Chapter 16

16

" D o ye wish to see something amazing, not far from here?" Wilma's question surprised Lydia into stopping as they paced through the garden.

True to her word, Wilma had spent most of the day showing her around the grounds of Lochlann Castle. She now knew the purpose of every room in the castle's family wing and where the most important rooms of the castle were located.

She also knew the easiest way to find the stillroom, the best path to take to the kitchens if she wanted a midnight snack, and where the various storerooms were. She knew where to find the lady's solarium, the main receiving room, and where the servants were housed.

She also knew why Murdoch hadn't showed her the library. Quite simply, there wasn't one. Different clan folk had small collections of books, with Wilma's being the largest, but there wasn't a central place to store them. The closest thing Clan Lochlann had to a library were the shelves adorning one wall of Murdoch's study.

The absence of a library was somewhat disheartening, though she hoped that Murdoch would permit her to claim one of the small storerooms and turn it into a library, or at least a cozy little reading room. It wouldn't be perfect, but it would be something. Not only would she feel more at home, but she rather thought Wilma would like it too.

Now, however, the other woman was looking at her with bright eyes and an inquiring glance. Lydia nodded. "I'd like to see whatever ye want to show me."

"Ye will like this." Wilma took her hand and led her towards a small postern door. "Tis a special place."

They walked a short distance across the moors as Wilma led Lydia to the rocky crags that served as a backdrop for Lochlann Castle. Once they drew closer, Lydia spotted a faint winding path heading deeper into the hills. Curious, she followed as Wilma led her along the path to a small overhang and pointed downward. "Do ye see?"

Lydia looked down and her breath caught in her throat. Below the overhang was a series of pools, connecting to each other through thin streams of water that formed small cascades and ripples over the rocks.

The water was clearer than any she'd ever seen, and even from where she was, she could see the smooth stones glittering faintly on the bottom of the pools. Around them grew lush vegetation and a backdrop of soft heather and grasses that led to a clearing of velvety, bright green moss.

"Tis beautiful."

"Tis a fairy pool. I come here often, when I can get away, to see if I can catch the water sprites dancing. I've nae had much luck so far, but then half the time Murdoch catches me before I leave the castle." Wilma made a face. "He doesnae think much of looking for the Fair Folk, but I'd like to meet one, just once."

"And ye're nae afraid of encounterin' a kelpie or a pooka instead of a water sprite? Ye ken there are plenty of water-dwelling fey who'd rather be cruel than kind." Lydia wasn't sure she believed in the Fair Folk herself, but she wasn't about to say she didn't believe in them either. Not so close to a fairy pool.

"Och, tis a risk, but a kelpie can only harm ye if ye touch him, and a pooka the same. I'm nae such a fool as to follow a strange horse so close, nor to try and touch an animal I daenae ken." Wilma shook her head.

"Besides, the water here is blessed, nae cursed. I've often taken some away to use in me healing remedies. It works better than anythin' else, and a draught of it can heal many an ill. One year, there was a bad round of winter fevers, and we boiled it in medicines to make them more potent. Dinnae lose a single patient who took those tisanes, and most recovered faster than expected."

Lydia wondered what Nora would make of fairy pools, and the supposedly magical healing properties they possessed. Her sister was a healer to the soul, but she put her considerable faith in herbals, tonics and poultices, not magic.

On the other hand, her healing was a powerful gift. Who was to say there wasn't a bit of magic in it, in all of her sisters? Nora possessed the gift of healing, and Emma was a born peacemaker. Isobel was a bonnie warrior, for all she was a woman. Mayhap there was a bit of magic in all of them.

Or mayhap it was only through skill and study and the caliber of people she knew them to be. For surely, if there'd been a fairy blessing in the blood of the Knox family, it would have protected the heir to the clan.

Lydia was distracted from her thoughts by a ripple of movement on the far side of the fairy pools. She touched Wilma's arm and pointed, just as a figure heaved itself out of the water, bare skin glistening in the afternoon light. "Is that…?"

"Nae a fey, I daenae think, but how would I ken?" Wilma's voice was hushed with excitement. "We should get closer."

Just then, Hector bounded past them, tail wagging. Lydia made a grab for the dog, but it was too late. "Hector!"

The two of them followed the dog down to the edge of the pool. Wilma made a soft sound of annoyance. "Nae a fey at all, just me cousin." She perched her hands on her hips with a scowl. "And ye, Murdoch. Ye ought to have the decency to put a shirt on when ye see ye've company."

Murdoch snorted. "I dinnae ask for company and I daenae appreciate bein' followed when I come out here to find some peace and quiet to cool down from the council meetin'."

"As if I'd be followin' ye for any reason, unless to remind ye of somethin' ye should already ken." Wilma huffed. "I was just showin' Lydia the fairy pools. I thought she might enjoy seein' them. I dinnae think she'd have to put up with seeing ye as well."

Lydia tittered at Wilma's teasing and thought she ought to speak up, but the words froze in her throat. Standing majestically before her was Murdoch, dressed in nothing more than a loin cloth. Water traced glimmering paths along toned muscles and tanned skin and caught on the myriad of scars that scattered across his frame, creating flashes of water like tiny diamonds on his skin. His dark hair cascaded untamed around his face and neck, and his eyes were the color of the water in the fairy pools.

He might not be a fey, but Murdoch magically sparked a sense of raw desire deep in her core, made her mouth dry and her heart pound with a force greater than any fey could have had on her composure.

Wilma blinked. "Ye ken, never ye mind. I've to get back to feed Finn and lay him down for his afternoon nap, and I'll wager Hector is hungry too." She turned and whistled. "Come on Hector, come with me and I'll get ye a nice thick soup bone for ye to enjoy."

Before Lydia could even think to protest, Wilma disappeared up the path to the castle, leaving her alone beside the fairy pool with Murdoch.

Lydia was now alone with her scantily clad betrothed and a sudden bloom of desire, neither of which she knew how to control.