Isla only nodded, then she got on her feet and walked out of his study, closing the door behind her with a loud thud.
That night, Jack dreamed of her in his restless sleep. Isla was standing in front of the ruins of what seemed to be his castle. Tears rolled down her cheeks and held the green medallion in her hand and she whispered, “I am sorry.”
He woke up after that, confused and bothered by the dream he just had. A sense of foreboding overcame him as he sat there, and Jack couldn’t push that away.
It settled in the pit of his stomach, formed knots there, and tightened. Whatever that dream meant, he would never let his castle fall… ever.
11
Isla couldn’t take her mind off Jack. The more she thought about their almost-kiss experience, the higher her body heat rose. Soon, she was unable stay still in her chamber.
We would have kissed…she was certain of it. If his cousin hadn’t walked into the study in that moment, then she would have learned what his lips would feel like on hers.
She shivered just from the thought of it, wondering what it would feel like to kiss him would make her spend the entire night awake. Now that the thoughts had entered her mind, there was no taking them out.
She walked around the hallway and tried to take her mind off him.
When she reached the foot of the stairs, she noticed the servants were unusually hurrying around the Castle. Isla hadn’t spoken to anyone here yet. She still found it strange that she had to use a washcloth and stay in wide chamber with ancient dresser stands and mirrors.
As she strolled out of the Castle walls and entered the garden, the fresh scent of daffodils and lilies hit her nostrils. It was a bright day, the afternoon sun slowly filtered through the clouds and shone directly on the plants.
The vibrant colors that filled the garden gave Isla’s spirit a boost. Back home in England, she had a garden in her father’s estate too, and she enjoyed spending time there with Penny especially as she lived close to Isla.
She was enjoying the sight in front of her when a voice greeted behind her and shocked her out of the thoughts racing through her mind.
“My Lady.”
Isla spun around sharply. The man standing beside her was tall, with looks the same as Jack. His eyes were an intense brown shade that matched the fiery red of his hair.
His beard covered a vast part of his face, and his build towered above hers.
Was every man here this tall?
Isla blinked, and the man flashed her a grin that lifted the corners of his eyes. “Elliot, My Lady. I am the Laird’s younger brother, remember?”
“Oh.”Yes, I remember.There was a striking resemblance between both men, but Jack was taller and wider in frame.
Isla extended a hand to him for a shake, but he lifted it to his lips and kissed the back of her palm instead. “It is nice to make your acquaintance.”
“How do ye find the Castle, My Lady?” Elliot asked as she fell into step beside him. “My brother tells me ye have journeyed far from England, and ye have never been this far up the Highlands.” Isla nodded, not trusting her voice to not quiver. He stopped and faced her. “Well, I am here to make sure ye see every inch of the Castle and explore the rich history we have here.”
Isla smiled. She didn’t think there was any part of history that she wasn’t familiar with already. The Castle was just as magnificent as she had read. It was her first time being in any Scottish castle and living in one, but the ways were not completely strange to her.
If only he knew.
“I am grateful,” she said to Elliot and put a hand on her chest. “Thank you for walking with me.”
Elliot seemed to be a charmer because he grinned again then extended a bent arm for her to hook her hand in.
They continued their stroll around the garden, and Elliot told her a lot about the Humphreys Castle.
“My faither’s reign was the most turbulent in our history. Our people have struggled for years to be normal again. My brother works hard to make this happen, and it is good to see that he has found some time to live for himself again. My brother is usually very quiet and doesnae like to be around anyone but himself.”
Elliot’s light tone made her laugh, and she enjoyed listening to him talk about Jack, so she didn’t interrupt.
“It seems like he does not like to do anything besides work. I can’t find him anywhere since I came down this morning.”
In truth, Isla had hoped to see Jack so they could talk about what had almost happened the previous night. Or just talk in general. She wanted to know if he felt the same tingles that floated through her.