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Ellie watched Gwen go, but she heard other shouts from the courtyard, so she hung back against the wall to see who else would walk through the door.

Colin didn’t bother to wait for the stable master; instead, he tossed his reins to the nearest stable boy and charged up the castle steps after Reilly, James on his heels. Brianagh and Nick were just crossing from the great hall and paused as the men came charging in.

“I had a feeling I’d see you here,” Brianagh exclaimed, stepping towards Reilly for a hug.

He hugged her and asked quickly, “Where’s Claire?”

Bri pulled back and patted his arm. “Safe and sound. I just saw her not a moment ago, taking two very lovely young women to my solar.”

Reilly frowned. “Are you certain? I’m here because Claire’s in trouble.”

Nioclas exchanged a glance with his wife. “Quite certain. What is the purpose of your visit, if not to collect Lady Eleanor and Lady Gwendolyn? The line is safe.”

Colin let out a breath he didn’t know he was holding. The women were here, and they were safe. His heart lightened, and James slapped him once, quickly, on the back.

Reilly, however, looked troubled. “I had news that Claire was taken by another clan.”

Bri shook her head quickly, her face darkening momentarily. “We’ve put twice as many guards on her since the battle broke out.”

“What battle?” Colin asked.

“The O’Connells and O’Rourkes,” Nick replied grimly. “Bloody business.”

“Let’s talk more in my solar,” Bri suggested. “But first—can I just say how happy I am to see all of you? James, it’s been years!”

James grinned and swept her into an encompassing hug. “You look gorgeous, as always.”

“Oh, stop. I still don’t understand how so many years pass here, yet when you boys do show up, you’re still in your thirties. It’s simply not fair.”

Colin kissed both her cheeks, his eyes searching hers for any sign of unhappiness. He had no problems taking MacWilliam to the lists for any trace of sadness in his cousin’s eyes, but luckily for Nick, he saw only joy.

“Come through the side, lads. The men are unloading my wife’s things, and we’ll crowd them overmuch,” Nioclas directed, leading them away from the center courtyard.

They rounded the corner and stepped up to a smaller door, Brianagh and Reilly bickering over what he’d brought Claire back from the future.

They were almost in the great hall when Colin froze.

“Oof! Colin, keep moving, you big…” James trailed off. “Hey, bro, you okay?”

Colin didn’t reply. Across the great hall, standing on the stairs in a medieval gown, her deep chestnut hair gracefully flowing about her shoulders and back, was the most beautiful woman he’d ever laid eyes on.

For the first time in his life, Colin was rendered truly, completely speechless. The relief that coursed through him was so overwhelming, his knees weakened.

“Oh,” James murmured. “I see.”

Brianagh glanced first at Colin, then at Ellie, and her eyes went wide. “Oh my God…Colin? She’s the one?”

Quickly, he shook his head, but his eyes remained on Ellie, who steadily returned his gaze.

“Breathe,” Reilly said curtly, smacking him on the back of his head and shaking him from his stare. “She’s just a lass. Or so you keep telling us.”

“Right,” Colin agreed weakly, rubbing his cranium. “Right.”

“Play it cool,” James advised sagely. “She’s looking at you.”

“You should go talk to her,” Reilly added with a smirk.

Then, with a snicker, James added, “I could always give her a note from you. Just fold it in that cute way girls liked in high school.”

Nick scratched his chin thoughtfully. “I’ll offer you my best wooing tips, lad. You’ll have her as your wife in no time.”

“No time?” Bri replied wryly. “If I remember correctly, it took you a bit longer than no time to woo me.”

“A mistake I continue to remedy every day I remain on this Earth,” Nioclas replied, his voice simmering with something that Colin really didn’t care to examine closely.

“James, shut up. I don’t need anyone passing her notes,” Colin finally replied, adjusting the sword on his back. “I have no plans to woo her, I don’t need to ‘act cool,’ and I’m not looking to marry her.”

“Your funeral,” James murmured, brushing past him.

Reilly gave a heavy sigh. “You, Colin, are an idiot and more, you’re a giant arse. Come show me your daughter, MacWilliam.”

The two men continued on, but not before Nick gave Colin a pitying look.

Bri took Colin’s arm. “We’ll have speech later, about Celtic Connections and your lady friend.

But for now, be aware that she has no idea she’s really in the past. Nioclas just told me she and Gwen are under the impression that this is a sword school, and everyone is practicing some sort of role. ”

Colin could always count on Bri to cut to the chase and give him the most pertinent information. “Ah. I bet they think it’s the training academy Reilly runs. He trains sword enthusiasts, Hollywood actors, and stunt doubles. Thanks for getting me up to speed.”

