Doon Page 11

  “Is that the village?” I leaned out over the side of the carriage to get a better look.

  Without even turning her head, Fiona said, “Aye,” her face glowing with pride.

  As we entered the gates of the thriving, picturesque town, its charm swept me away to another time. The winding cobblestone streets were lined with shops of various colors and shapes, all fitted together like perfectly matched puzzle pieces. A hundred fragrances swirled on the breeze, filling my nose with everything from savory grilled meat to fresh flowers. I smelled cinnamon and fresh baked bread, followed by the acrid tang of pitch. As we rounded a bend, the scent of something fried and salty made my mouth water.

  Suddenly, I longed to experience this place at Christmastime; all lit up, gables coated in snow, doorways strung with garland, the scent of roasting chestnuts warming the icy breeze. It would be exactly like the miniature Christmas village I’d admired as a child in the window of Frank’s Hardware Store. I’d spent cumulative hours of time over the years at that window making up stories in my head for the ceramic people living, shopping, and caroling in the tiny town. More times than I could count, I’d wished I could shrink myself down and live in that idyllic setting.

  “It’s like the Renaissance Festival,” Kenna murmured. “Only cleaner. Look, there’s a coffee stand!”

  I had to smile at my friend’s analogy—further proof of why we complemented each other so well.

  We approached a lively area of town where people were bustling with noticeable abandon. Many paused in their interactions to wave at the princes as we passed. Duncan directed our attention to a smartly decorated store window. “There’s Dinwiddie’s leather shop; softest, most durable boots ye’ll ever find. Doc Benoir’s medical practice is next door. Oh, and that yellow building on the corner is Millie’s Bakery. And this here’s the local market. Villagers sell fresh produce and handcrafted goods—”

  “Can we stop here?” My words ran over Duncan’s, but I didn’t care. Until Scotland, I’d never been outside of Bainbridge, Indiana. I wanted to live in this moment: sink my teeth into Doon’s fresh fruits, feel the texture of the handwoven rugs, and slip my toes into Dinwiddie’s soft leather boots. I would experience every bit of magic while I could, because if life had taught me anything, it was that the good things never lasted.

  When he didn’t answer right away, I begged, “Please?” He considered my question, which I didn’t understand, as it seemed fairly straightforward to me. After several seconds, he reached around and tapped Jamie’s shoulder.

  Jamie pulled down a side street and parked the carriage, speaking to Duncan and Fergus in low tones. Then Duncan turned around and simply said, “Aye, lass. We can do that.”

  “Thank you!” Tiny wings of excitement fluttered in my stomach.

  Duncan hopped from the carriage to assist Kenna and Fiona to the ground. Too impatient for chivalry, I unlatched the door on my side of the carriage. As I stood, yards of fabric pooled around my legs. The last thing I needed was to trip over my own feet. Cursing the heavy skirts, I gathered them in one hand and turned to make the short leap.

  Too late, I saw the bent figure crouched on the ground directly below me, folding down a set of collapsible stairs. I teetered in mid-step with one foot on the edge of the platform. Frantically, I grabbed for the side of the carriage … and missed. Arms windmilling in the air, I pitched forward.

  As if in slow motion, I watched helplessly as the bent figure in front of me began to straighten.

  Oh, please, no—anyone but Jamie!

  And then I flattened him. We landed on the ground, hard, Jamie on his back with my chest smashed uncomfortably into his face. It felt like I’d hit a concrete sidewalk. Worst of all, I couldn’t breathe. Wriggling in panic, my vision began to darken. Then I gasped, sucking in a mouthful of air. Relief flowed through me, and I relaxed against the solid body beneath me. It was then I noticed the delicious scents of pine and soap mixed with … the charged air before a storm, a distinctive fragrance I suspected was coming from the boy whose body felt like fire against mine.

  I tried to pull away from him, but strong arms held me in place as I stammered, “I’m so—so—sorry, please let me go and I’ll get off you.”

  His warm breath pushed against my throat and a blush rushed up my neck as the truth washed through me—I’d tackled and was lying on top of Jamie MacCrae, boy of my dreams, future king of Doon. Ugg!

  Just when I thought I couldn’t handle the mortification any longer, his hold loosened. Quickly, I rolled to the side, landing in the grass beside him.

