Page 15 of Love Beyond Reach (Morna’s Legacy #11)
B y the time dinner ended , I was no longer sure I wanted to help Jerry. It turned my stomach to see my father so jubilant. Father was so eager to see Jerry settled that he and Alasdair left immediately after eating to see the cottage readied for Jerry’s immediate use.
Despite my misgivings, I knew that Alasdair was right. We had to help him and he had to know that Grier was alive.
With Fulton away to pack up his belongings, only Jerry, Elspeth, Eoin, and myself gathered in the sitting room by the fire.
With Eoin asleep in Elspeth’s arms, her own eyes were slowly closing in sleep.
Knowing that the time had come to tell him, I kissed my sweet nephew’s forehead and moved to stand next to Jerry.
“I thought ye dinna care for my father.”
One corner of his mouth pulled up into a smile, and my heart began to race. I didn’t enjoy looking at him without his beard. Every time I did, my body reacted in strange, unfamiliar ways.
“I said I dinna care for him before I met him. Now that I’ve met him, I like him even less.
” He paused and leaned in close as he took a quick glance in Elspeth’s direction.
“But Morna, I need yer help. Ye may not believe me now, but with time, I’ll convince ye.
I need to be close with yer father to get close to ye. ”
Leaning back to distance myself from him, I nodded.
“But, I do believe ye. ’Twas only that there was much to take in before. I’ll help ye, but I dinna lie to ye before. I know little of magic. It could take me years to learn what I need to help ye.”
He shrugged as if he’d expected twice that length of time.
“It could take me years to find another witch. I’ve faith ye will learn quickly. Though I must ask ye, how will ye learn now if ye were unable to learn before?”
It was a reasonable question, one which I myself worried over. It was precisely why I needed to tell him about Grier. Once he knew she lived, he might wish to leave here and go in search of her.
“I recently found all of Grier’s old spell books and journals. Once Alasdair finds a place where I can read and work without fear of Father discovering it, I will devote everything to learning. It has been my only wish for years now. Jerry, before ye decide to stay here, I must tell ye something.”
“I doona believe I have any choice in staying here anymore. I’m not certain yer father would permit it.”
He said the words jokingly, but I wasn’t altogether certain he was wrong.
“If ye decide to leave after I tell ye, Alasdair and I will see to it that ye are able.”
“I can see no other place where I would have a greater chance of finding someone to help me. Tell me what ye must. It willna change my mind.”
He needed to know, but I didn’t want to tell him. Knowing would hurt him. Even as nervous as he made me, the last thing I wanted was to cause him pain.
“Grier is alive.”
Jerry’s teasing smile vanished, and he watched me carefully as if gauging my sincerity.
I remained expressionless as I waited for him to respond.
When he finally did, his tone was strained.
“Part of me has wondered. I never thought Grier the kind of person who would easily accept death. I canna understand it though. I…I thought her my friend. Why would she allow me to believe her dead?”
I shook my head. “I doona know. Will ye look for her?”
His voice didn’t waver. “No. I will help yer brother find a place for ye to work, and together we will find a way to get me home. Thank ye for telling me.”
“Alasdair believes we will see her again.”
Father entered the room, and Jerry turned to walk away from me, speaking quietly over his shoulder as he went.
“I’ve no doubt of it, lass. Morna, do ye truly believe it a coincidence ye found her books only just before I arrived here? If ye thought Grier powerful when ye knew her, ye have no idea what she’s capable of now.”
I stared after him as he left, astonished that it hadn’t crossed my mind before now.
Had Eoin really stumbled across the books all on his own?