“I always did enjoy knowing things before you,” came the reply as she tugged him closer to the stairs.

He laughed and followed her, his heart lighter than it had been in weeks.

“Colin? ”

The softly spoken word was a balm to his soul.

Colin bowed deeply, then looked up at her, his eyes twinkling with mischief and relief. “Hello, Lady Eleanor. I see you find yourself in yet another pickle.”

She pursed her lips. “Not at all, kind sir. I merely find myself in a lovely keep, in the Irish woods.”

“In 1481.”

“Ah, so that’s the time period. We’d been wondering.” Ellie winked at him.

“Allow me to introduce Brianagh MacWilliam. She was once known as Brianagh O’Rourke.” He paused, waiting for that to sink in. “Former owner of Celtic Connections…and also my cousin.”

“But your cousin’s dead!” Ellie burst out, then covered her mouth in horror. From behind her hands, she garbled, “That was so rude, I’m sorry. This explains why Gwen is so upset, of course. She must remember you from her cousin’s wedding, and…I’ll just shut up now.”

Bri laughed and inclined her head. “Don’t worry. In your time, I am dead. It’s a horribly depressing thought that I’ve come to terms with.”

“Of course,” Ellie replied, though from her polite expression of pity, it was clear she believed Bri to be off her rocker.

“Come, join us in my solar. I’ve had a long trip, and I’d like some time to visit with you and Lady Gwendolyn.”

They headed to the solar, Bri calling for refreshments to be sent up, and almost ran into the rest of the men, who were in deep conversation near the top of the stairs.

“You’ll see for yourself that Claire is safe abovestairs,” Nick was saying. “She hates the extra security, but she tolerates it as best she can. She hasn’t managed to slip past them yet.”

James laughed. “How can one girl slip past a guard?”

“You’d be surprised,” Nick muttered. “The lass is too clever by half. But with twenty men watching her at all hours of the day and night, she’s unable to go anywhere without my notice.”

Colin entered the solar and Claire herself rose from the fireplace. “Colin! How are you, cousin?”

Colin bowed low. “Not fit to be in the same room as this much beauty, to be sure.”

“Flatterer,” she laughed, throwing her arms around him.

“Truth speaker.”

“You’re my new favorite relation.” Claire peeked around him and her face lit up. “James!”

“He’s not really your favorite,” James teased as she squealed and hurried to greet him.

She led him over to the fire and pulled him down next to her. “How I’ve missed you! How is your wife?”

Gwen’s head snapped up. “James? Colin?”

“You look as though you survived the time travel,” James noted, relief in his voice. Colin noticed he didn’t answer Claire’s question.

“If you mean the training, we haven’t been able to do much other than sit and sew,” Gwen replied, her face still pale.

Reilly filled the doorway then, having finished whatever speech he was having with the guardsmen outside the door, and both Gwen and Claire’s gazes snapped to him.

“You’re here,” Reilly stated, his face darkening when he saw Claire.

“Hello to you, too,” Claire replied dryly, not bothering to stand.

Gwen, however, came to life. She rushed over to him and grabbed his arms. “Reilly? What’s going on?” she asked in an uncharacteristically small voice. “That woman, the one who’s playing the lady of the castle. She looks so much like Brianagh O’Rourke, but older.”

Colin noted the look that passed over Reilly when he caught Gwen; a mix of wonder, delight, and relief.

And something more, which put Colin’s inner matchmaker on full alert.

He glanced again at Gwen, who looked lovely in her gown, with her curly hair in an elaborate style.

She looked every inch a fiery, beautiful, Irish noblewoman.

A confused Irish noblewoman , he quickly amended, noting the look of shock on her pale visage. Her face was ashen, her eyes unfocused, and her hands shaky.

Reilly smiled briefly at her and folded her into a hug. “You found us out, lass. That is indeed Bri. She lives here…in 1481 Ireland.”

Gwen glared furtively over her shoulder. “Nonsense. That’s not really Brianagh, Reilly.”

He smiled softly at her. “It is, Gwendolyn. She traveled to the past, but she arrived in 1457.”

She smiled tightly. “Brianagh is only a few years older than me. Ten years, maybe. This woman is old enough to be my mother!”

“Hey!” Bri protested mildly. She paused. “Oh, wait a second. That’s a true statement.” She frowned, looking thoughtful. “Weird.”

“So you faked your own death to work at Reilly’s sword-fighting school?” Gwen asked skeptically.

