Claimed By A Charmer (The Pith Trilogy) (20 page)

Douglas kept his rage simmering beneath
his cool gaze. He spent the afternoon with Cedric, searching the keep for
anyone that didn’t belong—for a man with a wounded neck. They couldn’t find
anyone inside the walls who wasn’t of his clan or anyone with an injury. Was
there a traitor within his walls? In the two years since he’d taken over as
laird, there hadn’t been any problems. None had refuted his right to rule, so
why would someone want him out now?

“Cedric, this is becoming grave. I
don’t like the fact that Isabel was attacked in my own courtyard. For God’s
sake, who would want to hurt her? Do you deem it is one of our clan?”

“It may be, Laird. I’ll have our
most trusted men listen in on the men at supper. Mayhap someone will have a
slip of the tongue. I’ll have the men look for a wounded man. If he is here,
we’ll find him.”

Douglas nodded and walked to the
keep. He wanted to check on Isabel and make sure she was well after her ordeal,
and he hoped she’d come to a conclusion about marrying him. He wanted to secure
his marriage then he’d find his enemy. What he wouldn’t do for a little peace
now. He knocked at her chamber door, and his mother opened it slightly.

“She’s asleep,” she whispered.

“Aye, I’ll see her at supper then.”

Douglas went to his chamber and
changed his clothing. Later, when he strode into the hall for supper, many of
his family and friends had gathered. His sister smiled happily, walking with
her arm tucked into Wills’. Wills returned earlier that afternoon from a trip
home, much to his surprise. MacIver land was far, but Wills must have ridden
hard. His mother sat at the table, laughing at a jest that Cedric had made. A
few of the soldiers entered and walked to the buttery, talking about a training
technique. A young lad of eight or nine played with a makeshift sword in the
corner with Lowrie, a seasoned warrior who just came in from sentry duty. Someone
opened the door, allowing two of his wolf hounds inside; the dogs immediately
went to the hearth to take up vigilance. The hall’s aromas smelled delicious as
the servants began setting out platters of bread. Servants had given the hall a
thorough cleaning earlier that day and changed the rushes. He stood silent
watching everyone, but was tense with rage, and was at a loss to remedy the
wrongdoings. Everything seemed normal, but he knew the truth. Things weren’t
normal—nay, far from it.

Standing by the stairs, he waited
for Isabel to enter. She hadn’t come down yet, and he had a few things he
wanted settled before super. He heard her coming down the stairs, and when she
reached the bottom, Douglas pulled her into an out cove by the far wall. He
held her captive, with each arm resting on the wall.

“Are you well? You were not hurt,
were you?” He kept his tone low, and his seductive burr seemed to make Isabel
shiver.

She shook, but then relaxed her
stance. Leaning against the wall, she smiled. “I’m fine, Douglas, really, none
the worse for wear.”

“Aye, you look very fine,” he
drawled. He kissed her with his clan looking on, but he didn’t care at this
point, he only wanting to feel her lips again.

Isabel couldn’t resist returning
his kiss, and he felt her relax in his arms. Someone tapped his shoulder, and
Douglas wondered who would dare. He pulled away from Isabel and saw his
mother’s frown, hands on her hips, glowering at him.

“What do ye deem you’re doing,
Douglas? Must I watch you every moment?” She sounded dismayed.

His grin turned devilish. “I asked
Isabel to wed me, Mother. I’m trying to gain her accord and if you keep
interrupting, I’ll never win her agreement.”

He chuckled at his mother’s
expression. Her frown turned and in its place, a beaming smile lit her face.

“Well, that’s what I wanted to
hear. Isabel, what is your answer? You’ll tell him now.”

“I … I’m still pondering my answer,
Lady Kerr. He promised me time to consider it—”

“Time is up, Isabel.” Douglas tried
not to laugh at her insecurity. His mood had lightened since she’d entered the
room. Only moments ago he was filled with contention and rage, but now he felt
relaxed and cheerful. Cheerful, faigh muin, he was.

“It is, Douglas?”

“Aye, I’ll have your answer now.”

She lowered he gaze to the floor. Douglas
didn’t like the fact that she avoided giving him the answer he expected.

“But I haven’t had time to consider
your proposal because … Well, I’ve been resting and haven’t … Can’t you give me
until the morrow?”

He laughed, and his mother scowled.
“Aye, until the morrow, Isabel. Then you’ll give me the answer I want to hear.”
Douglas took her in his arms again and gave her a thorough kiss. When he pulled
back, he noticed his mother left, and the clan members went about their
business.

Isabel removed her hand from his
shoulder and touched her lips. “I don’t know how you do it, Douglas.”

