Chapter3

She stared up at him through heavy-lidded eyes, hair splayed out around her… reaching for him… He kissed her and his whole body jolted… it was electrifying… addicting… He kissed down the creamy skin of her neck, his hands kneading her breasts as she moaned…

"Aiden…"

He bolted upright. A heavy sweat drenched his body as he tried desperately to make sense of the dream. The young hostess invaded his dream again in a way he shouldn't want. There was no denying she was attractive. Any straight man would be crazy not to see her feminine allure, but he was hardly the kind to begin dreaming of a woman he's just met, least of all in that… erotic scenario.

Kicking off the covers, he grabbed out his clothes for the day and took a colder shower than he would have liked. He needed to focus; clear the dream from his mind so he could conduct the interview without thinking about how perfect her lips felt against his… how soft and pliable her supple breasts were in his hands… He swore and turned the hot water completely off to shock his system. He needed to focus. He was here for one purpose and one purpose only…

Shower done, he dressed quickly and grabbed his recorder and camera before heading down to breakfast. She was there at the table when he arrived. Her hair had been pulled into a French twist but her bangs remained on her forehead at a slight angle. She seemed to have opted for a dark blue sweater with a v-neck line and a light blue, lacy camisole underneath. A faux-fur vest of light grey and white finished the ensemble with her same pendant still hanging between her breasts… He averted his gaze and made his way to the table to sit in the chair to her right.

"Good morning, Heero." She smiled at him and he felt his heart jump.

"Good morning." He returned her smile as a plate of food was set before him: bacon, eggs, fried potatoes and fresh fruit.

"Did you sleep any better last night?" A flash of her from his dream entered his mind briefly. He cleared his throat.

"Yes." His answer was swifter than he'd meant and her eyes widened slightly as she raised a brow.

"I'm glad." She cut into a slice of ham. "I know how hard it can be to sleep in new locations. Even one as well-traveled as you may not be fully immune." He shook his head.

"Travel never bothered me. I can sleep almost anywhere." She nodded.

"I have never been able to rest well in new locations. I much prefer home." It was his turn to nod.

"Perhaps that's why I'm not so bothered. I don't really consider any place home." He took a drink of his coffee which had been poured for him upon sitting. Why had he said that to her? There was no need to get more personal with her… but she made him feel relaxed, as though he had known her far longer than a day... Her brows knit and her lips turned down into a small, sad frown.

"That's such a shame."He felt her eyes on him."Do you have any idea why?" He felt his mind go blank. No, he couldn't think of a reason why. A slight blush tinged her cheeks. "I'm sorry! It was rude of me to ask such a personal question."

"No, it's fine." He smiled, trying to reassure her. "I've never really given it much thought before."

"I suppose that makes sense. Perhaps it's the better way to be for someone always on the go?"

"Maybe. Like I said, I've never given it much thought." She nodded and dabbed her mouth with her napkin before placing it on the table. She stood and he noticed her hound appear beside her.

"I will return in fifteen minutes and meet you in the main parlor where we first discussed things last night. If you need anything, Pagen can help you." She stood and walked away and he couldn't help but watch her… There was something so… familiar about seeing her move throughout the castle. Since arriving he'd had a nearly constant case of déjà vu.

The time to the interview ticked by slowly. Heero checked his equipment. The camera lenses were clean and ready. His recorder had fresh batteries and his pen and notepad were primed for writing. He just needed to subject of his interview to return. Heero glanced at his watch. She was ten minutes late. Then fifteen. He had begun to rethink he had misheard her when she at last made her entrance. Her face seemed paler than before; eyes a bit glassy. Her wolfhound trotted closer to her than normal. Something wasn't right. Heero had no way of knowing how he knew, but he did. She looked at him then, aqua eyes unreadable but with an apologetic smile.

"I'm sorry to have kept you waiting. I received a phone call I had to take."

"Don't worry about it. We have all day." He reassured her and pulled out his recorder.

She sat in the chair by the hearth and he in the large chair across from her. She seemed unusually nervous. She wrung her hands slowly, her posture guarded. Heero couldn't blame her. By all accounts, his research showed Relena Lowe to be a reserved individual; nearly a recluse. He cleared his throat and prepared his first question.

"Heero Yuy, day two, interview with Ms. Relena Darlian Lowe." He paused. She looked no less nervous than before. "Ms. Lowe, how long have you called Ireland your home?"

"Ireland has been my home for a very long time." She offered a wistful smile and Heero could swear her mind was in another place… or time?

"According to what you told me yesterday, you claim you came here to rebuild on these lands?" She nodded.

"Yes, as I said before, my family owned these lands long ago. I took it upon myself to restore what had been stolen."

"Stolen is a strong word."

"There is an old adage, Mr. Yuy that to the victor goes the spoils?" He knew the saying well enough. "I have never agreed. Might does not make right. Just because you win a sham of a battle, does not give you the right to take what isn't yours."

"You seem so passionate about something that happened so long ago."

"As are many who experienced injustice in the past. It does not have to happen to an individual for one to feel the pain their family suffered." Her eyes burned with a fire and intensity; emotions volatile as though the slight were recent. And… for some reason… he felt it too. He clicked the recorder off and stood.

"I'm sorry, we are off subject." He cleared his throat again. "It's clear I've upset you-"

"No," she shook her head. "It wasn't you. Please," she smiled at him, eyes softening. "Let us continue."

"Only if you are sure?" She nodded again and he sat back down and pushed the record button once more. "When you purchased the land, what made you decide to rebuild the castle? How did you know what it looked like?"