Brianagh shook her head, a small, compassionate smile gracing her face. “No. I truly did travel back in time. It’s a bit of a story.”

Gwen frowned. “Why would you leave such a successful business behind?”

Reilly turned her towards a table. “Go, sit, eat something. I’ll explain it in a moment.” He turned his sharp gaze on Claire. “You.”

She immediately went on the defensive, and Colin held back his chuckle. Claire was an independent spirit, constantly exploring the castle and village grounds, and made it a personal goal to shake off her guard as often as possible .

Especially when Reilly became part of it.

Before Claire could begin bickering in earnest, Colin interrupted and asked Nioclas, “What’s been happening that would require extra guards?”

“The O’Rourkes declared battle on the O’Connells.

They hold the land between us and the O’Rourkes,” Nick explained.

“Kieran, Brianagh’s sire, is still the O’Rourke laird, and he feels that the O’Connell clan is wasting their land.

When the O’Connell laird insulted Kieran at one of Bri’s match events last winter, Kieran took offense and used it as an excuse to attack the O’Connells in the spring—and it was bloody, indeed.

Many lives were lost on both sides. The O’Connells want to keep their land, but have no desire to battle, so their laird approached me for Claire’s hand. ”

“In marriage?” Reilly asked, surprised.

“Aye, Reilly. I am, after all, a female, which makes me slightly less valuable than some cattle and a spool of wool,” Claire snapped.

“Depends on the quality of the wool,” he remarked blandly.

Brianagh rolled her eyes. To Colin, she murmured, “Still not pleased about her lot in life.”

Colin gave Claire a shrug. “Could be worse. You could be living in another clan’s village, or as a farmer’s daughter.”

“At least then I’d have some choice over whom I marry, instead of being pawned off to the laird most willing to give my sire men in a battle not his own,” she shot back angrily.

“Wow,” Gwen murmured. “You certainly have some dedicated students, Ry.”

Colin ignored her and kept his attention on Claire. They’d had this conversation before. “Yes, Claire. That would be so much better. Being a farmer’s daughter means that when another clan decides it wants your laird’s land and people, you’re the first to die when they set your cottage on fire.”

“At least I’d die happy,” she retorted .

“Enough,” Nioclas said sternly. Claire fell silent. While Colin’s heart hurt for her, his mind knew the rules of the time. Claire was the only daughter of a powerful laird. Her hand would be much sought after.

“You will have your choice at your own event,” Brianagh said calmly. Then, with a chuckle, she added, “We’re not marrying you off quite yet.”

“None of this explains why I was sent here,” Reilly cut in, bringing their attention back to him. “I’m supposed to be rescuing Claire, again , yet here she is, nary a hair out of place.”

She smiled in a sickly-sweet way, her eyes narrowing at him. “Aye, here I am. You’re welcome to return home now.”

“Claire!” Brianagh exclaimed.

“She sounds like you used to,” Colin murmured, and Bri smacked him on the shoulder.

“Shut it,” she hissed. To her daughter, she said firmly, “That’s enough. Reilly is the best of men, and you will treat him as such. He is family , Claire.”

“The overbearing sort,” she muttered.

“Is there any other kind?” Brianagh wondered aloud.

“I’m rather confused,” Ellie said loudly. Everyone turned to her, and she blushed. “You keep breaking character. But somehow you’re staying in character. Can someone please explain what’s going on?”

“Why don’t you tell us how you came to be here?” Brianagh replied.

Ellie nodded. “When we were at Reilly’s house, we went for a walk, and then that freak storm blew in—”

“Don’t forget about that photographer,” Gwen reminded her.

“Right, he chased us, then the storm hit, and then we met up with the boy. Aidan.”

“Yes, he’s one of my sons,” Brianagh confirmed.

“Then he did some sort of magic whistle thing, and some guys appeared on horseback, then we waited in the rain and Claire brought us our costumes. We came back to the castle, have been eating some authentic castle food, and even slept in a real straw bed. Not once has anyone broken character until you three show up,” Ellie continued.

“So, as I said, I’m rather confused at the moment. Is the training over?”

“I’m so confused,” Gwen agreed.

Colin looked at Reilly, who gave him a nod. “I think we have some explaining to do. Let’s take a walk about the castle grounds, El.”

“And we’ll walk as well.” Reilly helped Gwen up, then gave a swift nod to Bri and Nick before hustling her out of the room.

“Quit managing me!” they heard Gwen exclaim.

“She’ll be fine,” Bri remarked calmly.

Colin looked down into Ellie’s trusting eyes and hoped she would be, too.