Banshee Song
Book Two
Chapter Twenty-Two
"Oh goodness, Elizabeth, it looks amazing! You've done a wonderful job in here!" Rhianna enthused, gazing at the room.
Elizabeth beamed with pride and carefully avoided Sean's eyes. She wiped the sweat from her forehead. "Thank ye. I've just been adding the finishing touches. I hope she likes it," she added hesitantly.
"How can she not? Tis beautiful." The room was decorated in blues and yellows. The furniture had all been restored and gleamed with a bright polish. Large ornate mirrors and tapestries hung on the walls and thick lush rungs covered the floor.
Elizabeth set a vase of fresh daisies on the bedside table. "Thank ye." She tucked a stray lock of limp hair behind her ear. As she did so, Sean noticed the red blisters on her hands.
"Well, I'm going to go make ready to greet her when she arrives," Rhianna said and exited the room.
A tense, awkward silence filled the room. The two occupants wanted to say something, and felt that something should be said, but didn't know what to say. Sean glanced at the curtains. "Are those new? I don't remember seeing them."
Elizabeth nodded, grateful for the tension breaker. "The other ones were worn. I was pleased to find a use for the fabric I had gotten a while back."
"So this is the fabric - very nice. Ye made them?"
"Aye, and the bed linens."
"That's very impressive."
Another awkward silence followed. They both stood, staring at the floor, rocking from one foot to the other as the painful seconds ticked by. Finally they both spoke up at once.
"Sean" "Elizabeth"
Sean laughed. "Ye go first."
"I just wanted to apologize for the other night. I shouldn't have said what I said. I'm just missing my mum. That's all."
Sean stepped closer to her. "Please, don't apologize. I'm.glad ye said it." His lips curled into a smile. "It was nice to hear." His thumb gently traced her cheek. He sighed then and turned away from her. "Unfortunately, Elizabeth, I'm in a hard place. I can't do what I would like to do. I can't say the words I want to say."
Elizabeth watched him as hope hammered at her heart. "What do ye want to say?"
He looked at her then and there was no mistaking the tender caring in his brown eyes. "I want to reassure ye. I want to tell ye that I care for ye. Because I do care, Beth. Despite all my plans and wishes and .sheer force of will, I still care for ye. I still love."
"SEAN!" Rhianna's voice interrupted. "Miss Lockeheart's here!"
Sean blinked, as if coming back to reality. He glanced at Elizabeth's hopeful face and his heart fell. "I'm sorry," he whispered and exited the room, leaving a crestfallen Elizabeth behind.
She stood in the receiving line. The only sign of her nervousness was her fidgety fingers. She subconsciously smoothed her hair. {Why do I have to meet her now, when I'm all sticky and sweaty?} Elizabeth moaned inwardly. She stared at the large, ornate carriage, and wondered about the woman inside.
{She's probably beautiful, perfectly groomed. She'll be wearing the latest fashions and not a single hair will be out of place. Add to that unbelievably wealthy, educated, and cultured. No wonder Sean wants to marry her. How foolish to think he would ever marry me.} Her brother's words echoed in her head then, cruelly taunting her with their truth.
"Men of nobility like Lord Cassidy are always the same. Treat their young female servants kindly and with sweet words and while the girls are thinking of love and marriage, the lords are thinking of a quick dalliance with a mere servant."
{He was right,} Elizabeth mused. {Sean doesn't care about me, at least, not enough to marry me. And I will be no one's mistress,} she thought with firm determination.
Slowly, the carriage door opened and out stepped.
{That's her?} Elizabeth was shocked by the plain girl who stood before them. She was pretty, but certainly not beautiful. Her hair was pulled back and she wore a simple black dress. Elizabeth was getting ready to feel much better about the situation when the girl turned back to the carriage and proceeded to help another girl out.
The second girl was undoubtedly Miss Miriam Lockeheart. From her elegantly coiffed hair, to her jewelry, to her gown, to her regal air - everything simply screamed royalty. It was hard to believe she was only wealthy.
Rhianna watched Miss Lockeheart sashay up the grand stairs to the castle entrance where they stood. {The girl thinks she's the one with the grand title,} she thought with an amused grin.
