Page 8 of Bride takes a Scot (Highland Vows & Vengeance #1)

S omeone touched her and Isabella jerked awake. Her startled gasp filled the small cottage. She eased when she remembered where she was and who she was with. Declan moved the tresses of her hair from her face and set a gentle kiss on her cheek. Isabella groaned. She wasn’t much of a morning person, and even less of one now, especially after what she had experienced the night before. Every part of her ached. Declan shifted on the bed, and she opened her eyes. He pressed her onto her back and leaned over her.

“Good morn, Wife ,” he said teasingly.

Isabella groaned. “Aye, Husband , is it? I feel like a rock has been dropped on me.”

Declan stretched over her and grabbed the flask that he’d placed on the table by the bed during the night. He handed it to her. “Drink. It will make ye feel better.”

She held the flask at her lips and tilted it up. The brew, or whatever was in it, burned her chest. Isabella blanched and handed it back. “Whatever was that? It was god-awful.”

“A spirit Anse makes. He vows ’tis the only thing that wakes him up in the morn. It really gets ye going, does it not?”

Going to hell , she considered as she used her tongue to try to get rid of the foul taste. Isabella shook her head and tried to swallow the aftereffects. “What are your plans for this day?”

Declan lay back and smiled. “To spend it with ye. What do ye want to do?”

She grinned and shifted closer to him. Declan wasn’t modest at all about his body. She wished she was as brazen to lay on the bed ungarbed, uncovered, and unabashed. “I have never seen a man unclothed before. You don’t know how appealing you look, do you?”

Declan chuckled. He spread his arms wide. “Look your fill, lass. Just do not touch me because I doubt I have the power to resist ye and ye must be tender after last eve.”

Isabella shook her head. “Not overly tender.” She blushed a little and then careened her hand over his hard thigh and her eyes widened when she took in the size of him. “You…” She couldn’t form the words to say that it was a wonder he’d fit her. And as she thought that, and with her gaze, his manhood grew. She gasped and averted her attention to his chest. With her palm, she smoothed it over the coarse fine hairs smattered there. His hard body was riddled with scars, some large and some small. None of the marks detracted from his handsomeness. When she glanced up at his face, he frowned.

“Wife, if ye do not watch out, ye will find yourself flat on your back with me inside ye.”

She giggled low because that was her intention. “Do you promise?”

Declan flung himself on top of her and held her face. His lips met hers and he swarmed her with a desirous kiss. Isabella liked the way his tongue meshed with hers. There was something about the way he kissed her that spurred passion within her. His kisses and touches were somewhat possessive, and she couldn’t deny that she liked it. She pulled him closer and laughed when he groaned.

“Now see what ye have done to me? I cannot get out of bed now. Ye are going to have to take care of this problem.” His eyes crinkled.

She squealed with laughter when he spread her legs and joined himself to her. Isabella couldn’t help but urge him on because he was being too gentle. The effects of her culmination took her by surprise, and she fell into an exquisite array of emotions. How he did that to her, she had to wonder. He had such power over her, and it was intense and wonderfully thrilling. She roamed her hands over his arms and torso, his chest and face.

Isabella kept her gaze on his and watched the myriad of expressions crossing his handsome face. His brows furrowed and he grunted, and then promptly fell to her side. His breath rasped and she leaned over him. She worried briefly that she’d hurt him, but then she noticed his smile.

“If this is the way it is going to be, Wife, I will probably die before we have our first child.”

Isabella lay back and was astounded by what he’d said. “You wish to have children?”

“Aye, as many as ye will give me. Do ye want children?” He sidled next to her and pressed his hand on her face, holding her tenderly. “I hope ye do because making them is splendid.”

“I always thought I would like to…have children. I am gladdened that you wish for them too. We probably should have spoken of such things when we were at the king’s castle.” For years she’d dreamed of having her own family, and now, lying in Declan’s arms, she realized she could make her dreams come true.

“Aye, but neither of us was readily willing to give such information, were we? We should get dressed. Do ye want to meet my grandmother? I will introduce ye this day.” He chuckled.

Isabella didn’t move. She watched him as he sat up. The muscles in his shoulders and back twitched from his movement. Lord, he was too pleasing on the eyes. The way his hair fell over his shoulders onto his back beckoned her touch. She reached up and pressed her hand on his hair, smoothing it. She hoped their children had his hair, wavy, shiny with light strands and a little darker shade mixed in. Her hair was too fair, almost white, so light it appeared.

