Page 41 of Bride takes a Scot
His soldier bowed his head. “Aye, Laird.”
He marched toward the barracks and would seek his sleep there. Then he scoffed aloud because he would get little sleep, trying to figure out why Isabella rejected him, what caused her ire, and what she meant by secrets. Along with being beset by his wife, he probably would ruminate about his quest to seek vengeance. There had to be a way to find his enemy and during the long night, he would give it his extreme consideration.
Anse stood outside the barracks entrance and grunted as he approached. “What are ye doing here? I thought ye were going to talk to Milady.”
“I tried, but to no avail.” Declan shrugged and stood by his cousin, hoping to shake off his discontent.
“She did not tell ye about the rat?”
“I forgot to ask her about it,” he confessed.
“What the hell were ye doing that ye forgot to ask? That is why ye sought her, was it not?”
Declan grinned. “What do ye think I was doing? She went on about me being honest with her and some such nonsense about a secret. And that she does not need me to protect her. And above all, she was angry.”
“Why is she angry?” Anse’s brows rose, and he appeared to want to laugh.
“Hell if I know.”
Anse muttered an expletive. “I see that I am going to have to take ye in hand. Let me share some wisdom, my friend, that my da told me… A man should understand that he does not protecthis woman because she is weak. He protects her because she isimportant.”
“Of course, she is important.”
Anse hunched his shoulders. “Och, not important enough to be honest with her?”
Declan fisted his hands. He didn’t like being answerable to her or for his actions. “There are things that I cannot, should not tell her…”
“She wants ye to include her. Ye do not have to tell her everything but only share your troubles with her. If she thinks she can be helpful to ye, she will feel important.”
His words, though unwelcome, had merit. “Ye are the only person who I speak to without being guarded,” Declan confessed.
Anse set his hand on his shoulder. “Ye should be gladdened because now ye have someone else to tell your secrets to. And I vow ye will be glad ye did. Just tell her. Let her guide what ye reveal. She may not ask too many questions.”
“Aye, but what if she asks questions I am not ready to answer?”
Anse grinned and turned to enter the barracks. “I think ye are beginning to care for the lass. Do not be afeared to admit ye need her.”
“I do not want to need her,” Declan confessed.
“Aye, ye might not, but ye already do. Finally, ye have the opportunity to love someone without constraint. From what I can tell about her, she is a worthy lass and in need of love. Have ye thought that mayhap she needs the love only ye can give her?” With that, Anse disappeared inside the barracks.
Declan stood there dumbfounded. Since when did his cousin impart such noble wisdom, and about women no less? Still, he couldn’t let the thought cross his mind of needing her. Needing anyone weakened him. He wouldn’t allow himself to be broughtdown by a wife, no matter how much he coveted her. Marriage was exasperating.
Chapter Fourteen
Marriage was complicated.Isabella had a hard time falling asleep because all she could think about were the happenings of the day before. That Declan had been imprisoned in the king’s dungeons was kept from her angered her, but only because he hadn’t told her about it himself. She’d had to hear it from his stepmother who seemed boastful to be the one to impart such news. Surely the reason for his imprisonment was false because Declan wouldn’t kill someone without good cause. At least, that is what she discerned of him.
Along with that troubling thought niggling at her, the rat left on her bed caused her to lock the bedchamber door while she slept. Though she had thought it a prank done by one of his siblings, Anse had made her consider otherwise. What had made whoever it was try such a nasty, vile trick, and what had they hoped to accomplish? She had to admit, if it was to create and fuel fear in her heart, it had worked.
Isabella chose her least favorite gown to wear because it wasn’t as heavy as her others. Looking out the window, it appeared to be bright outside and would be hot. She intended to accomplish a good deal, all of which would help her not to think about Declan or the rat left on her bed, her troublesome stepmother-in-law, his obtrusive siblings, or her longing to go home, where her parents were likely sitting down for their morning meal right about now. Isabella had always cherishedthat quiet moment with them because it was the only time of the day that they didn’t berate her.
When she finished her morning chores in the bedchamber, she made her way to the living area. She saw that the only person who remained after the morning meal was Lady MacKendrick.
“Good morn,” Isabella greeted her, expecting nothing pleasant in return.
“’Tis naught good. There is too much to do this day.”
At least she was beginning to understand the woman. “I’ll be glad to help. I need something to distract me.” Isabella sat on the bench and helped herself to a roll which had hardened a little. She poured herself a cup of mead and dipped the roll in it to soften it.