Miriam extended her hand to Sean who dutifully kissed it. "Miss Lockeheart, welcome to Cassidy Keep. I hope ye will consider this your home for the next several weeks."
Miriam smiled and fluttered her long, blond lashes. "I will," she purred.
Sean turned to his sister. "Miss Lockeheart, this is my sister Rhianna. I do not believe you've had the pleasure?"
"No we haven't," Rhianna spoke up. "It is very nice to meet ye, Miss Lockeheart. My brother speaks very highly of ye."
Miriam blushed and simpered coyly.
Sean gestured to Elizabeth. "This is our.friend, Elizabeth Brady. Not only does she keep the castle spotless, she also cooks the best meals we've ever had."
Elizabeth felt her cheeks burn from the attention. "Nice to meet ye, Miss."
"Nice to meet you too," Miriam replied with a disinterested air.
Sean turned to the other girl who stood behind Miriam. "I'm sorry, Miss, and ye are?"
"Oh, she's just my handmaiden," Miriam interrupted.
"Oh, well then, let me show ye to your room." He turned then and led them into the castle.
"Handmaiden?!" Elizabeth hissed to Rhianna. Rhianna simply shrugged. Elizabeth bit her lip. She hadn't expected another guest.
They reached Miriam's room and Elizabeth waited with baited breath for her reaction. Miriam looked around the room. "Oh, how lovely!" she exclaimed. She turned to Sean. "Now where's my room?"
"Um.this is your room."
"Oh." Her face fell. She plastered a false smile on her face. "Well, I'm sure it will do just fine. Interesting color choice."
Sean bowed to Miriam. "If ye will excuse me, ladies, there is some business I must attend to. I will leave ye to get settled in."
Miriam turned to Rhianna. "Well now, where will Kara stay?"
Rhianna searched the room. "How about this couch? It's quite large and very soft." But Miriam continued looking at Rhianna with the same fake smile. Obviously that suggestion wasn't good enough. Rhianna inhaled deeply. "You'll have to excuse us. We don't have any other rooms prepared for ye. We weren't expecting ye to bring your handmaiden."
"Of course I brought her!" Miriam scoffed. "Do you go anywhere without your handmaiden?"
"I don't have one," Rhianna replied coolly.
"Oh. Well, I guess that's why you need my father's money," Miriam said with a frosty smile.
Rhianna's flashing eyes narrowed but she bit her tongue. After all, her brother cared for the girl - for some reason.
"Um, Kara can stay with me," Elizabeth offered. "My bed will sleep the both of us."
"Well then, that's settled. I should like a long bath to wash away the long trip. Kara draw me a bath and then go bring up my things," Miriam ordered. She turned to Elizabeth. "So you're the cook?"
"Aye, among other things."
"Tonight, I should like something French. Foie gras would be nice."
"Um.okay."
Miriam left to get ready for her bath. Elizabeth turned to Rhianna. "What the hell is foy gra?" (A/N: foie gras is pate made from the liver of a fattened goose.)
She descended the stairs with a slow, measured grace. She wore a gown of royal purple in flowing silk and velvet. Her sandy blonde hair was pulled high on her head and her beautiful face was lit up with a dazzling smile.
Elizabeth watched sadly as Sean took the beautiful woman's hand and kissed it. "Miriam, ye look very lovely. That color is most becoming on ye." His flattery words flowed smoothly from his mouth.
Miriam smiled wickedly. "Why thank you, kind sir."
Sean offered her his arm. "Shall we go?"
Elizabeth watched the lovely couple leave as pain stabbed at her heart. When Sean heard of Miriam's unique menu 'requests' and saw how flustered Elizabeth was, he decided to take Miriam out for the evening instead. They would be dining at a fine restaurant and then attending a concert.
Elizabeth held the door for them. "Have a nice time," she called after them.
Miriam turned and gifted her with a cold smile. "Oh, we will."
Elizabeth closed the door behind them and leaned heavily against it. "Now what?" She sighed. Once again she was all alone in the giant castle. She tried to shut out the image of Sean, so handsome in his dark suit, kissing Miriam's hand, walking out the door with her on his arm. She closed her eyes against the tears that threatened to fall. Sadness and loneliness battled for dominance inside a wounded heart.
