The three doors down the hall from hers were most likely other bedchambers, so she decided to go back the way Graeme had brought her in. She passed through the parlor, a small dining room, and then stumbled upon what appeared to be a study. She crept through the partially opened doorway and examined her surroundings. A fire still burned in the hearth, though it had not been stoked for a while, and the flames were beginning to die out. She found a lantern on the desk and lit it so that soft light flooded the area.
On the desk, she found some texts lying open, but they were nothing particularly out of the ordinary. However, beneath them, she found handwritten notes as well as a journal and two maps spread open. The notes detailed the existence of something called the Kingmaker. She’d heard the man who visited Graeme mention a word she hadn’t quite understood—but “Kingmaker”—that was what he’d said. She fell into the chair behind the desk and pulled the notes to her.
According to legend, the Kingmaker was precisely what it sounded like, a relic that would make someone a ruler once they had it in their possession.
Only it wasn’t simply one relic. It was composed of four royal stones—the Stone of Destiny, and then three gems, all named for important kings. King David’s stone, a sapphire, represented wisdom. King William I’s stone, a ruby, represented courage. And King Robert Bruce’s, an emerald, represented authority. Certainly it was the latter whose treasure was tied to Loch Ness.
Surely no one actually believed that if they had a certain collection of rocks in their possession, they would magically become king? Still, Vanessa knew that people could believe in nearly anything. And it seemed people these days were eager to believe in the unexplained. Hadn’t she seen an advertisement in the newspaper of an exhibit at a London museum featuring relics rumored to be cursed? So it was feasible that someone might accept the legend of the Kingmaker as truth. She set aside the notes and moved on to the maps.
They were both hand drawn, and while one depicted the inner workings of a series of caverns, the other appeared to be where those caverns were located.
While it was clearly not a professional map, the level of detail was admirable. The loch covered a small portion at the bottom of the drawing, but just above the water’s edge, she could see what appeared to be an entrance into a cave. Then high upon the hill, above the loch, sat Urquhart Castle, with a staircase that led into yet another set of caverns. Judging by the distance between the two entrances, Vanessa would wager these were the same set of caverns but with two separate entries.
There were marks on some of the caves as if they had already been searched and marked off the list. Excitement bubbled inside her. It would seem that she had found the very caves she needed to visit for her own research.
Oh, how she wished Mr. McElroy were still alive so that she could find out precisely which caves he’d explored to find that bone. Of course, she had the man’s crude drawing amidst Jeremy’s notes, but it was just of the actual cave. But even without a guide to the correct spot, she now knew where to start.
The journal was the most interesting item, though. It detailed several years of research for the legendary Stone of Destiny. If she wasn’t mistaken, the penmanship looked similar to that on the maps, but it was hard to tell due to the limited words on the maps. There was mention of a group of men called Solomon’s, The Magi’s Book of Wisdom, and many other resources.
Vanessa’s heart beat quickly with her excitement. Was this Graeme’s journal? Vanessa read on, fascinated by the detailed research. Although the subject wasn’t one grounded in science, the reasoning was purely logical.
Her breath caught as, page after page, she was entranced by the quest. To this researcher’s mind, the Stone of Destiny stolen by King Edward I and placed in Westminster Abbey was a fraud. So this was the counterfeit bit she’d heard the men discussing. Evidently the Scots had known the English were coming, and they’d taken measures to hide the true stone. But now no one knew where it had been hidden.
Vanessa was not one to spend much time reading fiction, but she admitted that on more than one occasion, she’d been swept up in an adventure novel. These notes certainly had the making of a brilliant adventure. And the person who had written this journal, perhaps Graeme, had been searching for nearly eleven years. Whoever this person was, they could lead her into the caves and guide her so that she might find the spot where Mr. McElroy had been working.
She had been nearly ravished tonight, then almost married to a Scot who appeared to live quite a secretive life. Lost treasures, legendary quests, and maps of caves—it would seem that she’d stumbled upon a man who could provide her invaluable assistance with her own journey. And she intended to utilize that circumstance to the fullest.
CHAPTER 4
The following morning, Vanessa awakened and dressed herself. She’d stayed up far too late reading the night before. As she glanced around the room, she realized her dress had been laid out on a chair in the corner, but her trunk appeared to be missing. Perhaps someone had moved it to another room.
She stepped out of the bedchamber and retraced the steps they’d taken the night before. It did not take her long to locate the kitchen. Inside the room, she found two women. One was bent over in front of the oven, the other was searching for something in a cupboard.
“Pardon me,” Vanessa said. She took a step farther into the room.
“Good gracious,” the woman at the oven said with a start. She stood upright and turned to face Vanessa, her hand resting over her heart. “You startled me.”
“Who is that?” the older one asked, her voice aged. She still stood in front of the cupboard, but she’d angled her body in Vanessa’s direction. She had sun-weathered skin and white hair that hung down her back in one fat braid. Wrinkles masquerading as dimples warmed her smile. Her blue eyes were cloudy as if she’d spilled cream in them.
“I’m sorry,” Vanessa said. “Evidently Graeme did not notify you of his hospitality. I’m afraid he rescued me last night. At the pub. I inadvertently got myself in a tangle with some of the local men, and they did not want to allow me to go on my way.”
The younger woman stepped away from the oven carrying a steaming loaf of bread. Her hair was a riot of bright red curls tied back in a scarf. Her bright blue eyes and rosy cheeks all came together in a picture of pure loveliness. The yeasty aroma of the fresh bread hit Vanessa and instantly, her stomach growled in response. She put a hand to her abdomen to hide the noise.
“The men around here can be like that,” the younger one said with a smile. “And my son did tell me last night you were here. How fortunate that he was able to rescue you, my dear.” This petite woman with her cloud of copper hair and cheerful disposition was Graeme’s mother? They seemed so different in both appearance and temperament. Not to mention her brogue was thicker than Graeme’s. Vanessa had to concentrate to catch every word.
Graeme’s mother pulled a chair out from the small table. “Please sit. The bread is ready, and I’ve no doubt you’re hungry. You’re thin as a rail.”
Vanessa released an unladylike snort. “I don’t know that anyone has ever considered me thin. But thank you.” She sat and waited patiently while the women busied themselves about the small kitchen, then returned to the table with a jar of fruit preserves, butter, and the hot bread. “Where is Graeme?” Vanessa asked.
“Can’t say that I’ve seen him this morning,” his mother said. “I’m Moira, and this is my mother. Everyone calls her Old Mazie.”
“I’m Vanessa. Very nice to meet both of you,” she said. “And kind of you to allow me to spend the night. I’m certain I’ll find more suitable lodgings today and be on my way.”
“You had a room at the pub?” Old Mazie asked.
“I did,” Vanessa said.
“You’d have better luck in Inverness,” Moira interjected.