"Mary!", a familiar voice called.
Karen remained frozen, heavy steps started to echo thru the vast hallway as James hurriedly made his way towards her direction.
'I'm very sorry madam, I'll make sure this never happens again' James apologetically said.
'Come now Mary, it's really late, you should be resting by now' he said as he carefully free Karen from Mary's tight hug.
'Breakfast will be at 7, I'm sure your tired from the long journey. You should get some rest too' James said to Karen then guided Mary through the dim hallway.
Karen , Jack, and Grace sat quietly at the long table eating their breakfast. Karen and Grace both seemed preoccupied with their thoughts while Jack munch away his food. Grace was holding a magazine, obviously tense and glances at Karen and Jacks direction almost every second. Jack seemingly amused by Graces nervous behavior finally breaks the silence .
'What's the matter G, finally got your vibrator new batteries' Jack seriously said the laughed, almost choking on the waffle in his mouth.
'I can't even find it Jack since you went inside my room last night to borrow a hairpin' Grace snapped. Jack made a nervous laugh and started stuffing his mouth with more waffles.
'Karen..listen.umm, I got this call last night.' Grace started apprehensively, her eyes fixed on her plate and her poking her waffle with her fork. Grace started speaking fast in an excited manner 'It's from a potential client that would like me to decorate his estate here in Scotland. Karen, its an old castle! I mean how many opportunities do a designer from New York get to decorate a real castle in Scotland! I can just imagine the people reaction when they see it on my resume..Karen, I really would like to do this' she finished breathlessly.
Karen only gave her a confused look and answered her in an unusually soft voice. 'What's the matter honey? You know you can do anything you want. You don't have to ask for my permission Grace."
'It's five hours away from your manor Karen, and it's a castle, so if I am to take the job, I need to be somewhere near the place, I'm afraid I may have to leave you here'
'Oh honey, what do you mean leave me here, Jackie will still be here with me, so don't worry, go play with your castle and I'll be fine here with poodle'
Jack and Grace gave each other a nervous look
'Kare bear, actually, I, speaking as an experienced actor who played hundreds of characters belonging in a time where chivalry , morality , and knights existed ..maybe not the morality part…(giggled) I.. Jack McFarland.. Am… ashamed.…ashamed to admit that I have never seen the setting of the roles that play with all of my heart and soul almost each and every night with my…..' Jack cleared his throat. 'I just want to see a castle..hehe, can I please go with G?' Jack tucked his upper lips to his upper lips, making him look like a boy who's on the verge of crying.
'You kiddies go and have some fun ok, that's why we're here' Karen replied.
'Are you going to be alright, I kinda feel guilty leaving you here, you know what! Come with us! I'm sure you'll like the place, a real castle Karen, just like the one you see when you're hallucinating. It'll be so much fun' Grace said with enthusiasm.
'That's sweet honey , but I think I'll just stay here'
'Well, ok. We will be going tomorrow then.'
'Take care Karen, we'll give you a call as soon as we get in the castle. If ever you change your mind, you're welcome to stay with us…. In the castle.' Grace said. She could not help herself using the word castle in every chance she gets.
Jack hugged Karen and gave her a peck on both her cheeks. He squeezed both her hands and sadly said 'Who's you daddy'
'You are..' Karen whispered and smiled. 'Well, go on now, I feel like I'm dying tomorrow with all these sad goodbye.'
Jack gave Karen a hug and joined Grace who's waiting in the limo. She watch the limo drove away from the manor .She closed the big oak door and when she turned around, she suddenly felt that the mansion was bigger than usual and heard the deafening silence. She's all alone. She went to her room took off her clothing climbed to bed. The cold sheets against her soft skin somehow made her numbed to the pain. "It has always been you Stan, you'll never leave me like this, you've always been there for me, but why was I lonely, I still felt alone even when you're there, like something's missing, like something's not right'
'Katherine! Over here' the young man said hiding behind the rose bushes. Katherine rushed gathered her heavy gown to her arms and run towards the young. She was wearing a lush turquoise gown with a low square cut neckline, revealing the half upper part of her lushes breast, seeming trying to break free of the delicate fabric that surrounds it.
'What are you thinking!?, If my father sees you here he'll kill you'
'I'd rather die than not see you.' He sensed Katherine's uneasiness. He wrapped his arms around her tiny waist and kissed her forehead. 'Don't be afraid, The servant girl told me that your father is resting. I missed you so much Kath'. He kissed he soft red lips gently, slowly. It's warmness made a tingling sensation in his spine. He parted her lips with his tongue and met hers. Katherine's knees weakened and leaned towards the strong body next to her. He kissed her passionately, his one hand wrapped around her waist while the other caressed her supple breast. She clung to him, hands exploring every inch of him that she could reach .When their lips parted, they were both out of breath. Katherine's emerald eyes sparkled as she look at his eyes lovingly. She knew that could never be together. Hot tears flowed from her eyes, but his lips met them before they fell from her face.
'Don't cry Kath, please don't cry, you worry too much my darling angel, come now, I want to show you something'.
He held her hand and made their way to the forest were two whites horses waited. They rode swiftly thru the woods until they entered what looked like a scene from a painting. A lake lay quietly amidst of the thin fog, giant trees standing close to one another towered and filtered the moonlight, letting only strands of light pass thru. Wild dark red roses and berries surrounded the area. Katherine could not believe her eyes.
'It's beautiful.." she said. She took a couple of steps towards the lake and heard something crunch under her foot. She gasp as she saw white lilies scattered all over the forest floor. Her favorite flowers. The rarest white lilies in Scotland, lay abundantly at her feet.
'How did you, where did you..'
'Shhhhhhhhhh' He held her close to him, feeling her heart beat, feeling her warm breath against his neck. 'Anything for you my love, when we marry, we will live here, I'll build us a house with my own two hands, and will raise a family, here..' He kissed her again on her lips and held her face on his hands, a ray of moonlight hit his face, a familiar face…………..