  “I’m sorr—”

  “Och, lass, I heard you the first time. Dinna apologize again.” I caught a quick glimpse of his impossibly gorgeous face before he rose to his feet and tugged his idiotic hood back into place. Closing my eyes to shut out tears of humiliation, I lay as still as possible, hoping I would simply melt into the ground. This was not what I had in mind by living in the moment.

  The distinct sound of someone clearing his throat caused me to open one eye. Jamie stood at my feet with his hand extended.

  Slowly, fixing my eyes somewhere around the vicinity of his chest, I sat up and placed my hand in his large, warm fingers. The contact sent a delicious tingle all the way up my arm as he pulled me to my feet in one easy movement. I looked up into his face and our gazes crashed as forcibly as the recent impact of our bodies. His eyes, the color of rich coffee, flowed over my face, melting me like the first thaw of spring.

  My eyes lowered to his strong lips. Would they be as soft as I imagined? I leaned toward him and—his face closed like a door slamming shut. He dropped my hand, practically flinging it back at me. Then he turned on his heels and strode away.

  Stunned, I drew in a ragged breath and then busied myself with smoothing my hair and brushing bits of grass off my skirt. Kenna and Duncan were nowhere in sight. It appeared no one else in our group had witnessed my nosedive into the crown prince of Doon or the way he’d callously crushed my heart and then walked off.

  Fiona fell into step beside me. “Are ye all right, Veronica?”

  Except for Fiona, I corrected myself with a heavy sigh.

  “I’ll live,” I said as lightly as I could, but one look at her knowing face made me realize I wasn’t fooling her with my glib attitude. I shrugged, unwilling to replay Jamie’s scathing rejection. “I feel like a fool. He was trying to put the steps down for me and I was in such a rush that I fell right on top of him!”

  Fiona put her arm around my shoulders as we walked. “’Tis good for the lad ta have some sense knocked into him once in a while.”

  I smiled in relief at her irreverent comment, and we made our way toward the crowded marketplace. Fergus, Duncan, and Kenna waited for us at the edge of the crowd and Jamie—well, Jamie’d vanished … again.

  Not that I cared. Just because I forgot to breathe when he looked at me didn’t mean he had anything to do with my happiness. So he was the most gorgeous boy I’d ever seen. And yes, he was the prince of an enchanted kingdom … So what—he was a jerk! And he obviously didn’t give a fig about me. I’d clearly misread his intentions when he was popping in and out of my world as if it were the local quickie mart.

  Rushing ahead, I caught up with my new giant friend. “Fergus, where might I find the best strawberries in Doon?”

  If I only had two weeks in this idyllic kingdom, I was determined to enjoy every moment of the experience.

  “Right this way, little lass,” Fergus answered, extending his elbow.

  The market was a melting pot of cultures and beautiful handcrafted goods—colorful pottery, beeswax candles, flowing skirts, braided quilts, metal crafts—each item of such excellent quality, I couldn’t believe the cheap prices. Fergus pointed toward the far end. “Strawberries are over yon, as are the bridies and pies … I recommend the steak and kidney and the lamb. A word of warning, you might want to stay away from the sushi—the fish is raw.”

  Doon has sushi? Before I could comment,
Fergus resumed, “Anything ye want, just direct the shopkeeper ta bill the royal family. I’m off to the haberdashery stall the next row over to purchase a new tam. I fancy one with a yellow toorie. Shout if ye have need of me.”

  I nodded to Fergus, content to wander on my own and ogle the amazing deals. A few stalls over, Kenna and Fiona inspected tartan plaids. Duncan drifted around the market shaking hands and speaking to every person in sight like a local politician … which to some extent he was. But no matter where he roamed, I noted he never strayed too far from my best friend’s side.

  As I continued my exploration, I began to notice something disturbing. The Doonians, both shoppers and salespeople alike, seemed hesitant to meet my gaze. I’d hoped with the king’s blessing the people would give us the benefit of the doubt. To test my suspicion, I smiled at a merchant with russet skin, prominent cheekbones, and a jet-black braid, recognizing a fellow American, but as soon as I caught his eye his attention shifted back to the arrow he was fletching.

