Angus (17 page)

She nodded. “Now back to you. Are you having any side effects?”

“From my abilities returning to me?”

She nodded.

“Not really. I find I need less sleep, but that might be the jet lag. It can take me over a week to get used to a new time zone.”

Phoebe nodded in understanding. She leaned back and closed her eyes. “I’ve found myself unable to get out of bed a lot of this week, but I think it is the weather. If we don’t get some sunlight soon, I am going to insist on going somewhere south.”

“It must be hard being here in Scotland when you are used to spending part of your year in Egypt with your parents.”

She opened her eyes. “Yes. But then, I wouldn’t give up the family I have now.”

And from her tone, that was all that would be discussed. “Was there anything else you needed to know?”

“I know that we are asking a lot of you and I want you to know that all of us would understand if you wanted to walk away.”

The idea of leaving and facing what lay beyond the walls of the estate scared the bloody hell out of her. It had nothing to do with money, and everything to do with the evil she felt gathering.

“Noted. I think I need to get back and go over the new security information Fletcher got me.”

Phoebe nodded.  “I’ll let you get to it.”

Maggie left her there, her mind on the things that had to be done, and the wonder of what made Phoebe so sad when she talked of her family.

*  *  *  *

Phoebe sighed as she looked out over the rainy day. “Blah, blah, blah.”

The day was starting to get to her. Not enough sleep, her worry for the Clan starting to really affect everything she was doing. She couldn’t concentrate and she’d become as forgetful as her father.

Another sigh escaped before she could stop it. She needed to shake off the problem. Maybe a little time with the diary would get her brain working again. She walked over to the little desk Callum had set out for her when she first arrived. The memory of his completely asinine behavior that day tugged a smile from her. How she ever fell for such an ass, she would never know.

Unlocking the side drawer, she pulled out the diary. The moment she touched it, a flash of heat sparked up her arm. She dropped it and looked down. It was glowing as if it was plugged in.

This time, she slipped her hand beneath the book, realizing it was just warm, not burning. She placed it on the desk and stared down at it. Opening it, she felt the heat that had shocked her at first dissipate.

She looked back at the door, then back to the book. Excitement shimmered as a new line of the research and just what it would mean for their new friend came to light.

Chapter Twenty-Four

Angus followed Callum into the office of the newly appointed McWalton Laird. It hadn’t been their idea to meet. In the centuries they had dealt with the family, they had tried their best to avoid them.

“I doona like this, Angus,” Callum said for the last time.

“You didn’t have to agree and you know it.”

He shrugged. It meant that Callum saw it as his duty to handle things like this, almost as if it was a penance for not figuring out a way for them to break the curse before now. And for not saving the world.

Angus figured his cousin would appreciate his sarcasm.

“I just don’t like having to be called on the carpet like I’m five years old.”

“I don’t blame you, Lennon,” a voice said from behind them. They both turned to find the new laird watching them. Angus wondered how long he had been there.

“I take it you’re Gavin McWalton,” Callum said. He didn’t move forward and didn’t offer his hand.

“Yes,” he said striding forward. While the former laird had been the epitome of a lazy, drunken bastard, Gavin McWalton was lean and in excellent shape. It was the middle of the day and he was dressed in a suit and working. That was ten steps ahead of the last one. He offered his hand to Callum and for a moment, Angus was sure his cousin wouldn’t take it. But, after a hesitation, he did.  

“This is my cousin Angus,” Callum said motioning toward Angus. Gavin stepped forward and shook his hand.

“Please, sit down. Can I get you anything to drink?”

Both men said no and sat.

“I guess you must be wondering why I set this meeting up.”

Both of them nodded.

“I don’t blame you for not trusting me, but I do want to clear the air.”

“Yes?”

“You and I both know of the curse, and we both know that while you might have aspirations of breaking it—or that’s what Keith had babbled about in the months before he died, I really don’t give a damn.”

Angus glanced over at Callum, who narrowed his eyes.

“Is that a fact?”

