A Journey Out of Time (11 page)

"I should have explained it all better, lass. I did'na mean to offend ye. I did'na mean it to sound like an order."

"I know you didn't. I am glad I came. It is just so strange being here."

Duncan laughed. "It is like that every time I come! Angus is nay an ordinary king!"

"I can see that he is not." Sonya paused a moment & then asked, "Would it be rude to go to my bedchamber? I am so worn out."

"I will walk ye, lass. We will tell His Majesty goodnight." Duncan pulled out her chair & took her hand leading her to where Angus & Mary of Monath stood.

"Ah, Duncan, are ye trying to escape with my young friend here?"

"I am afraid her day has been very long, Yer Majesty."

Angus leaned forward & kissed Sonya on the cheek. She smiled & curtsied as best she could on a floor flooded with people.

"I trust I will see ye in the morn, Sonya?"

"Yes, Your Majesty. Goodnight.

"Good nigh, Yer Majesty."

"Good nigh," said Angus & Mary smiled.

Duncan led Sonya from the room that was still in full swing. Hand in hand they walked toward the stairs. They seemed to be doing a lot of hand holding & Sonya smiled, hoping that would never stop.

"Thank you. I am still not sure how to handle all of this," she said.

"Doona worry about it, lass. Ye will catch on. Angus was no' always a king, ye know, he understands."

"He seems to have learned quickly."

"He united the clans. They like how he works. They trust him."

"He was a born leader."

"Aye, that he was. His father was a good man & taught him well."

As they started up the steps & Duncan still had a hold of her hand, Sonya wondered if this would turn out like it always did for her. As a girl she was always the guys' best friend & the one that fell in love with them. They never fell in love with her. It wasn't until she was 'set up' that a man
supposedly
'fell in love' & married her. It was a marriage she quickly learned to regret, & took too long to leave. So was this the friendship trip or maybe just maybe…?

"His mother said that you have known him your whole life."

"Aye. When my father left us, Angus was always sending people to check on me. I think he thought I was going to run off."

"Did you want to?"

"Aye."

They continued down the corridor to the room she was staying in. "I understand. My mother died shortly before my trip." Duncan stopped & looked at her.

"I am sorry, lass."

She smiled faintly. "I am too. She would have loved all of this."

Duncan laughed. "Are ye sure?"

"Oh, yes, I know she would have. She would still be on the dance floor!"

"Well, I am glad there would have been one of us!" They laughed.

As they reached Sonya's bedchamber door she felt very unsure of herself. She looked down at her feet. She wanted to tell him that she longed for his touch. That she wished he would kiss her. That he warmed her from her head to her toes & all the places in between. She wanted to tell him that she could just die happy every time he called her 'lass'.

"I will be going back to Ronin in a few days."

"You will?"

"Aye, but I will see ye on the morrow."

"Aye,"she whispered back.

Sonya didn't know what could possibly have taken her over, but she suddenly took one of Duncan's braids, letting it slip through her hand. He looked down at her, his eyes bright. This could be a
big
mistake.

"Good nigh, lass."

"Goodnight, Duncan."

Her body ached so she wasn't sure she could move. She thought maybe she was stuck to the door. She didn't think she was holding her breath this time, but she certainly felt light headed. Man, what was she going to do with herself?
I needed to carry a cold loch around with me!

Ach, lass, what ye do to me! Duncan had to escape before his erection gave him away like he was certain in had while they were dancing. The woman made him ache. He wanted to shove her up against that door, plunging his tongue into her mouth, thrusting like he want to thrust himself inside her. How was he to know what she felt for him though? After Aaralyn…but Sonya touched him in ways that were different. Nothing like Aaralyn. When he took Sonya's hand in his, she never tried to remove it. If only she would say something to him, so he would have no doubts. They had only just met, how was he to know what she thought of him? She did apologize to him. She didn't seem to shy away the day after he awoke to find his arm around her. Perhaps she didn't know. And when they danced & she lay her head on his shoulder it felt as if it all fit just right. When he felt her breath on his neck & her hand curled up in his hair he felt as if he were stretched tighter than a bow! Oh man. He needed some fresh air!

*

Sonya hurried down the stairs to eat breakfast. She had slept well & was excited to see what would happen today. Okay, so she was excited to see Duncan.

"Ah, Sonya lass, good morrow to ye," Angus opened his hands wide & wore a contagious smile. She returned the smile & joined him at the high table.

"Good morning, Your Majesty. You look very happy this morning."

"Well, of course! What is there not to be happy about?"

"That is a very good point, Your Majesty. Will your Lady Mother be joining us?"

"Nay, she prefers to eat in her chamber in the morning. She has a habit of rising very early. However, she has instructed me to ask ye to join her later." Sonya grinned at the thought of the King of Scotland still being told what to do by his mother & doing it! Angus guessed her thoughts. "Aye, I know," he said sardonically.

"Are there always this many people here?" Sonya indicated to the full tables in front of them.

"Oh, aye. There are always people about."

"You seem to like it."

