His Lass Wears Tartan (18 page)

“His name is Bruce. But you’re correct, Uncle Gillian.” Rogue stepped over and gave Lady Nell’s arm a quick squeeze. “Let’s get Lady Nell settled into her room, and we’ll meet in the library let’s say in an hour.”

Gillian reached for the suitcase at the same time as Kai must have and nearly lost his footing. “Uh, can someone tell kilt man how floating suitcases could freak out your already overspooked staff.” The bag dropped inches. “Thank you, I think.” His face turned back to Lady Nell. “What do you have in here? I said a séance, not a bowling tournament.”

Nell flipped a strand of auburn hair out of her damp face. “I wasn’t sure what I’d need, so I threw in a variety of possible necessities, a crystal ball, tarot cards ...”

“What, you left those dreadful gargoyle statue things behind?” Gillian interrupted.

Lady Nell laughed, her face flushed again. “You mean Maleficent and Cruella? Who else would do a better job guarding my house while I’m gone?”

Bruce held his aching head with his hand, staring at the gray stone walls of a hallway around him as if he’d never seen them before. Sitting with his back to a wall, he tried standing to his full height but hesitated.
Dinna I have bruises, bleeding cuts?
A far-off dream of children laughing and his parents standing near nagged at his mind. But how could that be? He couldn’t remember how he got in here or what day or time it was. He stood tall, surprised. His kilt looked spotless, as was his cotton shirt.

This makes no sense. I need to find Rogue.

Turning the corner of a lower hallway, Bruce ran full force into someone. “Pardon me ...” He looked up into the face of Lord Kai. “You’re real!” The words came out loud and sharp, echoing in his ears. He put his hand out like he was going to touch the man, but Kai stepped back. “Truly, I can see you, sir. I knew this was a haunted castle, but seriously, there you stand, big as life itself. Impressive, I must say.”

Kai let out a long, slow breath. “Lad, ya say ya see me? Ya no be lying to me?”

“No, sir, aye, sir ... I mean I can see you. And the painting in the library is, uh, what is that American phrase Ms. Baillie always says? ‘A spitting image of you.’” He moved a step to the side, scanning the Highlander before him. The ancient lord looked solid. He raised his hand in front of him, palm forward, inches from the Scotsman. “Yer no that easy to understand though, sir; your brogue is thick.” Bruce rubbed the back of his head. “How can this be? And why does my bloody head hurt? I show no cuts nor dirt anywhere.”

Kai ignored his questions. “I hear rumors ya left town with your tail tucked tight between your legs.” Each word was a little sharper than the last. “One crude rumor says ya must be guilty of killing those old folk to go disappearing as ya did.” He walked with his hands behind his back and put a yard of space between them before spinning around. “Ya near broke Rogue’s heart, ya young cur. How dare ya show your face in my home after hurting my own sweet lassie this way?”

Bruce thought the man’s head would explode from the tension building inside and the killing look in his eyes. Part of him quivered like a coward; the brute’s presence was intimidating. “What are you talking about? I havena left the town, Lord Kai, I swear. I am guilty of no murder either, sir. I thought that old woman died in her sleep. Have there been more deaths? Here? Why would I run away?” He rubbed his face with both hands. “I don’t understand, nothing makes sense. Why does Rogue think I would ever run away from her? I love her, sir.”

Now Bruce started pacing. “I have n’er run away from anything.”

“Why?” Kai bellowed. “Half the town has worn itself out making excuses for your disappearance.”

Bruce stared then slowly turned clockwise in a full circle. “I, I don’t remember driving here.” He turned back the other way, his head shaking. “How did I get here?”

“Ya dinna let yerself in? I assumed ya snuck into the castle to beg forgiveness of my niece.”

“Lord Kai.” Bruce trembled; he lifted his shaking hands and made fists. “Why can I see and hear you? Now, I mean.”

With his huge arms crossed against his chest, a flicker of doubt sparked in Kai’s dark eyes. “I donna understand myself. My Annie’s trickery and ways say we’re of the same blood. But you’re not a Baillie. However, Rogue is a Baillie and she can no see nor hear me, so it canna be just bloodlines.” Kai took a step closer. “Hey, now, you’re no thinking anything crazy, lad?”

“Aye, sir.” His legs weakened, and Bruce reached out for the wall of granite next to him, but his hand fell through the material. A gurgle sound came from his throat. “No, no, it can’t be. I wanted to come home, home to Rogue. I told my da I canna be ...”

