Page 47 of A Matter of Time
“Make no mistake, Angelina, this is nae a Renaissance Faire. This is verra, verra real.” Edna’s voice came from behind her and Angelina turned to discover the older woman carrying a bowl of food towards her.Had Edna just read her thoughts?“Ye’ll need to eat a good breakfast. We’ll be leaving soon.” Edna handed her a steaming bowl of stew left over from the night before, along with a thick piece of bread. “Eat. And Angelina, if ye ever decide that ye don’t want to be here, just tell me. I’ll see to it that ye get safely returned to San Francisco.” Edna turned and walked away, leaving Angelina thinking about what she’d said. At this very moment, Angelina couldn’t think of one reason why she’d want to leave. She’d imagined a world like this for so long, and now she was actually going to experience it. How could there possibly be any reason she’d want to leave?
Angelina held the bowl between her hands, enjoying the warmth. Gazing around the camp, she located Richard as he returned from the forest with an armload of wood for the fire.
“Good morning,” he called cheerily. “You were sleeping so soundly this morning, I hope I didn’t disturb you when I rose.” He placed some of the wood he had brought on the fire and placed the rest nearby, before he came to sit beside her. “I see Edna got you some food.”
She took a spoonful of the stew and nodded in acknowledgement, chewing and swallowing before she spoke. “Did you sleep well?” she asked.
“Very well,” came his happy response. “In fact, I don’t think I’ve ever had a better night’s sleep.” He leaned in and kissed her temple, lingering to brush an errant lock of hair from her face with his fingers and leaving her speechless. Angelina wasn’t exactly certain when she had come to love Richard – perhaps it had been right from the very first moment she’d seen him at the Marina. No matter when it had happened, she was over the moon to be here with him and couldn’t wait to see his home and meet his family. She didn’t know a lot about Richard’s life in medieval England, but she knew him to be a kind, gentle and honorable man. She was excited to learn more.
Ridingthrough the Scottish countryside on MacKenzie lands brought back some memories for Richard that left him ill at ease. He should really have a conversation with Angelina about his past, but the right time had simply not presented itself. What he needed was some time alone with her and then he’d tell her. He felt guilty for not telling her before they found themselves fleeing from Malcolm Granger. If he’d told her the truth, he worried that there was every possibility she would have stayed behind and he would have been the most miserable man on earth. He knew he had to tell her the truth about his past, but at the same time, he very much feared her reaction.
Angelina had spent the morning chatting with Edna about time travel and witchcraft and as one would expect, she was utterly fascinated. Richard rode alongside Nick and Angus, who were deep in conversation, and he quietly contemplated his future and hoped that Angelina would still be a part of it, after she found out what kind of man he had been for most of his life. He was comfortable with his own thoughts, having spent a good deal of time on his own. Even when he was with his men, he rarely took the time to join in on their conversations. The dark cloud that had always hung over him, got in the way of enjoying himself. So, no one, other than Nick, knew him to be anything other than a man who should not be provoked.
They were rapidly approaching Castle Fionn, Ewan and Lena MacKenzie’s home. Richard had no idea what his welcome would be, if they welcomed him at all and he suffered a pang of anxiety in his gut. Gazing back at Angelina, he saw her smile and wave to him before turning back to Edna. He worried that this might be the last time she gazed on him with such loving eyes, the last time he’d hear her sweet voice. Worst of all, perhaps this was the last time he’d see her.
Chapter 23
Two little redheadedwhirlwinds ran their way, as soon as the gates to the castle were opened. They were followed by a troop of barking dogs and then Lena and Ewan MacKenzie, who waved excitedly in their direction.
