Perhaps it was just as well that Merrick had lived through the dangers of the Mystical Kingdom, and had returned with the healer. Now he would be humbled before his people, and stripped of all his power before facing the ultimate challenge.
In her chambers Allegra felt a shadow pass over her, leaving her chilled. Getting up quickly, she hurried to the door and peered into the darkness of the hallway, but could see nothing. Still the feeling persisted. The darkness, the evil, were here in this place.
She undressed quickly, then climbed into her pallet, pulling the furs around her to ward off the lingering chill.
Just as she was beginning to doze, she felt someone in the room. Fearful, she sat up and peered into the darkness. As she got to her feet and scurried across the room, she heard footsteps. Lifting a flaming stick from the coals, she whirled to face her intruder.
The room was empty.
She raced to the doorway and peered into the darkened hallway, but could see nothing.
Long into the night Allegra lay, unable to sleep. Part of it was the fear of the evil she could sense here at Berkshire Castle. But another part of her restlessness, she knew, was that scene with Merrick MacAndrew.
What was she to do about the lord? Worse, what was she to do about these strange new feelings that had her so unsettled?
His magic was diminishing hers. And that could be deadly, especially since she had the feeling that someone here at Berkshire Castle wished her great harm.
She could leave at any time. She was no longer a prisoner here. And yet, in a strange way, she was still a captive of Merrick MacAndrew. He had somehow taken over her will, causing her to foolishly embrace his cause, and that of his sweet, innocent son.
If she were wise, she would put a shield around her heart before it was too late. But considering how her heart behaved whenever the lord of Berkshire Castle was near, it was probably already too late for that.
Chapter Ten
“Good morrow, my lady.” The housekeeper looked up to see Allegra descending the stairs with little Hamish in tow. “Where are ye off to with that basket on ye’r arm?”
“I thought Hamish and I would walk in the garden, and if he’s feeling up to more, perhaps we’ll investigate the meadow beyond for herbs.”
“Mara could see to the herbs if you’d just tell her what ye’d like.”
“Mara?”
“The wench has some knowledge of field herbs for cooking. She could fetch what ye need.” Allegra shook her head. “I thank you, Mistress. But I find the fresh air invigorating. I think it will be good for Hamish, as well.”
Remembering his last walk in the garden, the old woman couldn’t hide her concern. “I don’t think it wise. Nor would the lord, if he knew.”
“I’ll keep the lad close to me, Mistress MacDonald. Hamish will never be out of my sight.”
The housekeeper eyed her suspiciously before ruffling the boy’s hair. “Have ye’r walk, then. When ye return, I’ll have Cook prepare ye’r favorite biscuits and broth.”
The boy gave her a smile and clung to Allegra’s hand as they walked out of the keep.
Allegra could feel the hostile stares from the servants as they passed. No one, it seemed, was willing to trust her with the lord’s son. Or perhaps their concern was really for themselves. They viewed her as the enemy, and they had formed a wall to keep her out.
Once in the garden they walked slowly along a stone pathway, pausing occasionally to smell a perfect rose, or to watch birds splashing in the fountain that stood in the middle. Scattered here and there were stone benches set among the trees and flowers.
Allegra drew in a breath. “Oh, Hamish, with a little effort this could be such a lovely place.”
“It was my mother’s favorite spot in the keep. Sometimes I think I recall sitting here with her in the afternoon, waiting for my father to return from the village.”
“It’s good to have those pleasant memories, isn’t it?”
“Aye.” He gave a wistful sigh. “I wish I could remember more.”
Allegra chose a stone bench set beneath an ancient tree with gnarled branches that formed a canopy of shade. “Let’s sit here awhile and enjoy the view.” As they sat she noted the lad’s pallor. “Do you grow weary?”
“Aye, my lady. I need a moment to catch my breath.”
She nodded. “The time spent in your bed has left you a bit weak. But the more you walk, and begin to play again, the stronger you’ll grow.”