“Did ye hear me, Isabella? Whatever are ye thinking? Ye are leagues away.”

She shook herself from her reverie and nodded. “Aye, I would like to meet your grandmother. Will you also introduce me to the rest of your family? Even though I have been in their presence, I think an introduction from you would make me feel more comfortable around them.”

“Aye, come and get ready. We will leave. Lord, I am starving. We’ll have a morning meal first.” Declan finished fixing his tartan and belted it.

She watched him dress and scoffed at herself for ever thinking he was a barbarian. How could anyone who looked like him be a savage? Isabella realized how wrong she’d been in her assumptions of the Highlanders. She’d misjudged everything about him. He was a man with ordinary problems, family, and situations similar to what the men in her family experienced.

He stood by the bed and watched her with a grin. “Lass, get moving. Do ye need aid? I fear though that if I touch ye, we will not make it out of here until suppertime.”

She rolled to the side of the bed and sat up. He handed her gown to her. She slipped her feet into the opening and her arms through the sleeves. After, she wrapped her shawl around her shoulders. Once she was fully dressed, she tidied the bed and pulled the covers to each corner. That reminded her of the flowers Declan had left on her pillow.

“I meant to thank you for the flowers,” she said as she joined him by the door.

“What flowers?” Declan took her hand and led her outside.

The day had warmed, and she smiled because since arriving in the Highlands, she’d been cold. Perhaps this day, she’d be warm enough to forgo her shawl. “The flowers you left on my pillow yestermorn. I thought that was kind of you.”

He shook his head. “I did not leave flowers on your pillow. Perchance it was one of my family, welcoming ye. Ye see? They do not dislike you.”

From her viewpoint, she doubted if any of his family welcomed her. They had been rude to her at supper and forced her to avoid them. But she wouldn’t discount that one of them might have done such a kindness.

“We need to get ye warmer garments. May approaches and ’tis often one of the warmer months. The fair weather does not last long though. I will have our milliner come and see ye.”

“I would like that,” she said and took his hand. Wearing her gowns made her fit in with his clan as much as a fox amongst the sheep. Isabella didn’t want to appear as an outsider. This was her home now and she wanted to look like everyone else. Simple overdresses with fewer embellishments would help her to do so.

He guided her around the loch, and they reached the walls of his home. Declan kept walking, and they passed all sorts of buildings: cottages, shacks, stone buildings with heavily thatched roofs. Along the lane, hawkers bowed to Declan as he passed. He stopped at a cart that held all sorts of baked goods. The keeper, a thin man with little hair, greeted him and offered him whatever he wanted.

Declan took a round soft roll and handed it to her. For himself, he then took a longer, darker roll. After, he thanked the keeper and motioned her forward. They stood aside near a small elm tree that must have been recently planted. She took a small bite of her roll and murmured a ‘mmm’ sound at the sweet taste of it. Declan tore a piece of bread and offered it to her. She opened her mouth, and he popped it in. Isabella moaned at the taste of the dark bread which was delicious and mollified her hunger after their night of exertion. It wasn’t as sweet as the roll he’d given her. She likewise tore a piece of bread from her roll and offered it to him.

They stood there unaware of the spectacle they created as the clan’s men and women passed. All smiled and either waved or bid them a good morning. As soon as they’d finished eating, Declan grabbed her hand and guided her along the lane. He stopped at a building made of logs that had a worn wooden bench beside its door and knocked.

An aged woman opened the door. Long strands of her gray hair fell over her shoulders. She was a hefty woman whose garments were a little snug, and she wore no shoes or slippers on her feet. Her scowl turned to a wide smile when she saw her grandson. “Declan, lad, oh, ’tis good to see ye. Come, lad, come inside.” She opened the door wider and allowed him to enter. “I’d heard ye returned.”

Isabella followed him inside the cottage. Her gaze shot around the small, one-roomed domain. It appeared unkempt because there was clothing strewn on the floor, cups sitting in a bucket, and a layer of dust covered every surface. It certainly could have done with a tidying. Noah sat in a corner, playing with a string and a rock. The lad needed a bath, his hair trimmed, and perhaps a little joy to bring about a smile on his little face.