He nodded. “I don’t really care who did what to whom over two hundred years ago. What I do know is that because of the idiocy of most of the damned lairds, we are in dire straights. Financially, I am sure you know how bad we are doing.”

Callum nodded.

“I want to rebuild and invest. I want to become a viable enterprise much like you have.”

“And what does that have to do with us?” Angus couldn’t help asking.

“Nothing. I just wanted you to know that from this point on, for as long as I am laird, you will have no problems from me.”

*  *  *  *

They walked out of the building where McWalton had his offices less than thirty minutes later.

“What do you think?” Callum asked as they waited for Belvidore to bring the car around.

Angus glanced at his cousin. “Not sure. Either he is being truthful, which would mean he is intelligent. But, it could also be a ploy.”

Callum nodded. “True. Canna trust a McWalton, that’s for sure.”

“Why did you bring me along, Callum?”

“I wanted your opinion.”

“My opinion?” It was an odd answer. When it came to business, Callum rarely asked for anyone’s opinion. But so much had changed since Phoebe had come along.   

“You have more at stake now with Maggie and the boy.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Oh, stop pretending, Angus. The entire household is all atwitter over you and the witch shagging in the office.” He chuckled. “I believed Ada is a bit scandalized.”

Oh, lord, that’s why the cook had looked at him oddly that morning. Bloody hell.

“Nothing’s changed. When we are done, she will leave.”

“Is that what you want?”

No. His mind, his heart, his entire soul screamed the word, but in the end he knew the rational answer.

“I’ve no choice in the matter.”

Callum said nothing for a few moments. Then, he said, “Don’t let her get away if you want her. Believe me, the risk is definitely worth it.”

Belvidore came to a stop in front of them, but Angus felt out of sorts. Callum stepped toward the curb, but Angus didn’t follow.  Callum stopped and glanced back at him.

“Angus?”

“I’m going to take a walk. I’ll call Belvidore when I’m done.”

Angus waved at the car as they drove off and started walking down the street. He had no idea where he was going, but he knew he needed to get his head back together. Before he knew where he was going, he ended up in front of one of his favorite pubs. With a shrug, he decided to get a pint. It was crowded, as lunch was just starting up. He found a table in the back corner, ordered that pint and watched the patrons. It was something he enjoyed doing from time to time. Human behavior was always a delight. In all the years they had been on this earth, he would always find comfort in observing from a distance.

But now that he thought about it, that didn't sound too healthy. The waitress returned.

"Ready for another pint?"

He nodded. "And bangers and mash."

"Make that two," a man said from behind the waitress. Gavin McWalton had apparently followed him. The waitress looked at Angus for an answer and he nodded.

“Coming right up.” Then, she left the two of them alone.”

Angus studied Gavin. "Do you always follow people after you have meetings with them?"

The other man smiled at Angus as he sat in the chair opposite of him. "No. I promise it was all by accident. I saw you after I decided to stop by for a little lunch. I’m on my way to Glasgow for some meeting this afternoon.”  

Angus studied him. "So, you want to break bread and you think everything your family has done will be forgiven?"

"Doona fash yourself Angus, I'm not here to discuss old wounds."

Again, Angus was struck about how different Gavin was from his older cousin Kenneth. Slick was the best word to describe the man. He looked like he tried to emulate the epitome of how he thought a businessman would look, but missed the mark a bit. He was too perfect, every line and crease in his suite was impeccable. Angus didn’t like it. Sure, he didn’t look like Kenneth, but there was another part of Angus that didn’t trust a man who looked so perfect. Callum was like that, but Angus understood the reasons behind it. This one…well, Angus really didn’t trust the bastard.

Angus would never trust a person with the name McWalton, no matter how genial he seemed.

Once they were alone, he smiled again. "I wanted to talk to Callum, but I’m glad he brought you along. I wanted to make sure that the message got back to everyone in the Clan.”

"Are you thinking that we would be easier to deal with?"

"No, but Callum tends to go on the warpath when he hears the name McWalton."