"Too early for bed," she mumbled. Besides, with Kara staying there, her room would not be the sanctuary she needed.
"I could clean something." It was a good idea; get a head start on the next day's chores. Something told her that Miss Lockeheart would keep her busy. But she had been cleaning almost non-stop for days and she was exhausted.
Elizabeth looked around the large, empty room and loneliness overwhelmed her. She knew where she had to go.
Sheamus groaned in frustration as he rushed to the pounding door. He'd just been preparing for a soak in a hot bath to wash away the pain and dirt. Who knew that just supervising others could be such hard work? He opened the cabin door.
"LizzyB," he said in surprise. "What are ye doing here?" he asked as he stepped aside for her.
"Well, I missed ye and I was feeling a little lonely in the castle so I thought I'd come see your place. It's a lovely cabin," she complimented as she glanced around the room. "I see ye haven't unpacked yet." She laughed as she looked at the stacks of boxes.
"I'm getting to it. It's just.taking a little while." Sheamus noticed the sadness that hid behind Elizabeth's cheery façade. "What's wrong, Elizabeth?"
Her smile didn't quite reach her eyes. "Nothing. Like I said, I just got tired of hanging around the big, empty castle with only my echo to keep me company."
"Where's Sean? I thought ye spent a lot of your evenings with him."
"He's out.on a date," she said softly with her head turned away from her brother's probing eyes.
"I see." Now his sister's mood was becoming clear. "I heard Sean had a lady friend visiting. Going to be his bride, if I'm not mistaken."
"Aye."
Sheamus stared at his sister's downcast face, saw her chin begin to tremble. "Damn," he swore and wrapped his muscular arms around Elizabeth's quivering body. He'd been afraid of this, that Elizabeth would wind up hurt by her little 'crush.'
"I'm sorry, Elizabeth. But these feelings will fade in time. Remember what Mum used to say, these crushes are just nature's way of preparing your heart for love."
Elizabeth shook her head as tears escaped her eyes. "This felt so real. I thought he loved me."
Sheamus frowned and gripped her shoulders. He remembered Sean's attention toward Elizabeth, the looks he gave her, the gentle words. {He must have led her on!} "Elizabeth, did he tell ye he loved ye?"
She nodded, sniffling.
"When?"
"This morning. He told me he cared for me and he was saying that he loved me when Miss Lockeheart arrived."
"That bastard," Sheamus muttered angrily as he headed toward the door.
"Where are ye going?"
"I'm going to have a word with Lord Cassidy. Does he think he can play games with your heart because you're his maid? He knew he was planning on marrying someone else yet he continued to lead ye on." He stopped short when a horrible thought occurred to him. He whirled back around, blue fire blazing in his eyes.
"Did he touch you?"
Elizabeth shook her head.
"Good, then I don't have to kill him. As it is though, he's going to lose some teeth."
Elizabeth pulled on her brother's arm. "No! Don't! It's not his fault." She cried as giant tears slid down her cheeks.
Sheamus was moved with pity by the heartbreak evident on her face. He hugged her to him, soothing her with gentle words.
"It was just a crush," she sobbed. "It wasn't love. Just a crush."
She was about to knock again when the cabin door flew open. "Hellooooo." Rhianna trailed off. Sheamus stood in front of her, with an exasperated expression on his face. He had apparently just gotten out of the bath for his wet, dripping body was clad only in a little white towel wrapped around his hips. Rhianna watched, mesmerized, as a clump of soapsuds slid over his collarbone, up and over a firm pectoral, down his rippling abdomen, to finally disappear beneath the towel.
"Was there something ye needed?"
"mmm? Oh, what?" She shook her head to clear her mind. She looked up to see Sheamus's amused grin.
"I was asking if ye were here for a reason," he prompted. He saw then the sadness that still haunted her eyes. Suddenly he was reminded of a few nights earlier. He had stepped outside and the air was filled with the most chilling, beautiful singing. He was moved to his very core by the song and he immediately knew who was singing.
"I'm glad you're here, actually," he spoke up. "I heard the strangest thing the other night. It sounded like.singing."
