The Taming of a Scottish Princess by Karen Hawkins

Author:Karen Hawkins
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Publisher: Pocket Books
Published: 2012-05-25T06:34:21.418000+00:00

CHAPTER 10

From the diary of Michael Hurst:

I never thought to be intrigued by an icy, godforsaken pile of rocks, but Barra promises to reveal many secrets. How can such a small isle hide so many? When I look at a map of the island, it hangs from the Hebrides like the wicked tail of a dragon, ready to wreak havoc upon the weak and unsuspecting. Fortunately, I am neither.

Alone in the common room, Michael set down his empty coffee cup and leaned back in his chair, wincing as it protested. It was very peaceful, as immediately after breakfast Jane had disappeared outside, saying she needed to speak to the groom about the horses.

The back door opened and he could hear Jane entering, humming a tune of some sort. “The horses will be ready in an hour,” she said.

“An hour? I wished to leave immediately.”

“Yes, but Ramses has a loose shoe, and it must be repaired immediately. Fortunately, Mr. Macpherson has all of the necessary tools and it can be done here.”

“So we’re stuck here, waiting in this miserable weather.” Michael glared at the solid gray sky that hung over the inn yard. “Curses to you, blasted rain.”

“If that helps, let me know.” Jane came to the window, and he realized she was carrying a vase full of flowers. She’d taken off her cloak, and the bottom hem of her gown was drenched, her hair damp so that it fought the neat chignon she’d pinned it in.

The dewy freshness of the flowers was mirrored in her face.

“Where did you get those?” he asked.

“From the garden in the back. Mrs. Macpherson has a remarkably green thumb. Though it’s already late in the season, she still has a lovely assortment of flowers and herbs. She has thyme and basil and mint, roses and—”

“Don’t tell me the name of every flower and herb in the blasted garden. I’m bored, but not that bored.”

Her lips quirked. “I’m glad to hear it.”

“I was, however, bored enough to make friends with our recalcitrant landlady. According to Mrs. Macpherson’s gouty left knee—which, I’m told, is never wrong—we’re in for one more day of this relentless rain.”

“Only one? I’m astonished.”

“And I’m relieved. There’s no reason why we can’t at least give the caves a good preliminary scouting today. If we’re to visit them, it would make sense to get a feel for the excursion beforehand.”

“And then we’ll know what equipment we’ll need.”

“Exactly.”

“That can be done, although I fear we’re in a spring tide.”

“But it’s October.”

She’d been arranging the flowers in the vase, but at this, she shook her head. “Spring tide doesn’t refer to the time of year, but to the height.” At his curious look, she said, “There are spring and neap tides. Spring tides come with the full moon and are high, while neap tides come with the waning moon and are low.”

“Ah. And we have a full moon now.”

“Almost. Which means the cave won’t be out from underwater for very long. When we visit it, we’ll have to slip in and out as quickly as we can.

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