Page 77 of Once upon a Summer Night

“You should go talk to her,” Reilly added with a smirk.

Then, with a snicker, James added, “I could always give her a note from you. Just fold it in that cute way girls liked in high school.”

Nick scratched his chin thoughtfully. “I’ll offer you mybest wooing tips, lad. You’ll have her as your wife in no time.”

“No time?” Bri replied wryly. “If I remember correctly, it took you a bit longer thanno timeto woo me.”

“A mistake I continue to remedy every day I remain on this Earth,” Nioclas replied, his voice simmering with something that Colin really didn’t care to examine closely.

“James, shut up. I don’t need anyone passing her notes,” Colin finally replied, adjusting the sword on his back. “I have no plans to woo her, I don’t need to ‘act cool,’ and I’m not looking to marry her.”

“Your funeral,” James murmured, brushing past him.

Reilly gave a heavy sigh. “You, Colin, are an idiot and more, you’re a giant arse. Come show me your daughter, MacWilliam.”

The two men continued on, but not before Nick gave Colin a pitying look. Bri took Colin’s arm. “We’ll have speech later, about Celtic Connectionsandyour lady friend. But for now, be aware that she has no idea she’s really in the past. Nioclas just told me she and Gwen are under the impression that this is a sword school, and everyone is practicing some sort of role.”

Colin could always count on Bri to cut to the chase and give him the most pertinent information. “Ah. I bet they think it’s the training academy Reilly runs. He trains sword enthusiasts, Hollywood actors, and stunt doubles. Thanks for getting me up to speed.”

“I always did enjoy knowing things before you,” came the reply as she tugged him closer to the stairs.

He laughed and followed her, his heart lighter than it had been in weeks.

“Colin?”

The softly spoken word was a balm to his soul.

Colin bowed deeply, then looked up at her, his eyes twinkling with mischief and relief. “Hello, Lady Eleanor. I see you find yourself in yet another pickle.”

She pursed her lips. “Not at all, kind sir. I merely find myself in a lovely keep, in the Irish woods.”

“In 1481.”

“Ah, so that’s the time period. We’d been wondering.” Ellie winked at him.

“Allow me to introduce Brianagh MacWilliam. She was once known as Brianagh O’Rourke.” He paused, waiting for that to sink in. “Former owner of Celtic Connections…and also my cousin.”

“But your cousin’s dead!” Ellie burst out, then covered her mouth in horror. From behind her hands, she garbled, “That was so rude, I’m sorry. This explains why Gwen is so upset, of course. She must remember you from her cousin’s wedding, and…I’ll just shut up now.”

Bri laughed and inclined her head. “Don’t worry. In your time, Iamdead. It’s a horribly depressing thought that I’ve come to terms with.”

“Of course,” Ellie replied, though from her polite expression of pity, it was clear she believed Bri to be off her rocker.

“Come, join us in my solar. I’ve had a long trip, and I’d like some time to visit with you and Lady Gwendolyn.”

They headed to the solar, Bri calling for refreshments to be sent up, and almost ran into the rest of the men, who were in deep conversation near the top of the stairs.

“You’ll see for yourself that Claire is safe abovestairs,” Nick was saying. “She hates the extra security, but she tolerates it as best she can. She hasn’t managed to slip past them yet.”

James laughed. “How can one girl slip past a guard?”

“You’d be surprised,” Nick muttered. “The lass is tooclever by half. But with twenty men watching her at all hours of the day and night, she’s unable to go anywhere without my notice.”

Colin entered the solar and Claire herself rose from the fireplace. “Colin! How are you, cousin?”

Colin bowed low. “Not fit to be in the same room as this much beauty, to be sure.”

“Flatterer,” she laughed, throwing her arms around him.

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