“I’m afeared so, lad.” Kai rubbed his brow. “Ya seem to be as dead as myself. Can ya not remember anything?”

Trembling, Bruce could only shake his head. “I’m a spirit? I can’t be. I’ll not be any good at this Ghost 101 stuff, sir, such as yourself. I hate learning new things. I want my life back, and I want it now.”

“I donna think that is possible, but we may be in a bit of luck, young Bruce. I think we have the perfect lady of magic who just arrived to the castle this very morning. We can discuss this new turn of events of yours and see if she can supply any answers. In the meantime, come with me.”

The two walked through the wall and disappeared.

“Should we use the Great Hall for the séance?” Rogue twisted a worn, damp wad of tissues with her fingers. “I’ve never been to one of these, Auntie. I’m a little frightened.”

 “No, I’m afraid that table is far too long and wide for what we need,” Baillie squeezed her shoulders. “Lady Nell has us hold hands during the process, and we’d be painfully stretched out in there. Let’s have a look at the kitchen table.”

But when they arrived in the kitchen, she tapped her foot, looking distracted.

“Auntie?” Rogue blew her nose.

“Um, no, this won’t do, being in the open like this. Staff will come and go. We really need more privacy. I guess the library it is.”

Putney looked up from kneading a large ball of dough, and Rogue caught her attention, flecks of flour on her nose. She paused before shoving her hands back into the mound.

Rogue stared at her aunt. Witches, séances, and ghosts, oh my. Feeling as if her body were like strings of a harp, she felt ready to snap any moment from tension. This level of magic or whatever was far out of her comfort zone. And now Aunt Baillie was running around crazed about the seating arrangements. Couldn’t they just use a bloodhound or such to find Bruce? Infrared helicopters to scan the moors? Maybe he was just stuck somewhere in a gully and couldn’t climb out himself.

She realized the longer his disappearance, the more her feelings toward him seemed to increase. She missed his cheery smiles during the morning deliveries. And how they tended to run into each other often coming around a corner. The man had naturally made her feel warm and comfortable whenever they were together.

On top of her own emotional stirrings, Putney had been taking his absence just as bad.
Poor thing has been miserable lately. Shouldn’t she be a part of this séance, too?
She looked at Putney then her aunt. Now, how to grab Auntie’s attention to get the cook included?

“What?” Rogue had tapped her aunt on the shoulder.

“Ya look as if yer mind is a million miles away, farther than my own.” Tilting her head toward the cook, Rogue mouthed “Putney.”

A lightbulb flashed behind her aunt’s eyes. “Oh, of course, of course, please forgive me. Putney, would you like to join us for the séance? You know Bruce more than the rest of us. Please join us and be a part.”

The older woman turned slowly, her hands covered in flour, and a smile brightened her entire face. “Aye, I would indeed.”

Rogue rushed over and hugged the cook, startling the woman with the sudden embrace. “Gracious, lass, we’ll find him for ya. Ya getting your dress dirty, though, hugging me so.” She smiled. “I guess I need to clean up a bit myself.”

• • •

Rogue squealed with delight as she entered the library. Rafael and T-Cup sat next to each other, dressed in yards of brocade and lace, styled as if they belonged in the castle during Lord Kai’s times. The champagne and cream colors on Rafael showed off her gorgeous skin tone. A wig of curls with elaborate combs and subtle makeup finished the look. T-Cup had chosen a dark wine tone for her costume with beige lace.

The girls moved swiftly to her side, and the three giggled and admired each other. “You both take my breath away, ya do, cheering me up. I am so glad you’re here.”

“One must be appropriately dressed for every occasion. So sayeth the queen.” T-Cup dropped into a low theatrical curtsy.

“Good to see you smiling and laughing,” Baillie whispered in Rogue’s ear, passing by to the other side of the room.

Chairs were moved and organized into a circle as Gillian assisted in the setup, moving antique tables aside to clear a space for the event. Pulling the thick, heavy drapes closed, he immediately darkened the room, leaving only the glow from various lamps.

“Will these do?” Putney held two large candelabras in her hands.

“Perfect. I have been blessed, or cursed depending on your beliefs, with a gift of sight. A talent to see the future or talk to those no longer with us.” Lady Nell pointed where to set the candleholders. “More easily, I can read people’s palms and help them understand themselves better.”

