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"Dear heaven!" she exclaimed, and quickly waved her hand again, canceling the spell. "How do any of you do anything small around here?"

"What?" "A spell, go ahead," Callum said with a quick nod. "Alright," she paused a moment, then flicked her finger, releasing several small globes of light that should hover around the room casting a warm glow.

"The staff probably has more privacy than you do," she observed. "I certainly hope that young lady who helped me last night wasn't obliged to be up early this morning." It took a few moments for her eyes to adjust from the bright sunlight to the shadows inside the carriage house. "Alone at...

"Yes, yes I believe so," Abby said, and sank down into one of the comfortable leather chairs. "I've known since I started working with her that there was far more to magic than I'd know before, but the depth of knowledge about the world, the universe that I lack seems to be staggering." She was...

"Not about China darling, although that is fascinating. The guardian spirits. I have met a goddess. I have met a Priestess so devoted that she considers years of her life a small price for the chance to be one with her goddess. I've seen a woman who is a dragon. You tell me there are people...

A lump formed in her throat. She knew nothing of these creatures, despite all her studies. But that such a thing should have died young, and she could only imagine violently, wrenched at her for some reason. "Where have you learned all this, Cal? I thought I'd been educated; I know enough to...

"I had no idea of it being real at all," she said, then went over to have a closer look at it. "Of course, I was just spending time with a dragon. It shouldn't surprise me. All the books relating your work are elsewhere, I assume."

"No offense to Queen Mary, but this is more like it." She took a deep breath in through the nose and found the familiar scents of books and wood smoke. "I'm not sure what that says about me." She was immediately drawn to the walls with the bookcases, where her eyes moved quickly over the...

"Yes, I meant in France. I doubt there is any place in the Western world where the forbidden magic isn't being practiced quietly. I suspect my own skills would be quite a bit further along if I had been born in France rather than America. New Orleans is a lot more forgiving, but you still have...

"I had been wondering about bardic magic," Abby said a bit absently, her spectacles appearing from her pocket and then perched on her nose. She moved close to the harpsichord, then some of the other instruments to examine them more closely. "Since clerical magic isn't the thing here, Bardic...

"And I suppose you can't just choose to stay in one of the simpler rooms. There is an image to maintain. All of us, whether grand or humble have restrictions on our choices. Much as I've studied, I can't really imagine this kind of life. I'm glad you had the opportunity to stay at the farmhouse...

Abigail felt the pull of the library, but she knew she would have her chance to spend plenty of time in there later while the others were busy. She slipped her arm in Cal's and went up the stairs with him. "Was there a lot of entertaining her during Mary Stuart's time here?"

"The tour sounds perfect," she said with a smile. "A bit of a walk with you is just what I need after breakfast."

Abby was happy to let Cal do the talking and just enjoy the breakfast. She sipped the tea, slightly sweetened with lovely, floral honey, and finished the last bites of the buttered scone. For some, luxury was all about fine things. To her, it was just this. A hearty meal taken in the company of...

"Ahh, the soothing sounds of the Highlands," she sighed dramatically. "Their dulcet tone would lull any true patriot to sleep at night. We are delirious with hunger, Cal. We'd better eat before we start a parade through the house."

It suddenly struck her that the red gown she was wearing matched the brighter red of Charles' tartan, and she cast her eyes down for a moment before the smile returned to her face. "I hope you slept well," she said. "I need to come here more often if I get to see all these well dressed Scots...

"I don't envy you or Cal this morning. I'd guess I'm the most content person here this morning, with such delightful company and a beautiful bouquet. And absolutely no obligations."

"So she has a wonderful gift, and a strong one, but it cuts two ways. Her father feared it. It brought her here, but still holds her back because it isn't the wizard's gift. Something she rightly esteems about herself also drags her down." Abby shook her head. "It must be maddening. And it would...

"It must be hard though, to see your Mother pass something on to a cousin instead of her daughter, even if it was the right decision for the land and the mission. As I said, family."

Abby was quiet for a moment. "When family is involved, a lot of things so unsaid too long. Hopefully any hurt feelings won't linger too long after the air gets cleared. It sounds like you have a few things you'll be glad to get off your chest, too."