The dashing blond musketeer jumped the graceful animal over a low cart and rode straight to the front door. “Bonjour, Madame Wilde,” he said, sweeping the plumed hat from his head in a grand gesture. “Would either your esteemed husband or brother be about?”
“Good morning yourself, and they’re both out golfing, as you would be too if you had answered your phone this morning,” Meg answered with a sweet smile.
“I was otherwise engaged,” Renaud said, grinning wolfishly. “Please offer them my humble apologies, but in truth they’ll benefit from the practice before playing me again. I’ll catch up with them later. Au revoir.” Waving, he and the horse turned and shot down the street toward the stables with a clatter of horseshoes on the cobblestones.
“Cheeky Frenchman.” Laughing, Meg closed the door. “Sorry for the interruption,” she said. “Now, where were we?”
“You had just said your mom doesn’t approve of Ian’s hair,” Beth giggled. “Do your parents live here?”
“Lord, no. You’ll never get Ma off the island. Our dad passed two years ago. There’s five of us kids altogether, but Ian and I are the only ones here in the States. Any more questions?”
Beth nodded sagely. “Just one more–what’s wrong with him?”
Meg gave a hearty laugh. “I’d say his worst fault is a healthy dose of the Kelly temper–just like the storms here. Fierce, but doesn’t last too long. Ma always said it was the wild Celt blood.”
Beth glanced at the clock and smiled as she stood to leave. “Thanks, Meg. I appreciate the info. I’ll be back later to set the tent up.”
“Oh, there’s something,” Meg said, snapping her fingers. “Here’s a secret for you, and were you to come straight out and ask him I can promise you he’ll lie his arse off about it. Those pretty cards of yours–I’ve heard you’re very good with them, but I’ll wager he reads them as well as you.”
Beth plopped down on the couch, eyes wide and mouth agape. “No. Way.”
Meg grinned. “It’s true. Our grandmother, rest her soul, was a real honest to goodness witch, a cailleach in the Irish. She used to read the cards, do herb cures and whatnot for the people of the wee village she lived in, not too far from where we grew up. Ian spent weeks and months at a stretch with her. I’d imagine he learned quite a bit.”
“Is he a witch too?” Beth asked in amazement.
“It’s never come up, but were I to guess, I’d say probably. He’s spooky sometimes with the stuff he knows but shouldn’t know. It’s hard to keep secrets from him. Makes him a right pain around his birthday and Christmastime.” She laughed.
Beth stood again. “Well, I’m off, and it might be better if you didn’t mention our little talk to anyone.”
“Right,” Meg said with a conspiratorial wink. “Tell your friend he’s a good man. He just needs a good woman to help him sort himself out.”
Unable to sit and wait patiently until evening, Beth sent Lily a midmorning text begging a lunchtime rendezvous for humanitarian reasons. Seeing the glowing expression on her friend’s face over slices of pizza at the food court, she decided to keep her visit with Meg a secret for the time being. “It all sounds so romantic,” she said with a heartfelt sigh, chewing her crust thoughtfully.
“It was,” Lily agreed, “all that and more.”
Resigned to secrecy but completely powerless to resist the urge to stir the pot just a little, Beth asked, “Remember the reading you did for Ian at the Castle? What were the cards you pulled again?”
“The Queen of Cups, the Ace of Cups and the Eight of Wands. Why?”
“What did he say about it? The reading, I mean,” Beth urged.
Lily thought for a moment. “He pointed to the Queen and said he went to the tent to find out who I was but the woman in his dream was a blonde, not black haired like me,” she recalled, smiling shyly. “During dinner he confessed he saw me on that first day walking with you, so he already knew I was blond. Remember the hot painter up on the scaffold? He–”
“Yes, but I have one burning question for you, dearie. How did he know the Queen of Cups was a blonde?”
“Well, I’m sure…he…maybe he…” Lily’s voice trailed off, but after a minute she admitted she had no logical explanation.
Beth gave her a big Cheshire cat grin. “My work here is done,” she said.
* * * *
When Lily returned to the office, she was greeted with smiles Janice and Irena. “Something came for you while you were out,” Janice sang in a happy voice. Lily walked to her desk where a beautiful bouquet of Sorbonne lilies stood waiting.
“There’s a card,” Irena said, leaning forward to see who they were from. Lily plucked the card from the envelope and read it.
Thank you for a most enchanting evening–Ian
“Who are they from?” asked Janice.
“A friend,” Lily said, tucking the card away in her pocket before anyone could see. To avoid further questions, she picked up the glass vase. “I think they need more water,” she remarked then turned and scampered to the break area in the back. She ran a little water from the faucet and finished filling the vase. Pulling the card from her pocket, she read the inscription again and smiled with fond remembrance.
The office was busy as usual for a Friday afternoon, and Lily waited a bit before asking where Lucas was.
“He left when you were at lunch,” Irena said, biting her lip. “I told him about your beautiful flowers arriving. I thought for sure they were from him. I hope I didn’t mess anything up…”
Lily struggled to keep her face impassive while mentally berating herself about what she had done. What on earth was she going to tell Lucas? Of course he was going to ask. Truly though it wasn’t any of his business and she knew it. Lucas never once sent her flowers in all the years she’d known him, but Ian sent one after the first date. She updated the mental scoreboard. Ian Two, Lucas Zero.
She leaned in to sniff the fragrant blossoms. How sweet, she thought. She wanted to call and say thank you for the thoughtful gesture but decided there were too many ears about. Maybe he’ll be at the Castle tonight, and I can tell him in person. The lady sitting in front of her had to ask her three times about making a payment before Lily snapped out of her daydream with a “…hmm? Payment? I can help you with that…”
Lily completed the transaction then endeavored to keep her mind off the excitement of the coming evening, failing miserably in the attempt.
* * * *
Late in the evening, Ian was hard at work mixing colors in his home studio. He was contemplating a short break when the voice on the answering machine gave him the needed excuse. “Ian–are you there? Pick up your damn phone,” Dan growled good-naturedly.
Ian briskly wiped the turpentine from his hands before grabbing the handset. “Hey, I’m here.”
“Screening your calls?” Dan asked with a laugh.
“No. The ringer’s off. I’m actually working for a change. Shocking, I know,” he joked. “What’s up?”
Ian walked to the kitchen and poured himself a glass of merlot as Dan explained his plight. “Need your help, my brother. I’ve had a call off for the fencing show Saturday night. Can you do it? You already know the routine. And as an added bonus, if you’ll help me out, I’ll get Meg to make you a big pot of that awful stew the two of you love so much.”
Ian’s mouth began to water at the prospect