"I thought that our ancestral land should be restored as much as possible. I was able to locate a blueprint of the castle's original design and layout drawn by someone who lived in the castle." She paused and gestured around her. "Everything you see is as close to the original design as could be achieved with the exception, of course, of the electrical and plumbing." She smiled and Heero could once more detect humor although he could not see why.

"Is something funny?"

"Hm?" She glanced up at him. "No, not really. It's just that indoor plumbing and electricity are modern conveniences that would have been seen as witchcraft by some, and miracles by others."

"I imagine they would have been welcome conveniences."

"Indeed."

"Now, Miss Lowe," he started again. "How would you best describe the upkeep of this impressive place?"

"I don't think I understand?"

"According to my records, you bought this land for 130 million Euro? And then the construction of the castle cost another 950,000 Euro. Such a massive expenditure for what seems to be a passion project."

"Again, I fail to see what your question meant."

"After all of the expense to purchase and fabricate the replica of your family's ancestral home, do you feel it was all worth it?" His hostess became very quiet and looked down at her hands clasped in her lap.

"I suppose it would seem a bit strange to some. But still, if you only knew how much…" She paused, closed her eyes and looked back up at him. Again, the eyes of a much older woman locked with his and he found himself stunned. "I wanted to restore a piece of history, Mr. Yuy."

"And do you wish to raise your family here someday?" Pain flashed through her aqua eyes, so intense that it hurt him.

"I wish to leave something behind that can tell the stories of what has been." It was an avoidance of his question. He frowned, brows creasing as he studied her. Wanting to find… something. To indicate what she meant by 'leave something behind'. He suddenly felt afraid for her.

"Are you ill?" He asked. She paused and shook her head.

"Why would you ask that?"

"No reason. Forget it." He tried to cover. "Let's move on with the interview. If you want to, that is?" She nodded and the interview continued for another hour. He was careful to keep his questions as professional and concise as possible. The answers she provided were informative but rarely detailed. She never gave away her sources for where she acquired the castle's decor or how much rebuilding the castle had cost. He could easily find out the latter when he returned to town. Such things were usually public knowledge. The sooner, however, was a different matter. He clicked off the recorder.

"Well, that will conclude the interview for today."

"Today?" She raised a brow. "What more could you ask?"

"I would like to see some of the grounds; get some scenic pictures of the castle's interior and exterior as well as the landscape." She seemed uncomfortable again. "You did agree for me to stay the week?"

"I did," she answered, though her eyes showed hesitancy. "I suppose a tour would be more than appropriate. I can arrange for the groundskeeper to take you tomorrow, if the weather permits." She stood and smoothed her skirt, bringing his attention to her long slender legs… He did not want the groundskeeper to show him. Something in him yearned to spend more time with her… to be alone with her. His dream returned to his mind and he mentally shook himself.

"I was hoping you would give me the tour. I'm sure you would be able to show me the best sights. I need the subjects of each picture to be photogenic and appealing." She seemed unsure, recoiling a bit from his suggestion. Her eyes studied him a moment before she sighed.

"Very well, Mr. Yuy. Tomorrow, after breakfast, we will take a ride around the land." He smiled, but she did not return it. "I will see you at lunchtime. Pagan will send for you." She turned and left without another word. He made to follow her; to ask her what it was that had upset her but a growl from her hound as he walked past stopped Heero. This woman and this castle she called home were both intriguing mysteries.

"What are you hiding, Relena?"

Relena did not show for lunch; opting to take it alone in her office due to an important, impromptu virtual meeting. Apparently she dealt in several different lines of business from stocks to real estate which would explain her ability to find her family's land and acquire it. Heero sighed and jotted down another note.

"Be sure to check for information on her business ventures. Look for contacts."

He wasn't entirely sure why he cared. His job was to find out what he needed to about the castle and the land. Investigation into her personal and professional life was not necessary for the sort of story he had intended to dig up. But…

"Something about her… and about this place…" His eyes caught sight of the family crest and he felt almost drawn to it. There was something familiar about it. The longer he studied it, the more the feeling grew. Pride. He was proud of the symbol?

"Mister Yuy." The voice of the butler pulled him from his thoughts. He turned to face the elderly man. "Ms. Relena is, unfortunately, being called to the home office in town. It is not very often such trips are needed and this was quite unexpected. She said to tell you that she realizes this is very poor conduct for a hostess and Hopes you will forgive her and understand."

Heero raised a brow. It seemed, more and more, as if his mysterious hostess was avoiding him. Still, he could not claim to know the inn's and out's of her life and, therefore, his speculation on the matter could be nothing… But he wanted to see her. A feeling that was as odd as it was surprising. Her avoidance stung more than it ever should. Heero cleared his throat.

"I understand. I'll use this time to begin working on my article. Thank you."

"Of course, sir." The old man left Heero alone in the same drawing room as before. Heero sat down in the deer-skin chair and pulled out his recorder.

"Wednesday, March 13th: my interview with Ms. Lowe went well. Unfortunately, she has been detained by business. There is much more to the mistress of this castle than what meets the eye. I think it will be just a matter of convincing her I'm trustworthy…" Heero stared up at the giant Crest once more. Again, he heaved a heavy sigh. "But the hell if I know how."

If he pushed too hard for answers, he was positive she would shy even further away. He could outright ask what he really wanted to know, but he risked offending her. Personal information was something that, in his experience, was better when offered freely. If he began to pry it would certainly send a woman as self-contained as she farther into her shell. As the subject matter of his trip was the architecture and history, personal questions would seem impertinent and impolite. This would have to be done delicately. He had less than a week to gain her trust and get the answers to questions he never had before he met her. And maybe, in doing so, he could find out why it even mattered to him at all.