"Aye! I do, I do." He took a bite of bread with honey. "It also helps keep all the clans apprised of what is going on at all times. There is always someone here from each of them." Sonya looked around the room. There were so many people in there. Did they all do something? "Half the time I am not sure why they are here either," Angus whispered & then laughed heartily. Sonya laughed as well. His merriment was contagious. "They want something. They visit. They travel here & there carrying messages. There are requests & disputes to handle."

"I see."

"Are ye going to tell me how ye & yer people really got here?"

"I thought Duncan had explained that, Your Majesty."

"Not exactly."

"Oh, I see."

A man came up & whispered in the Kings ear. "I am sorry, Sonya, there is a matter I must attend to. Nay, nay, doona get up. I am sure we will see each other later."

"Yes, Your Majesty. I look forward to it."

Angus left quickly with the most serious look she had seen him have. As soon as the king left the room, so did Sonya. She was more interested in seeing his mother, Anne, since she saw no sign of Duncan. Navigating through the curtains & up the stairs Sonya knocked on Anne's door. A young woman answered the door.

"This way, Miss."

"Thank you."

"Sonya, I am glad ye have come to see me."

Sonya curtsied. "Good morning, Queen Mother." Anne waved her hand as if to dismiss the greeting. Sonya smiled. She liked her; she felt like family. They all made her feel like family. Well, they were!

"So, my deary, what shall we talk about?"

"The MacPherson's?"

Anne brightened. "Ah! Aye, the best topic of all!" They smiled at each other. "My son tells me that ye come from across the ocean."

"Yes, America, Highness."

"And yer Grandmother was a MacPherson."

"Yes. G. Marie MacPherson. They shortened the spelling of it to just M-c P-h-e-r-s-o-n. I don't know why. Many people shortened their names when they came to my country."

"After seeing the picture, there is little denying the relation! But the question is, can we figure out how they link?" she asked.

"Aye," Sonya replied & Anne laughed.

They talked past lunch time. Her ladies brought in meat, cheese & fruit to eat & still they talked.

"A doctor?"

"Yes, Your Highness."

"A doctor."

Sonya had to laugh. Her son was the king & she was impressed that Sonya's great-great-great grandfather was a doctor!

"So, now," Anne said, "we have your grandmother Marie, her da was Charles Edward. His da was William James. His father was John M, the doctor. His father William MacPherson. We've gone five generations back. And this is written down?"

"Yes, your highness. I have some of the parchment back at Duncan's. Uh, at Ronin Castle, but I haven't yet finished working on them."

"Well, that is grand. Ye will be able to share them with me when ye come back."

"Of course I will."

Anne smiled. It was almost like having a grandmother. Sonya never got to know either of hers, but Anne was too young for that. Perhaps an aunt.

"That is a long line. When did your line go to the New World?"

Well, she certainly couldn't say some time in the 1700's! "I don't know the date for sure. But it was William that was born over here somewhere."

"We will have to try & find out where. This is all so verra exciting." Anne waved her hand at her. "Go on with ye now. Ye go roam around & do what it is ye young people do. As for me, we aged women folk, need a rest!" Sonya laughed, curtsied & left. She couldn't imagine that 'aged' woman needing a rest at all!

As Sonya walked down the corridor, she felt along the cool, large stones of the wall. She stopped & looked up. Imagine building one of these. Imagine the men & the time it would take. Suddenly, she got a weird feeling like she was being watched & looked back down the corridor. There stood a well dress & very handsome man that greatly resembled the king. He was muscular with longer hair than Duncan's. It was a dark blonde with a hint of red. He stood there with his left leg crossed over the other, the toe of his boot on the floor, & a hand upon the wall, leaning against it. He looked rather amused. It reminded Sonya of a cat watching a mouse. She raised her eyebrow, she didn't like the thought of being the mouse.

"Are ye lost, lass?"

"No, My Lord, I am not. Are you?"

He chuckled. "Nay lass, nay. You ken who I am?" He seemed surprised.

Sonya walked towards him, suddenly feeling the need to leave the corridor quickly, but he stood just in front of the stairs she needed to get down! "No, My Lord, but there is a strong resemblance between you & His Majesty, the King."

"Ah." He uncrossed his legs & walked towards her. Cat about to pounce. "And ye know my ma as well? I saw ye coming out of her chamber."

"I do."

"Then just who might ye be?"

Sonya wondered if she should say, 'One of your clansmen' or perhaps say that she was 'of Duncan MacLeod's household'. She decided to let him wonder. "A friend of the family," she countered. He was handsome like Angus. The green he wore brought out his green eyes, which sparkled. He stopped a few feet in front of her.

"A friend? How is it I have not met ye before then?"

"I have been far away."

"Really?"

"Aye." He was looking her up & down & she wasn't too sure she liked how it felt. Kind of like she was a horse he was appraising! As he opened his mouth, she was never so grateful to hear a familiar voice!

"Rowan! Leave that poor lassie alone!" Anne was sticking her head out of her room. Sonya looked at him smugly, crossing her arms, which didn't seem to be a good idea since his eyes immediately dropped to her chest. She dropped her arms & he chuckled.

"Mother! How are ye?" He smiled at her mischievously for a moment & then hurried past to embrace his mother.