Angus shook his head. First he couldn’t believe he was sitting there talking to a McWalton or that the man was so casual about it. More than two centuries of being confronted by the bastards. "Can you blame him?"

He shook his head. "Not with Crazy Kenny running around. You know, there was a bit of a rumor about his mental state. That is, within the family."

"Is that a fact?"

"Well, I kept up with that sort of thing being next in line."

"That makes sense."

"Anyway, I wanted to talk to you about this feud."

"You already did this morning."

He sighed. "I've no interest in carrying on this feud. I see it as a waste of time. I know that my predecessors would disagree with me, but I have always thought it a waste of time to keep going on. It's not like anything is going to happen to you. You're always going to survive."

That much was true. There was no way of avoiding the fact that the McLennans just don't die.

"Okay."

The waitress stopped back by, gave them their food, then went on her way.

"Brilliant. I do love a good plate of bangers and mash."

Angus kept watching him as the laird cut into his sausage and ate it with the vigor of a man who had not eaten in days."

"What?" he asked.

"I'm just wondering what the bloody hell you are up to."

He threw his head back and laughed. Angus mentally shrugged and decided to start in on his lunch before it got too cold.

“Damn, now I know why Kenneth didn’t like your lot. Too smart for him that’s the truth.”

“We always thought that the family was behind him.”

“Well, there are factions, people who want to keep the feud going. But, seriously, I don’t give a flying fuck what you do.”

It was Angus’s turn to laugh. The pint was doing a good job of loosening him up, but what was best was that apparently Gavin had no idea of the plan they had for breaking the curse. That would make things easy, at least for a while.

He watched the laird finish off his pint and slam the glass down on the table. “Let’s get us another round, Lennon. My treat.”

Angus was never one to turn down a free pint so he nodded. He wanted to know more about that man because no matter what he said, Angus didn’t trust him. Centuries of dealing with McWalton lairds had taught him to be leery.

*  *  *  *

Trusting with his heart will save the lives of two, and the lives of the five.

Phoebe moved her head from side to side, trying to work out the kinks. Sitting at the desk wasn’t the most comfortable thing for her lately. She couldn’t seem to concentrate most of the time. She glanced over to where Callum usually sat and sighed. He’d had a lot of meetings lately and she found herself missing him during the day. She wasn’t a woman who clung to a man. Her first marriage had taught her that. But more and more she felt the need to be around Callum.

“What has you looking so lonely, love?” he asked. She turned and found him leaning against the doorjamb.

“I was thinking I missed having you here.”

He smiled and her heart still did that little dance it did the first time she saw it. They definitely came more frequently these days. He walked over to her, leaning down to give her a kiss.

“Come to bed, love, and I will show you how much I missed you.”

She smiled. “I would like to, but I am a little sleepy and I think I found something here.”

“Well, let’s at least go over to the sofa.”

He plucked her up out of the chair. “Wait, I need the diary.”

He grumbled something about that bloody diary.

“This is the thing that brought us together.”

He said nothing else, but grunted when they settled on the couch. “I think you might be gaining weight.”

“I think I married the wrong McLennan.”

He laughed. “Now what did you find?”

She read the line that stopped her before.

“Hmm, you don’t know if it has to do with Angus.”

“No. But it has to do with one of the boys probably.”

He snorted. “Only you would call those wankers boys.”

She said nothing as she leaned back against his chest and stretched out her legs. She continued to read until another line stopped her.

The Descendent will sacrifice the jewel for the loves of her life and in it; she could save the lives of the five.

“Woah.”

“What?”

“This is what I translated this to.” She handed him the paper.

He looked at her. “Do you think she is a direct descendent?”

Phoebe shrugged. “I’m not sure. Truth is, she probably wouldn’t even know either.”

“How could she not know?”

“Witches have always led a strange existence in every culture. Revered at times for their healing powers, and vilified if anything ever went wrong. Fear of the unknown always made them easy targets. White witches like Maggie and her mother and grandmother could have easily had to flee. Many of them lost their way.”