"Ye heard that?" Rhianna asked in amazement. He had heard her singing from the other side of the estate.
"So it was you."
"Aye, it was." There was a short pause. "I'm waiting."
"For what?"
"The inevitable insult. What was my singing lacking this time? Emotion? Passion?"
As soon as the word escaped her lips though, she knew she had made a mistake. It hung in the air between them - passion - alerting them to the charged intensity that radiated off of them. Sheamus moved toward her, suddenly very aware that he only wore a towel. Only a thin layer of terry cloth separated him from the luscious creature before him. His saucy blue eyes traveled over her curves with deliberate slowness. He reached out for her hair, letting the silky curls flow through his fingers.
"No," he whispered huskily, "the passion was there. It's just missing one thing now: freedom."
There was a long tortured pause as Rhianna struggled to control her chaotic emotions. She inhaled deeply. "Look, I didn't come here to get a music lecture."
"Then why are ye here?"
"Remember our conversation about expanding our sales? I think we're ready to do that. This week ye and I will take a trip to visit several prospective clients in this area to see if we can win them back to us."
Sheamus closed the door after Rhianna left. {A trip, hmm? Just the two of us. Sounds like the perfect time to "bring our love to fruition."} He began making plans in his mind as he walked into his bedroom.
His eyes fell on his bed where Elizabeth lay sleeping. She had been exhausted after her flood of emotions and tears and when he learned she had given her bed to Kara he gave her his bed. He tiptoed to his dresser to get his boxers and some sheets. He thought of the sad loneliness that had been on his sister's face.
{Way to go, Sheamus. You've been too busy thinking about getting the factory that ye neglected your sister. Ye left her all alone in that castle.} He stopped beside her and gazed on her sleeping form. He bent down and kissed her tear stained cheek. {I've been a horrible brother to ye, LizzyB. I promised Mum I'd look after ye - but I haven't been doing that. It will all change soon. I'm going to gain possession of the factory and ye won't have to work anymore. You'll be free to find a good man who will treat ye right. I promise ye that, Elizabeth.}
Book Two
Chapter Twenty-Two
"Oh goodness, Elizabeth, it looks amazing! You've done a wonderful job in here!" Rhianna enthused, gazing at the room.
Elizabeth beamed with pride and carefully avoided Sean's eyes. She wiped the sweat from her forehead. "Thank ye. I've just been adding the finishing touches. I hope she likes it," she added hesitantly.
"How can she not? Tis beautiful." The room was decorated in blues and yellows. The furniture had all been restored and gleamed with a bright polish. Large ornate mirrors and tapestries hung on the walls and thick lush rungs covered the floor.
Elizabeth set a vase of fresh daisies on the bedside table. "Thank ye." She tucked a stray lock of limp hair behind her ear. As she did so, Sean noticed the red blisters on her hands.
"Well, I'm going to go make ready to greet her when she arrives," Rhianna said and exited the room.
A tense, awkward silence filled the room. The two occupants wanted to say something, and felt that something should be said, but didn't know what to say. Sean glanced at the curtains. "Are those new? I don't remember seeing them."
Elizabeth nodded, grateful for the tension breaker. "The other ones were worn. I was pleased to find a use for the fabric I had gotten a while back."
"So this is the fabric - very nice. Ye made them?"
"Aye, and the bed linens."
"That's very impressive."
Another awkward silence followed. They both stood, staring at the floor, rocking from one foot to the other as the painful seconds ticked by. Finally they both spoke up at once.
"Sean" "Elizabeth"
Sean laughed. "Ye go first."
"I just wanted to apologize for the other night. I shouldn't have said what I said. I'm just missing my mum. That's all."
Sean stepped closer to her. "Please, don't apologize. I'm.glad ye said it." His lips curled into a smile. "It was nice to hear." His thumb gently traced her cheek. He sighed then and turned away from her. "Unfortunately, Elizabeth, I'm in a hard place. I can't do what I would like to do. I can't say the words I want to say."
Elizabeth watched him as hope hammered at her heart. "What do ye want to say?"
