Chapter Twenty-One #2
Unfortunately, it seemed luck was not on his side. On the way to Stranraer his horse lost a shoe and he was forced to stop at a ferrier. To make matters worse, the skies opened up and he was soaked to the bone by the time he arrived at the port.
Someone hailed him then. Turning, he saw Thomas Gates.
Alec ducked under the eaves of a building.
“What luck!” Thomas said. “I was just on my way to see you, your grace! I’ve just returned from Ireland with news of your wife.
” Before Alec could stop him, he continued, “She is certainly who she says she is. I visited her home and prowled about the McDonough lands, and spoke with a few of the tenants. I confess, I’ve never seen anything quite like it. The lands are quite—”
“Barren?” Alec supplied.
“Aye!” said Thomas. “And the tenants I spoke with said it was because of a curse, and an ancient relic—”
“The Circle of Light.”
The older man eyed him. “You certainly don’t seem to have needed my services.”
Alec smiled grimly. “Let’s just say my wife decided to enlighten me. And, if you don’t mind, Thomas, may I settle your fee when I return? Odd as it may seem, I’m hoping to catch the next ship to Ireland to fetch my wife.”
Thomas shook his head. “You may have a wee bit of a wait, then. I overheard someone say the last boat just departed, and it’s expected none will be bound for Ireland for at least the next two days.” He gestured heavenward. “It’s a devil of a storm that’s blown in.”
Alec cursed, long and loud, so loud it might surely have been heard across the sea in Ireland.
Indeed, he hoped it was.
It was home.
Home, on the very tip of the peninsula, in this place where the wind met sea and sky, and the sky the earth, where the Circle of Light floated on an altar of stone—floated with a power of its own.
All who came out stared in wonder at the shimmering light that glowed in the church of St. Patrick, lighting the night. They exclaimed in joy and wonder, and called it a miracle.
Among those who came out were Toothless Nan. Patrick the Woolly. On the steps of Castle McDonough stood Maura, Murdoch, and Jen.
Jen beamed, her hands clasped before her. Murdoch shook his head in awe.
Jen turned and threw her arms around Maura. “Ye’ve done it, child. Ye’ve done it!”
Murdoch laid his hand on her shoulder. “Yer father would be so proud of ye, lass.”
“Aye. He would.” It was all she could manage. Maura was smiling, but her throat was tight.
She hadn’t cried from the moment she arrived in the village near Gleneden. At the inn, she’d flung herself into Murdoch’s arms.
She did not speak of Alec. Murdoch did not ask. When they boarded the ship that took them back to Ireland, Maura stood at the stern for long, long minutes. She stood until Scotland was no longer in view.
As she had once stood watching Ireland disappear from view. Oh, how things had changed since then!
Everything had changed.
Three days later, inside her room at Castle McDonough, Maura glanced out the window. She had to shield her eyes from the sun’s glare.
A faint smile rimmed her lips. Three days, she thought. The Circle had been home but three days—and already there were miracles. The fields were green, brilliantly green in every direction.
She’d fulfilled her vow to her father. She’d brought home the Circle.
Oh, but her heart…she was very much afraid she’d left her heart in Scotland.
The door to her room flew open then. It was Jen, her eyes huge.
Maura cried out. “Oh, Jen, no! What is it? What’s wrong?”
“It’s him, Lady Maura. It’s him.”
“Who?”
“The Black Scotsman. He’s downstairs. Oh, and he’s not at all what I expected, Lady Maura! Should you ask me, the Black Scotsman is not so very black-hearted at all! He’s quite charming.”
Maura’s heart tripped, then began to thud.
“Hurry, love, and change your gown. Let me dress your hair.” Jen was as excited as a school-girl.
Seconds later Maura stood at the top of the stairs. Jen squeezed her hand. “Go, child! Go!”
Maura swallowed. She was shaking so hard she could barely walk. Alec was here!
He stood with his back to her. With the sun shining through the window, gilding his form in gold, he was all power and strength.
Strength! Oh, but she had none. She held tight to the handrail as she descended. At the next to the last step she discovered she could go no farther.
He turned.
He did not smile. His gaze was solemnly intent.
The silence spun out. Everything inside her wound into a knot. She discovered she couldn’t go back, yet neither could she take that last step forward.
And then he smiled.
“Hello, Irish.”
Maura opened her mouth. There was a huge lump in her throat. She couldn’t say a word.
She had hoped, prayed, that he would come. She needed to know that he wanted her. That he needed her as she needed him. That he loved her as she loved him. And the fact that he was here could only mean one thing.
His head tilted ever so slightly. Softly he spoke. “You know why I’m here, don’t you, Irish?”
Her eyes filled with tears.
“I came to fetch the woman who crawled into my bed…and never left my heart.”
Maura gave a half sob. Strong hands caught her waist and swung her from the step. She clung to him.
A finger beneath her chin, he brought her eyes to his. “I love you, Irish. And I would very much like to know if you love this wicked Scotsman. You do, don’t you?”
Emotion clogged her throat.
“A nod will suffice for now,” he teased.
Her nod was quite vigorous. Drawing her close against his chest, Maura broke into sobs.
“Don’t cry, Irish.” He kissed away her tears. “I love you. I love you, sweet.”
Her arms twined around his neck. “Alec?” she whispered.
“Yes, love?”
“Welcome—” With a lopsided smile, she drew back. “—to my soggy bog of an island.”