"Indeed, m'lady."
Wilona climbed the steps, opened the door, and strode into the dark-paneled entry hall as if she owned the place. She proceeded through the doorway into the spacious dining hall.
"Och! M'lady!" the female servant, on her knees scrubbing the floor, jumped to her feet and curtsied. "Welcome home. I did nay expect you."
"Joan, you've kept the place spotless." Wilona glanced around, admiring the polished wooden floor, table, and chairs. Tapestries and paintings decorated the walls.
"I've certainly tried, m'lady. Would you like refreshment after your travels?"
"Indeed. This is my new guard, Sir Alpin." She motioned toward him.
"Pleased to meet you, sir." Joan curtsied.
He nodded.
"He'll be joining me for the evening meal," Wilona said. "We've traveled many miles this day, and we're famished."
"Cook has nay returned yet," Joan said. "You gave him the summer off."
"Oh, indeed," Wilona pretended to remember. "Well, 'tis the end of summer, and his holiday is concluded."
"Shall I send Braeburn for him?"
"Aye, for we need a hearty and delicious meal this eve and every day hence. But for now, ale and scones will suffice to take the edge off our hunger."
"As you wish. Shall I bring it to the parlor?"
"Aye." Wilona agreed. Taking refreshment in the parlor must have been Lady Hamilton's habit.
Joan curtsied and hastened away.
"I'm going to see how Braeburn is treating my horse." Alpin headed toward the exit.
Wilona visited several of the nicely furnished rooms in the three-story house, figuring out which was the lady's bedchamber, which was the parlor, and so forth. But she had little concern about making errors. If the servants got in her way, she would simply dispose of them.
***
ACOUPLE OF HOURS AFTERCat's arrival, Torr sat on a bench inside the stables, reading the missive Charlie had brought back from the castle. 'Twas indeed much like Brodie's missive, with the same message about love, trust, and a soulmate.
How would he find a love such as this? And why on earth would love break a curse that no other magic formula would?
"Torr?" called a female voice from outside in the courtyard. 'Twas Cat.
He straightened, excited to see her, but at the same time hoping she wouldn't find him. How could he feel such conflict about a beautiful lass? The problem was he needed more time alone to consider Gavin's new revelation about the curse and how to break it.
She stuck her head inside the wide doorway, her gaze locking with his. Saints, but he still could not believe 'twas truly the wee Cat he'd always known but mostly ignored.
"Aye." He held up the missive. "Here is mine. 'Twas at Dubhuisge. I sent Charlie to fetch it."
"Wonderful." Smiling, she entered and stopped near the door. "So... you will help me find Elsea, then? Since you ken I'm telling the truth."
He blew out a breath. "Seems a fool's errand and impossible. We cannot simply make Brodie fall in love with Elsea. Or anyone, for that matter."
"I ken it, but he might still be smitten with her. It seemed he was genuinely in love with her. 'Haps he could forgive her."
Torr snorted. "'Tis doubtful, considering how enraged he was over her betrayal."
"Well... even if we have to parade half the women in the Highlands before him, we must find someone he can love, who will love him back. The curse must be banished."