Rogue’s eyes widened as she checked the inside of her hands. “Ya telling me you can read these lines and wrinkles? Like a special language?”

Nodding, Lady Nell moved over and embraced Putney. They stepped into a hug as if they’d known each other for ages.

“Close your mouth, lassie.” Putney snapped at Rogue. “My mum used to visit those with powers of the spirit world. I donna fear Lady Nell, I welcome her.”

Rafael lit the candles around the chairs, and Gillian turned off the lamps. The room softened by candlelight.

“Hey, where’s my sweet Diva? Did you lock my puppy outside? I haven’t seen her all morning.” T-Cup pouted. “I thought she’d come and warm my feet during this. My toes are like icicles.”

“Uh, no, I haven’t seen her in a while.” Rogue chewed her bottom lip. Like a skittish colt, she took the question hard. “That’s not like her to be out chasing things for so long. What if she’s hurt?”

“Calm down, child, you’re getting paranoid. I’m sure your mutt is fine. She was parading upstairs not that long ago.” Gillian sniffed. “Shall we each find a seat and settle into a circle, please? We’ll be holding hands. Lady Nell, is there a particular order you’d like us to sit in?”

The woman shook her head. “No, just that I need Lord Kai next to me and he’ll hold hands with Baillie to make the channel as clear as possible. Now where did Baillie go?” Everyone looked around—no sight of her. A murmur of voices filled the area.

“Where did you disappear to?” Gillian snapped at Baillie as she hurried into the room.

“Last-minute discussion with Kai, sorry.”

Rogue watched Lady Nell’s head snap up, staring at an empty space next to her aunt. Her face showed intense concentration, no doubt listening to sounds no one else could hear. Her lips opened into a soft oh as Baillie patted her shoulder, nodding her head ever so slightly.

What are those two up to? Why do they get to know whatever Uncle Kai says with the rest of us left in the dark?
Rogue had a bitter taste in her mouth.

Gathering herself together, Lady Nell looked out at the group.

A silence draped across the room. Chairs screeched as people moved them closer or sideways to make it easier to hold hands. Soon, the circle was complete.

Oh, my gawd, I don’t know if I can go through with this.
How could Rafael and T look excited and yet stay so calm? This was just too weird, and what if Lady Nell woke up something evil or cracked open Pandora’s Box by mistake? Rogue’s hands felt damp, and she swallowed hard. She looked around the group at the people who had filled her life with laughter and support over the years. They wanted only the best for her, so why did she want to bolt out of her chair and run to the stables? Maybe, just like in the movies, Bruce would be standing there next to Dougal, all muddy and worn-out like.
We don’t need to be scaring up spirits and voodoo. Do we?

Lady Nell closed her eyes and took in a long, slow breath, then released it in a longer stretch before taking another one.

“I welcome and thank Lord Kai for being an important part of our hope in finding the truth behind the disappearance of Bruce MacKenzie.” She inhaled slowly, her eyes still closed. “Lord Kai has brought a visitor to our gathering; please remain seated, all of you, and keep your hands connected.”

A tension flew around the circle, and Rogue wondered who in the underworld Uncle Kai would bring to the table. It was getting deep if Uncle Kai was getting involved. Was this where the spooky music would start? Violins and woodwinds making sounds that chilled your soul with the various notes. Maybe the ghost of Beatrice Wallace was his guest. Did the old woman know things about the happenings in the castle and where Bruce may have gone after that night they spent together? No, that didn’t seem right. Would she and Mr. Leatherton become ghosts of the castle since they died here? Her thoughts swirled into a soupy mess, and she had to force herself to pay attention to Lady Nell.

“Lord Kai wishes to introduce ...” She paused as everyone leaned toward her. “Bruce MacKenzie himself.” Her eyes flew open, candlelight reflecting in the enlarged, black pupils.

Rogue heard gasps quickly turning into screams from the girls. She could feel her own scream building in her throat. She squeezed Rafael’s hand until her knuckles turned white.

“What? Bruce is here?”

“How is that possible? I can’t see anyone.”

“Where? Where is he?”

A moment later, the chatter of questions shattered as Diva charged into the room with a deep bark, her paws slipping on the wooden floor as she rounded the furniture. A squeal of fear from Gillian heightened the tension even more. Everyone’s eyes on the dog’s sudden appearance broke the reaction of Lady Nell’s announcement.