When he raised his eyes, he noticed his father, smiled, and waved. He took his rock again and tossed it against the wall and it skidded back to him.

“This is Isabella, my new wife, Gran. She means to help ye with Noah,” Declan explained. “Isabella, this is my grandmother, Lady Marian.”

She curtseyed to the woman and smiled. “It is good to meet you, My Lady.”

Marian’s brows furrowed further. She appeared displeased to meet her. “Och, ye bring a Sassenach here to me home? Then ye tell me that ye married her, and she is to help with your son? My heart is paining me, aye ’tis.” She set her hand on her heart and feigned her malady.

Declan didn’t seem ruffled by her dramatic attitude. “Aye, I do. She might have lived near the Sassenach at one time, Gran, but since I married her, she’s now a Highlander. Ye will do well to remember that. Be kind to her and make her welcome because she is my wife and because I bid ye to.”

“Of course, I welcome her. I wouldst not disobey my laird.” She straightened and gave Isabella a once-over gaze. “Welcome, Milady. Och, ye married her? When were ye going to tell me?”

So, she wasn’t the only person he’d avoided. Isabella almost chuckled because he’d forgone telling her many things and it appeared he hadn’t told his grandmother that he was going to be married. That relieved her and Isabella realized that he hadn’t meant to purposely ignore her.

“That is why I am here. There was no time before now to bring my news. You have been overworked with caring for Noah and Isabella has kindly offered to help. Let her. That is a direct order,” his words weren’t spoken harshly, and his eyes showed affection. He seemed to be teasing the elder woman.

Marian swatted his arm. “’Tis pleased I am to accept her help. The lad is too much for this auld woman these days. I vow the older he gets, the more tiresome he is. Before the sun sets, I am plumb worn out and weary.”

“I shall begin on the morrow if that suits you, My Lady.” Isabella would spend the evening to come up with a plan to keep the lad entertained.

“Och, I hope you have plenty of vigor for that lad is hard to keep up with, and pray, lass, call me Marian. I am no longer the lady of the clan.” Her unhappy demeanor turned pleasant.

“Only if you call me Isabella. I will do my best by him.”

With that, Isabella approached Noah. He noticed her moving toward him and he scooted on the floor deeper into the corner in response. She smiled at him and waved in a friendly manner. He didn’t wave back or respond. She mouthed the word “greetings”, picked up his rock, and rolled it to him.

Noah snatched the rock up from the floorboard. He leaned to the side and appeared to want to escape. Indeed, the lad scrambled to his feet and then shot past her. He ran at his father, wrapped his arms around Declan’s legs, and held him tightly.

Declan lifted him in his burly arms until he and the lad were face to face. “Noah,” he said slowly. He hugged the lad and then set him back on his feet so he could kneel in front of his son. Then he smiled and motioned to her.

Isabella approached with her husband’s wave. She knelt next to him and waited to see what Declan intended. The silence in the small cottage made her tense, but she took a deep breath, then let it out slowly to ease herself. With that, she smiled at the small lad.

Declan sighed too. “I talk to him slowly and hope he understands. He spoke well before the accident and so I deem he is aware of what I say to him. I will tell him about ye and explain…”

To Noah, he said, “This is your new mother. She is kind.”

Noah nodded and bowed to her. He made sounds in his throat but didn’t speak words.

“She will come and spend time with ye. Ye will be kind to her and obey her,” Declan continued.

His son swiped his arm over his face and stared at them. Declan tussled his hair and stood. He held out a hand to Isabella, but before she accepted it, she put her hand out to Noah.

The lad clasped her hand and smiled.

Isabella released his hand and accepted Declan’s. When she stood, her husband settled his arm around her shoulder and nodded to Noah.

“I shall see you on the morrow then, Milady, and look forward to the rest,” Marian said.

Isabella bowed her head to the elder woman. “My thanks for accepting my help, Marian, and please, we shan’t be formal. I am certain Noah will have fun and you won’t be as worn out.”

“Very well. ’Tis gladdened I am that ye are here, Isabella, even though ye look and sound like a Sassenach.”

Declan ignored his grandmother’s brashness and guided her from the small cottage. They walked hand in hand on the lane in silence until she stopped and turned to him. “Thank you.”

