Lady X

He laughed, “Do ye now?” He lowered his voice, “Ye are exquisite, Exerilla Radley, and no less so when yer ire is up.”

She ignored the compliment and puzzled as she looked around, “Where is Mary?”

“Ah, shall I take ye to her? She is conferring with Mrs. Lyons,” he smiled broadly.

“Oh, good, then she has company,” Exerilla said brightly.

“Aye, Mrs. Lyons is as well most pleased with these new arrangements,” he said as he led her down a narrow path.

“But you aren’t? In fact, you sound vexed,” she said, now that was a good old English word—vexed. She was getting better at this.

“I am, as ye say, vexed,” he answered promptly and then steered her off the path toward the house down another that was edged by tall and shapely evergreens.

“Why?” she knew why.

“The new arrangement makes it harder to get to ye alone,” he already had her in his arms, pressed against his body.

She made no objection and his mouth covered hers and parted her lips so very tenderly. She didn’t even realize that her arms had reached up and held onto his shoulders until she felt herself lifted off the ground and his kiss turned into another. This was a fever she had for him. No other explanation presented itself. But, this wasn’t the time or the place, and she wasn’t sure if there ever would be a time or place. He was a human and she… was an immortal witch.

“Stop, Hunter…”

He pulled away and his voice sounded desperate, “Do ye really wish me to stop, Exerilla?”

“Yes, we should get up to the house,” she answered.

“Och aye, m’sweet wee lass, as ye wish,” he answered.

She was relieved and disappointed all at once and started forward, uncertain of herself, unsure of what she should say. She knew what she wanted. She wanted to fling herself into his arms and have him make love to her.

He lightly touched her elbow as he led her to a back garden door and down the corridor to the kitchen, a bright warm and welcoming chamber with wafting scents of sweet baking.

She found Mrs. Lyons and Mary sitting at a large window table sipping tea and munching on goodies, with cook humming in the background. She was surprised. She knew gentry did not usually sit with the servants in the kitchen, but she could see from Mary’s smile that she was enjoying herself immensely.

They pulled up chairs at the large block oak table and cook, humming and chattering, commented that she didn’t know what the world was coming to, what with Sir Jacob’s guests taking over her kitchen, but Exerilla could see that in spite of these words she was quite pleased. Cook set three more cups and plates, full with miniature pastries before them. And Exerilla could not stop herself as she dove at the sweets, drank down her tea and had another before she was able to sit back and take part in the conversation.

She sighed to herself, as the question came to mind—would she never again be alone with the big handsome Scot?

* * *

Hunter walked the ladies out to Sir Jacob’s waiting coach and handed them each into its comfortable confines.

He watched for a moment as the driver maneuvered it out of the courtyard and down the winding drive. He felt like a schoolboy.

He was an idiot, allowing a beautiful woman to turn his head. She all but consumed his every thought.

This had to stop. He didn’t have time for this. He was on a mission not just one mission, but two.

He knew that Baudali was watching. He had suspected it for days. His father and Baudali hailed from the same dimension and although Baudali had turned dark, he wasn’t able to disguise his magic.

Hunter wondered if it was just idle watching on Baudali’s part—just passing time until Waterloo. Or did Baudali mean to strike sooner?

He had only reached the front door, when Swit rode up, and jumped off his horse calling out, “Ho there, my lord Scotty!’

He turned and waited for Jerry to dismount and with his horse in hand, he strode over to him, “What is ye want, Swit? Yer horse is in a sweat, best hand him over to one of the grooms, he needs walking out.”

“Yes, I will walk him to the stables myself…in fact, walk with me, Hunter. I need a word with you.”

Hunter turned back to him and eyed him questioningly, “Ye want a word with me? Where is Jacob?”