Chapter 3
Undisturbed, Edwina woke on her own. She stretched and mewed like a cat, so sweet had her sleep been. Had she ever mewed like a cat before? She didn’t think so.
A trip to the bathroom left her refreshed after a quick washup. Rifling through her clothes, she wondered what a girl in a Scottish castle should wear. She found her things neatly folded in a drawer, pushed aside her worn jeans and chose her favorite black print skirt and a short-sleeved white cotton shirt. Settling herself in the overstuffed wing-backed chair, she thought about the last couple of days and how she could possibly find herself, the sensible one, here in Scotland alone.
Edwina remembered their conversation well.
The call came as they waited in Chicago to board the plane.
“What do you mean you can’t go?” Edwina stared at her sister.
Cecelia snapped her phone shut and said, “Father has expired. I must make arrangements to travel to Milan immediately.”
Edwina watched her step-sister’s quick steps with disbe- lief, grabbed her carry-on and ran after her. “But we’re ready to board. I can’t go to Scotland without you, Cecelia.” Edwina stopped.
Cecelia turned, crossed her arms over her nut brown embroidered jacket and said, “Of course, you’ll go without me. The arrangements are all in order. You need only to follow the itinerary I gave you. Chicago to London to Edinburgh. Simple.”
For the first time in her life, Edwina stomped her foot. “Look, this was your plan for us, together, not for me to travel alone. You know I don’t like to... to... leave home.” She sputtered.
“Exactly, the reason you must continue your trip. This is your first holiday away from your job in three years, Ed. You need to learn a little about other people.”
“You’re the one who needs people all over the world... not me. I’m happy to be an assistant librarian and read about other people’s lives.” Edwina’s hands were on her hips. She glanced around at the people passing.
“The barrister said Father’s will is to be read day after tomorrow and I must be in Italy. I am his only heir.”
“I know that, Cecelia. It’s just that... .that...” Edwina forced herself to lower her voice.
“What, Ed?” Cecelia checked her watch. “I have to see if I can get on standby... it’s going to be difficult enough to catch another flight today. Really, I’m sorry. Besides we flew to Italy for our parents’ wedding remember?”
“Yes, but that was six years ago...” Edwina heard the whine in her normally calm librarian voice. “And you’re the one that was born in England.”
“It’s not that difficult, Ed... you’re so organized.”
“In my own world, I’m organized. This is not my world, Cece, it’s yours.”
“Look, why don’t you just board the plane and see if you might find someone to talk to and learn all you can about Edinburgh. It’s easy enough. I’ve done it dozens of times. Ask lots of questions. People love to talk about things they know.”
Edwina’s thoughts flew through her head like scattered pearls bouncing off a marble floor. “You love to talk to people. I love to read books about people, remember?” The pitch of her voice raised a notch.
“Well, then it’s time you learned a little more about life. You can’t live your entire life out of books, Edwina Blair.”
The firmness of her sister’s words hit her like a scorching wind. Or was her face already hot? She lifted her hand to her cheek and looked away. She hated emotional displays in public places.
“Besides, everything is paid for. It cost me a lot of money, Ed.”
Edwina stared into her sister’s beautiful blue eyes as her stomach did flip-flops. That did it. Not one for wasting money or disappointing anyone, she realized at that moment she would be going to Scotland for two weeks. Alone.
Cecelia must have known she’d won, for her sister tucked her cell in her pocket, laid her exquisitely manicured hands upon Edwina’s shoulders and winked. “See, I knew you’d see it my way. You’ll have the time of your life, believe me. There’s plenty to do... be sure to visit Edinburgh Castle, take several bus tours around the country, one through the Highlands for certain. The people at the hotel will tell you which ones are best. The itinerary is in the packet I gave you. You’ll be fine, Edwina.”
Edwina looked at her feet. Well, if this was called adventure, she guessed she was in for a big one. Lord, I’m going with you... show me the way. A huge sigh escaped her lips.
“There, now.” Cecelia comforted her sister with a pat on her arm.
Edwina’s heart seemed to return to normal pace, for some odd reason, because none of this was going to be easy or fun... at least not from her point of view. And all because there was no way she’d let all that money be wasted just because she was afraid. Besides, her conscience railed, wasn’t she being insensitive to Cecelia’s pain right now?
“I’ll be all right, Cece. I’m really sorry about your father.”
“Don’t worry about me, Ed. You know Father and I were never close. He was not kind to my mother or me. But he did have a beautiful villa and I shall make plans to put it to good use. Actually, I’m rather excited to see it. Mum says it is located in an exquisite part of the country and quite lavishly furnished.”
Edwina stared at her sister. Cecelia could change life- styles quicker than Edwina could put gas in her little white Volkswagen.
“I’ll let the airlines know I won’t be flying. They’ll use my seat for a standby. Be right back.”
Edwina barely heard.