McCann's Manor (49 page)

"Of course,” Benjamin said. “Come, lass, let us leave Tarrh to his rest."

"What if Kim and Melody come back looking for us?” Liz objected.

"They will find us. Are you afraid to be alone with me?” he asked, that impish twinkle in his eyes again.

"Should I be?” she asked.

"Maybe—” he retorted as he led her from Tarrh's room. “You still have not figured it out, have you?"

"Figured what out?"

Benjamin had her by the hand and hauled her to a small room on the other end of a long corridor, closed the door behind them as he drew her close to him. “Look at me and tell me what you see,” he commanded.

She stared into his dark eyes, felt his warm breath on her face. She was mesmerized, and suddenly weak in the knees. What
did
she see there? How could the man make her feel this way? What power did he wield over her to turn her inside out so easily? She attempted to pull away from his hold, but failed. Was she unable to break away from his embrace because she didn't really want to, or because
he
didn't want her to?

"Well, lass? What do you see?” he repeated.

"Benjamin, let me go,
please
,” she breathed.

"I will, if ‘tis what you truly want. Is it?” he asked, drawing her closer still to his lips.

Her head was spinning and she found it hard to catch her breath. “Why are you doing this?"

He smiled at her then, put her fingers to his lips and kissed each one. “I recognized you instantly, but you don't
know me
, do you?"

"I don't know what you're talking about, Ben,” she confessed.

"You call yourself psychic, but you don't even have a hint about our past lives together, do you?"

"Our—
past
—?"

"Aye, you
feel
the bond with John, but you do not feel it with me. How can that be?"

She searched his face, found only more questions in his gaze. “What are you saying?” she asked.

"Lass, John and I are the
same.
Can you not recognize that?"

"You mean you're his—?"

"Aye, lass, I am John's past life. Constance is yours!” he spat.

"I-I don't believe it. I mean, I
do
believe it, but I don't
believe
it! That's why when I look at you I think of him? My God, I thought I was going crazy!” she sputtered.

He buried his hands in her hair, pulled her to him and planted an overpowering kiss on her lips. “I love you, lass. Now as much as then, I love you. John may not know who he was or who you are to him, but he feels the love as strongly as I do."

That explained a lot about her feelings, but it did precious little to prepare her for the ordeal to come. She was worried about Kim and Melody and why they weren't back yet. She was worried about getting enough antidote into Tarrh in time to save his life and make him strong enough to help them control Moira long enough to—to what, exactly? To make matters even more confusing, in the middle of all her wondering and doubt, Benjamin was going to kiss her again and she was going to melt.

"Why are you staring at me that way?” Moira demanded. “Do you not understand English? Get up!"

Kim frowned, tried to look confused, put her hand to her ear in an effort to communicate that she didn't understand because she couldn't hear. She ended her gesture with a shrug and a sad sort of pout, palms up and open.

Moira paced the floor in front of her. “This is quite unaccountable. Where is Melody and why are you here with my pets? Answer me this instant!” she ordered.

"Oh, Mistress, forgive me!” Melody fairly shouted as she rushed back into the room. “I was gone but a moment. I forgot to bring you the fresh linens you asked for and I went just down the hall to retrieve them,” she explained.

"Who is this creature and what is she doing here—and why does she not answer when I speak to her?” Moira demanded.

"Alas, dear mistress, this unfortunate creature is me deaf and dumb cousin Callie,” Melody said in a distressed kind of speech that made Kim think she was a better actress than she was a maid. “I do not know if you recall my mentioning her. She is me mither's sister Gwyneth's daughter, come to visit me for a few days. I didna think it would hurt anything for her to accompany me on me cleaning rounds, mistress. I shouldna have left her here while I was not in the room, but she and the dogs hit it off so well and I was gone only a minute—"

"Oh, do stop babbling, Melody!” Moira said. “'Tis a wonder the dogs did not harm her while you were gone. But it appears there was no damage done to anything or anyone,” she said as she walked to the table of magical concoctions, checked to make sure nothing was missing before she wheeled to face Melody. “Why have you been touching things on my table? You know I have expressly forbidden you to come near it."