“Do what, Isabel?”

“How you make me want you, how you
make me forget where I am, and how you turn my mind to mush.”

He laughed and took her hand,
walking her to the table. She seemed to relax and began eating. He took it as a
good sign, a sign that he’d gain a favorable reply.

Douglas hadn’t noticed that Brendan
and Gil entered the hall, and he was never so glad to see anyone. Now that they
were here, he could figure his next course of action. Brendan watched him from
across the room, and looked at him as though he thought it odd that he’d held
Isabel in the corner. He wanted to laugh at the look on Brendan’s face. His
cousin appeared to be fighting a smile.

“I heard what happened. Are you all
right?”

“Come, I’ll tell you all.”

Douglas sat at the table, imparting
the information he’d come up with so far. He didn’t have many details about the
attacks, but perhaps something would strike Brendan or Gil. They sat through
the meal talking about the events and the circumstances of Isabel’s attack
earlier that day, Bonnie’s disappearance, and Ellic’s property loss. Brendan
didn’t like hearing the news, his scowl depicted his anger. When they finished
their conversation, they noticed the hall emptied and it had grown late.

“I asked Isabel to be my wife.”

“It’s about time, Douglas. You
should have taken her when we saw her two years ago, but did you listen to me,
nay?”

“At the time I was concerned for
the clan. I’ll tell you this, she’s the woman for me. And now,” Douglas said,
grinning, “I cannot cease smiling when I see her.”

“Aye, I know. Have you seen her
throw her daggers?”

Douglas laughed. “Aye, there’s only
one thing that concerns me.”

“What’s that?”

“I better not ever anger her. She
could do me in at a great distance.”

Brendan sobered. “She’d not harm ye.
I think she cares greatly for you. Burk told me how she cared for you while you
were ill. She wouldn’t let the clan bury you until ye were dead.”

“Aye, fortunately for me, she was
here.”

They finished their ale. Brendan
left the hall and went to the garrison hoping to find out what he could. Douglas
went to his chamber. Tomorrow he’d get answers—the most important, Isabel’s
agreement.

Isabel sat astride on the mare,
riding beside Candace. She quietly criticized herself for avoiding Douglas most
of the day. Candace wasn’t aware of her distraction though and she chatted
about her wedding and Wills’ coming and going. Isabel felt guilty for not
paying attention and she tried to focus on her friend’s chatter, but her mind
returned to her issue. She was grateful Douglas hadn’t sought her out. She
would eventually have to give her answer, and with it, the explanation about
the
incident
. When they dismounted, and handed the reins to the stable
lad, Brendan stood next to the building with his arms folded across his chest,
giving her a sedate look.

She and Candace walked to him.

Candace smiled. “Good afternoon,
cousin. How are—”

Brendan held up his hand. “Isabel,
I want to talk to you. Candace, she’ll see you later.” He took her arm and led
her away.

Isabel tried to figure out what had
him so surly, but he remained silent on their walk. He set her on a rock beside
a huge rowan tree located beyond the keep. “Well?” He paced in front of her.

She straightened her skirts, and
placed her hands on her lap. “Well, what, Brendan?”

“When are you going to give him
your answer? He’s driving me daft.” He continued to walk back and forth, her
eyes followed him.

“Will you cease pacing? You’ll
drive me daft. What is it with warriors pacing like caged animals? Do any of
you know how to stand still?”

Brendan stopped, sat beside her,
and stretched his legs in front of him. “I’ve stopped. Now tell me why you’re
avoiding Douglas.”

“I want to marry him, but—”

“Then the answer is easy. Is it
not?”

“I’m fearful, Brendan.”

“What are you afraid of?”

“I don’t want him to regret … I, I’m
unworthy.” Isabel instantly colored at her confession.

“Why do you say that? Have you been
with another?”

“Aye, nay, I don’t know. My brother
attacked me, and I don’t know if he actually …” A tear slipped from her eye and
she wiped it. “I can’t do that to him, Brendan. He means too much to me, and he
doesn’t deserve …”

“You will hurt Douglas because of
what your brother did?”

“I’m not sure what my brother did because
he struck me, and I was unaware. I don’t really know what happened before my
younger brother came to my rescue, and now I cannot allow Douglas to make such
a vow.”

“Douglas wouldn’t regard you in
that manner, and would understand. Have you told him the truth? I’m sure he
would—”

She stopped him. “Nay, I’m too
scared to relay what happened to Douglas. I’m ashamed, and I can’t bear his
disdain. What if he—”

Brendan squeezed her hand. “’Tis
not your fault. You must talk to Douglas and explain. Give him a chance to
prove that it doesn’t matter.”