He grinned. “For what, Wife?”

“For letting me help Noah and for taking me to meet your grandmother. Now if only the rest of your family accepts me.”

Declan frowned slightly. “Were they unkind to you? If that is so—”

“No, they just don’t know me yet. Once they do…” Isabella didn’t want to speak falsely. She was sure his family didn’t want to get to know her. The way they had treated her told her they wanted nothing to do with her. They’d been more than unkind and held disdain for her.

Declan raised her chin. “Come, we will go see them and ye shall see, all will be well.” He grabbed her hand and continued onward.

She followed him to the family cottage, and he opened the door for her. Isabella stepped inside. His family appeared to be eating their midday meal. The main area was somewhat dark and there were no candles lit. It was a gloomy cottage but perhaps that had more to do with the people that occupied it and not because it was dark inside.

Lady Helena stopped midstride as she crossed the open area where the family congregated and stared at them. “Declan, have you come to sup with us? And ye brought her with you? I am taken aback because ye never eat with us. This is an…unexpected pleasure.”

Declan motioned to his stepbrother to move out of the seat at the head of the table. Then he motioned to his sister to shift down on the bench. Isabella sat at the end of the bench next to Declan’s seat. Her husband sat then and looked with a slight frown at his family.

Declan didn’t retort to his stepmother but peered at those round the table. “Now that I am back, I intend to see ye more often. It has been a while since I have dined with ye. Tell me about the happenings. What are ye all up to these days?” He took a trencher from the center of the table and filled it with pottage and set it before her. Isabella bowed her head in thanks to him. He then filled another trencher for himself and took a chunk of bread and dipped it in the pottage.

Rhona scoffed. “Oh, Brother, ’tis gladdened I am to see ye. Claude has it in his head to search for Grandda’s treasure and says he found a map in his old cottage. Claude is a fool, aye, and a wee wain.”

Claude pushed Rhona’s hand and made her spill her pottage on the table. “I am not a child, Rhona. Cease speaking untruths. I did find Grandda’s map in his cottage. Aye, and I shall find the treasure.”

Isabella smiled. Their discussion and the angst in their tones made her happy. It was like being at home when her mother and father bickered. Thinking of them brought on a brief bit of melancholy because she was beginning to miss them terribly.

“Claude, ye will cease this nonsense. I bade ye to take to the training field. Anse tells me when ye do show yourself, ye do not put your whole effort forth. A warrior trains with his heart as well as with his mind. On the morrow, ye will show at sunup and ye will not leave the field until dusk. Is that understood?”

Claude pouted at Declan’s reprimand but nodded. “Aye, Laird, understood.”

“I have no time to check on you, but Silas will ensure ye follow my command.” Declan turned to face his stepbrother. “Silas, ye will make sure the lad is there, training throughout the day? And ye will check with Anse to make sure he trained well before he is permitted to leave the field.”

“As ye wish, Laird,” Silas said.

Isabella’s heart went out to the lad. It was obvious Claude didn’t wish to take to arms. Perhaps she might intercede on his behalf and get Declan to relent, but all in good time.

Rhona leaned forward to look past her. “Have ye given thought to what I asked ye the last time you were here, Declan?”

Isabella noted the apprehension in Declan’s sister’s voice. She wondered briefly what Rhona spoke about, but Declan set his spoon down and gave his sister his full attention.

“I told ye that ye are not old enough to marry. And I am not sure I approve of Willeli.”

Rhona pouted much like her brother Claude. “Och, I am six and ten, Brother. Many lassies are married by my age. Ye promised me that ye wouldst think about it. I beg ye to do so.”

“Ye are not ready, lass. I will tell ye when I approve. That is my final word on this matter.”

Rhona tossed the roll she’d taken onto the table and hastened away.

Isabella watched her flee the room and suspected there were tears in her eyes. The poor lass. Rhona was interested in Willeli and wanted to marry him, whoever he was. But now Isabella knew how to befriend her, and she would do so later this eve.

Declan remained quiet after Rhona left. Isabella didn’t want to intrude or interject her thoughts on how he should interact with his family. Surely, they obeyed him because he was their laird and guardian.

Lady Helena snickered and gazed down at the meat she was cutting with her supper dagger. When she glanced up, she smiled. “Now ye see, Declan, how difficult these wains are? Why, my dearest son never gives me a wee bit of trouble. Aye, he listens to his mother. Do ye not, Silas?”