“I pray it’s so.” He drew up his feet and rested his chin on his knees. “I wonder which tree I fell from?”
“You’ve no recollection?”
He shook his head. “None. Will it come back to me?”
“It will.” She drew an arm around his shoulders. “You must give it time, Hamish. Soon enough the memories will come flooding back.”
They looked up to see Merrick strolling toward them, trailed by his cousins.
Merrick frowned and forced himself not to stare at the way Allegra looked, her hair windswept, her cheeks pink from the sunlight. He’d spent the longest night of his life, thinking about the way she’d felt in his arms. Hours later he could still taste the sweetness of her lips. It had been torture to think about her, all the while wondering if she’d given him any thought at all.
“When Mistress MacDonald told me you were in the garden, I grew concerned, lad.” He glanced beyond the boy to Allegra. “I’m not sure my son should be out here so soon.”
“Aye.” Mordred nodded in agreement. “You know what happened the last time he attempted to walk in the garden.”
Hamish looked up, shielding the sun from his eyes. “What happened?”
Before anyone could stop him Mordred knelt in front of Hamish. “You took a spell in the garden, lad. It happened when you were walking with Mistress MacDonald.”
“A spell?” The lad’s brows knit together. “There seem to be so many things I can’t remember.”
“No matter.” Annoyed, Merrick nudged his cousin aside and ruffled the boy’s hair the way the housekeeper often did. “Your healer brought you out of it.”
Mordred got to his feet and gave Allegra his most charming smile. “You’re an amazing woman. Those parlor tricks you played last night for my cousin’s guests were most entertaining.”
Hamish swiveled his head to stare at her in surprise. “Were they tricks, healer?”
“They were not tricks, Hamish.” Allegra’s tone frosted over as she regarded Mordred. “But it seems you were amused.”
“Oh, indeed I was.” He caught Hamish’s hand. “Since you’re here for the air, why don’t we walk a bit, lad?”
The boy glanced over at Allegra. “The healer promised to stay by my side. Will you come with us?”
She managed a smile, despite her anger at the man beside him. “Of course I will. As long as you promise to tell me when you’ve grown too weary.”
Allegra got to her feet and followed behind Merrick and Mordred, who kept Hamish between them. Though Desmond walked beside her like a towering hulk, he spoke not a word as they followed along a stone path that led deeper into the garden.
Spying some feverfew, Allegra paused to pick some, placing them in her basket.
“Planning a potion?” Mordred watched as she straightened and smoothed her skirts before joining them along the path.
“Perhaps.”
Merrick indicated the basket. “What is the weed good for?”
“It’s a calmative. It uplifts the spirit of those who drink it in tea, or even wear it braided about the wrist.”
He chuckled as he glanced at her wrists. “I see you have no need of it.”
“I’ve no need of calming. But I thought it might give Mistress MacDonald some relief from her nerves.”
“I see. Do you intend to heal everyone in Berkshire Castle, my lady?”
“I won’t refuse any who ask.”
“Truly?” Mordred stopped to glance at her. “And if I should ask for a potion so that a c
ertain lady will warm to me, could you provide such a thing?”
She paused to add lavender and marjoram to her basket. “I know nothing about affairs of the heart.”
“You mean there weren’t a score of lads knocking on your door in the Mystical Kingdom?”
Allegra paused to inhale the fragrance of a rosebud, then knelt to pluck some pennyroyal to add to her collection. “None.”
The little boy turned to look up at her adoringly. “No one but Allegra’s family lived there.”
Mordred arched a brow. “A pity you were kept in such isolation, my lady. That explains why you seem so removed from the things of this world.” He gave her a measured look before turning to his cousin with a knowing smile. “But I’m sure you’ll find a man willing to teach you how to use your hidden feminine wiles.”
Allegra plucked several stems of rosemary. “I much prefer honesty.”
Mordred laughed. “Honesty is not part of a lover’s game.”
Allegra paused. “Do you consider love a game?”
