Enchanted Cottage (Avador Book 3, Books We Love Fantasy Romance) (9 page)

Looking outside, she saw the grass wet from rain, a shower she had slept through.
After breakfast, she waited a while for the ground to dry, then gathered her books from the Temple of Knowledge and set out along the forest path. How different this trek was from her journey a nine-day ago. Up and down hills she trod, the trees and bushes wet from the recent rain, dampening her dress. The trip seemed shorter this time, perhaps because happiness lent a spring to her step.

The city came into view, its spires sparkling in the sunlight.
First dropping her books off at the Temple, she headed for the dress shop. There, she saw in the window a lovely dress of light blue linen trimmed in lace and inquired about it. “I didn’t know you sold ready-made dresses here.”

The proprietor greeted her with a smile.
“Normally we don’t, but a wealthy woman changed her mind about buying it. If you’d like to try it on, we can make adjustments to fit you.”

Feeling extravagant for the first time in her life, Alana went to a back room to try it on, finding it a bit too long and too big in the waist.
“If you make these adjustments, I’ll come back for it in a few days.”

“We can adjust it today, if you don’t mind waiting.”

Alana nodded. “Thank you. I would appreciate that. And I’ll also pay for the dresses and cape I ordered last nine-day.”

The woman frowned in puzzlement.
“Dresses? I don’t recall that you ordered any dresses.”

Alana frowned, too.
A hint of anxiety crept into her voice. “Don’t you remember?” Suddenly, the problem resolved itself. “I had a terrible face rash at the time.”

“Oh, yes, I’m glad for your sake it’s cleared up.
Just a minute.” She headed for a back room and returned moments later. “Here you are. We’ll hold these for you and have the other dress ready … say, within a couple of hours.”

Leaving the store, Alana walked out into the bright sunlight.
She tried to put an optimistic outlook on her life, the awareness that she had her looks back. Yet the loss of Colin weighed heavily on her. She would remember him for the rest of her life. Sighing, she headed for the shoemaker’s. After picking up her shoes, she decided on a whim to visit Radegunda at her toiletry shop.

She reached the shop two streets away on Perfume Lane, its hanging sign in front featuring three bars of soap.
As on the last time, a bell rang as she entered, and Radeguna emerged from a back room.

Alana leaned on the wooden counter and smiled.
“Radegunda, do you remember me?”

Radegunda frowned.
“Sorry, can’t say that I do.” A look of comprehension captured her face. “I remember your voice. Is it you, the same lady whose face was so—“

”Ugly, yes.
It’s me. Something happened to clear up my face. I don’t know, don’t understand….” Her voice trailed off, then she brightened. “I can’t tell you how happy I am that I’m my old self again.”

The older woman gave her a knowing look.
“Someone must love you very much.”

“Why?
What makes you say that?”

“Unless the witch lifted the curse
—and I doubt if that’s the case—then a lover’s affection will cure you of the spell.”

Alana thought for a moment.
Brendan? If so, her face should have cleared up long ago. Brendan had harbored warm feelings for her for a long time, his affection going back years.

Radegunda smiled.
“Maybe you have a secret lover.”

She laughed.
“If that’s the case, then it’s a big secret, for I know of no recent person who cares for me.” Not Colin, that she knew. If he had loved her, he would have said something. Even if he wanted to return to his family—and she understood his desire to see his family again—he would have told her he loved her before leaving, with a promise to return to her.

“Well, with you havin’ your looks back, I’m sure lots of men will notice you now.”

“Thank you, Radegunda.” She purchased a jar of hand cream and left the shop, mulling over the woman’s words. The one man she wanted to notice her was gone from her life forever.

Chapter
Ten

Colin crested the hill that overlooked his family estate in Ulaidh.
Ah, how good it was to be back in Ulaidh again, to see his father and older brother Leith, to see his home again. Its sandstone glistened in the bright sunshine, its many windows reflecting the light. The hundreds of acres surrounding the manor, all part of the Duffrey estate, appeared well-tended, as he remembered.

With a satisfied sigh, he eased the horse down the rock-strewn hill, past the maples and oaks that bordered the property, the thick bushes that fronted the house.
Danu’s balls, how he’d missed all of this and seeing his family again. The stable, a wide stone structure, stood several yards behind the house, its windows open to the fresh air.

Inside the stable, ten horses of various breeds stood inside their stalls; the pleasant aroma of horses and hay wafted throughout.
Sunlight streaming through the open windows caught dust motes that floated in the air.

Looking surprised, the head stable boy came forward to greet him.
“Master Colin, it’s been a long time since we last saw you.”

“Too long, Fagan.
But I’m glad to be home again. Take good care of the horse and rub her down. We’ve been on the road for a long time.”

“Indeed, sir.
And may I say that Master Finian will be happy to see you.”

And Leith?
Colin wondered. With final instructions for the care of the horse, he retrieved his possessions from the saddle bags. He left the stable and headed for the family mansion, a magnificent structure that boasted over sixty rooms.

“Son!” his father welcomed him in the study a few minutes later.
Tears misted his eyes as he held Colin close. “We were so worried about you, had no idea where you were or what had happened to you. I must admit we feared the worst.”

We?
“Father, where is Leith?” He looked around in desperation, as though expecting Leith to enter the room any minute. And why not?

Tears streamed down Finian’s cheeks.
“Ah, if only you had come home sooner. It’s been so long—“

”
Where is Leith
?”

Finian drew back; his face revealed his anguish.
“He died a few days ago.”

