Aislinn’s eyes widened. “Ye’ve been to all those places? Oh my! I would love to see them. Yer family must be wealthy indeed to have houses all over Europe.”
Anna snorted. “Hardly. They’re the struggling artist types. Wealth isn’t exactly high on their list of priorities.”
Neither is their daughter, she thought bitterly.
She called to mind the small studio apartment in Rome where her mother used to paint until late into the night, the smell of turpentine and oil paint lingering in the air. She remembered fondly their seaside cottage in Greece where her father would sit by the turquoise water, sketching all day while she played with local children on the sands.
Then she thought of the countless times she had to move, the friends she’d left behind, the numerous schools she’d attended. Each location might have been different, but the feeling of being an outsider—a perpetual newcomer—remained a constant.
She climbed to her feet. “Thank you for everything,” she said. “But it’s time I got out of your hair. I really need to get back to my car. Is Emeric around? I was hoping he might show me the way. I donotwant to get stuck in that bog again.”
“He’s out training the men for the games,” Aislinn said. “I’ll show ye.”
Aislinn stood and moved around the table to take Anna’s arm. Anna said a quick goodbye to Hildie before Aislinn swept her out of the room, through the keep’s entrance, and into the courtyard beyond.
After the gloom of the hall, the brightness outside made Anna’s eyes water. She blinked, trying to clear the blur from her eyes. It was a bright, sunny day, although a cold wind was blowing, sending fluffy clouds scudding through the sky like errant sheep.
Anna allowed Aislinn to lead her across the courtyard to a gate on the other side. The courtyard was surrounded on all sides by the walls of the keep, like the cloisters of an abbey. Wooden buildings lined one side of the courtyard, tucked close against the walls and from the smell of straw and manure, she guessed that at least one of the buildings was a stable. Yes, this place would make an excellent hotel. Or wedding venue.
There weren’t many people about and they saw not another soul as they crossed the courtyard and passed through the narrow wooden door. As they stepped out onto the other side, Anna stopped dead, staring.
Ahead of her lay a wide expanse of flattened earth about the size of a football pitch. The space around the edges was crowded with people of all ages. The men sported thick beards and braided hair and wore tartan plaid swathed around their large frames. The women wore skirts of wool that swirled in the wind, the thick fabric bright against their plain blouses. Children chased each other through the crowds, their laughter echoing as they ducked in and out of clusters of gossiping adults.
In the middle of it all, strung out across the cleared area stood a line of men, each holding a bow as tall as he was. Their arms flexed as they held the bows taut, eyes focused on straw targets in the distance.
A sudden gust of wind caught Anna’s hair, sending it streaming behind her like a banner. What was going on? Was this an archery display? And why was everyone dressed sostrangely?
As if sensing her confusion, Aislinn leaned close. “News has spread that my brother’s home. They’ve all come to watch him train the men for the games. There’s no better archer in all the Highlands.” Her voice throbbed with pride.
Anna studied the assembled crowd. No wonder there hadn’t been anyone in the courtyard. They were all here. It looked as though an entire village had gathered to watch. An air of good-natured competition hung heavy, punctuated by the thwack of arrows leaving bows and slapping targets. Each successful hit was greeted with rousing cheers from the spectators. Anna shaded her eyes against the sun and went on tiptoes to see over the heads of the crowd.
And then she saw him.
Emeric stood in the center of the line, a longbow loosely held in one hand. A gust of wind brushed past, making his plaid flutter slightly, revealing sinewy thighs, as finely muscled as the rest of him.
His eyes were narrowed in concentration as he stared at the target in the distance. There was something almost savage about the uncompromising set of his mouth, his unblinking focus.
Emeric nocked an arrow to the string, raised his bow, and Anna felt a thrill run through her as she watched his muscles flex, pulling the string taught until it lay against his lip.
In the silence that fell over the spectators, the only sound was the steady cawing of a distant crow. Then Emeric released, the arrow singing through the air and thumping into the target dead-center with an audible ‘thwack’.
A loud cheer erupted from the crowd. Emeric held his stance for another moment, studying his mark before he slowly lowered his bow, allowing himself a small smile of satisfaction.
Aislinn beamed, eyes sparkling with pride and affection for her brother. Anna tried to picture her own family being this enthusiastic about anything she did and failed miserably.
Emeric turned at the sound of applause, his eyes scanning the crowd until they landed on Anna. Something flashed across his face, something that quickened her breathing. He strode over, his bow slung over his shoulder.
“Still the show-off I see, brother,” Aislinn teased.
Emeric grinned, unashamed. “Aye. Are ye impressed yet?” His gaze drifted to Anna. The intensity of his stare made her cheeks flush and her heart beat faster.
Aislinn noticed the mutual gaze and nudged her brother lightly in the ribs. “Have yer eyes found a new target to aim at, Emeric?”
Emeric scowled at his sister. “How about ye go and annoy someone else, little hawk.”
Aislinn gave a wicked laugh and then excused herself, hurrying off to speak to a group of people clustered on the edge of the field. Anna found herself left alone with Emeric.
There was an awkward silence as they stared at each other, the clamor of the crowd and the occasional twang of an arrow hitting a target the only sounds to fill the space between them.
