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“To you it may have been something minor or even enjoyable.” Agnes gave a mock shudder. “But to Lachlan? You probablywerehis hero. He loathes paperwork and puts it off constantly. It’s a monumental burden you’ve taken from his shoulders, and that’s the truth of it.”
“So chivalry. Check.” Matthew made a little check mark in the air with his hand. “What’s next, then?”
“I mean, I could go volunteer somewhere? Save a kitten?” I asked, but Agnes shook her head.
“Based on this passage, I suspect it’s far more nuanced than that. Keep in mind that the Clach na Fìrinn knows all things. It is going to know if you’re just showing off to gain its approval. You’re being judged in everything you do, and I think the stone will decide if you’re pure of heart.”
“I can’t tell you how much I hate the ambiguity of that,” I murmured, leaning over to take the piece of paper from Agnes and read the words there. “A lie will be drowned. Money is not sound. The truth is found when a Knight is not bound.”
“Curious.” Matthew took the page from me and studied the phrase.
“I copied it from a Gaelic translation, so it might not be exact, but I think this is the thrust of it, no?” Agnes asked.
“I’d agree. I think, Sophie, you’re just going to have to be you. I wouldn’t think so much about how to be a Knight, and instead take things as they come.” Matthew threw back his head and laughed when I looked at him in horror.
“Just…have no plans at all?” My voice squeaked.
“Oh, this is truly going to be delightful to watch. Have I thanked you yet for taking me on this trip with you? I don’t know when I’ve been more entertained. Now…let’s get back to the cozy office part. Is that where Lachlan had his way with you?” Matthew steepled his hands in front of his face, and I knew I wasn’t getting out of giving full details.
“Yes, and never tell him this…but it was mind-blowing.” I leaned forward to gossip as the rain pounded the windows, surrounding the village in its gloomy gray mood.
CHAPTEREIGHTEEN
Sophie
“Sorry to wake you.” I laughed into the phone.
We’d just returned from the bookshop, Agnes having closed the store for a moment to give us a quick lift home. We hadn’t thought to grab an umbrella on the way out, and I was more than grateful to accept her offer of a ride. Now, I huddled in my bedroom while Matthew disappeared to the library and pulled the blanket over my lap as I opened my laptop.
“I know you’re smart enough to be aware of different time zones, right? You haven’t turned into a flat earther on me, have you?” Lottie’s voice immediately soothed me, and I snuggled more deeply into the comforter as I pictured her glaring in annoyance at the phone. Lottie was one of the most cheerful women I’d ever met, aside from when she first woke up. Sleepy Lottie was a different person, she insisted, and refused to take responsibility for the things she said when roused from her slumber.
“Truly, I am sorry. I had something on my mind, and I guess I calculated the difference wrong,” I said.
“Your iPhone will calculate it for you,” Lottie grumbled. I could hear water running in the background and the clink of silverware. Hopefully she was putting coffee on and would be more awake shortly.
“And Sarah can make coffee for you,” I pointed out, reminding her that their housekeeper was available for such tasks. Although, it always was a battle to get Lottie to use Sarah’s services. Lottie never had settled into the millionaire lifestyle all that well.
“Bah, why wake her? Then there’d be two of us grumps up at this hour.” Lottie sighed, and I just smiled. It would take her a moment, but she’d come round soon enough. “Go on then. Tell me about Scotland while I shake the fuzzies from my brain.”
“Scotland is…it’s stunning. Starkly beautiful, rich in history, and melancholy in its own right. I can see why Arthur loved it here.” I went on to describe the village and the beautiful landscape surrounding Loch Mirren.
“It’s a breathtaking country, isn’t it? And how are you finding the castle? I’ve been worried about you, you know. Knocking about in a drafty ruin.” I heard her take a sip of coffee and knew I was getting closer to easing her into some of the finer points of what I wanted to speak to her about.
“Drafty, maybe. But truly much grander than I’d been expecting. There are gardens and massive wings, and they run tours every weekend. It’s not at all like I’d thought it would be when I arrived,” I admitted, smoothing a crease in the coverlet.
“Well, that sounds promising. Are you and Matthew having fun, then?”
“I’m really glad he’s here. Though I wish you’d come out…I, well, there’s kind of a lot to take in right now. Running this castle is a huge job, and I’ve only just begun to scratch the surface of the finances. Let alone…well…” How could I tell Lottie about the magick here? Would she even believe me? Reminding myself that she was Arthur’s wife, I opened my mouth to continue when she interrupted.
“The magick? Have you stepped into your role as Knight then?”
“Youknew?” I gasped. Stunned, I pulled the phone away from my ear and glared at it. A sense of betrayal slipped through me, making my stomach twist in pain. How had she known about this and let me just stumble into it blindly? I could have used her guidance. I wanted to be angry, but then took a deep breath and stopped for a minute. Lottie had just lost her husband and was grieving as well. She didn’t owe me anything.
“Of course. The kind woman, Hilda, I believe? She’d been speaking with Arthur about it. He was so excited to learn about the magick and myths of the castle. Oh, you know how Arthur loved his magick. To think that he was a part of something bigger and more magickal? Well, it really lifted him up, particularly in the last few months of his sickness. My only regret is that we didn’t get him out to the castle before he passed.” Uncle Arthur’s cancer had been late stage when discovered, and his decline had followed rapidly.
“A little warning might have helped.” Okay, so maybe I needed to complain a bit.
“I couldn’t. It was a stipulation of Arthur’s will. He wanted you to make these discoveries on your own, my love. There are lessons he wanted you to learn about life and who you are. And I have to agree with him. You’ve followed a very regimented path. Now is the time to stray from that and see what more the world has to offer,” Lottie said, and all annoyance I had with her disappeared. Of course Arthur had dictated what she could say to me. He’d rarely missed any details.
