Claimed By A Charmer (The Pith Trilogy) (15 page)

“Lady, I know what you’re hiding. Why
do ye do so?”

She turned and threw the dagger at
the tree; it landed next to the one embedded in the bark. Isabel didn’t know
what to say and remained speechless.

“I watched you from afar and I
wondered how you were so skilled. Now I know. You practice. What I want to
know, Lady Calvert, is why you hide it.”

She glanced at Brendan and decided
to be honest, releasing another dagger.

“Please, call me Isabel. I don’t
want anyone to know about my unladylike pursuits.”

“I don’t think they’re unladylike. In
fact, I admire your skill. Where’d you learn to throw the blade?” He leaned
against a tree, folding his arms, looking approvingly at her.

She smiled, and knew he meant it. “My
brother Nathaniel taught me. Whenever I get angry I use … well, it helps me to
relax.” Plunk, another dagger hit its target.

Brendan went to the tree and pulled
four daggers from the bark. “I see now what you had hidden in your satchel and
why you insisted Douglas retrieve it from the asylum.” He walked back to her
grinning, and handed the daggers to her, motioning for her to continue.

“So what are you angry about today,
Isabel?”

“Rachel.”

“Ahhh, aye, that lass. What did she
do to anger ye?”

“I feel foolish talking to you about
this.”

“Don’t, I consider us friends. Mayhap
you’ll feel better having a friend to confide in.”

His sternness caused her to look up,
but his rough voice was softened by his face, which was now devoid of his usual
scowl.

“Another
friend
, just what I
need.” Isabel threw the dagger into the dead center of the tree. She handed him
a dagger and motioned to him to throw it.

Brendan accepted the dagger from
her and took aim. “What do you mean, another friend? Can’t have enough of ‘em,
right?” Releasing the dagger, it landed next to hers, clanking the steel of her
blade, practically a hair’s distance away.

“I’ve got one too many. Impressive
throw.”

“Thanks, I see now. Is this friend,
perchance, a man with brown hair and a charming disposition?”

“Charming?” Isabel snorted.

Brendan frowned. “Aye, isn’t he
charming around ye?”

“I haven’t seen a charming moment
from the man, unless you count his kisses … What I mean to say is that …” Isabel
didn’t finish, her face brightened and she could feel it burning with shame.

He grinned. “So he’s kissed you,
has he? Is Rachel giving you a problem?”

“Douglas mentioned this morn that
he was thinking to make her stay permanent. How else could he do that unless he
married her? It angered me.”

“I’m sure it did, lass.”

Brendan touched her shoulder, and
looked into her eyes. She almost stepped backward, becoming a bit flushed by
his boldness.

“My cousin has acted differently
these past few years, since his father died. He was carefree, but changed when
he took over his clan. Before his father died, Douglas talked about wanting a
wife, and I think you suit him well. I don’t know why he’s fighting it, Isabel,
it is not like him.”

Isabel was taken aback, she’d never
heard so many words from Brendan before, but she nodded to him, appreciating
his acceptance.

“Now, I don’t know why he’d want
Rachel for a wife, her temerity is contemptible, and she’s not good enough for
my cousin. I will not let that happen, even if I have to do some wooing myself.
Although, the thought of wooing Rachel repulses me, but I’ll be skewered with
my own sword before I let Douglas make such a mistake.”

“Brendan, you are so very good to
him.” Isabel found herself surprised by the emotion in his voice. He didn’t
appear to be someone affected by much.

“My cousin’s happiness means a
great deal to me. I don’t allow many to see this side of me, Isabel, and if you
tell Douglas any of this conversation, I will tell him your secret.”

She couldn’t help laughing when he
became riled. “I promise, Brendan, to hold your confidence.”

He took another dagger from her. “Your
turn.”

Isabel threw the dagger and it landed
low on the trunk. “Drat.”

