The captain soon appeared, slipping into the cave in spite of his great stature.
As Jack waited for Adaira to speak first, he listened to water dripping, deep in the heart of the cave, and realized they were truly sheltered from the wind’s curiosity. Adaira was wise to take such precautions.
“I delayed in sharing this with you, Torin,” she began, “for two reasons. The first: I didn’t know if Jack would return to the mainland when I summoned him. The second: I didn’t know if what my father said was actually true. It seemed fanciful, and I wanted to see its proof before I gave you any hope.”
Torin scowled. “What are you speaking about, Adi?”
Adaira drew a deep breath. She looked at Jack, as if she needed reassurance from him. He gave her a faint nod.
She told her cousin the same story she had once told Jack, then told him about Jack singing up the spirits of the sea the night before, and what they had said.
Torin exhaled. His eyes seemed to burn in the dim light. “You called the folk to you?”
Adaira nodded. “Yes. Jack did. And we plan to do it again with the earth.”
Jack was staring at his lap, picking dirt from his nails until he felt Torin’s gaze.
“I want to be there when it happens,” Torin said.
“I’m sorry, cousin, but that won’t be possible,” Adaira replied. “It must be Jack and me, and us alone. I don’t think the spirits will manifest if they are being watched by anyone else.”
“Then I have questions I’d like for you to ask the earth,” Torin countered. “One—we know now it’s not the spirits stealing the lasses but a man. Who is this man? What is his name? Where does he reside? Is he working alone or does he have help? Second—where is he hiding the lasses, if they are still alive? And if they are dead …” Torin closed his eyes. “Then where are their bodies?”
Adaira and Jack were silent, listening to Torin rattle off queries. But when Jack shared a glance with her, he knew they were both thinking the same thing. The spirits of the sea hadn’t been forthcoming with their responses. What if the earth was no more helpful? Would Jack and Adaira be able to ask all of these questions?
“We’ll try our best to get the answers for you,” Adaira said.
“There is one more thing I’d like you to ask them,” Torin continued. “At the place where Catriona vanished, I found two red flowers lying in the grass. Shorn but unwilted, because they were enchanted. Strange, as I’ve never seen them grow in the east before. Sidra likewise didn’t recognize them, but I have a strong inkling they are being used by the culprit to either entice the girls or to pass unnoticed by us.”
Adaira frowned. “Where are these flowers at the moment?”
“With Sidra. She can give one to you, to show the spirits,” Torin said, turning his attention next to Jack. “How soon can you play?”
Jack hesitated. He wasn’t sure. He still felt weak from the night before, and he hadn’t had a chance to prepare.
“It will take me a few days,” he said, wishing he could give Torin the response he wanted. “I’m afraid I need time to study the music.”
“You haven’t looked at it yet?”
“No, he hasn’t had a chance to,” Adaira said. “My intention was to bring the music to him this morning, but I heard the news about Maisie and came directly to you, Torin. Now I’m about to take him home and give it to him.”
Torin nodded. “All right. Thank you, Jack.”
The captain departed, leaving Jack and Adaira behind in the cave.
A faint groan escaped her. The sound prompted Jack to study her face. Adaira had dropped her mask of confident, capable laird who was going to solve this mystery. In the wake of Torin’s departure, she appeared uncertain and anxious. She was weary and sad, and when her gaze met Jack’s, he didn’t look away.
“Can you come with me now?” she asked.
“Yes,” he answered, ignoring the ache that lingered in his hands.
He let her climb down first, so he could watch the path she took and mimic it. He shuddered to be back on solid ground until he realized Adaira had already mounted her horse and was waiting.
“Should I meet you there?” he said, giving the mare a wide berth.
Adaira smiled. “No. It’ll be much faster if you ride with me.”
Jack hesitated. The horse tossed her head and pawed the ground, sensing his reluctance.
“I don’t mind walking,” he insisted.
“When’s the last time you rode a horse, Jack?”
“Close to eleven years now.”
“Then it’s a good time to get back in the saddle.” Adaira slipped her foot from the stirrup, offering it to him. “Come on, my old menace.”
This was bound to be a disaster, and Jack groaned as he slid his boot into the stirrup, hauling himself up. He sat, very uncomfortably, behind her. He didn’t know where he should put his hands, where his feet should go. Adaira’s back was aligned with his chest, and he leaned away so the wind could still blow between them.
“Are you settled?” she asked.
“As I’ll ever be,” he replied drolly.
Adaira clucked to the horse. The mare began to walk, and Jack felt how stiff his body was. He was trying to relax, to let the horse’s gait melt through him, when Adaira clucked again. The horse lurched into a trot. Jack grimaced. Every thought was about to be knocked loose from his head.
“This is too fast,” he said, scrambling to grip the edges of the saddle.
“Hold on, Jack.”
“What?”
She clucked a third time, and the horse broke into a canter. Jack could feel the taunt of the ground as his balance teetered. He was about to tumble off and had no choice but to grasp her waist and sidle closer to her, so that no space remained between their bodies. He felt her palm cover his knuckles, warm with reassurance. She eased his hands forward to her navel, so that his arms embraced her, his fingers linked over the stays of her dress.
By the time they reached the castle courtyard, Jack was certain a few years had been shaved from his life and there were tangles in his hair that no comb would be able to tame. The mare came to a halt before the stable doors and nickered, announcing their arrival. Only then did Jack loosen his death grip on Adaira.
She dismounted first, a graceful slide to the cobblestones. She turned and held out her hand to him, wordlessly offering her assistance.
Jack scowled but accepted, surprised by how steady and strong she was, even as he was unbalanced. Awkwardly, he eased himself to the ground. He winced as he straightened.
“You’ll be sore tomorrow,” Adaira warned.
“Excellent,” he replied, thinking he couldn’t afford to let one more thing ail him.
He relinquished her hand and fell into stride beside her, now that he knew where she was taking him. They passed through the garden in companionable silence and ascended to the music chamber, a place Jack was coming to love. He brushed the dust from his clothes as Adaira called for tea.
“Are you feeling well, Jack?” she asked, looking him over as she walked to her desk.
He paused, wondering if she was at last noticing the effects of last night. “I’m fine,” he said. “Although I could wait another eleven years before riding a horse again.”