"Why, mistress, I only just tidied a wee bit; things were getting dusty,” Melody answered without changing her expression. “You know I would never touch anything without your permission and supervision, except to keep things clean and comfortable for ye."

Moira stared at her a moment, smiled and approached her in a more relaxed manner. “Of course, I know you would never do anything you were not told to do, would you?” she asked.

"Nay, mistress. I would never do
anything
to displease you,” Melody said with a sweet smile. “I respect your belongings, as I respect you, mistress."

Melody's words seemed to placate Moira, who returned her attention to Kim, who was still standing as one transfixed to the spot, trying hard to maintain her blank expression. “Naturally you do, Melody. But what of your dear cousin? How do I know I can trust
her
?"

"Sure you know it because I give ye my word, mistress. Callie is a simple wight. She hasn't the
mind
for meddling in things she ought not,” Melody replied.

Moira thought on Melody's words, approached Kim for a closer look. “A simple wight? Are you saying she is none too smart?” she asked, watching deliberately for any change in Kim's expression.

"I suppose ‘tis true enough, mistress. Why, she has never even learned to read lips the way some can,” Melody said.

"I believe you, Melody, dear,” Moira said at last, “but there is something
unnerving
about her, though I cannot for the life of me decide what it is. She seems familiar to me somehow ... but how could that be?"

"I have no idea, mistress, though had ye ever seen any of my family, ye would be able to see a phratry resemblance. Sure, she has the same eyes as her mither, mistress,” Melody said.

Moira considered first Kim and then Melody, shook her head. “Aye and you both have that lovely curly hair. I suppose you are right; ‘tis but a resemblance to kith and kin. But I am sure you have other chores before you are done for the night, so the two of you begone. I have work to do."

"But I havena changed your linens, mistress. ‘Twill only take a few moments,” Melody countered.

"Aye, but I am quite capable of changing my own linens. Shan't hurt me this once,” Moira said. “Now go. Oh, and Melody—"

"Aye, mistress?"

"Henceforth I think you should refrain from bringing anyone with you into my chambers,” Moira suggested.

"Aye, mistress. I will remember that,” she said. “Good night to you."

"Good night,” Moira said. She watched Melody take her cousin by the hand and lead her toward the door, then picked up a heavy tome off the table and slammed it to the floor with a loud bang, watched in vain for Callie's response to the noise. “The poor girl is
completely
deaf?” she asked when Melody started at the noise.

"Aye, mistress, utterly deaf since birth,” Melody said.

Moira bent over, picked up the book, watched through narrowed eyes as Melody and her cousin left the room, closing the door behind them. Outside Moira's room, Melody and Kim shot each other a relieved glance before hurrying down the hall to the stairs without speaking. Once they were downstairs, Melody looked around to make sure Sean was nowhere around and opened the secret passageway that would lead them back to Tarrh's quarters.

"You certainly did that well,
cousin
!” Melody commented as she began her ascent up the narrow stairs.

Kim sighed heavily, shook her head. “Thank you, but I was holding my breath the entire time. You saved my life with your fast thinking. It was good that I was supposed to be unable to speak, because if I had been
able
to talk I wouldn't have been able to say a coherent word. She totally took me by surprise, coming in and demanding to know who I was. You can surely handle her like a pro,” she said.

"Aye, I have had to learn to manage her through flattery and servility for fear she would make me leave like she did the others. I think she really believes I am her friend. I canna decide why she came back so soon this evening. She must have suspected something and returned to try to catch me at it,” Melody mused.

"
Speaking
of which, where
did
you disappear to?” Kim asked.

"'Tis a strange thing, but when I stuck that vial down my dress, I felt ill. I went to hide it so I could continue to do my work. I never expected her to be there when I returned,” Melody said.

"Lucky you thought to bring those linens with you!"

"Aye, Danu was with me for a surety,” Melody said.

"I thought Danu was an
Irish
goddess,” Kim observed.

