Father entered the room, and Jerry turned to walk away from me, speaking quietly over his shoulder as he went.
“I’ve no doubt of it, lass. Morna, do ye truly believe it a coincidence ye found her books only just before I arrived here? If ye thought Grier powerful when ye knew her, ye have no idea what she’s capable of now.”
I stared after him as he left, astonished that it hadn’t crossed my mind before now.
Had Eoin really stumbled across the books all on his own?
Chapter 14
Two Months Later
* * *
With both Jerry and Alasdair eager to find a place for me to learn and work, it didn’t take long for them to figure out a solution. It was much more perfect than I could’ve dreamed.
On the back side of the castle, hidden by years of foliage and dirt, was a door to a separate basement room in the castle. Empty for years, it was dirty and dark, but I couldn’t have minded less. For despite the frigid air and damp walls, there was no reason for any of us to suspect that Father would have reason to enter it. It was private, and it was mine.
In order to allow me even more time to read through Grier’s countless books, Alasdair hired a nurse for Eoin. While I missed my days spent in the child’s company, I couldn’t bring myself to feel guilty over being away from him. My enthusiasm allowed me to learn quickly. Within the month, I mastered dozens of spells that had been entirely out of the realm of my abilities only weeks before.
My mornings were spent in the castle, flitting around, behaving as if I were the useless ornament piece my father believed me to be. I got into the habit of sleeping late so that the mornings wouldn’t seem so long.
Afternoons were my time. The moment Father left for his afternoon ride, I would slip away to my spell room and work until Alasdair came to inform me that Father had returned to the stables.
Everyone in my closest circle, save Father, knew of my work. Mary, Kip, Elspeth, Mae—each of them kept my secret.
Jerry’s new position with my father provided him lodging and food, but most days he had little work to do. My father had little need of a messenger. If he wished to speak to anyone, Father preferred to meet face-to-face. So while Jerry’s title offered him more esteem than the role of Kip’s stable hand, most of his days were spent helping with the horses anyway. Each afternoon, he would allow me some time to work alone. Then later, he would stop in to check on my progress.
While my progress with magic was great, I’d found nothing in Grier’s journals or spell books that ever mentioned time travel. I only had a few more books to work through, and I feared they would prove to be as fruitless as all the others.
“Yer hair is different.”
Jerry’s voice from behind caused me to jump. Even with my back toward him, I could sense that he stood close to me. I always tried to keep my distance from him. I didn’t know how to handle the way my body stirred when near him.
Scooting to the side to clear him, I turned.
“Ye scared me. Aye, the wetness of the basement makes it grow to twice its normal width. Mary said if I continue to arrive to dinner appearing so disheveled, Father will begin to suspect that something is awry. I doona believe she’s right. Father would have to look at me for more than the span of one breath to notice, but I suppose ’tis best to be safe.” Stepping even further away, I continued, “Ye are earlier than usual. Does Kip not need ye?”
Grunting, Jerry rolled his eyes as he shook his head.
“I think I angered him. He’s no older than I, but he is as impatient as a crotchety, old man. He knows everything I told him was true, but he dinna wish to hear it.”
With both hands against my makeshift stone desk, I hoisted myself so that I sat upon it. It wasn’t the most ladylike position, but none of that ever seemed to matter in front of Jerry. I didn’t know if it was the time he came from or simply his open personality, but I suspected I could appear before him in my shift without him balking at the sight of it.
“What did ye tell him?”
He smiled and stepped closer. I immediately regretted sitting down—now there was nowhere for me to escape to. Turning so that his back leaned against the table, he lifted himself and sat down so close that our fingers brushed. I swallowed and hoped he couldn’t see my skin flush in the low light of the room.
“I canna tell ye. Not yet anyway. Once he calms down and sees the sense of what I suggested, I’ll share the news with ye. So.” He lifted a finger and pointed to the open book on my other side. “What have ye learned today?”
I dreaded disappointing him each and every day. Even though he always responded with patience and kindness, I knew his own fears that I might not be able to help him grew with each passing day.
Leaning over with my left hand, I closed the book.
“Nothing that will help ye, I’m afraid.”
Keeping his smile steady, he locked eyes with me as he leaned across me, grabbing the book beneath my hand. His nose was so close it could’ve brushed against my cheek had he wished it. I held my breath so it wouldn’t shake.
“’Tis not what I asked. Sometimes, I believe ye think all I care about is ye helping me. ’Tis untrue. I believe I want ye to learn everything ye can about magic just as much as yer brother does. I would support anything that would give ye power over yer father’s grip on ye, Morna. I’m genuinely interested. What did ye learn?”
