Always and Forever (3 page)

"Please sit I'll brew some tea. There is much to do."

Maude disappeared as Quinn took a seat on the sofa as she pondered Maude's words. Much to do? Whatever was she talking about? Before long Maude returned carrying a large silver tray with a teapot, porcelain cups and saucers and a plate of mouthwatering cookies. She placed the tray on the table before taking the seat next to Quinn. She poured them each a cup of tea before settling back on the sofa.

"So you've come for answers." Maude crooned as she took a rather loud gulp of tea.

That comment took Quinn by surprise but she dismissed the odd chill that worked its way down her spine and offered, "I'm here to research Whispering Winds and Jack mentioned you knew much of the history of this town and that of the castle so I hoped that I could interview you."

"Indeed."

Quinn wasn't deterred by the old woman's less than enthusiastic response and continued on.

"I am fascinated with the castle and the secrets it could tell. Do you know anything about who lived there and what happened to them?"

"Oh, aye, but I can't say: tisn't my secret to tell." She leaned closer to Quinn so that she could smell the faint scent of lavender on the old woman's withered skin.

"I will say this. There is powerful magic at work in that place and if someone knew where to look they may just stumble onto the adventure of a lifetime."

Jack had said the woman was odd but was she crazy? Not really wishing to share the fate of Hansel and Gretel, Quinn decided it was time to go.

"Thank you so much for the tea. It was very nice meeting you."

The old lady grinned as Quinn stood to leave.

"Careful, Miss, you may just find what you're looking for but all magic comes with a price."

Creepier words Quinn had never heard and with a rushed wave she fled the cabin as if the hounds of hell were hard on her heels.

Maude walked over to the door and watched as the young woman disappeared from view.

"I'll give you a little nudge, dearest Quinn, since I've a promise to keep."

Quinn slowed her pace once she was back on the lane heading from town but, honestly, she was a bit unnerved from her very odd encounter with what she believed was an honest-to-god witch. A shiver went down her spine thinking about the cryptic, but undeniably creepy, words the woman had said to her.

A half an hour later she was back in her bedroom where she dropped her groceries and purse near her sleeping bag then walked over to one of the massive windows and stared out. In the distance, she could see the river bending around the landscape and as she followed its curves, she noticed a man standing near the edge. He was so far away but he was looking up towards the castle, and it seemed, right in her direction. He was tall with wide shoulders and narrow hips dressed in all black and his hair, too, was black and long framing a face that she couldn't quite make out. He looked so lost standing there as if he couldn't find what he was looking for.

Before her mind could object to her spontaneous, and potentially stupid, decision she started from the room -- slowly at first, until she was in a full on run by the time she flew out into the courtyard. He stood in the same spot and when he saw her he started to move toward her but as soon as he took his first step, he began to fade. Quinn stopped short and watched as he looked down at himself and up at her and now she could see that his eyes were green, like summer grass, and in them was confusion and pain. His hand reached out for her just before he disappeared completely. Her jaw dropped in shock but she also felt the sting of tears as the most intense feeling of loss assailed her. She stood rooted to that spot for a long time before she forced her feet to carry her back inside the castle.

Quinn found herself, throughout that day and the next, looking out the window hoping to catch a glimpse of the man, but the river swept quietly along its vacant banks and eventually Quinn convinced herself that she had imagined him.
Then on the third day when she glanced out the window from the study, he was there: standing in the same spot where she had seen him before. She didn't hesitate to run to him but, once again, when she approached him he started towards her and began to fade.

"No!" Quinn screamed as she ran to him but right before she reached him he was gone. A chill caused goose bumps to rise on her skin as she stood in the spot where he had been. She felt that same crushing sense of loss that she had felt the first time. She lowered her head to look down at the patch of Earth to see what was so unique about it that it had the power to hold his spirit there and that was when she saw the glint of something metal from within the strands of grass. She hunched down to get a better look and realized it was a ring, an old ring based on the design, with an emerald the size of a grape centered within the delicate gold. She reached down to pick it up but as soon as her hand wrapped around it, she felt the heat of the stone burn her seconds before everything went black.

1704

When Quinn opened her eyes it took her a moment to remember and when she did she actually felt embarrassment tint her cheeks. She had fainted -- never in her life had she fainted -- and yet she had and really with no sound reason for doing so. Oh man, she was glad her brothers weren't here or she would never live it down, ever. She happened a glance to her right but where the castle should have been was instead a thick patch of trees.

"What the hell?"

She forced herself to sit up but the sight that greeted her had her wondering if her head had taken a bit of a hit, maybe on one of the river rocks when she dropped like a potato. Standing before her was a man, a beautiful man, with long blond hair and bright blue eyes. He was tall and powerfully built, though dressed oddly, like he was going to a Renaissance Fair. She took her time admiring his form but when her attention moved to his face, she saw that he was looking at her with complete disbelief and a touch of fear.

"Where did you come from?" he demanded.

Quinn started to stand, her jeans were coated in mud and her t-shirt wasn't much better. "Damn it," she muttered.