Silas’s dark eyes left his mother’s, and he slid his gaze to her. The way he peered at her with his wide smile made her focus on Declan. Isabella kept her gaze on her husband so the man wouldn’t draw any conclusions or deem she had an interest in him. She needed to make certain Silas was aware of her devotion to Declan before he got the wrong idea. Still, he had the dreamiest blue eyes, and she couldn’t help but glance back at him.

“Of course, I do, Ma. Declan, how long do ye plan to stay? Now that ye are married, I expect we shall see more of ye around here. I wanted to speak to ye about the soldiers and some thoughts I had on the training regimen.”

Declan raised his brow. “I am unsure at the moment how long I will be here. As far as your thoughts on soldiering that responsibility belongs to Anse. He is the commander-in-arms and is in charge of training. If ye wish to share your thoughts, do so with him.”

Silas appeared to disagree and shrugged. “I shall do that.” Silas paused and briefly ogled at her with a grin that made her shudder. “Why did ye not tell us how bonny the women are near the border?”

Declan kept his gaze on his stepbrother and scowled. “If ye travel there, ye might find out.” He glanced at her and then reverted his gaze back to his family. “That brings something to mind… I am told you have met Isabella. She is to be respected and treated with kindness and is now your laird’s wife. Ye will obey her as you do me. I expect ye all have made her feel welcome.”

Her husband waited for their nods, but they sat there blank-faced and stared at him.

“Ye were aware that I was going to Edinburgh to marry as the king bade. Isabella was the most beautiful, kindhearted, and intelligent woman in the king’s castle. I vow I was fortunate we got on and that she accepted me.”

With his words, his family nodded. Isabella gazed at Declan with affection. His words lightened her heart. Perhaps marrying him wasn’t a mistake after all.

Declan continued, “If ye cannot do so, then ye will be asked to leave. That goes for ye all.”

Helena gasped. “What speak ye about? We have not been unkind, Laird. Have we, Milady Isabella?”

Isabella, put on the spot, shook her head. She should have spoken the truth, about how disconnected they had made her feel, how they’d practically shunned her, but she would give them more time to adjust to her being amongst them.

“We bid you a good night then.” Declan pushed back his chair. He held out his hand.

Isabella took it and rose. She followed him from the room. They reached their bedchamber and Isabella hurried inside. She was gladdened that was over with. How horrid it was to be in his family’s company. Declan must have sensed her notion of that idea because his face reflected the grimness they’d spent dining with them.

“Now ye see, Wife, why I spend a wee amount of time here? They are unpleasant and extremely needful, every one of them.”

Isabella knelt by the small hearth and was about to light a fire when Declan approached. “Let me.” He put some wood shavings and sticks inside and lit them. As the flames began to rise, he added a small log, and then another, patiently building the fire. Warmth would soon take the chill from the room, but she doubted it would help the coldness that settled within her.

She readied for bed and once she put on her nightdress, she decided to forgo it. Isabella hoped to induce Declan to want to couple with her again. There was no sense in being coy now; nevertheless, she got beneath the covers. With the bed covering tucked beneath her chin, she berated herself for being a coward. She pushed the covers to her waist and tried to appear alluring.

Declan chuckled and removed all his garments. He pulled back the bedcover and joined her. His body was warm, hard, and wonderfully enticing. He pressed her back and gave her a sweet kiss. When he pulled away, he lay back and sighed.

“I did not realize how rude my family was until this eve.”

Isabella set her arm over his torso and smiled. “Worry not for me, husband. You forget I am used to dealing with overwrought, emotional people. My parents are the worst sort and if I can handle them, I certainly can deal with your family.”

“You are a brave lass. On the morrow, I will need to get back to my duties. I mean to leave the keep for a bit, perhaps for a few days. Ye will be all right whilst I am gone?”

“I’ll be well. Don’t worry about me. I shall find things to occupy me and will busy myself with dealing with Noah.” Isabella petted his chest and felt comfortable speaking so casually with her husband. It was how it should be, she thought, especially now that she didn’t feel like an outsider.

Declan leaned his head against hers and whispered, “Right now, all I want to do is pleasure ye.”

“That’s all I want too.”