Chapter Six

In the end, Irene chose a pale grey gown with a matching pointed hat and starched veil. She’d debated about wearing a head covering, partially since it appeared she would be the only one. But when she tried it on as an experiment, she knew it was perfect for her. A hat and veil served a dual purpose, as far as she was concerned. They contained her unruly long curls and helped make her feel invisible. The downside was that the costume made it hard for her to turn her head. Evidently that was the price of being in fashion, for a woman in the thirteenth century.

Lady Roselyn had brought out many gowns for Ann, but the only color she would agree to wear was black. She settled on one with long fitted sleeves. Despite the severity, it brought out Ann’s sky-blue eyes and highlighted the beauty of her snow-white hair.

“You look lovely,” Irene whispered to Ann.

For a moment Irene thought she noticed a flicker of life behind Ann’s eyes, but as quickly as it had appeared, it vanished.

“Are we ready, ladies?” Lady Roselyn announced. When everyone nodded, she continued, “As Bridget may have told some of you, when you pass through these doors, you will enter Stirling Castle as it was in 1297. To assist you in having the best possible experience, we have devised a few rules.”

Julia groaned, and Irene pinched her lips together to keep from smiling. Lady Roselyn didn’t miss a step. She gave both Julia and Irene a glance that would have melted a glacier.

“As I was saying. Rules. One, no cell phones or modern electronic devices of any kind. You can leave your belongings in the lockers located near the double doors. Two, stay in character at all times. You are guests for the laird’s daughter’s wedding. The bride’s name is Caitlin. Three, do not mention that you are visiting from the twenty-first century. If asked, you are allowed to say Italy or France or even Britain. The Americas haven’t been colonized yet. Last, and the most important, you must not try to leave until the tour has ended and my sisters and I have escorted you back to these rooms. My counterpart, Liam MacDonald, has already counseled the men on these rules. One more thing before we leave,” she said as she moved toward the double doors. “We will be traveling down a steep flight of stairs, so please be very careful.”

As Irene gathered her clothes and tote bag and started putting them away, Julia slipped in next to her.

“I thought I wouldn’t be nervous,” Julia said, “but I’m shaking like a leaf. Are you nervous?”

The comment caught Irene off guard. Of course she was nervous. She might discover a secret about her mother she didn’t like. But this was just a tour. Why was Julia nervous?

She started to ask, but Lady Roselyn clapped her hands for their attention.

“Come, ladies,” Lady Roselyn said. “Our tour is about to begin.” She flung opened the thick oak double doors that were each covered with images of Scottish thistles. Mist and the far-off sound of bagpipes filled the entrance.

Irene stepped up to the threshold and hesitated. Did she really want to do this? Maybe her ex was right and she was just chasing dreams. Her mother didn’t have secrets, just a vivid imagination.

Julia threaded her arm through Irene’s. “We shouldn’t keep Lady Roselyn waiting.”

“I thought you were nervous,” Irene said.

Julia smiled. “I am, but sometimes you have to take a leap.”

****

On the threshold, mist swirled around Irene’s feet as thick and clingy as white cotton candy. The distant bagpipes vibrated through her and conjured images of another time and place. Momentarily drawn into the fantasy and excitement of pretending to visit another century, she hesitated and stifled a laugh. Whoever was responsible for arranging this tour had a real skill for the dramatic.

“What are we waiting for,” she whispered to Julia.

Julia shook her head slowly. Her eyes were focused straight ahead, and Irene had the impression the woman hadn’t heard a word she’d said.

Out of the corner of her eye, Irene saw men emerge from a room next to hers. One was Ann’s son, another Ann’s husband, plus two more men Irene didn’t recognize. Ann’s husband and son were engaged in a heated debate. Irene caught bits and pieces. Ann was missing. The son put his hand on his father’s arm as though to restrain him, and then gazed toward Irene.

“We didn’t see my mother leave,” he shouted over to her. “Would you mind checking on her?”

“Not at all,” Irene said and retraced her steps.

When she stepped back over the threshold, the changing area looked different. Instead of a large room, draped with gowns, ribbons and hats, it resembled a maze. Of course, everything had happened in such a blur, maybe she’d not paid close attention.

Irene called out Ann’s name. When there wasn’t a response, she moved in farther and raised her voice. “Ann? Are you in here?”

There was always the chance Ann had changed her mind and returned to the café. Then Irene remembered Ann’s vacant expression. She’d recognized the worry in the father’s and son’s eyes. She’d seen that same look in the expression of one of her clients when he’d talked about his mother’s failing memory and the doctor’s diagnosis. The more troubling possibility was that Ann had left the café and was now wandering out in the freezing cold.

Irene plunged into the center corridor of the maze-like room with its bank of lockers. “Ann? Please answer me. Your son’s worried. He asked me to find you.”

From a short distance away, Irene heard a locker shut, then a few mumbled words. Irene rushed toward the sound. Ann was sitting on the bench as though she were waiting for someone to fetch her. Beside her was Irene’s diary.

“How did you…” Irene began.

Ann stood and handed Irene her diary. “You’ll need this.” She then walked past Irene.

“Okay, that was strange,” Irene said. She clutched the diary and scrambled after the woman. For some reason, Ann seemed to know exactly where she was going.

At the threshold, Ann’s son was waiting for them. He scooped his mother into an embrace and gave her a gentle hug before releasing her. “Mother, are you sure you want to do the tour? I know it was your idea, but we can always do it another time.”

She lifted her head toward him. Her eyes focused for a brief moment, then clouded over as she turned and walked toward her husband’s waiting arms.

“I guess that was a yes,” he said under his breath.

Lady Roselyn appeared out of the mist. “There you all are. We must hurry,” she said in a frantic voice. “We are late.”

Ann’s son held back and extended his hand to Irene. “I’m Logan, by the way. Thank you for helping my mother. Where did you find her?”

“She was sitting in the locker area. It was odd. It was almost as though she was waiting for me.”

He lifted an eyebrow, adjusting the leather belt and sword that hung at an angle at his hips. “This tour has been odd from the beginning. It’s not at all what I expected, and I’m starting to think this is only the beginning. You’re dressed as a high-born lady from the thirteenth century, and I look like King Arthur.” There was laughter and then another smile. “I’m loving it.”

She grinned, drawn to the smile that lit up his face. All the men she’d dated treated laughter as a sign of weakness. He wore it as naturally as others would wear a pair of socks. “I think you mean you’re dressed like Scotland’s leader William Wallace.”

“You’re a history geek.”

“Guilty.”

“People,” Lady Roselyn shouted, clapping her hands. “Hurry, or we’ll leave you behind.”