“Exactly. Love requires losing One’s heart. As for mine, it’s never been touched, so how can it be lost?”
“I’ve had enough of such foolish talk.” Merrick’s harsh tone had the laughter dying on his cousin’s lips.
Seeing Merrick’s frown, Mordred took a step back. “Aye. I’d forgotten about your sense of honor, cousin. Desmond and I are off to the village. We’ve errands to see to.” He patted little Hamish on the head and surprised Allegra by catching her hand and lifting it to his lips. “I thank you for the pleasure of your company, my lady. It has been most entertaining. I do hope we can do this again soon.” With a sly smile he added, “Perhaps I could show you the rest of the gardens before we sup tonight.”
Before she could refuse he strode away.
Merrick stared after him. When he turned back, his eyes were as dark as thunderclouds. “I had no idea you and my cousin had become such good friends.” He lifted his son in his arms. “It’s time you returned to the keep, Hamish. Cook has biscuits and broth ready.”
“What about Allegra?” The boy reached out a hand to her, but Merrick moved away. “The lady’s basket is only half-filled. I’m sure she has things she’d rather do than watch you eat.”
“I don’t mind...” Allegra’s words faded as Merrick stormed away, carrying his son in his arms.
Within minutes they had disappeared inside Berkshire Castle, leaving Allegra alone in the garden.
As she wandered around filling her basket, she thought about Merrick’s puzzling behavior. Last night he’d been so tender, she’d begun to believe that she’d misjudged the man. Today he was behaving once again like the half-crazed lout who had stormed her kingdom and had spirited her away.
Men, she thought as she left the garden and began walking across the meadow. Her life in the Mystical Kingdom had been so much simpler without them.
“Ale, m’lord?” The housekeeper paused beside Merrick, who stood in front of the fireplace in the great hall staring glumly into the flames.
“Aye. Thank you.” He accepted the goblet and glanced around. “Where are my son and the healer?”
“They’ll be along in a little while. The lady wanted the lad to drink some tea before he sups.”
“Tea?” Merrick’s frown returned. “Another potion?”
“Aye, m’lord. But the lad didn’t seem to mind. He said it was tasty enough.”
“Tea made of weeds.” He turned to the old woman. “Have we all lost our minds?”
“Like you, I was quick to judge, m’lord. But I’ve heard from the servants that the only topic of conversation in the village is the lady who can heal their ills. Tavish’s sore throat is gone, after drinking a tea made of crushed thyme. Logan’s headaches have fled since the lass laid her hands upon him. There are dozens more clamoring to have the lady cure their ills.”
He gave a hiss of annoyance. “All of this distracts her from the reason she is here. I care not about anyone except young Hamish.”
The old woman shook her head. “Ye don’t mean that, m’lord.”
At his sharp look she colored. “Oh, I know ye risked life and limb to bring her here to cure ye’r son. But I don’t believe ye’re as uncaring about all the others as ye claim to be.”
He shrugged and emptied his goblet.
As the old woman lifted a decanter to refill it, he asked, “What’s this you’re wearing tied about your wrist, Mistress MacDonald?”
Her flush deepened. “Feverfew, m’lord. The healer said it would soothe and calm me.”
“And does it?”
She replaced the goblet and started across the room. “I’ve only just begun wearing it, m’lord. We’ll see what it brings on the morrow.” She looked up and brightened. “Ah. Here are the lad and lass now.” In an aside she muttered, “Ye’ve kept the lord waiting, my lady. Ye know he prefers to sup at sundown.”
“Aye. Thank you, Mistress MacDonald.”
“Will I pour you some ale before I go?”
“There’s no need, Mistress. I’ll see to it myself.” Allegra followed Hamish across the room. “Good evening, my lord.”
He nodded a curt greeting. She looked as pretty as one of the roses in the garden, in a gown of pale pink, with her flame hair spilling down her back in a riot of curls twined with ribbons.
“Allegra says the fresh air has put color in my cheeks, Father.” Hamish tugged on his father’s sleeve to get his attention. “What do you think?”