He looked at her then and there was no mistaking the tender caring in his brown eyes. "I want to reassure ye. I want to tell ye that I care for ye. Because I do care, Beth. Despite all my plans and wishes and .sheer force of will, I still care for ye. I still love."
"SEAN!" Rhianna's voice interrupted. "Miss Lockeheart's here!"
Sean blinked, as if coming back to reality. He glanced at Elizabeth's hopeful face and his heart fell. "I'm sorry," he whispered and exited the room, leaving a crestfallen Elizabeth behind.
She stood in the receiving line. The only sign of her nervousness was her fidgety fingers. She subconsciously smoothed her hair. {Why do I have to meet her now, when I'm all sticky and sweaty?} Elizabeth moaned inwardly. She stared at the large, ornate carriage, and wondered about the woman inside.
{She's probably beautiful, perfectly groomed. She'll be wearing the latest fashions and not a single hair will be out of place. Add to that unbelievably wealthy, educated, and cultured. No wonder Sean wants to marry her. How foolish to think he would ever marry me.} Her brother's words echoed in her head then, cruelly taunting her with their truth.
"Men of nobility like Lord Cassidy are always the same. Treat their young female servants kindly and with sweet words and while the girls are thinking of love and marriage, the lords are thinking of a quick dalliance with a mere servant."
{He was right,} Elizabeth mused. {Sean doesn't care about me, at least, not enough to marry me. And I will be no one's mistress,} she thought with firm determination.
Slowly, the carriage door opened and out stepped.
{That's her?} Elizabeth was shocked by the plain girl who stood before them. She was pretty, but certainly not beautiful. Her hair was pulled back and she wore a simple black dress. Elizabeth was getting ready to feel much better about the situation when the girl turned back to the carriage and proceeded to help another girl out.
The second girl was undoubtedly Miss Miriam Lockeheart. From her elegantly coiffed hair, to her jewelry, to her gown, to her regal air - everything simply screamed royalty. It was hard to believe she was only wealthy.
Rhianna watched Miss Lockeheart sashay up the grand stairs to the castle entrance where they stood. {The girl thinks she's the one with the grand title,} she thought with an amused grin.
Miriam extended her hand to Sean who dutifully kissed it. "Miss Lockeheart, welcome to Cassidy Keep. I hope ye will consider this your home for the next several weeks."
Miriam smiled and fluttered her long, blond lashes. "I will," she purred.
Sean turned to his sister. "Miss Lockeheart, this is my sister Rhianna. I do not believe you've had the pleasure?"
"No we haven't," Rhianna spoke up. "It is very nice to meet ye, Miss Lockeheart. My brother speaks very highly of ye."
Miriam blushed and simpered coyly.
Sean gestured to Elizabeth. "This is our.friend, Elizabeth Brady. Not only does she keep the castle spotless, she also cooks the best meals we've ever had."
Elizabeth felt her cheeks burn from the attention. "Nice to meet ye, Miss."
"Nice to meet you too," Miriam replied with a disinterested air.
Sean turned to the other girl who stood behind Miriam. "I'm sorry, Miss, and ye are?"
"Oh, she's just my handmaiden," Miriam interrupted.
"Oh, well then, let me show ye to your room." He turned then and led them into the castle.
"Handmaiden?!" Elizabeth hissed to Rhianna. Rhianna simply shrugged. Elizabeth bit her lip. She hadn't expected another guest.
They reached Miriam's room and Elizabeth waited with baited breath for her reaction. Miriam looked around the room. "Oh, how lovely!" she exclaimed. She turned to Sean. "Now where's my room?"
"Um.this is your room."
"Oh." Her face fell. She plastered a false smile on her face. "Well, I'm sure it will do just fine. Interesting color choice."
Sean bowed to Miriam. "If ye will excuse me, ladies, there is some business I must attend to. I will leave ye to get settled in."
Miriam turned to Rhianna. "Well now, where will Kara stay?"
Rhianna searched the room. "How about this couch? It's quite large and very soft." But Miriam continued looking at Rhianna with the same fake smile. Obviously that suggestion wasn't good enough. Rhianna inhaled deeply. "You'll have to excuse us. We don't have any other rooms prepared for ye. We weren't expecting ye to bring your handmaiden."
