Into Thin Air (25 page)
"As much as Sir Gawan wanted to help us, he could not."
"I see." She thought she did, anyhow, and she reached out and patted his elbow. "I'm glad the curse is broken now. You guys—knights, rather—are the most amazing men I've ever known."
Even in the shadowy room, Ellie could see Jason blush. "Many thanks, lady. I take that as the highest of compliments."
She gave a short nod, mimicked from watching the other medievals. "As you should."
Jason chuckled.
"So tell me," Ellie continued, "what
skills
does Gawan have left?"
Jason cocked a brow and smiled. "Grand ones, still, although he only uses them in utmost emergencies. For one, he can bend another's will with his mind. 'Tis how he learned you weren't at any of the local infirmaries."
Ellie blinked. "You're kidding me?"
"Nay, I am not. 'Tis probably his most fascinating skill. Although the ability to read one's mind is a powerful gift, indeed."
Ellie gasped. "He can do
what?"
Oblivious to her shock, Jason grinned wider. "Oh, aye, although he has quite a strong will about himself, you know, not to just plunder one's thoughts at random. For if it were I, there's countless maids' minds I'd be taking a peek into."
Unbending her knees, Ellie leaned forward and grabbed Jason's arm. "Do you think he's ... um"—she tapped the side of her head with her forefinger—"been in my thoughts? Much? Lately?"
Realization set in, and Jason cleared his throat and patted Ellie on the shoulder. "Oh, nay, lady, I daresay, 'twould be most unchivalrous to do such."
Ellie sighed with relief, remembering some of the thoughts she'd recently had about Gawan.
"Good."
"Unless"—Jason pulled his ear—"of course, he had to do it—just a wee peek, at best. You know, to aid your matter."
Ellie closed her eyes and thought over all her ponderings while in Gawan's presence. Several came to mind.
Maybe that was why he was always smothering a grin with his hand, or those sexy lips were constantly twitching.
She collapsed her head into her hands. "Oh, gosh. I'm in Mortification Land."
Jason tapped her on the shoulder, and she ignored him. Then he crooked a knuckle beneath her chin and raised her face away from her hands.
"Lady, open your eyes."
With a gusty sigh, she did.
Jason gave her that adorable quirky grin. "I daresay those thoughts of yours can't be all too dreadful, aye?"
Ellie counted back to all the lusty thoughts she'd had about Gawan of Conwyk. "Ooh, Jason, I think I'm too embarrassed to even tell."
He stared a minute, then barked out a laugh. He stood. "Well, then, fair maiden, it seems to have helped your cause, rather than hindered it—if yesterday's Brooding Chamber incident tells the true tale of it."
"Oh!" She swatted at him, but he darted out of the way. "You are too cute to be so evil."
He gave her a slight nod as he reached the door. "Guilty. Although," he said, rubbing his jaw with a knuckle, "if you really want to know if he's sneaking into your thoughts, then ask him directly."
Ellie blinked. "Really?"
Jason smiled, just as he stepped through the door. "A knight's first sworn vow:
never lie."
He winked and closed the door silently.
A grin pulled at Ellie's mouth until she gave in and allowed a full-blown smile—teeth and all.
Maybe she'd give that medieval warrior a few thoughts to ponder after all.
By the time the storm had slowed enough to safely drive, 'twas just at eleven thirty. Whilst the snow had stopped falling, the roads were slick, slushy, and iced in parts. Gawan had said his farewells to the Dreadmoor knights and Jameson, and now presently followed Lord and Lady Dreadmoor in a Rover not unlike Gawan's own. They headed into Northumbria to pay a visit to the constable's office before making their way out to the cottage Ellie had rented.
Gawan eased a glance toward her. She simply sat, staring out the window. Earlier, he'd caught her slipping casual looks toward him, but then she'd settled into the drive and had remained silent. He wondered briefly if his imagination played tricks upon him or if she was looking a bit paler than usual. Mayhap 'twas the cold.
"Do you feel ill?" he asked, keeping his eyes on the slick road ahead.
"You mean, other than mostly dead?" She took a deep breath. "I think I feel okay. Why?"
Jason, her newly appointed personal guardsman occupying the rear seat, spoke up. "Aye, lady, you do look a bit more ashen than usual this morn."
"Gee, thanks. You guys do a lot for a girl's ego."