“
Died
? How—what—“

Finian drew out a handkerchief and dried his eyes.
“He suffered from the wasting disease. Now he is at peace, with your mother in the Otherworld.”

Colin sank into the nearest chair, holding his face in his hands.
“Leith … I can’t believe it. He was always so vibrant, so alive!” He sat up and shook his head. “Hard to believe.”

Finian sat, too, heaving a deep sigh.
“We both wondered and worried about you. As I say, we feared—“

”Badly wounded in the last battle.
Had to recuperate. I’ll tell you about that later. But where is L … Leith buried?”

“In the family plot, next to your mother.”

Colin stood. “If you’ll excuse me, I’d liked to go outside and see … his grave.”

“Yes, of course.
When you come back, we have much to discuss, if you feel up to it. Goddess knows, I’d like to forget mundane affairs, pretend everything is as before. But there is much to settle.” He laid his hand on his chest. “My heart …I don’t know how much longer
I’ll
be here.”

“No, Father, don’t say it.
I can’t lose you, too. Why, I’ll wager you’ll live for another twenty years, at least.”

Finian smiled grimly.
“We can hope.”

Outside minutes later, Colin walked far beyond the house, to a place set aside as the family burial plot.
A statue of Talmora stood at the entrance, and bushes of many kinds— hydrangeas, lilacs, and roses—formed a pleasant border. Finding the gravestone with Leith’s name on it, Colin sank to the ground. He fought his tears as he spoke with a bottomless sorrow, a grief that had no end. “Leith, my dear brother, forgive me for the times I was jealous of you, for any unkind words I ever spoke to you. Your suffering is over … you are now with our mother. Someday, my brother, we will meet again in the Otherworld and when we are both reborn in new bodies. I pray to the Goddess that it will be so.” Tears ran down his cheeks, but he wiped them away. He remained seated for long moments, thinking his private thoughts. Time lost all meaning as he sat by the grave; it may have been minutes or hours. A splendid oak stood nearby, a tree considered sacred by the people of Avador. He rose from the grave and knelt beside the tree.

“Blessed Goddess Talmora, please watch over my brother in the Otherworld.
Give him the happiness he surely deserves and grant that I may meet him again.” Then he rose and walked back toward the house along the stone path, past oaks and maples, here and there a weeping willow. Far in the distance stood the cottages of tenants, the fields showing late springtime growth of corn, tomatoes, kale, and endive, so many other vegetables. Close to the house, fruit trees revealed burgeoning cherries, peaches, and plums, almost ready for picking.

Returning to the house, Colin walked past the spacious entry to his father’s study, his boots clicking on the marble floor.

He sat down in a chair, facing his father.
“Did he suffer much at the end?”

“Mostly weakness, coughing up blood.
Lost much weight, but no pain.”

Colin nodded.
“We have that to be thankful for.”

“Yes.”
Finian sighed heavily. “You realize, of course, that this changes everything. You are now the heir to the estate.”

“May my inheritance happen far in the future.
First thing I must do is ride to the Elegian army headquarters in Komartis and resign my commission.”

“That shouldn’t take more than a few days, since it’s not far north of here.
I’d think you’d be back in few days.”

“That is so, but
….” He thought of Alana and how much he wanted her as his wife, if she wanted the same. Would his father accept her?

“But?”

“I have business to tend to near Moytura. That may take a few more days. I’ll try to return as quickly as I can.”

“Mind telling me what this business involves?”
He spoke quickly. “A woman? Because surely you know you can’t marry just any woman. We are an important family in Ulaidh, with a proud tradition to uphold. I expect you to marry into one of the leading families.”

He swallowed hard, determined not to reveal what he felt in his heart.
“Let’s postpone such discussions for now, shall we? I just returned home, need to catch up on things—“

”Yes, of course.
And no doubt you need to rest a bit.” A look of chagrin came over his face. “I haven’t even asked you about your injury. Where was your injury, and how serious was it?”

“Sword wound, upper right arm, got infected.
I rested for awhile but am completely recovered now.”
Thanks to Alana
. “So if I stay here for another day or so to catch up on business, I can be on my way to Komartis day after tomorrow.” He realized he was babbling but feared his father would ask him where and how he recuperated. He stood and glanced at the hour glass on his father’s desk. “I’d like to wash up a bit before the evening meal. Long ride, dusty….”

His father stood, too.
“Of course. While you were outside, I had one of the maids prepare your room, put fresh sheets on the bed. I’ll see you again, say, in an hour so. Then we can relax during the evening meal.” He sighed. “At least as much as possible, under the circumstances.”

Colin headed up the winding staircase, down the long, carpeted hallway to his bedroom.
His mind worked the entire way. An emptiness settled over him, missing Leith so much it became a physical ache. He remembered his laughter, his love of life, everything about him that made him the older brother he had always loved.

He opened the door to his bedroom, with its expansive bed and a burgundy velvet bedspread.
The room smelled of freshly-laundered sheets and potpourri. He thought again about Alana; indeed, he couldn’t get her out of his mind. Even if she loved him—and he had no reason to suppose she did—what would his father say if he brought her home to the Duffrey estate? What did he know of her family, except that she’d lost her parents? He realized that he had never asked her anything about her life before she’d come to the cottage. Did she have brothers or sisters, or both? He didn’t even know what village she came from
. Self-centered prick, aren’t you?
Most important, did she love him? Oh, yes, he recalled her tears upon his departure, but she would have cried at losing anyone, man or woman. Alana, who was destined to live out her life in her isolated cottage, with her blemished face. A sad, lonely existence. But he could change her fate and take her away if she loved him.