"Aye, she is, but me mither was Irish, so I do call on Irish deities from time to time. Tarrh and I are practitioners of Celtic magic, and the Celts contributed much to the Irish as well as the Welsh, British and Scottish—or Gaelic—practices,” Melody explained. “Basically the deities are the same for each of the cultures, only the names are different. I prefer the Irish names."

"I see,” Kim said. “I'm truly glad Danu was with you. She seems to have been with me as well. My knees are still shaking and I have no idea how I was able to pull off that farce. I would never be able to do it again."

"Interesting what ye can do when ye have to, is it not?"

"Yes, but I really hope I don't have to do anything like
that
again any time soon!” Kim confessed.

"In truth, I hope I do not have to either,” Melody said. “The woman makes me feel as though there are worms crawling me spine."

"Tell me something, Melody,” Kim began, “How will it help for Ben to have the potion? Can he tell just by
looking
at it what the ingredients are?"

"If he is as good a wizard as he claims to be, he will be able to tell what is in it from the look, smell and consistency of it, at least within a reasonable estimate. There are tests he could perform as well. No one could tell for absolute certain all of the ingredients in any potion without seeing the formula for that potion. Of course, there are many standard potions used over the centuries and if we are lucky, this one will be one of those,” Melody said.

"And if we aren't lucky?"

Melody looked at the floor, sighed. “If we are
not
lucky, this potion will be some evil concoction Moira invented on her own, one only she can make an antidote for,” Melody answered.

"Is she that good a sorceress?"

"She is very good. She has waxed even stronger as Tarrh's power has waned, almost as though she were draining the potency from him and drinking it into herself,” Melody said.

"Could that be a part of the power of the potion?” Kim asked.

"Aye, it could very well be part of the mixture's strength. It is clear
something
has given him the illusion of being powerless to combat the effects of her magic. ‘Tis not like himself at all,” she said.

"I hope we can do something to change that,” Kim said, touching Melody's shoulder.

"Aye, so do I, Kim. So do I,” Melody agreed.

"How old is your son, Melody?"

"Just turned seven,” she answered. “Why?"

"Is he here? I mean, he is young to be left to his own devises, so I wondered where he is,” Kim explained.

"Aye, he
is
young. Moira fancies horses, so we still have a stable master. William spends much time with Arian at the stables. Arian is teaching him to be a grand horseman,” Melody said. “'Tis a far finer place for a boy to be than following his mither's skirts around the manor."

"And Arian is a trustworthy caretaker of the boy?"

"Aye, he takes care of little William as though he actually
were
his father. ‘Tis good for a male child to have a fine man to look up to, and Arian is such a man,” Melody said.

"And what is he like?” Kim asked.

"Arian? Oh, strong, loyal, good with animals—not too bright, but he has a good heart and he loves William dearly and would protect him with his own life, if need be."

"Well, I guess you couldn't ask for more in a companion for William, then,” Kim observed.

"Nay, I could not; William and I get to spend time together often enough during the quiet periods of the day and in the evenings before I put him to bed. It hasn't been the ideal life for him, but ‘tis all right for both of us. I think it suits Arian as well, for he lost his wife and son in a fire the year before William was born. Having William around gives him something to occupy that empty place in his heart,” she said.

"Are you and Arian the only servants?"

"Aye, we are now that the mistress dismissed the others. Before, we were part of a staff of five house servants, two gardeners and two stable keepers,” Melody answered.

"That must be hard on you, taking care of this huge house all by yourself. How long has it been since she dismissed the others?"

"Nigh onto three years now and yes, it has been very hard for all of us. The servants she dismissed nearly starved the first winter, for no one would take them on. They had been here since Tarrh was a fiery youth building this manor. They were like family to him. Tarrh won't say it, but he still grieves over not having them with him anymore,” she elaborated.

"Why did Tarrh permit Moira to dismiss them? I mean, isn't he still the master of his own house?” Kim asked.

"They have been working their evil charms against him almost five years and he has gradually become more and more weak, keeping to himself, brooding and wasting away. He just didna seem to care for a time about anything,” she answered sadly.