"What manner of dress is that?" he asked nervously.

The man was taking a step back but his focus was moving between her denim-clad legs and her chest.

"Me! You look like you just stepped out of a Jane Austen movie," Quinn declared.

"A what?"

"Cute." She didn't realize the villagers had a sense of humor. Did they play this prank on everyone who came to visit?

"You have the most unusual way of speaking," he said.

Quinn ignored him and was about to walk away when she caught a glimpse behind the dashing English Lord which caused her feet to stop moving and bile to rise up her throat. There was Whispering Winds and based on all the activity around it, it was still very much under construction. The craziest notion entered her head, impossible actually, but as Quinn stared at both the man and the castle she couldn't help but blurt out: "What year is it?"

"Excuse me?" he asked skeptically.

"The year?" Quinn barely whispered.

"'Tis the year of our lord 1704."

At that announcement, Quinn almost fainted again, but after a few deep breaths she pulled herself together. Clearly, she had hit her head and was suffering some type of brain trauma since time travel wasn't possible, yet. She examined the man before her and realized that what he was wearing was no costume based on the exquisite detail and superb quality of the fabric. Quinn had studied this time period extensively so if she was dreaming, her dream would be historically accurate, right? It was the castle in the background, though, that really sealed the dream idea for her. She had spent seven long years trying to learn everything she could about the place and now she was here, in the time when the castle was under construction, more over it was occupied. Yes, she was dreaming but it was a damn realistic dream and one she intended to fully enjoy. Her attention returned to her imaginary English Lord and she congratulated herself on her attention to detail because the man was beautiful.

"Are you unwell?" he asked kindly but warily.

Quinn took a moment to appreciate his lovely accent before she replied, "I'm fine. Are you okay?" She wanted to ask what happened, how she had appeared before him. But dream or not, she was afraid further inquiry would bring forth the torches to light her on fire for being a witch.

"Who are you?" he asked after a moment's hesitation.

"Quinn Shaughnessy."

"Quinn, odd name for a girl."

"My parents love all things Irish. I'm rather fond of it."

A smile flashed over his handsome face. "I like it, too. Where did you come from, Miss Shaughnessy?"

"I don't think you would believe me if I told you."

The man regarded her for a minute before he said, "One minute you were not there and the next you were."

She was afraid of that but she looked at him squarely when she answered, "I honestly have no idea how I got here but I will say that I am very, very far from home."

He seemed to ponder that non answer for a moment before he walked over and offered her his arm.

"I do not understand your dress and it will make others suspicious."

Quinn looked down at her Calvin's and knew, despite being in a dream, that her English Lord was right. The words tumbled from her mouth without much thought, "I haven't any other clothes to wear."

"I know where we can get some," he offered helpfully.

"I don't have any money," Quinn replied.

"Don't worry about that," he countered.

Quinn stopped walking and turned to the mysterious stranger. "Why aren't you making the sign of the cross and backing slowly away from me?"

He studied her a minute and Quinn suspected he wasn't sure what her words meant so she clarified, "Why are you helping me? Particularly with how I came to be here?"

He thoughtfully replied, "I do not understand how you came to be here and I will admit that I don't totally believe what my eyes have seen but I can see that you are lost and alone. I would hope, had I a sister, that if she found herself in a similar situation that someone would come to her aid."

Quinn could tell there was more that he was not saying so she pushed, "And?"

It was admiration in his expression when he said, "You are very astute. Normally, I would not say what I am about to say but considering the circumstances I'll share." He inhaled deeply before he added, "I had a dream the other night about just this."

Quinn paled in response to those words which instinctively had him reaching for her hand as he offered reassuringly, "Yes, you look like I feel but I must admit I'm as much intrigued as I am terrified."

"That makes two of us," Quinn said softly. "You are very kind to help me."

He looked almost offended when he replied, "I would not be a gentleman if I did not come to your aid."

Chivalry, Quinn thought, what a lovely concept. She asked, "What's your name?"

"My apologies! Thaddeus Cornwell," he offered with a deep bow.

"It's very nice to meet you, Lord Cornwell."

They walked along as Thaddeus lost himself in his thoughts. He must have imbibed a bit more scotch than he thought last night since women usually didn't just appear out of thin air. Of course, he had spent the night in his carriage and only had the one flask so how much could he have had? As hard as he tried, his mind had no rational explanation for what his eyes had seen. It was a bit terrifying seeing someone just magically appear but one look into those silver-gray eyes and he knew she was lost: as confused as he as to how she came to be there. It was that lost look that had moved him to act.

They reached the little cottage where the dressmaker lived but as soon as the dressmaker saw him with Quinn her face turned dark with anger. Quinn, recognizing the look, attempted to pull away from Thaddeus but he wouldn't release her as he looked to the seamstress.

"Claire, tis not what you think."

"Who is she?"

Quinn looked up at Thaddeus curious as hell as to how he planned on answering that.

"She's my cousin," he easily lied.