“Interesting.” Why in the world, in their private quarters, would the family live with medieval accoutrements rather than enjoy modern day conveniences? Even something as simple as a door lock?I can’t wait to see the bathroom.
Katie motioned toward one of the overstuffed sofas arranged in a cozy seating area in front of a fireless hearth. “You sit while I check out the facilities.”
“Lass…I dinna think—”
“Oh no…you promised.” Katie snatched her bag out of his hand and pointed at the sofa again. “You owe me the story of the spear and you’re a man of your word—right?” He wasn’t escaping now—not when she had him behind a bolted door. An expectant shivery feeling wiggled its way through her—the same surge of excitement she always got when sensing she was on the verge of a new find.That spear’s authentic. I can feel it.She paused at a set of double doors and looked back at the intriguing kilted hunk of a man she’d never imagined meeting.He’s authentic too.She swallowed hard and gave him a stern look. “Right?” she repeated.
“Aye,” Ramsay replied as though she’d pried the word out of him. He flipped a hand toward the double doors beside her. “See the facilities and then we’ll talk.”
Chapter 4
A MacDara always kept his word—at least as much as he could without endangering the Heartstone.
I’m a damn fool. I just had t’say I’d answer her questions.
Somehow, he’d been unable to help himself from doin’ so. Something about that infernal woman made him agreeable t’whatever she asked. He snorted aloud. Would that she’d asked him t’do somethin’ a great deal more enjoyable than explain the story of the spear. Ramsay shook his head.Damn fool. Like this fine woman would ask such.He’d do his best t’make certain the lass’s questions were few because something told him that she wasna the type t’partake in a harmless dalliance. Of course, neither was he. That was another of his own personal problems—or so his brothers said.
While Katie explored the rest of the suite and checked out the facilities, Ramsay helped himself to the long tin box of matches on the mantle and hurried to light the trio of thick pillar candles placed in the hearth for the summer season.
Good.He watched the dancing flames a moment longer then turned and surveyed the rest of the battlefield. Battlefield. Aye. ’Twas exactly what this was: a battle with a lovely stubborn lass…an intriguing lass with entirely too many questions. She was too…risky. As much as she intrigued him, he had t’convince her there was nothin’ of interest about the spear nor the keep. And for his own sake, ’twas best t’keep her at arm’s length. If not for the lateness of the hour, he wouldha escorted her into town for a room. But the small town of Brady turned off its lights and rolled up its sidewalks after eleven o’clock at night.
The full decanter of whisky from the small bar built into the bookcases beside the hearth caught his attention.Aye—that’ll do. ‘Twill suit m’plan perfectly. He carefully selected a couple of glasses from the cabinet, fine crystal tumblers with wide heavy bottoms, squat and round and able to hold a healthy snort of liquid without lookin’ as though the drink was entirely too much to handle. He placed the glasses on the table in front of the sofa.
Looking over at the couch, he hurried to plump and rearrange several of the throw pillows and created the perfect nest for Katie to relax into and rest.Relax. Aye…relax and grow comfortable…and then to sleep with the dear lass to end her natterin’ questions.
He stood back and double-checked his efforts, then gave the room an approving nod.Aye. Good enough, I reckon.He would do his best not to lie to Katie but he couldna tell her a great deal about the spear or the history behind MacDara Keep. Surely if he plied her with enough of his family’s strongest whisky while she watched the hypnotic flickering of candles in the hearth, she’d drop off to sleep fairly quick after such a trying day. He pulled in a deep breath and blew it out. Aye. ’Twas all set. He’d make his escape without revealing any of the MacDara legacy.
His inner self nudged him—the lonely man within him was his constant companion of late—demanding to be heard.Stay. Avoid her questions another way, a more enjoyable way.Aye…if he was honest, he wouldna mind stayin’ the night with Katie—if the lady was so inclined. She wasna like other women. She didna seem t’be such…a threat.
“None a that,” he scolded under his breath. “She’s but passin’ through…fleetin’ as a welcome breeze in the night and ye ken verra well ‘twould no’ be right.” Again, he reiterated to himself that Katie didna have that way about her. Besides—he respected the woman too much to even court such an idea.
Yer a lyin’ bastard, Ramsay.He could almost hear Dwyn’s voice in his head—the perennial voice of his conscience. A soft chuckle escaped him. Aye, well. Mayhap, he was lyin’ just a wee bit to himself. He’d most assuredly courted the idea of discovering the sweet-smellin’ lass’s most intimate secrets—but he doubted verra much that his wishes would e’er come to fruition. As he’d said, sadly enough, the lass was but passin’ through.
“Nice suite,” Katie announced as she returned to the sitting room. “The bathtub’s big enough to swim in and I’ve never slept in a canopied bed with curtains before. It’s gorgeous.”
Ramsay welcomed her over to the couch. “I’m glad t’hear it meets with yer approval. Sit, why don’t ye? I thought we’d enjoy a glass of fine MacDara whisky while I keep m’word and tell ye about the spear.” He poured a generous splash of the golden liquid into each of the glasses waiting on the table.
Without hesitating, Katie made herself comfortable in the pillowed corner of the couch and accepted the glass of whisky with a smile as she kicked off her shoes. “Don’t tell your mother, but I’m not much on wine.” She took a sip of the whisky, closed her eyes, and breathed in a deep breath, obviously savoring the rich sweet burn before swallowing. “MacDara brand—one of Scotland’s finest I’m sure?” She opened her eyes and wiggled deeper into the pillows.
“Aye.” Ramsay followed suit with a sip from his own glass, welcoming the delicious slow heat as it trailed down his gullet and warmed its way through his veins. Liquid courage. The perfect weaponry for this evenin’s battle. He lifted his glass and swirled the shimmering nectar in the light of the flickering candles. “Uisge beatha.”
“Water of life,” Katie translated after taking another sip.
“Ye speak the Gaelic?”
“Let’s just say I’ve got a rudimentary understanding of it. Helps with research.” She patted the cushion, then took a deeper drink as Ramsay settled down beside her. Her eyes grew wide and she fanned herself as she blew out a breath. “Whew—potent. I’ll have to be careful. Now—time to talk of spears, castles, and all things MacDara.”
“A toast first, aye?” He quickly rose and picked up the crystal decanter of the wonderful elixir that guaranteed this sweet lass would soon go peacefully into her dreams.
Katie paused but an instant, then held out her glass, her gaze locked on the mesmerizing liquid gold as it filled the tumbler. “What shall we toast?” she asked as she rose from her seat and lifted the glass in the air.
Ramsay placed the decanter where it could be easily reached then followed suit. “To chance acquaintances—may they always be allies and friends.”
“To chance acquaintances,” Katie agreed then added with a wink, “Sláinte mhath!”
“Sláinte mhath!” Ramsay repeated, tossing down the entirety of his glass and reveling in a surge of victory as Katie emptied hers too. He refilled both their glasses then seated himself close to the increasingly rosy-cheeked lass once she’d settled back down in her pillowed nest.
“Can I hold it?” She perked forward and slid her glass to the table.
