"You've only just returned. Indeed, 'tis unfitting that a young lady goes gallivanting across the countryside every night."
"I have the best guard in the kingdom."
Aggie narrowed her eyes.
"Maude, have you told Aggie anything about Torr's curse?"
"Nay." Maude busied herself at the counter as if she wanted naught to do with this discussion.
"What about it?" Aggie looked alarmed.
'Twas time for her to know. "The white horse we saw when we arrived was Torr in kelpie form."
Aggie swayed. "Oh, saints."
Maude grabbed her, keeping her upright.
"Why did you not tell me sooner?" Aggie cried, glancing back and forth between the two of them.
Maude pressed her lips into a tight line.
Cat shrugged. "He's a well-mannered kelpie and naught to fash over."
"Are you mad?" Aggie demanded. "There's no such thing as a well-mannered kelpie."
"He hasn't killed me yet," Cat said. "Nor harmed me in any way, so stop your worrying."
Her maid breathed deeply and collected herself. "Very well."
Maude released her and turned back to stir the bubbling preserve.
"But you could've told me," Aggie said to Maude.
"'Twas nay my place. Besides, I ken well Sir Torr is an honorable man, regardless of what form he takes. He has never harmed anyone."
"He is no more dangerous than Brodie when he shifts," Cat added.
"Well, I have never seen the chief in his selkie form, nor do I wish to." Aggie shuddered.
"The important thing is that we find a way to destroy the curse for both my brother and Torr so they can be normal men again. No more transforming into beasts. This night, as we travel, Torr will be in kelpie form."
"Even if 'tis Sir Torr... the very idea of a kelpie..." Aggie cringed.
"Calm yourself. As we've said, he is a fine, honorable gentleman... and well-behaved kelpie."
Aggie's brows quirked, and she eyed Cat with suspicion, but she turned back to her kitchen tasks.
***
"FINNIAN, WHAT DOESthis keek-stane we're to search for look like?" Catriona asked, standing in his cluttered laboratory an hour later. She didn't see how he found anything in here. Glancing around, she had no notion what half of the devices and tools were. One wall of the room appeared to be a disorganized apothecary with jars of different colors of powders, dried leaves, and roots. And then there were the liquids. She tried not to stare at the bottle of love potion.
Finnian turned from his task and eyed her through his spectacles. "A keek-stane is a dark, flat, circular scrying stone with a mirror like finish."
"How large is it?"
He shrugged. "I'd say... about five inches across."
Able to easily imagine the object, she nodded. "We'll bring it back. I'm determined."