"Of course I brought her!" Miriam scoffed. "Do you go anywhere without your handmaiden?"
"I don't have one," Rhianna replied coolly.
"Oh. Well, I guess that's why you need my father's money," Miriam said with a frosty smile.
Rhianna's flashing eyes narrowed but she bit her tongue. After all, her brother cared for the girl - for some reason.
"Um, Kara can stay with me," Elizabeth offered. "My bed will sleep the both of us."
"Well then, that's settled. I should like a long bath to wash away the long trip. Kara draw me a bath and then go bring up my things," Miriam ordered. She turned to Elizabeth. "So you're the cook?"
"Aye, among other things."
"Tonight, I should like something French. Foie gras would be nice."
"Um.okay."
Miriam left to get ready for her bath. Elizabeth turned to Rhianna. "What the hell is foy gra?" (A/N: foie gras is pate made from the liver of a fattened goose.)
She descended the stairs with a slow, measured grace. She wore a gown of royal purple in flowing silk and velvet. Her sandy blonde hair was pulled high on her head and her beautiful face was lit up with a dazzling smile.
Elizabeth watched sadly as Sean took the beautiful woman's hand and kissed it. "Miriam, ye look very lovely. That color is most becoming on ye." His flattery words flowed smoothly from his mouth.
Miriam smiled wickedly. "Why thank you, kind sir."
Sean offered her his arm. "Shall we go?"
Elizabeth watched the lovely couple leave as pain stabbed at her heart. When Sean heard of Miriam's unique menu 'requests' and saw how flustered Elizabeth was, he decided to take Miriam out for the evening instead. They would be dining at a fine restaurant and then attending a concert.
Elizabeth held the door for them. "Have a nice time," she called after them.
Miriam turned and gifted her with a cold smile. "Oh, we will."
Elizabeth closed the door behind them and leaned heavily against it. "Now what?" She sighed. Once again she was all alone in the giant castle. She tried to shut out the image of Sean, so handsome in his dark suit, kissing Miriam's hand, walking out the door with her on his arm. She closed her eyes against the tears that threatened to fall. Sadness and loneliness battled for dominance inside a wounded heart.
"Too early for bed," she mumbled. Besides, with Kara staying there, her room would not be the sanctuary she needed.
"I could clean something." It was a good idea; get a head start on the next day's chores. Something told her that Miss Lockeheart would keep her busy. But she had been cleaning almost non-stop for days and she was exhausted.
Elizabeth looked around the large, empty room and loneliness overwhelmed her. She knew where she had to go.
Sheamus groaned in frustration as he rushed to the pounding door. He'd just been preparing for a soak in a hot bath to wash away the pain and dirt. Who knew that just supervising others could be such hard work? He opened the cabin door.
"LizzyB," he said in surprise. "What are ye doing here?" he asked as he stepped aside for her.
"Well, I missed ye and I was feeling a little lonely in the castle so I thought I'd come see your place. It's a lovely cabin," she complimented as she glanced around the room. "I see ye haven't unpacked yet." She laughed as she looked at the stacks of boxes.
"I'm getting to it. It's just.taking a little while." Sheamus noticed the sadness that hid behind Elizabeth's cheery façade. "What's wrong, Elizabeth?"
Her smile didn't quite reach her eyes. "Nothing. Like I said, I just got tired of hanging around the big, empty castle with only my echo to keep me company."
"Where's Sean? I thought ye spent a lot of your evenings with him."
"He's out.on a date," she said softly with her head turned away from her brother's probing eyes.
"I see." Now his sister's mood was becoming clear. "I heard Sean had a lady friend visiting. Going to be his bride, if I'm not mistaken."
"Aye."
Sheamus stared at his sister's downcast face, saw her chin begin to tremble. "Damn," he swore and wrapped his muscular arms around Elizabeth's quivering body. He'd been afraid of this, that Elizabeth would wind up hurt by her little 'crush.'
"I'm sorry, Elizabeth. But these feelings will fade in time. Remember what Mum used to say, these crushes are just nature's way of preparing your heart for love."
Elizabeth shook her head as tears escaped her eyes. "This felt so real. I thought he loved me."