Gawan glanced at her. "No jesting, Ell. Is there aught amiss?"
She turned, making her hair, which she'd pulled into a horse's tail, swish, and gave him one of those charming smiles. "I promise, nothing is amiss. You'll be the first one to know, if something does go amiss." She patted his shoulder. "Okay?"
Gawan gave a short nod. "Aye. Okay."
With that, she turned back to the scenery flashing by.
After leaving several contact numbers on Ellie's voice mail, they had then spent the rest of the morning digging their way out of the snow and applying chains to the Rover tires. Will then lowered the drawbridge, and they left for what Gawan prayed would be a successful visit to the constable's.
Still, his thoughts of the night before weighed heavily on his mind, and whilst he did indeed take into consideration Christian of Arrick-by-the-Sea's advice to enjoy what small amount of time he could have with Ellie, he thought 'twould be better to allow her to make that final decision. In fact, just sitting beside her, with her not vanishing, was a gift. It gnawed at him, though, to think she could fade away with the next breath.
He cast a quick glance her way. Aye, still there.
He feared that even that might be taken away, and far sooner than either would wish.
Earlier, it'd been chaos leaving the keep, what with the men bustling about. 'Twas a miracle, in truth, that the entire garrison hadn't accompanied them. They were all vastly concerned about Ellie and wanted nothing more than to help, no matter how much they jested and poked fun at him.
A good-natured lot of lads,
he thought.
Not a better garrison in all of England.
Past or present.
Finally, they reached the small township, and drove directly to the constable's office, which was located on a corner, next to a bakery and, beside that, a chippy. 'Twas a slight force of officers, in truth, but Tristan had said Constable Hurley could indeed be trusted.
When they entered through the narrow red doors marking the constable's quarters, a middle-aged man took one look at Tristan and paled. He sat behind a desk covered by various papers in disarray, a computer, a picture of a teenage boy and girl, and a telephone.
With a manly cough and an even manlier clearing of throat, the constable recovered and stood. A small bit of his color even returned. He held out a hand to Tristan.
"Aye, Dreadmoor, how are you this morn?" He gave a nod to Andi. "Lady Dreadmoor, you're looking well."
Andi gave him a smile. "Thanks. So are you."
Ellie, Gawan noticed, hung back a bit, close behind him, and didn't say a word.
Tristan, on the other hand, wasted no time in getting to the matter.
"Constable Hurley, this is Gawan of Conwyk, from Castle Grimm, just up the way," Tristan said. He inclined his head. "You remember Jason."
Hurley gave Jason a quick nod.
"A rather similar situation at Grimm as the one in which you so graciously offered aid for me at Dreadmoor needs your attention, if you've the stomach for it."
Hurley, Gawan noticed, paled again. But he did hold his stomach, in truth. He turned his gaze to Gawan. "How can I be of service, Lord Grimm?"
Gawan stepped away from Ellie, and noticed the constable hadn't so much as given her a single glance. He'd hoped that since Hurley had been able to see Tristan whilst he was still a spirit, he'd somehow have the capability of seeing Ellie, as well. Mayhap being In-Betwinxt prevented it.
Gawan gave Hurley a stern look. "I've a missing person, of a sort, who needs help. She's been in an accident, she's lost her memory, and we're working against a time limit, Constable." He pulled out a copy of the photo of Ellie. "We've only this picture to go on, I'm afraid. And a phone number."
Gawan handed Hurley a slip of paper with Ellie's number written on it. "She's an American."
"The girl rented one of my holiday cottages, which is where that photo was taken," Tristan said.
"The storm kept us from visiting the cottage yestereve, but we're headed there now."
Constable Hurley sat down.
"Here are copies of the information my solicitor took from the girl, before letting her the cottage,"
Tristan said. "As you can see, she gave false information, other than the phone number."
Gawan walked closer to the desk, unbuttoned his wool coat, and shoved his hands in his pockets. "I called that number, and 'tis the same girl, but she leaves no name on the voice mail. We've left several contact numbers in hopes that someone—mayhap a family member—will return the call. No one, so far, has."
Everyone watched Constable Hurley, who finally drew a deep breath, mopped a hand over his brow, and met Gawan's gaze. "Forgive me. I fear I'll later kick myself in the arse for asking this, but how do you know it's the same girl on the voice mail?"