Angelina had learned from her conversation with Edna that this was the first time she had time travelled as well. And even more importantly, it was the first time she was meeting her own daughter in years, meeting her son-in-law and the first time she’d get to see her grandbabes. Angelina’s heart was full at the sight of this whole family heading their way. She peeked in Edna’s direction, only to see the older woman shedding tears of joy as she saw her family together for the first time. Lena rushed toward her mother’s horse, shedding tears of her own. Angus jumped down from his horse and went to Edna’s side, helping her dismount into the waiting arms of her daughter. The two women could do nothing more than stare at each other, crying and hugging. Angelina found her own eyes had dampened at this emotional scene. She was so caught up in what was happening that she hadn’t noticed Richard dismount and come over to her. He laid a hand on her thigh and she jumped.
“I’m sorry, love, it was not my intention to frighten you. Come. Let me help you down from there.” He handed her reins off to a nearby stableboy and then lifted her down easily. Her feet touched the ground for the first time in hours and it took a minute for her to regain her balance. Richard kept a steadying hand on her back as he guided her towards the others. For a moment, they simply stood and watched the family reunion, taking place in front of their eyes.
“’Tis a beautiful sight,” Nick said when he joined them. “I can hardly wait to see my own family. I hope they remember me.” And in typical Nick fashion, he chuckled, although Angelina was sure he was just as anxious to see them, as Edna had been to see her family.
The two little boys were adorable. They were wrapped around Edna’s legs as she was being introduced to Ewan, and soon enough she bent down to hug them both and to take an extra-long look at their sweet little faces. They each grabbed one of her hands and dragged Edna into the castle.
Feeling like outsiders, Angelina, Richard and Nick weren’t sure whether to join them or not, but Angus detached himself from the family and came back to get them. “Dinnae stand there, come inside. Once Edna has calmed herself, I’ll introduce ye to the family.” They followed Angus through the castle doors and into the great hall.
Ewan left the group and approached them. “Welcome. I be Ewan MacKenzie.” He held his hand out to Nick, who shook it.
“Nick Mackall. Pleased to meet you.” Nick turned to Angelina. “This is Angelina Lawson.” Ewan bowed in her direction. “And this is Sir Richard Jefford. I’m sure ye’ve heard of him.”
Richard cringed at the thought of what might come next.
“Sir Richard, I’m pleased to finally meet ye. We’re verra grateful for what ye did, to help rid us of Brielle,” Ewan said.
Richard’s face heated. “I didn’t do all that much. Maggie and Dylan were the ones who ultimately rid the world of the witch.”
“The way I hear it, you stood with them, even at the risk of your own demise.”
Richard didn’t respond, instead he gazed down at Angelina who was watching him with adoration in her eyes. It would be wrong not to tell her everything. She thought him a hero, but if she knew the truth, she’d surely loathe him. It was probably what he deserved.
“I can see I’m embarrassing you, but you are far too modest Sir Richard. Let me introduce you to my lovely wife and my two young sons.” Ewan led the way to where Edna and Angus stood with Lena and the boys. Things had calmed down a bit and Lena and Edna were catching up on what had been happening in their lives. “Lena, let me introduce you to our guests. This is Angelina Lawson, Nick Mackall and Sir Richard Jefford.”
Lena stopped mid-sentence and turned to them. “Forgive me. I’ve been so excited to have my mother here, I’m afraid I’ve been quite rude. I’m pleased to meet you all and I welcome you to Castle Fionn. You are honored guests in our home. These are my two sons, Rowan and Ranald.” Turning to the two boys, Lena said, “Behave yerselves. Dinnae bother our guests, do ye ken?”
“Aye, Ma,” both boys said in unison.
“They can be wee devils when they put their minds to it, which seems to be all the time.” Lena’s motherly smile contradicted her words.
The boys marched up to Richard and Nick and held out their little hands.
“Now which is which,” Nick teased.
“I be Ranald and he be Rowan.” The twins were identical and Richard wasn’t certain he’d ever be able to tell them apart, but he couldn’t deny the fact that they were quite the handsome little men.
“You all must be exhausted from your ride. Let’s get you settled in your rooms so you can rest before we eat.” Lena led the way upstairs to the guest quarters, putting Nick and Richard in one and Angelina in another. “You’re welcome to join us downstairs, or if you’d like to rest, I’ll send someone up for you when ’tis time to eat.”
