I leave the building and start walking in the yard, hopefully looking around. I smile and stop – there she is, walking slowly away from me towards the flower beds, as if enjoying the sunlight. I walk in her direction, faster than her, and soon I reach her.
'What a beautiful day,' I say in the most gentle tone that I can ever manage so that not to startle her again. She turns around, sees me and smiles.
'Yes, indeed,' she replies, shielding her eyes with one hand from the sunshine while she is looking at me. She has so pretty blue eyes, and her blond hair is shining in the sunlight, that she looks like an angel from a fairy tale. She looks like sunshine. The contrast of her warrior spirit and angelic appearance makes her even more attractive. 'So, you are a friend of the Laird's,' she adds, smiling at me, as if wanting to tell me that she knows the truth.
'Yes, he is a good friend of mine,' I say, returning her smile. 'Sloan is a great man.'
'I know, he is my sister's husband,' she says, nodding, a note of pride in her voice. 'He is indeed a very good person. He has told me that I can stay here as much as I want,' she adds gratefully. I wonder what she means by saying that.
'So, you do not generally live here, as I understand?' I ask.
She raises her eyebrows and stays silent for a moment. I guess she is bringing her thoughts together.
'You know, Calem,' she says at last, 'this is not my home. Since the day of their wedding, this castle has become my sister's home, but not mine. I can just stay here for however long I want.'
I have a feeling that there is much more that she wants to tell me but hesitates. After all, she does not know me well yet, and probably does not find it wise to confide in me information, which may be private.
'I am leaving this castle in two days,' I tell her and notice how she becomes sad for a moment. 'I am only a guest here. I hope we will be able to spend some time while I am here.'
'I also hope so,' she says with a tiny smile. The smile on her face makes her shine like the sun. She keeps on looking at me with that smile, and I start feeling warm and tender emotions creeping into my heart. Yes, definitely I am going to miss this ray of sun when I go away. I wish I could…
Chapter 3
Elsie
I am in my bedroom. After the pleasant walk in the yard with Calem, I feel calm and happy. There is something in his eyes that makes me feel warm and surrounded with sunshine. I feel secure by his side. If he is not with me, I start missing him. I smile, as I realize that I like him a lot, actually. I have no idea who he is, besides the fact he is Sloan's friend. Of course, being Sloan's friend is already a sign that he is a good person. Also, he is a warrior, a handsome and strong warrior. But still, I would want to know who he is in his life.
There comes a knock on my door. With a fast-beating heart, I rush to open it. Somewhere deep inside my heart I have a tiny hope that it is Calem. I open the door – Megan is standing behind it, with a smile on her face.
'Tell, me, whose sister is happy and smiling in her bedroom?' She asks me, as she enters my bedroom. I close the door and walk to my bed.
'Your,' I smile back. 'Meg, I was having a morning walk outside with Calem today. He came and found me in the yard. We talked about nearly everything in the world – from the horses to the universe and what not. He is such an interesting person to spend time with.'
'Sloan said that he is a good man and a good warrior,' Megan tells me. 'He did not say more, as we did not speak much about him. If you want, I can get information about Calem for you.'
'No, thanks, Meg, I will do it myself,' I say. 'I do not want anyone to know that I want to know more about him but cannot get to know him by myself. Because I can,' I add.
'I know. You are my sister, and you have always been like that,' Megan smiles. 'It is too bad that he is leaving in two days. You do not have much time to spend with each other.'
'Meg, what if I fall in love with him?' I ask aloud the question that has been bothering me since the morning.
Megan falls silent. Apparently she does not know the answer, just like me. Calem will leave in two days, and I will stay here without him.