“Verily, I will. I shall go right
now. Where is he?”

“He’s in the hall. Isabel, trust
me. Douglas is not like your bastard of a brother.”

She nodded. “I’ll see you later.”

Brendan shouted after her. “He will
understand.”

Isabel walked a brisk pace and ignored
the knot in her stomach. When she entered the hall, she saw Douglas sitting
alone at the long table.

“Douglas.”

He turned at her call. “Where have
you been? I waited for you.”

“Outside. I went riding with
Candace. ‘Tis a beautiful day. We just returned.”

“Did you go outside the walls? I
gave instructions to keep you …” Douglas stopped in mid-sentence.

“Nay, the guard wouldn’t let us. We
rode around the walls. I have your answer, but first I must speak with you.”

“Come, we’ll go to my chamber for
privacy. I’ve been waiting for ye to come to me all day. By the look of you, it
doesn’t seem favorable.”

She didn’t reply, but followed him
to his chamber. It was rather nice at that. She noticed the sparsely adorned
furniture, the room’s decorated banners, and stone floor covered with furs. She
walked toward the end of the room where a substantial hearth filled the wall,
and leaned against it. The room had been memorized from the days she’d spent by
his bedside. She felt comforted being inside it again.

“Isabel?” He turned her to face
him. “What’s wrong? I don’t like your silence. You know you can be honest with
me.”

“Aye, that’s what I want to speak
to you about. Please, don’t interrupt me. I … do want to be your wife, but you
may not want to wed me because … I might have been with another. My answer is
no.”

Isabel waited for him to say
something, but he quietly watched her.

She continued. “I am not worthy to
marry a laird such as you, Douglas.” Her gaze dropped to the floor, she
couldn’t look him in the eye.

“Shhh, don’t say that. Don’t ever
say you are unworthy, Isabel.” He quieted her with the tip of his finger and
lifted her chin. “Is this what’s bothering ye? Candace told me what happened,
about your brother. It doesn’t matter. I want you for my wife, no matter what
happened. Now give me another answer.”

“Candace told you? I should be
angry with her, I told her not to tell. I’m embarrassed and don’t … You’re not
upset by this news?”

“Aye, she told me, sometime ago. Hell
aye, I’m upset, and if it’s the last thing I do, I’ll make him regret his
attack. Now, is there something you want to tell me?”

“Aye.”

“Aye?”

“I’ll wed you.”

Douglas let out the breath he’d
held in and seemed relieved at her acceptance. “On the morrow, we’ll wed. I’ll
not wait another day, Isabel.”

“I better let your mother know. She’ll
probably screech at not being given enough notice.” Isabel turned, and was
about to leave when he called to her.

“Isabel, wait.” He pulled her into
his embrace and sealed their pact with a kiss.

When he released her, she was left
standing in his chamber, staring after him. She felt foolish for thinking he’d
scorn her when he found out about the
incident
. She sat in the chair
next to hearth, wondering why she’d been so fearful. He wasn’t like the men she
was used to. In fact, he was unlike most men. He was charming, not crude like
her father and Nigel. Perhaps that was why she was so attracted to him. There
was no sense in deliberating; she’d given her consent to marry him. There was
no turning back.

She left the room and went to tell
his mother the news, who did shriek, but not with dismay at the little time she
had to prepare. Nay, she shrieked with joy and actually cried all over Isabel’s
gown.

“We’ll have to have the rushes
changed again, and someone needs to prepare the cook. Listen to me going on and
on.”

Isabel laughed when Lady Kerr
shouted for Helena.

“What can I do to help?”

“Don’t be ridiculous. ‘Tis your
wedding, you’ll not lift a finger. Oh, Helena, have cook come to me right
away.”

“Aye, Milady.” Helena ran from the
room.

“I insist I want to help. I feel
badly imposing on you in such short notice. You’ve only this day to prepare.”

“Oh, it’s no trouble. Believe me, I
have details ready at a moment’s notice. I’ve always wanted to see Douglas wed,
and he’s marrying such a fine lady, too.”

She blushed at his mother’s sweet
words.

“Let Candace know. She’ll keep you
occupied. Both of you stay out of trouble. I don’t have time to look after ye. Aye,
that’s what you can do for me.” Lady Kerr laughed.

Isabel left to find her friend. She
opened the door to her chamber, and saw her by the window enclosure. Candace
moved to her bed and flopped down upon it.

“What’s wrong, Candace? Why are you
sitting here alone?”

