Page 19 of Bride takes a Scot

Isabella closed the bedchamber door behind her. On her approach to the bed, she saw a bunch of flowers on the pillow. They were tied together with a string. Isabella picked them up, sniffed the floral scent, and smiled. Perhaps her husband wasn’t such an oaf after all. She placed the flowers on the bedside table and decided to spend the evening inside her room.

Isabella set about unpacking her valise, musing about her day. She didn’t want to think badly about anyone. But Lady MacKendrick wasn’t an easy woman to like or befriend. She doubted she’d ever get on with the woman. Helena’s facereflected her dislike of her and so it would probably be best if she avoided the woman altogether.

As Declan avoided his son, apparently. She wondered why he hadn’t told her about him. And who was the child’s mother? Had Declan been married in the past, or was the child a by-blow from some fallen woman? If that was so, where was the woman? Who was she? Whoever she was, Isabella thought, she couldn’t be alive. For one thing, Anse had told her it was his grandmother who was supposedly caring for his son. Unfortunately, in Isabella’s opinion, she wasn’t doing the job well. It wasn’t right, she decided, for Declan to act as though the boy didn’t exist.

She thought about her own parents. While her mother was overbearing, she at least made sure to care for Isabella, and her father loved her more than words could say. She’d never lacked for care or affection. Unlike now, when it appeared she’d have neither from her husband nor the rest of his family.

It occurred to her that she was lonely. And homesick. What were her mother and father doing at that moment? Probably bickering over something humorous. She briefly stared out the window casement at the darkening sky and withheld the urge to weep. It was a terrible start to the beginning of her life at Declan’s home and their marriage. She couldn’t help but become sorrowful and sullen.

She emptied her valise and folded her garments. There was nowhere to put them, so she piled them on top of a trunk which she assumed was Declan’s. Afterward, she tidied the chamber, washed, and tried to find something to keep her mind from thinking about Declan. She knelt by the bedside and prayed that somehow, she might gain her husband’s attention. Isabella’s prayers were many and she prayed for Declan’s son, her brother in the Holy Land, her mother and father, but mostly for Declan. It was obvious that he needed her. If only Declan realized thatsoon. It might save them a bit of trouble because she wasn’t about to remain reticent for long.

Chapter Seven

Declan returned withthe day’s sentry just after dusk. He’d wanted to ride close to Campbell’s land to spy and learn something to give him the name of the traitorous foe who’d accused him of murder. At one time their clans had been allies, but whatever alliance between them faltered when Leona died. He had married Leona Campbell to maintain peace among their clans and for the years they were together there had been an armistice. When Leona drowned and he’d related the news of her death to her family, they’d accused him of harming her. That they blatantly blamed him for drowning his wife sat most foul in Declan’s stomach.

Their rivalry had begun that fateful day. But then to also accuse him of murdering her father went beyond the means of decency. Declan had respected Leona’s da and would never have harmed the man. Not only did he need to find out who blamed him for Allan Campbell’s murder, but he also sought retribution for his late wife’s father. He certainly hadn’t killed him, but someone else had. Declan aimed to find out who did the foul deed and why they blamed him. What caused his foe to go against him? He wanted answers and wasn’t willing to wait for them.

On his return home, he found Silas in the adjacent woods near their walls. Declan urged his horse into a canter to catch upwith his stepbrother. When he reached him, he whistled and his brother slowed his mount, turned, and gave a wave.

“Brother, home at last,” Silas said.

“Aye, I heard ye were trekking near Campbell land recently.” Declan sidled next to Silas, and they rode together toward the gatehouse.

“’Twas uneventful.”

“Were ye trying to find out who murdered Allan?”

Silas bobbed his head. “It was strange that none of the Campbells seemed to be out and about. I found out nothing that would give up the culprit. Their gates and keep are closed. Hardly any of their clansmen were about their fief.”

“My thanks, Brother. We will find out who is responsible sooner or later.” Declan pressed at his horse’s sides, passed his brother, and approached the gate before him.

Returning home, Declan had gained no information that alluded to the cause of his incarceration. He passed the gate, and the guardsman gave the signal that all was well. Lorcan held up his fisted hand and shouted their motto, “Virtue alone ennobles.”

Declan raised his fist in response, gave a firm nod, and rode past. He dismounted, grabbed his saddlebag from his horse, and waited for a stable lad to come forth. Silas hadn’t come inside the walls yet and Declan wondered what kept him, but as he waited, he saw Anse walking toward him in a purposeful stride. There was a grimness in his expression which was unlike Anse because he had an easygoing nature.

“What goes, Anse? You look like ye are about to expire from grief.” His cousin wore a strange look. It wasn’t a frown, but he didn’t smile either.

“Glory be, what a day,” Anse said in a defeated tone. “I am dead on my feet.”

He would have laughed at his cousin’s disgruntlement, but Anse didn’t look as if he was in a teasing manner. “Is there trouble with the soldiers? Is the new training schedule thwarting ye?”

“Nay, ’tis nothing to do with the soldiers.”

Declan grunted. “Are ye going to tell me what troubles you or am I going to have to guess?”

“I met your bonny wife. ’Tis the truth, I never seen a fairer lass.”

“Aye? And what did ye think of her? Let me hear your praises now. Go on, get it over with. I did well, did I not?” Declan chuckled because although he teased his cousin, he had indeed gained a most pleasing wife.

“And she almost killed herself trying to save your lad.”

Declan turned toward him and almost bumped into him. “What say ye?”

“Your lad ran in front of a cart, and she saved him from getting run over. My heart leapt to my throat. Aye, I vow I could not get to her fast enough. God Almighty Himself intervened. If I had allowed her to be harmed on my watch, ye would have been full of wrath and never would have forgiven me. I, ah, well, I did not know ye had yet to tell her about Noah. I opened my big mouth, and she is aware of him now.”

“Aye, what else?” Declan sighed, knowing he would have had to tell Isabella about his son eventually. Yet he should have been the one to tell her about him. She shouldn’t have found out about the lad on her own.

“She seemed pleased that we have a chapel if that means anything to ye.”