that Black Ben courted me, but I never loved him, and I never would have married him, even if he wished it. And he is married to another.”
“Is? He’s married still? I thought…” Why this revelation made the air in her lungs expel, Kenzie didn’t know, nor did she wish to analyze it, certainly not now with him looking at her again, taking in her every detail and probably making an inventory of her failings.
Gwen shook her head. “No, let me rephrase that. He was married. Aline, his wife, died after the birth of their first child, only a few months ago. The babe is fine, but I think Ben is suffering from the loss of her. We need to be kind and understanding. Please try, my dear. Once ye get to know the laird, you’ll find he really is a lot of fun and quite charming in his own way.”
Kenzie studied him again. Maybe she had been too harsh in judging the guy. It wouldn’t be easy losing the one you loved and having a child to raise on your own. She sighed, her annoyance lessening a little.
“Fine. I’ll be civil, but if he annoys me in any way, doesn’t show respect to you or your marriage to Braxton, you must give me leave to remind him of his honor as a gentleman. If he has any, that is.” Which Kenzie highly doubted.
“He’s not a threat to me or Braxton if that is ye concern.”
The man himself cleared his throat. “Excuse me, I can hear ye, and by the way, now that the both of ye are side by side, I can’t help but notice—the similarities are striking.” He paused, tipping his head to the side. “Gwen, lass, you’ve not been playing about with ye spells again, have ye?”
Kenzie gasped, meeting Ben’s gaze. Did he know of their “gifts”? And what would he do with such knowledge?
“Nay, you know I cannot since I lost my abilities after the fire, but I cannot say the same for my relatives in the future.” Gwen walked to the door and summoned a servant. “Kenzie, please explain as best ye can to Ben, while I organize what’s required to attend him.”
Kenzie watched her ancestor leave her alone with the smelly male and turned to catch him studying her intently. She narrowed her eyes. “If you must know, and since it seems Gwen trusts you, I’ll tell you exactly who I am.”
He crossed his arms over his chest. “Aye, very good, lass, but first, do ye think ye could put a woolen throw over my legs. I’m a wee bit cold.”
She sighed, but did as he asked, all the while thinking that the blanket would be ruined after being placed on such dirty trousers. Not that she wanted to be so anal about things. Normally, she didn’t have a problem helping someone in need, but there was something about this man, something that instantly put her on guard, that she didn’t trust. “Anything else, your highness?”
He chuckled and commenced coughing, as if his lungs would soon spill out into the sick bucket. Instinctively, she touched his brow and found it overly warm, and she wondered if he was sicker than she thought.
“Ale,” he rasped. Kenzie did as he asked and sat on a chair nearby, waiting for him to catch his breath. “Are you okay? Do you want me to get Gwen again?”
“Nay, lass. I’ll be well in a few days.” He paused, taking some steadying breaths. “Now, tell me from where ye come.”
Kenzie thought about how to go about telling someone such a thing and then decided to jump straight in. “I’m Gwen and Braxton’s descendant from the future. I’ve come back to see them.”
“Aye, makes sense, since ye look so familiar, but tell me, lass, what brings ye to our time. ’Tis not an easy era to be visiting.”
Kenzie didn’t disagree, but then, if she wanted to visit the matriarch of the family, this was the only time she could. Not to mention, she’d had a fascination with history, and the man before her, since forever. Not that she’d be telling him any of that.
“Your time is quite different to mine, of course, but I’ve become fascinated in particularly with this time, especially after I sent Abby back.” She paused as Gwen came in carrying a tray with an array of bowls, medicinal bottles, and flasks of liquid, presumably some herbal concoctions. “How do ye know my time is less savage than