Gawan grinned. "I know her voice. 'Tis the same."
Hurley scratched his cheek as he pondered that. "You know the voice, but not her real identity, and she's injured, you say."
The lady Dreadmoor then walked up and patted the constable on the shoulder. "Okay, it's like this.
She's almost a ghost—floating between a mortal life and the spirit one. We can see her, touch her, but then she disappears"—Andi snapped her fingers, and the constable jumped—"just like that. She doesn't remember who she is, and we can't find her live body. Gawan's checked all the hospitals."
She turned and pointed directly at Ellie. "She's standing right there, behind Gawan."
Hurley shifted a watery gaze in the direction of Andi's finger, where Ellie stood, swallowed a few times, then nodded. "I see." He heaved a sigh. "Unfortunately, so. Rather, I don't see
her,
but I understand. Please give the, er, girl my regards."
Gawan nodded, and glanced at Ellie.
"Tell him I said thank you," she said.
"We call her Ellie, and she gives her thanks for your kind help on the matter," Gawan said.
"Right." Constable Hurley stood. "I'll make some calls and see what I can come up with." He extended a hand to Gawan. "I'll be in touch, my lord." He glanced at Tristan and Andi. "Lord and Lady Dreadmoor, a pleasure, as always." He gave a nod in Jason's direction. "Lad, good to see you in, er, such fine health, as well."
Jason nodded in return. "Aye, thank you."
"Constable," Gawan said, "I would appreciate your utmost confidentiality whilst dealing with this delicate matter. Dreadmoor swears you're the best and can be completely trusted."
Constable Hurley gave a curt nod. "As always, sir. You can trust me, for a certainty, because I can promise you, no one else would bloody believe any of this." He gave a sheepish grin. "I'll be in touch."
With that, they all left and made their way down the winding North Sea coastline, toward Tristan's holiday cottage.
Ellie turned sideways in her seat. "I think I'm nervous."
Gawan gave her a quick glance and resisted the urge to touch her anywhere, to give comfort. The blunt way she confessed her feelings truly charmed him. "Why is that, girl?"
She shrugged. "I guess because of what we might find at the cottage. Or what we
won't
find."
Jason leaned forward from the back seat. "Do not fear, lady. If Sir Gawan tells you 'twill be all right, you can believe it, in truth."
Gawan lost his resistance and found her hand upon her knee, and threaded his fingers through her slim, powerfully cold ones. "We will manage that course once we're there, aye?"
She tightened her fingers around his and smiled. "Okay. Aye." Turning her head, she glanced out the window. "What if I left stuff all over the place? What if I was"—she shrugged—"a major slob.
There could be panties hanging from the shower rod, for all I know."
Jason chuckled.
Gawan grinned and squeezed her hand. "If you've drawers hanging high and low from yon garderobe, I'll hasten in there and yank them down for you straightaway. Aye?"
"No!" she said, and laughed. "I can yank my own drawers down." She turned her head and rested it against the back of the seat, staring at him. "But thanks for the offer."
Gawan gave a short nod, his heart truly melting at the soft look in her eyes. He hoped his words didn't stumble over his tongue when he spoke. "My pleasure, as always."
It wasn't long before Tristan turned in to a small, family-run chippy situated near the sea road. It had been hours since they'd eaten, and damnation, Gawan's belly growled as soon as they walked inside and the aroma hit his nose. His appetite lessened, though, when Ellie refused to eat anything.
Something was changing with her, and it bothered Gawan to the core. He ate a little, and then had the fishmonger bag the remainder of his fried cod and chips. The others, too, wordlessly followed suit. Gawan met Tristan's eyes, and knew his friend understood. They continued on their way.
After a while, the cottages that dotted the coastline became fewer and fewer, with wide stretches of craggy meadows covered with snow-laden clumps of brown heather and rock. Sheep, here and there, grazed on hidden bits of grass buried beneath the frost.
"It's quite beautiful here," Ellie said, echoing Gawan's own thoughts. "I don't remember ever smelling such fresh, sweet air." She stared, her gaze fixed on some spot far off. "Or having such an intense sense of ... I don't know"—she looked at him—"the past. Of course, that might be due to the fact that everyone I presently know, with the exception of Andi, Will, and Jameson, is so old." She smiled and turned back to the scenery flashing by. "I like it."