Page 31 of A Bridge Through Time (The Bridge Through Time #1)

A shley relaxed into the warm water and tried to enjoy the hot bath.

Her head was spinning from all of the revelations that had become known today.

First, Lena’s admission of being a twenty first century girl and her true identity as the missing Arlena, and then Ashley had discovered how good the MacKenzie clan were at keeping a secret.

Of course, the most important revelation had been Cailin’s.

He’d told her that he loved her. Just the thought of it sent goose bumps erupting from her head to her toes and brought Ashley so much joy she could hardly stand it.

The fact that she felt the same way about him was the icing on the cake.

It made the question of whether she should return to Glendaloch even more pressing.

Although she was leaning towards staying in Breaghacraig, she had to be realistic.

Love simply wasn’t always enough to keep two people together.

Somehow, if this was going to work, she had to have faith in Cailin and she needed to trust him.

After her experience with Dax, it was something she had a hard time doing.

Dax had certainly proved he couldn’t be trusted and from her recent experiences with other men, she’d concluded no man could.

It was the harsh reality of the world she lived in.

If she really thought about it, Cailin – and for that matter, the rest of the clan – seemed both honest and trustworthy.

The words they spoke had weight to them.

The world they lived in required it. Ashley knew she needed to make a decision soon.

The men were leaving in a week for the fight with Sir Richard.

She couldn’t send Cailin off to battle with any indecision regarding their future clouding his thoughts.

The water had begun to cool and Ashley got out of the tub. She dried herself off and did her best to get dressed without any assistance. Thankfully, there came a knock at the door and Helene peeked around the doorway.

“Helene! I’m so happy to see you! I thought I might be stuck in my chamber for a very long time. I’m terrible at lacing up the back of these gowns and I certainly couldn’t go out like this in order to find someone to help me.”

“Dinnae fash, I’m here to help. Cailin told me ye were takin’ a bath and that I should come check on ye.” Helene quickly took charge and started swiftly lacing up the gown.

“That was very sweet of him. I forgot I was going to need your help. My mind was elsewhere, I guess.” Ashley marveled at the thoughtful way Cailin was always taking care of her. She could really get used to it.

“Aye, I ken yer meaning. The very same thing happens to me on occasion.”

“And what are you thinking about, that sends your mind elsewhere?” Ashley asked in a teasing voice.

Helene’s cheeks blushed to a bright crimson.

“Oh, I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have asked. It’s really none of my business,” Ashley said, immediately regretting teasing the young woman.

Helene remained silent for a minute as she began to brush Ashley’s hair and began working it into one of her intricate braids before she responded in a dreamy voice.

“I be thinking of a big, braw man and when I do, he’s all I can think of.

Any other thought that comes into me mind is instantly banished. ”

Ashley nearly leaped out of the seat. She had apparently found a kindred spirit, someone equally as besotted as she was with Cailin. “That’s my problem as well,” she blurted. “Who is it, Helene?”

“Ye must promise me ye’ll say naught tae anyone. I’m nae sure he feels the same for me,” Helene said in a hushed voice.

“Of course. It’ll be our secret,” Ashley promised.

“Dougall. Dougall is the man who sets my head to spinnin’. When he’s near me, or when he speaks to me, I cannae say a word, or think about anythin’ but him, and I ken that doesnae help. He must think I’m daft.”

“Oh, my! Dougall, huh? He is very handsome, Helene. I can see why you’d be attracted to him.

” Ashley had thought Dougall was a good-looking man when she met him.

He was as tall as Cailin, but had lighter hair, dark blonde and curly.

He was very polite and gentlemanly when he’d been introduced to Ashley.

The women of the castle seemed to be quite taken with him, but Ashley didn’t think he had a woman of his own.

“I dinnae think he even kens I exist, and I dinnae ken what to do, to garner his attention.”

“Maybe I can help?” Ashley offered.

“Ye’d help me? I’d be ever so grateful.” A huge smile lit Helene’s pretty face.

“What are friends for? It’s the least I can do.”

Helene threw her arms around Ashley and hugged her. “Oh, my, I’m so sorry. I shouldnae have done that.” Obviously self-conscious, Helene backed away from Ashley and her blush deepened.

“Why not? I don’t mind at all.” Ashley offered Helene a reassuring smile.

“What can ye do tae help with Dougall?” Helene asked, regaining her composure.

“Let me think about it for a little while. I’ll come up with a plan and you work on speaking to Dougall each time you see him.