  “Sushi! Are you kidding me?”

  Ahead, Kenna’s voice reverberated through the makeshift aisles. With Duncan and Fiona flanking her, they stopped to exchange pleasantries with an Asian family selling fresh sushi rolls and ale. I moved toward them until a booth glowing with all the colors of a summer sunset caught my eye. Altering my course, I moved through the crowd toward the magnificent display.

  Paintings in radiant orange, red, deep purple, and gold decorated the booth. A tall, willowy woman with ebony skin inclined her turban-wrapped head to me as I approached. Pleased that she didn’t appear to be afraid of me, I returned her greeting with a smile and then marveled at the vibrant watercolors of African savannas, alongside landscapes of green hills carpeted with heather. Around the side of the booth, I found a display of painted sculptures, each one more remarkable than the next. In the center, a bit taller than the rest, was a perfect re-creation of the Castle MacCrae.

  Mesmerized, I reached out and placed the miniature creation in the palm of my hand. It was perfect from every angle, each gray stone, blue turret, parapet wall, and arched doorway rendered in minute, flawless detail. It would make the ideal souvenir.

  With a sigh, I set the castle back on its shelf. Although Fergus had said to charge anything I liked, I wasn’t about to buy anything with Jamie’s money. Continuing around the booth, I found a red-haired, freckled man minding two beautiful children with caramel-colored skin, the girl’s braided hair a rich auburn and her younger brother a miniature of his regal mother.

  The boy approached, extending a wilted flower clutched in his fist. “Yer pretty.”

  I squatted down to his level and smiled. “Is this for me?”

  He nodded, his solemn chestnut eyes taking up half of his face, and my heart melted as I plucked the blossom from his hand. “What’s your name?”

  “Lachlan, miss.”

  “Thank you, Lachlan. I shall cherish this always.” Maybe I didn’t need money to have a remembrance of my time in Doon.

  The boy’s focus slid past me, his eyes widening in excitement as a mischievous smile lit up his face. “Prince Jamie!”

  I stood and spun on my heel to find a hooded figure hovering at the edge of the artist’s booth. His face was angled away, but the set of broad shoulders beneath his cloak was unmistakable.

  The boy slid a wooden sword from his belt and brandished it in front of him, rushing in Jamie’s direction. “En garde, ye scoundrel!”

  Jamie turned toward the boy, a tiny grin tilting his lips as he pushed his hood back and extended his empty hands in front of him. “I am unarmed, sir. Show mercy.”

  “No mercy for the weak. Choose your weapon!” Lachlan turned sideways, his little feet set in a fencer’s pose, and poked Jamie’s leg with the tip of his sword.

  Jamie whirled and snatched a long baguette from the neighboring stall, wielding it in front of him like a weapon. “What be the stakes, Sir Lachlan?”

  Clearly this wasn’t their first mock sword fight. I glanced over at Lachlan’s parents. His father grinned indulgently and his mother’s eyes glinted with a kind of pride, perhaps because her son wasn’t intimidated by the future king of Doon.

  Lachlan inclined his head in my direction. “We’ll fight for yon lady’s favor.”

  A playful grin spread across Jamie’s face and the heavy mantel of responsibility he carried disappeared before my eyes. “Yer on.”

  My heart twirled in a joyful pirouette as I watched the way Jamie engaged Lachlan, allowing the boy to gain the upper hand as they danced across the narrow space between stalls, their swords crossing again and again.

  Lachlan advanced with wide sweeps, his little face set in concentration. Jamie retreated and then parried, taunting the boy. “Ah, Sir Lachlan, surely a champion of the crown can do better than that.”

  “Perhaps ye need to spend more time in the lists, ye nasty rogue!” The boy hefted his sword in both hands and chopped off the end of Jamie’s baguette.

  Laughter burst from my chest as Jamie stared in stunned indignation at his broken bread sword.

  Pressing his advantage, Lachlan lunged. Jamie leaned into the blow allowing the toy sword to slide between his side and his arm. “Ugg! Ye got me!” The baguette dropped to the ground and Jamie staggered back, hunched over and clutching his gut with both hands.

