly started the fire in the fireplace. “Do ye think ye can do it on yer own?” she asked.
“I’ll just do what you did. That should work.” Jenna caught a look of skepticism on Helene’s face.
“Let me help ye get yer dress off. It looks as though Lady Irene left ye a nightdress.”
A quick glance towards the bed showed Jenna that a pretty muslin gown adorned with pink ribbons and embroidered flowers had been left on the bed for her.
Helene undid the laces with nimble fingers and helped Jenna step out of it.
“I’m not used to getting undressed in front of strangers,” Jenna said.
“Tis naught for ye to be concerned with. I’ve seen many a lady in this castle as naked as the day they were born.” Helene giggled as she got Jenna into the nightdress. “There, ye’ll be nice and warm now that the fire is blazing and ye have many beautiful furs to cover ye while ye sleep.”
“Thank you, Helene. It was very kind of you to help me.”
“As I said, ‘tis what I do. Good night.” Helene headed out the door, closing it behind her.
Before climbing into bed, Jenna stood in front of the fire enjoying the warmth and the flickering and crackling of the flames.
She felt completely and totally alone. Before getting under the furs, Jenna stretched and yawned.
This was a luxury she didn’t have at home.
They were soft and definitely would keep her warm during the night.
She took a minute to think about Cormac.
She wished she hadn’t been such a prickly thistle as he liked to say.
She’d have to sleep alone and having his warmth and comfort would make it easier to fall asleep, but she had been her own worst enemy once again and had completely shut him out.
One of these days, Jenna, you’re going to figure it out.
Ashley’s mother used to tell her all the time, ‘You catch more flies with honey than with vinegar.’ Jenna had been nothing but vinegar today and Cormac had been nothing but a gentleman.
You are such an idiot, she thought to herself.
One of these times he’s not going to forgive you.
She snuggled down deeper into the bed and yawned again.
She was exhausted. Maybe things would seem better tomorrow.
“Jenna …” a voice called to her.
“Who’s there?” Jenna searched the dark corners of the room for the source of the voice.
“Jenna, it’s me … Edna.”
“Edna? Where are you? I can’t see you.”
“No. You can’t see me, because I’m not there.”
“What do you want?” Jenna asked.
“I want you to know that I am aware that it was not your choice to be at Breaghacraig. It was not Cormac who brought you. He was prepared to leave without you, but I couldn’t let that happen. I knew you’d eventually go to him and when you did … well, that’s when the magic happened.”
“But, he held onto me. He wouldn’t let me go.”
“And it’s a good thing he did. You might have ended up even further back in time and all alone. You should be grateful to him for saving you from that fate.”
“How dare you! You knew I didn’t want to go with him and yet you forced me to. Edna, you should be really happy that you’re not standing in front of me right now.”
“I’m aware of that, my dear. Now, let’s get down to business, shall we?”
Jenna nodded her head, but wasn’t sure Edna could see her, so she said, “Okay, I guess. How do I get back home?”
“Well, for starters, you are going to have to spend some time at Breaghacraig. You’ll get to know Cormac better, you can visit with my dear sweet, Ashley, and you can learn a little about life in sixteenth century Scotland.
Cormac stayed in San Francisco for seven days and you will stay at Breaghacraig for seven days.
I’ll contact you again when it’s time to leave and Cormac will take you to the bridge.
From there you can go home, if that’s what you decide. ”
“Great! Torture me again. I guess it wasn’t bad enough the first time we had to say goodbye to each other.”
“You needed more time together and I’m a hopeless romantic. I think you belong together. Seven days isn’t verra long, but it will be long enough for you to realize you are exactly where you need to be.”
“You’re crazy and manipulative. I am not staying here. Yes, I’ll stay for the seven days, but after that I’m going back home and you can’t stop me.”
“Well, I think I could, but our agreement is seven days and seven days it will be. Tomorrow is day one. Make good use of your time, Jenna. Take care now, my dear, and I’ll be in touch at the end of your stay.”
All Jenna could hear now was the crackling of the fire.
She was spooked by what had just happened, but she was not going to go wandering around the castle all alone, looking for Ashley.
She’d talk to her about it tomorrow. Right now she needed to sleep.
This had been the weirdest two days of her life and it had taken a lot out of her.