Page 9 of Taming the Highland Beauty

Chapter Four

“Mother!” Callum shouted as they entered the castle, hoping the ghost would appear quickly. The sooner they tested Gille’s magic on Lady Janet the better, before the fairy changed her mind or her magic faded without the forest to sustain her.

When the eerie white mist that usually preceded his mother did not appear, Callum moved up the stairs then down the hallway to the great hall. Inside the chamber were Alastair and Graeme near the fireplace. Gwendolyn and Aria sat at a table not far away with a pile of pea pods between them. They snapped open the pods and emptied the tender peas into two bowls. It was a scene of domestic bliss the couples had worked hard to achieve. Retrieving Gille would upend all of that in a matter of moments.

At Callum and Gille’s entrance, Alastair stood, followed by Graeme. Alastair smiled at his brother. “We wondered where you had gone off to when you did not come down to break your fast.” At the sight of Gille, his smile slipped and for a moment he simply stared at the young woman as though trying to make sense of what he was seeing.

Callum nudged Gille forward. “You remember Gille. She has come to save our mother.”

Aria’s bench screeched against the flagstone as she stood, then quickly came to stand before her sister. “Gille? Oh, my goodness. Is it really you?” She searched the young woman’s face, and her brows creased. “Where have you been all this time?”

At her sister’s appraisal, Gille straightened her back. “I was in the forest where Oberon’s curse forced me to remain. And I am changed in appearance because of his spell.”

Aria frowned. “You were here with all of us. Then you vanished.” Aria pressed her fingers against her brow as though doing so would bring back the memory.

Confusion crossed Gille’s face, and a pained look darkened her eyes. “I was there, in the woods. So close to all of you, and yet no one came to see me.” Gille swallowed roughly. “Oberon captured me. He punished me for what we all did to him in Fairyland,” Gille said, her voice faltering.

The crease in Aria’s brows deepened. “Dear heavens. I do not remember any of that. Or anything about your presence in this realm. If I had—” Tears welled in Aria’s eyes as she pulled Gille against her chest and held tight. “I am so sorry, Sister. How lonely you must have been.” Gille’s arms hung at her sides despite the overwhelming affection surrounding her.

Callum pressed his lips together. This was a fairy who did not forgive easily. It would serve him well to remember that regarding her perception of his burning down the forest.

“Oberon must have made certain you all forgot about me.” Gille pulled back, her gaze seeking Callum. “How did you know where to find me?”

“Our mother remembered you and where you lived,” Callum said.

“Of course,” Gille said bitterly. “Oberon’s curse would not have any effect on her memory.” Gille stepped out of Aria’s arms and searched the chamber. “Where is your mother? If I am to try to heal her, let us begin that process so that I can turn my attention to my own problems.”

Aria frowned. “What problems? What has Oberon done now?”

Gwendolyn came to stand before them, her gaze running over Gille in concerned appraisal. “Whatever must be done to Lady Janet can wait a while. It is obvious Gille needs not only medical care, but a bath and a change of clothing.” Gwendolyn placed a hand on the young woman’s back and gently guided her towards the door. Aria followed.

“I suppose Mother’s needs can wait a short while.” Callum watched the women leave, noticing for the first time the red and blistering wounds on Gille’s right hand and left cheek, and the soot covering her clothing. He looked down at his own clothing, similarly covered with ash and soot. He’d escaped with no burns, but that did not mean that he did not need to refresh himself as well.

“What happened out there in the woods?” Alastair asked with deep concern in his voice.

Callum returned his gaze to his brother. “The villagers came looking for Gille, just as Mother told us yesterday. This time, they came with weapons, intending to take her and her magic back to their village.”

“And?” Alastair prompted when Callum paused.

Perhaps Gille had a right to be angry with him. “And when I appeared and challenged them, one of them set fire to the woodlands. We barely escaped.”

Alastair tensed and turned to Graeme. “Gather the men and send them out with shovels to dig a fire line to control the burn. We do not want the fire to reach Dunvegan.”

Graeme nodded and after he left, Alastair’s full attention shifted back to Callum. “Why did you go out there alone?”

Callum forced himself to meet his brother’s angry gaze. “I wanted to help Mother. Gille can use her magic to keep her from disappearing.”

“Did she come willingly?” Alastair asked as his gaze narrowed.

“Not until she had no choice,” he admitted. Why did Alastair always have to see to the heart of every problem? “Do you not care if Mother disappears?”

“Of course I care, but now because of your actions, we have a fire to contain and villagers to appease.”

Callum dropped his gaze. “There is more. I promised Gille that if she helped Mother, we would help break her curse.”

Alastair drew a deep breath. “Gille spoke of a curse, but I seem to have forgotten.”

“That is because Oberon wants us to forget,” Callum said, returning his gaze to his brother’s. “If Gille is not returned to her forest before sunrise on the seventh day, she will turn into a tree.”