Merrick tore his gaze from the woman to glance down at his son. “I believe she’s right. You look as healthy as a warrior.”
“I do?” The boy beamed at the unexpected compliment.
“Aye. I think your little jaunt may have been good for you.”
Allegra poured ale into a goblet and turned.
“Then perhaps you’ll join us on the morrow when we take the pony cart to the village.”
His frown was back. “Do you think that’s wise?”
“Hamish was complaining that he hasn’t seen his friends in a very long time. I thought that perhaps if they saw him, and realized that he was recovered from his fall, they might be persuaded to visit the castle and play with him.”
“I’ll not have him climbing trees.”
The boy’s eyes widened. “You mean never again?”
“Aye. That’s what I mean, lad. Look what happened to you last time. Do you think I’d let you take such a risk again?”
“You can’t mean that, my lord.”
At Allegra’s words, he slammed down his goblet, sending ale spilling over the rim. “I say what I mean, and mean what I say, woman. I love my son too much to ever see him hurt again. I forbid him to run with the village lads and climb trees, or go off to the forest, where harm can befall him.”
“So you’d keep him here, hidden away in the castle for the rest of his life, rather than risk his being hurt?”
“If I must. And who’s to stop me? I’m lord of Berkshire. My word is law. And I’ll not have some—” He was about to call her a witch again, until he caught himself in time. “Some tart-tongued female telling me what’s right or wrong for my son.”
Hamish looked from his father to the healer, wondering at the sudden flare of anger.
When the housekeeper came scurrying into the room to announce that dinner was to be served, she caught sight of the fire in the lord’s eyes and beat a hasty retreat.
Minutes later, when the servants entered bearing trays of food, Merrick stiffly held a chair at the table for Allegra to his right, and Hamish on his left, before taking his seat at the head of the table.
Allegra picked at her food, uncomfortably aware of the way Merrick watched her.
“Fresh bread, my lady?”
Allegra accepted a slice from the servant.
“More mutton, my lord?”
Merrick refused more, leaving the servant gaping. Never had the lord been known to refuse a second piece of meat.
“More ale, m’lord?” M
istress MacDonald hovered about nervously.
“Aye.” When the housekeeper filled his goblet halfway, he shot her a dark look until she obligingly filled it to the top.
Hamish looked over. “I’ve finished my meal, Father. May I have a biscuit now, drizzled with honey?”
“Aye, you may. In your chambers.”
“But I—”
“In your chambers, boy. Now.”
As the boy shoved away from the table, Allegra did the same.
Merrick snagged her wrist. “You will stay.”
She glanced at the lad. “But Hamish—”
“Will go to his chambers with Mistress MacDonald.” He shot the housekeeper a dark look.
Without a word the old woman caught the boy’s hand and led him from the room, ordering the servants out as she did.
When they were alone, Merrick leaned back, sipping ale and regarding Allegra. “How was your walk in the garden with my cousin?”
“I refused his kind offer. I wanted time to prepare a tea for Hamish. The lad is, after all, the reason I’m here.”
At her words he tried not to let his pleasure show. He sat back and regarded her. “You find fault with my desire to keep my son safe.”
“Nay. Not with your desire to keep him safe. Only with your method. You would lock him away, thinking you can keep the world out. But all you will do is keep him from becoming the man he most admires.”
“And who would that be?”
“You, my lord.”
He stared down into his goblet to hide his pleasure. “You think that by flattering me you can soften the blow? I’m not a man to be admired. I am a warrior who has killed men in the field of battle. A husband who couldn’t keep his wife safe. A father who fled his only son rather than face the difficult task of raising him alone.”
Allegra studied him, amazed at his admission. “You judge yourself too harshly, my lord. I’ve seen how others regard you.”
He looked up. “And how is that?”
“They speak of your courage on the field of battle. More than once you’ve put yourself between a wounded man and an opponent’s sword. As for your son, I’ve seen you with him. You’re patient and kind and loving.”