Owain opened the Low Rowan Hall basement door and quickly went inside. Before he had time to slide the new security bolts into their housing, Bronwen pushed in behind him. He had anticipated her arrival, so her presence didn’t surprise him.
"I see you"ve taken the basement over for your own clandestine activities," she said with a frown, eyeing the new bolts. "How long is this secrecy going to continue?"
"There are no secrets here," he replied, smiling down at her. "I just need a quiet place in which my brothers and I can work."
"You have your family"s cottage," she replied. "Isn"t that sufficient?"
He stared at her, weighing his reply. "Not at the moment. I need a much larger room. I must have a safe space for experimentation."
A month ago, she would have been outraged that he was pr