Sheamus frowned and gripped her shoulders. He remembered Sean's attention toward Elizabeth, the looks he gave her, the gentle words. {He must have led her on!} "Elizabeth, did he tell ye he loved ye?"
She nodded, sniffling.
"When?"
"This morning. He told me he cared for me and he was saying that he loved me when Miss Lockeheart arrived."
"That bastard," Sheamus muttered angrily as he headed toward the door.
"Where are ye going?"
"I'm going to have a word with Lord Cassidy. Does he think he can play games with your heart because you're his maid? He knew he was planning on marrying someone else yet he continued to lead ye on." He stopped short when a horrible thought occurred to him. He whirled back around, blue fire blazing in his eyes.
"Did he touch you?"
Elizabeth shook her head.
"Good, then I don't have to kill him. As it is though, he's going to lose some teeth."
Elizabeth pulled on her brother's arm. "No! Don't! It's not his fault." She cried as giant tears slid down her cheeks.
Sheamus was moved with pity by the heartbreak evident on her face. He hugged her to him, soothing her with gentle words.
"It was just a crush," she sobbed. "It wasn't love. Just a crush."
She was about to knock again when the cabin door flew open. "Hellooooo." Rhianna trailed off. Sheamus stood in front of her, with an exasperated expression on his face. He had apparently just gotten out of the bath for his wet, dripping body was clad only in a little white towel wrapped around his hips. Rhianna watched, mesmerized, as a clump of soapsuds slid over his collarbone, up and over a firm pectoral, down his rippling abdomen, to finally disappear beneath the towel.
"Was there something ye needed?"
"mmm? Oh, what?" She shook her head to clear her mind. She looked up to see Sheamus's amused grin.
"I was asking if ye were here for a reason," he prompted. He saw then the sadness that still haunted her eyes. Suddenly he was reminded of a few nights earlier. He had stepped outside and the air was filled with the most chilling, beautiful singing. He was moved to his very core by the song and he immediately knew who was singing.
"I'm glad you're here, actually," he spoke up. "I heard the strangest thing the other night. It sounded like.singing."
"Ye heard that?" Rhianna asked in amazement. He had heard her singing from the other side of the estate.
"So it was you."
"Aye, it was." There was a short pause. "I'm waiting."
"For what?"
"The inevitable insult. What was my singing lacking this time? Emotion? Passion?"
As soon as the word escaped her lips though, she knew she had made a mistake. It hung in the air between them - passion - alerting them to the charged intensity that radiated off of them. Sheamus moved toward her, suddenly very aware that he only wore a towel. Only a thin layer of terry cloth separated him from the luscious creature before him. His saucy blue eyes traveled over her curves with deliberate slowness. He reached out for her hair, letting the silky curls flow through his fingers.
"No," he whispered huskily, "the passion was there. It's just missing one thing now: freedom."
There was a long tortured pause as Rhianna struggled to control her chaotic emotions. She inhaled deeply. "Look, I didn't come here to get a music lecture."
"Then why are ye here?"
"Remember our conversation about expanding our sales? I think we're ready to do that. This week ye and I will take a trip to visit several prospective clients in this area to see if we can win them back to us."
Sheamus closed the door after Rhianna left. {A trip, hmm? Just the two of us. Sounds like the perfect time to "bring our love to fruition."} He began making plans in his mind as he walked into his bedroom.
His eyes fell on his bed where Elizabeth lay sleeping. She had been exhausted after her flood of emotions and tears and when he learned she had given her bed to Kara he gave her his bed. He tiptoed to his dresser to get his boxers and some sheets. He thought of the sad loneliness that had been on his sister's face.
{Way to go, Sheamus. You've been too busy thinking about getting the factory that ye neglected your sister. Ye left her all alone in that castle.} He stopped beside her and gazed on her sleeping form. He bent down and kissed her tear stained cheek. {I've been a horrible brother to ye, LizzyB. I promised Mum I'd look after ye - but I haven't been doing that. It will all change soon. I'm going to gain possession of the factory and ye won't have to work anymore. You'll be free to find a good man who will treat ye right. I promise ye that, Elizabeth.}
