“And it passed?” She held her breath.
“Yes, but to get it through so fast there are strings attached.”
“Oh,” Alix said, deflated.
“It’s to be an accessory building, meaning that it has no kitchen or bath, no plumbing at all. It can’t be seen from any public road or path but that’s not a problem. Later we can …” He trailed off. He’d been about to say that later they could build a house there. A rental maybe. Or … He hardly let himself think this, but maybe it would be a house for the Eighth and his family to live in.
“Where exactly on the land would it be built?”
“On the old house site,” Jared said quickly.
“You think that’s a good idea? It might be like building on a Native American burial ground.”
Jared thought that was probably exactly why his grandfather wanted it built there, but he didn’t say so. When they started digging, he’d make sure Alix wasn’t there. If his guess was right, they might find a centuries-old body there, and he didn’t want Alix seeing it. “Maybe we’ll find some artifacts and donate them to the NHS.”
The only word Alix heard of that was “we.” “Do you actually think this could be done in time for the wedding? That Izzy could get married in a chapel?”
“In your building?” Jared said. He was finally beginning to recover from what his grandfather had told him, but it did cross his mind that Caleb was leaving the earth because Jared had found Alix.
He kissed her cheek as his hands began to move over her body. “Excited?”
“Of course.”
He took her shoulders and turned her to face him. “How do you feel about your own creation going from paper to something you can see and feel? That you can walk inside of? Be surrounded by?”
“It feels … wonderful!” she said, her head back. She turned to put her legs around his waist. “It feels like I’ve climbed the highest mountain, leaped toward the stars, that I’ve gone from the moon to the sun. It’s like I’m tripping across rays of sunshine.”
“Speaking of mountains …” Jared said as he kissed her neck and set her down before him, letting her feel how much he desired her. “I’ll go off-island.” He kissed her throat. “And get the materials and bring them back in a truck.”
“What kind of bricks will you get?” she whispered.
“Handmade.”
“Oooooh,” she said. “You certainly do know how to turn a girl on.”
His lips went lower. “I know a blacksmith in Vermont who can make door hinges like the ones you drew. Celtic meets thirteenth-century Scotland.”
“You’re driving me mad with desire. What else?”
“A bell.”
She pulled away to look at him. “A bell?” she whispered.
“Hand-cast. I have a warehouse full of things I’ve collected. I always knew that someday I’d need a bell.” He was kissing her breasts.
“The door!” she whispered urgently. “What about the door?”
“Seasoned oak. Three inches thick.”
“I can’t stand any more. Take me. I’m yours.”
His hands began exploring her body, the smoothness of the soapy water making each touch a caress. He roamed over her thighs, always moving upward, his hands going to the center of her. Alix put her head back, her neck on his shoulder, and his lips touched her cheek.
“You are beautiful,” he whispered. “All pale, golden skin. Sometimes, I feel as though I’ve known you forever.”
Alix liked his words, but she sensed that there was more involved in his words. For the first time, she felt that the great and powerful Montgomery needed her. Turning, she put her arms around his neck, her bare chest against his. “I’m here,” she said as she kissed his chin. “I’m not planning to leave.” She kissed his mouth, her tongue just touching his lower lip. “Soft and succulent,” she whispered.
He pulled away from her. “What did you say?”