“I’ve been thinking about Wills. He’s
come and gone so many times in the last few weeks. I’ve hardly seen him. He’s been
acting strange. I wonder if he regrets offering for me.”

“Don’t be absurd, of course he
wants to wed you, Candace. What do you mean he’s been acting strange?”

“He’s been drinking much ale, his
eyes look funny, and well he … um …”

“What?”

“Smells odd, not like himself. Believe
me, I know his scent and he smells strange. It’s not like him to imbibe and I
think he might regret our coming union.”

“I’m sure he doesn’t, Candace, but I’ll
ask Douglas about it. Try not to worry, all right. I’m sure it’s something
simple, maybe a worry over a clan issue or some such thing.”

Candace patted her bed. Isabel
flopped down next to her, landing on her back, looking up at the ceiling.

“So what are you about? Brendan
looked angry. What did he want?”

Isabel rolled onto her back,
looking up at the ceiling. “He wanted to know why I was avoiding your brother. I’m
marrying Douglas on the morrow.”

Candace lifted her head. “What did
ye say?”

“I said I’m marrying Douglas on the
morrow.”

“I thought that’s what you said.” Candace
laughed, and hit her with a pillow.

“That’s it, you’ve been asking for
this.” Isabel smacked her with a pillow.

Candace returned the strike with
her own pillow. She hit Isabel so hard, she fell backward on the bed. She
struck Candace on the side and they ended up in a riot of laughter. They both
lay on the bed with feathers floating in the air around them.

“I’m pleased for you, Isabel. You
deserve to be happy.”

“I am happy. Oh, drat, will you
look at this room. Your mother will have fits if she sees it.” She scooped a
handful of feathers and looked for a place to put them.

“She probably won’t come up here,
not with all the things she has to do for your wedding.”

They spoke too soon, because Lady
Kerr opened the door. “There you are. I worried that you went outside. What
happened in here?”

Both Isabel and Candace laughed. They
picked up handfuls of feathers and tried to throw them at Lady Kerr. She hugged
them both then scolded them for their misbehavior.

“Honestly, you two would try a
saint’s patience. Clean up this mess and come down for supper. It will only be
the three of us tonight. Douglas has clan matters to see to and won’t return
until late.”

They spent the afternoon cleaning
up the mess, and talking about their weddings. Supper was quiet, as only the
three ladies ate, discussing the coming events. The hall seemed larger with
only the three of them occupying it.

“I’m glad Rachel returned home,”
Candace said.

“I noticed she was missing. Why did
she leave?” Isabel asked.

“She was more of a hindrance, and
Candace didn’t want her here. She acted strangely, and I asked Douglas to take
her home. You’ve only just noticed?”

Isabel nodded. “I sensed a sadness
about her, and I felt sorry for her. I don’t know why.” She dismissed her
thoughts and finished eating.

“Take ye to bed now. I’ll have you
both rested for the morrow. Take the chess game with you, it’ll give you
something to do.”

“Mother, it’s early, the sun hasn’t
disappeared yet, and I’m not tired. Are you, Isabel?”

“Nay. Why don’t we take a walk
outside and give your mother peace?”

Even though the sun was ready to
recede behind the high hills framing the sky, it was still light enough to see.
They left the hall, and strode along the courtyard.

“’Tis cold this night.” Isabel
wrapped her cloak around her, warding off the chill.

“Aye, it is. Oh, will you look at
them.” Candace pointed to the beautiful horses in a makeshift corral. Six
warhorses of various shades cloistered at the end of the large corral.

“They’re huge. Are they warhorses?”

“Aye. Colin gave them to Douglas
sometime ago. They’re not trained. Let’s pet them.”

“I don’t think that’s a good idea. They
seem dangerous.” But Isabel’s statement went unheard when Candace pulled her
along, inside the corral.

“Oh, they’re such lovely creatures.
Will you look at this one? He’s black as night, nary a mark to blemish his
coat.”

Isabel watched the animal’s sleek
movements. The horse snorted, its breath moistening the air. He lifted his
forelegs then whinnied loudly as if he was affronted at them being inside his
territory. “He’s beautiful, but obstinate. He reminds me of Brendan.”

“Aye, my cousin is rather
tenacious.”

They laughed, and the sound alarmed
the horses. Several charged toward them. Isabel grabbed Candace’s hand, pulling
her to the gate.

“Oh, drat, hurry. The beasts will
run us down.” She screeched, and so did Candace.

Just as they closed the gate, the
black horse bumped it. He tried to nip at Isabel’s shoulder, but she tapped him
on the nose. The beauty snorted at them and trotted away. Candace continued
laughing, and she glared at her.