You don’t have to say too much. Talk about the weather, or ask how he’s feeling.

You know – talk to him exactly the same way you talk to everyone else.

He’ll have to respond, and then you have the beginnings of a conversation.

Oh, and flirt with him a little bit.” Ashley grinned.

“I know you can do that, I’ve seen you flirting with some of the other men.

In the meantime, I’ll try to find a way to get the two of you alone together and then you have to do the rest. He can’t help but fall for you, Helene. What man wouldn’t?”

“I’m worried. Do ye really think it might work?” Helene chewed on her bottom lip anxiously.

“I do. He’d be a fool not to notice you.”

The women continued to plot and plan, and by the time they were ready to head downstairs for the evening meal, they had it all worked out.

As they reached the bottom step, Cailin appeared out of nowhere and extended his arm to Ashley.

He gazed at her with adoration in his eyes.

“I hope ye enjoyed yer bath, mo chuisle. You look beautiful this night.”

Ashley stared up into his eyes and smiled warmly, glowing from the effect of his words.

Cailin escorted her to the head table as Helene scurried off to hers.

Ashley surveyed the great hall, looking for Dougall and found him in his usual spot among the other single men.

Little did he know that his days as a bachelor were numbered.

Ashley giggled under her breath as she thought about what he was facing when she and Helene instigated their plan.

“What do ye find so funny, love?” Cailin asked.

“Oh, nothing,” Ashley said airily, plucking at the material of her gown.

Cailin cocked an eyebrow at her. “Nothing, ye say?”

“Really…nothing.” Ashley was certain he didn’t believe her, but she’d let him in on her plan a little later.

***

After dinner, Ashley caught Helene’s eye and with an imperceptible nod, Helene left the great hall and headed towards the stables, walking swiftly.

If all went as planned, Dougall would soon be joining her.

Ashley hoped Helene wouldn’t freeze up when Dougall arrived.

She’d coached Helene about what to say, and given her some pointers on flirting, which Ashley suspected Helene didn’t really need, and the rest was up to Helene.

Ashley had no doubt Dougall would quickly be smitten with Helene, if he weren’t already.

Ashley had observed him throughout the meal and noticed his eyes followed Helene as she moved about the great hall.

“Would you care to walk with me, mo chuisle?” Cailin asked, offering Ashley his hand.

“I’d love to,” she smiled at his use of the Gaelic endearment, which meant my heart’s pulse. Ashley had learned about it in her research on Scotland before she arrived.

As they made their way out of the hall, Ashley searched around for Dougall. “Cailin, I wonder if Dougall could run a small errand for me?” She started to turn in Dougall’s direction, but Cailin caught her by the arm to stop her.

“What kind of errand? Surely one of the servants would be better suited to help ye.”

“Nope, it has to be Dougall.” She did her best not to sound smug and schooled her features to keep her expression neutral.

Cailin’s eyes narrowed. “Mayhap ye’d like to tell me what yer about?”

“I will, but not yet.”

“Well, if it must be Dougall, then…Dougall!” he yelled to the man across the great hall.

Dougall responded with a wave and saying a few words to his companions, crossed the room to join Ashley and Cailin.

“Aye, Cailin, did ye need me?”

“Ashley has a request of ye,” Cailin said dryly. Dougall stared at Cailin, who shrugged his shoulders and cocked his head in Ashley’s direction.

“Dougall, I hoped you wouldn’t mind finding Helene for me. I believe she’s gone to the stable to check on my horse, Destiny,” Ashley began.

Dougall seemed a bit puzzled at first, but smiled brightly when Ashley continued.

“Would you kindly tell her I won’t be in need of her help tonight, so she’s free to enjoy herself for the rest of the evening.”

“Of course, m’lady. ‘Twould be my pleasure.”

“Thank you, Dougall.” Ashley elbowed Cailin in the ribs.

Cailin grinned. “Dougall, find someone to take yer watch tonight. Yer free to enjoy yerself, as well.”

Ashley giggled when Dougall gave Cailin a questioning glance, which was answered with a shrug, which suggested Cailin didn’t have any more clue than Dougall did about what was going on.

As they turned to head out through the doors and away from the others, Cailin took Ashley’s hand. “What was that all about?” Cailin asked.

“Just a little matchmaking is all,” Ashley admitted.

“Do ye think it wise to meddle on Helene’s behalf?”

“I’m not meddling,” Ashley protested. “I’m just trying to help, and besides, Helene is in on it too.”