Brendan chuckled while throwing his
remaining dagger, which hit its mark. “Let me get this straight in my mind. You’re
pretending to be a sweet, prim lady so he’ll notice ye? When you’re a fiery
lass who wants to let her hair down? You’re going about it the wrong way. Is
that why you pretended to be helpless on the journey?”

“Sort of, I wanted to make a good
impression, and thought by being incapable; he’d treat me as a lady. That he
would want me …” Isabel retrieved the daggers and handed two to him. She pulled
two more from her cloak, returning one to him. They each held three.

“Damn, lass, how many daggers do
you own?”

His question went unanswered. “I
don’t know how to gain his interest, Brendan. I’m not at all soft and weak like
most women. It’s been an experience trying to remain genteel, and I don’t think
he likes me.”

“Then why did he kiss you? Of
course he likes you. I think my cousin in confused. You’ve set him on a jagged
path. Give him time, and he’ll come around.”

Isabel took turns with Brendan, throwing
daggers at the tree. He waited for her to throw her second one, before he took
aim and released his. It landed below the mark. Hers was directly centered on
the target.

“I don’t know about that. All I
really want is a place to stay. I cannot return home. If Douglas doesn’t have
any interest in me, then I’ll to go to my uncle’s. If he marries Rachel, she’d
make my life … hell. I couldn’t remain here.”

“Why can’t you go home? And how did
you end up at the asylum? Douglas wouldn’t talk about it.”

“It’s a long story. I don’t want to
discuss it either.”

“Are you in danger?”

“Nay, not any longer, Brendan. Thank
ye for talking to me. Don’t tell anyone about my daggers.”

“Nay, I won’t, it’ll be our secret.
Don’t give up on Douglas, Isabel.”

“I won’t, but nothing will come of
it. I believe he’s already chosen. ‘Tis unlikely it’s me.” Why did that make
her heart hurt? She had to accept reality and the possibility of losing him.

“Isabel, I don’t believe he’s
chosen.” Brendan returned his daggers to his boots and watched her place her
daggers inside her cloak. “My cousin is in for some surprises when he finds out
the truth.” He laughed aloud, which made her smile. “Why would you want to
learn to throw daggers?”

“Because it is forbidden. My
brother Nate and I would practice. I am actually better than he is, though he
wouldn’t admit that. I believe a woman has the right to protect herself,
especially against … knaves.”

“A woman shouldn’t have to protect
herself from knaves, Isabel, that’s what we men are supposed to do. Why would
you feel unprotected?”

“I never said that, Brendan. I’m
independent and don’t want to have to depend upon any man for protection.” Isabel
almost choked on the words, and of course, she hadn’t told the truth. She was
tired of looking out for herself, but it seemed she would always have to.

Brendan laughed again.

“Sir, I don’t believe I have ever
heard you laugh so. What is so funny?”

He stopped and his expression
turned back to his usual sternness. “I recall Douglas saying he’d have a sweet
lass who would attend him. He never mentioned independence being a trait he
looked for in a woman. Aye, he’s going to be mighty surprised.”

Isabel didn’t comment on his
ridiculous thought. On the walk back to the keep, she kept silent, thinking
about their conversation. Before they reached the keep’s door, he stopped her
with a hand to her shoulder.

“I’ve gained a sense of your
spirit, Isabel, and I know Douglas would like that. He’d be a great fool not to
want ye. I can’t wait to see what he does. Once you reveal your true self to
him, he will have nothing to do but surrender.”

Isabel shook her head, but heard
him laughing when she left him standing on the steps.

She wished she could reveal her
secrets to Douglas, but was disheartened at the effect her secrets would have
on him. A pensive feeling came over her. What would Douglas think, if he knew
what had happened to her? Would he hold her in contempt? It wasn’t something
she wanted to think about.

Candace rushed inside her chamber
and paced the floor, thinking about what she had said to Isabel. There was one
way Isabel could stay. She had seen the way Douglas looked at her friend, and
the way Isabel watched him in return. Secretly, she hoped they felt something
for each other. The way Isabel had hugged him when they first arrived made her
wonder if her friend didn’t all ready have feelings for him. Somehow she had to
intervene and bring them together.

