“What are ye thinking, lass?” he said softly.
“I just...” She sighed heavily, setting her goblet down on the table. “When I ran away yesterday, I never realized I’d end up runningquitethis far.”
“Ran away? What do ye mean?”
She waved a dismissive hand. “Oh nothing. Don’t listen to me. I’m rambling. I do that when I’m stressed, you may have noticed. And when I’m not stressed, in fact. I talk too much in general, I’m told.” She blew out a breath and gave him a lop-sided smile. “See what I mean?”
“No, actually,” he said. “I hadnae noticed.”
She arched an eyebrow. “Oh, aren’t you quite the charmer?”
“Aye. Is it working yet?”
She laughed. “Not sure. It might just be the mead.”
He leaned forward, clasping his goblet in both hands. “Anna, there’s something else ye should know.”
She sobered abruptly. “Uh-oh. That sounds ominous.”
He took a deep breath, bracing himself for what he was about to say next. “Ye must promise to never reveal yer... origins.”
“My origins? You mean the whole time traveling thing?”
“Aye,” Emeric nodded solemnly. “Can ye imagine what would happen if people knew? There’d be panic, or worse. Ye’d be accused of witchcraft...
Anna’s eyes widened. “Witchcraft? But... that’s absurd!”
“Aye. But in this time people are superstitious.”
She was silent, her eyes fixed on him. Finally, she nodded. “Okay, I get it. No telling anyone about the time travel. Anything else?”
Yes, there was much, much more. His world was full of dangers and Emeric debated if he should pile on more rules, warnings and cautions, but decided against it. She would be safe in Dun Achmore. He would make sure of it.
Emeric glanced out of the window and swore under his breath. He put down his goblet and climbed to his feet. “I’m sorry, lass but I have to be going.”
Her brows rose. “Keeping you from a clandestine assignation, am I?”
“Naught of the sort,” he replied, refusing to be baited. “But I have business in the village.” He paused then cocked his head. “Actually, would ye care to accompany me? I could show ye around a little, help ye get yer bearings.”
The smile she gave him was wide and bright and lit up his heart. She jumped up. “A chance to explore a real medieval village? Now you’re talking! If only my phone wasn’t dead! Imagine the photos I could take and the social media posts I could make when I got home! They’d go viral!”
He laughed softly. “Whatever ye say, lass.” He indicated for her to proceed him from the room. As he followed, he couldn’t stop the treacherous little thought from forming in the back of his mind. He was pleased it would take a month to hear back from Edinburgh.
And he was glad she was staying.
