Page 50 of Bond of a Bewitched Highlander

Brodie ground his teeth.

"Would you like to give her the new elixir?" Finnian picked up a cup and stirred with a wooden spoon.

"Nay. It smells wretched, and if she dies from it, 'twould be my fault."

"Alright. Have her come here. I'll give it to her after I tell her what's in it." Finnian grinned like an imp. "I'll even put some honey in it to sweeten her up for you."

***

THOUGH ELSEA'S STOMACH was still a bit queasy, she forced herself to eat some soup, bread, and cheese at the small table near the hearth.

A knock sounded at the door.

She turned. "Come in."

A well-dressed, dark-haired woman opened the door and entered. She appeared to be in her forties, but still youthful and beautiful. "Good eve, my dear. You may not remember me. I'm Brodie's mother." The woman had an English accent, which was surprising.

"Oh." Elsea rose and curtsied. "Nice to meet you. I apologize for not remembering you, m'lady. Have we met?" Elsea motioned toward a chair, and they both sat.

"Aye, of course, and please call me Agatha. You and your brothers visited with us a couple of years ago. You stayed for a few days."

Elsea gasped. "We did? What was the purpose of the visit?" She could not recall their clans being friends or having an alliance.

Agatha smiled. "Did Brodie not tell you?"

Elsea shook her head and frowned. "Nay. Are Will and Brodie friends? I have nay recollection of Will ever mentioning him. But Brodie said he was at my father's funeral."

"Indeed, he gets on well with your brothers. Do you remember Torr?"

"Of course. He's my second cousin."

"Well, he and Cat wed a month ago."

"Oh! How wonderful." Had Elsea known that previously? Her mind was a blank.

"And Brodie and Torr are the best of friends."

"I feel like I should remember these things, but I cannot." Elsea thought back, trying to recall the last time she'd seen Torr. It had been a long time. The only friend of his that she'd met was Gavin MacTavish, at least prior to her eighteenth birthday. His clan's castle was a long ride from Kincreag, so they didn't visit often. "Did Torr come with us when my brothers and I visited here?"

"No, my dear, but Torr introduced you to Brodie."

"Oh, I see. Where?"

"At Kincreag."

Elsea's mouth dropped open, then she snapped it closed. Brodie had said it was over two years ago that they had met. If her memories ever returned, she was going to feel completely daft.

"As for the visit, 'twas just you and three of your brothers. That Kieran is a scamp." Agatha chuckled.

"He is." Elsea found it amazing that Brodie's mother knew her youngest brother so well, and annoying that she could remember none of it. "Would you tell me more about... the visit?"

"I would be glad to."

Elsea gauged Agatha's somewhat calculating smile. What was the woman about?

A loud knock rattled the door, startling them both.

"Come in," Elsea said, her heart skipping a beat.