She wasn’t intelligent on matters
of the heart, her husband had all but been selected for her, and the betrothal
suggested by Douglas. She’d met Wills prior to her brother’s talk about the
matter, and she was happy with his choice. She’d been thankful that her brother
didn’t push her to accept the betrothal, but left the decision up to her.

Being shy, Candace hadn’t any
knowledge on how to interest a man, and she didn’t know how to influence her
friend or her brother. Mayhap her mother would know what to do. Before heading
to her mother’s chamber, she went to her table and took the letters Isabel had
written throughout the years and held them. She left and went to her mother’s
room.

Her mother opened the door, and
seeing her, she opened it wider. Taking a seat on the covered bench, her mother
folded her legs under her. Candace’s quiet entrance indicated that she wanted
to talk. Her mother always sat on the bench and listened.

Candace threw herself on her
mother’s bed, holding her chin up with her hands.

“What has you upset, Candace?

She sat up, crossing her legs. “I
must speak to ye about Douglas.”

“What has he done?”

“He said that he might make Rachel
a permanent addition to our family, more or less.”

Her mother gasped. “That’s
deplorable.”

“Why haven’t you sent her home,
Mother? I don’t like her at all.”

“I’ve been meaning to ask him to
send her back, but haven’t had the chance.”

“Really?” Candace scooted to the
edge of the bed. “Thank goodness, because I had hoped that he and Isabel would
suit. If you could have seen the way they …”

“I believe they do suit. Now tell
me why you would wish it?”

Candace held her mother’s eyes for
a moment. “When they first met at the Gordon’s, there were sparks flying even
then. I could tell they were attracted to each other, but we had to return
quickly. Then when I asked him to bring her here, he didn’t really want to. I
used trickery to gain his agreement.”

Her mother laughed. “You’re a
shameful lass.”

“The sparks are flying again, only
Rachel is in the way. She must go.”

“I’ll speak to him. I saw Douglas
and Isabel kissing in the hallway, that first night.”

Incredulous, Candace laughed. “You
did? Isabel never mentioned it.”

“I ruined it because I came upon
them and told him to unhand her.” Her Mother laughed. “He actually obeyed me. I
cannot let him manhandle her, now can I?”

“Then why has he kept his distance?
If he’s attracted to her, then you’d think he’d be in the hall more often. What’s
in his mind, I can only wonder?”

Her mother rose, picking up a
brush. She sat next to Candace and began brushing her hair. The gesture calmed
Candace and she closed her eyes.

“Dearest, he’ll come around. Isabel
is a sweet lady, and your brother couldn’t do better with her as wife.”

“Mother, there’s something I should
tell you about Isabel. She’s not as ladylike as you think. She’s skilled with
all sorts of weapons and is sovereign. Not the sort of woman Douglas would be
interested in.”

“I don’t deem ‘twill matter. I
believe they are meant to be together. ‘Tis their fate.”

“Isabel has had a difficult time of
it, Mother. I have letters from when we first met until recently and I wanted
you to read them. I want her to be happy. Do you deem he will make her happy?”

“I know Douglas has had many issues
to deal with, but I don’t see why he wouldn’t want to make her happy. It shall
be interesting to see what he does. I cannot wait to see—”

“Will you help me with my plan,
Mother? I’m going to leave them alone whenever I can in hopes they’ll act on
their feelings. It’s the only thing I can think of to bring them together.”

“That’s a good plan. I’ll assist if
I can, but I cannot let him take advantage of her. She doesn’t deserve that. He’s
a man that would take what he wants, like most. If he wants her, he’ll do it
the honorable way. I must protect her virtue.”

“I agree. Do you believe he’ll wed
her?”

“Mayhap, but let’s get you wed
first.” Her mother wrapped her arms around her and sighed. “Then we’ll worry
about Isabel.”