Closing her eyes, she called forth the score of Vivaldi’s Four Seasons and put bow to string, pouring her heart into the music.
“La primavera,” Allegro, Largo, Allegro: Scenes from her life played like a movie behind her closed eyes. She remembered the day her father had given her the violin. She’d been five years old. He’d stopped at an estate sale in Duluth, Minnesota, on his way home from a tribal conference, and he’d picked the instrument up for next to nothing. They’d found out later the instrument was worth a tidy fortune. Alethia had an ear for music, a natural talent, and a love for the violin her father had given her.
“L’estate,” Allegro non molto, Adagio, Presto: Being accepted into Juilliard meant everything to her. She’d earned a solo part in the spring concert, and she’d worked hard to live up to the honor. Her heart swelled as images of her family played through her mind. Blue jeans, beaded medicine bags and key chains, long black braids, brown skin and eyes the color of the rich black earth shone with pride among the sea of sameness making up the rest of the audience that day.
“L’autunno,” Allegro, Adagio molto, Allegro: Would she ever see her family again? What of her dreams, her plans for the future? Profoundly deaf since birth, what would Gran do now that her eyesight was failing? More than anything, she wanted to be there for her grandmother the same way Gran had been there for her when she’d lost her parents.
“L’inverno,” Allegro non molto, Largo, Allegro: Her memories became part of the music as she wove them into each note. She’d been correct about the acoustics. Never had her violin’s sweet tones been so profoundly accentuated. Her head remained bowed long past the last note.
Someone coughed, and Alethia looked up. She’d been alone and completely absorbed in the music when she began playing. Now the eyes of at least thirty people stared at her.
Malcolm had never heard such music before, and he was a well-traveled man. When Alethia began to play, the sound drew everyone near enough to hear it. Malcolm’s father, his mother and sister were there, along with his cousins, uncle and aunt, and a number of their clan who had been caught up by the magic. They had come on silent feet so as not to break the spell.
Little did she know she’d just secured a place for herself in clan MacKintosh. His people loved a good story, good music, and a great mystery to chew on during the long winter months. Here were all three of those elements embodied in one bonnie lass.
Malcolm located Beth, the servant he’d chosen to care for their guest, and went to give her further instructions. “Has the chamber been made ready?”
“Aye, and a bath has been prepared, just like ye asked.” Beth curtsied as she answered.
“See Lady Alethia to her chamber. You are to look after her every need.”
“Aye, milord. I’m pleased to serve the lady.” She smiled and curtsied again before hurrying off to carry out his instructions.
Even though theirs was a modern keep with a bathing room, he’d arranged for a bath to be brought to Alethia’s chamber. She must be weary from traveling. Surely she would appreciate the thoughtfulness of his gesture.
All Malcolm wanted now was a bath and a shave before supping with family and clan. Anticipation filled him. What did his family make of their mysterious visitor? He guessed her to be around the same age as his younger sister. Would they become confidants the way young women often did? Mayhap their guest would reveal more to Elaine than she would to him or his father. Time would tell.
He caught up to his father and placed a hand on his shoulder. “Father, she’s the lass we found on our way home.”
“She was alone, did you say?” His father frowned.
“Aye. There are questions begging answers. I had hoped you would find time to speak with her this eve.”
“Unless she was being followed, it can wait. Did you find evidence of brigands?”
“Nay, but—”
“We have more important things to attend to, aye? This night we’ll feast with our clan and share the good news of our king’s return.” William slapped Malcolm on the back. “Let the lass settle in. Then we’ll have our talk. She’s hardly a threat, lad.”
Torn, Malcolm watched his father stride off toward his mother. Waiting had never been one of his strengths.
Left alone for the time being, Alethia surveyed the chamber she’d been given. Though small, she knew she was being treated as an honored guest rather than a nobody lucky to secure floor space in the great hall. She needed to tread carefully if she was to hold on to that status.
Laying a hand flat on the cold stone wall, she tried to absorb the reality she’d been thrust into. A real castle complete with lords and their ladies! She’d always studied everything she could about the Renaissance period. That’s why she worked at Renaissance fairs all over New York and neighboring states. Now she found herself in the past, maybe even in the Renaissance period. How was this possible?