  Lachlan jumped up and down, cheering and waving his weapon in the air as the villainous prince fell to the ground. After a moment, Jamie’s writhing and groaning stilled and Lachlan approached cautiously, leaning over his fallen advisory. Cupping his hand around his mouth, he whispered loudly, “Ye’ll never win the pretty maiden’s heart that way.”

  The prince’s eyes popped open. “Ye dinna think?” He grabbed Lachlan around the waist and lifted him into the air, the boy’s giggles echoing through the square as Jamie rolled him into the grass and tickled his ribs.

  “Vee, you’ve got to check out this sushi.” Kenna materialized out of nowhere and took my hand to pull me away, but not before Jamie sat up, his laughing eyes locking with mine in a shared, carefree moment. I smiled tentatively, hoping he didn’t notice the blush heating my cheeks.

  Jamie’s lips quirked in a rueful grin and then he glanced away, hoisting himself to his feet just as Kenna gave my hand a yank. Reluctantly, I let her guide me away, but my mind lingered on the playful boy who happily indulged a child’s fantasy without any ulterior motive.

  Who was the real Jamie MacCrae? A ruthless ruler or a puckish prince? Perhaps he was a bit of both. And just like that, a tiny sprout of hope bloomed in my chest.

  CHAPTER 13

  Mackenna

  After the throne room, I’d commenced something I liked to call Survivor: Brigadoon. The bridge would open in a little less than two weeks. If Vee and I were going to escape with our lives and hearts intact, I couldn’t afford to let my guard down for a second.

  Despite the previous day’s Crucible reenactment, Vee still felt this kingdom was her destiny. But when it came to my best friend, I was leaving no man—or in this case, no cheerleader—behind. So unless Prince Not-So-Charming came riding up on a golden unicorn and showered her with rainbows, she was coming home with me.

  Vee’d been too busy ogling all the bright, shiny trinkets in the marketplace to notice Jamie shadowing us. Visions or not, he was far too bipolar to be a match for my best friend. She deserved a true prince—not some moody poseur with a crown. Yet, if I knew her, his conflicted Edward Cullen act would hook her faster than meth.

  Duncan’s sunny disposition, on the other hand, never faltered. Worlds apart from the golden-haired prince with the tortured soul, our dark-haired benefactor possessed an unwavering heart of gold and a quick sense of humor. Both of which, to my disconcertment, were growing on me.

  The afternoon had passed quickly with Duncan shepherding us around the village. In his brother’s absence, he’d even engaged Vee without being flirty. Duncan had also shared quirky little stories from his childhood and pointed out his most fav
orite places. No matter where he went, people greeted him like a beloved friend. He inquired after their families and promised to come round and help with various carpentry projects. Observing his interactions, I had no doubt every one of those promises would be kept.

  If I’d met him on the stage, I would’ve instantly liked him. Heck, I’d have fallen like an avalanche of anvils—especially when he favored me with his smile. But in the not-so-real world, I did my best to keep a civil distance and not succumb to his charms. In two weeks, this would all be as distant a memory as a midsummer night’s dream.

  But like my opinion of Duncan, my impression of Doon had grown more favorable with each interaction. I was beginning to understand why Gracie loved this place. It was ideal for dreamers like my aunt and Vee.

  The little tavern we were in was a perfect example. The place smelled like heaven—like rising yeast, spices, and roasting meat—yet part of me remained skeptical the dishes could live up to the olfactory tease.

  Vee closed her eyes and inhaled appreciatively. For a skinny thing, she sure loved to eat. As she seated herself next to Fiona, she grinned maniacally at the prospect of another fabulous meal. “So, what’s good here?”

  Duncan and Fergus sat across from us, their faces mirroring Vee’s food lust. Fergus, who looked like he’d never skipped a meal in his life, licked his lips in anticipation. Perched proudly on his head was a green and blue plaid beret-like cap with a yellow pom-pom. “I’d say just about everythin’.”

  As I opened my mouth to request a menu, Duncan interjected from across the table, “I shall order for us!” He caught my eye, his full lips quirking in a lopsided challenge.

  “I’ve already taken the liberty of ordering, brother.” Out of thin air, Jamie appeared. He pulled back his Prince of Darkness hood and sat in the empty chair next to Vee as easy as if they’d known one another their whole lives.