Page 43 of Bride takes a Scot
“Ye are good to him. We are fortunate to have ye here with us,” Declan said and set his hand on her leg giving it a gentle squeeze. “Since we’re not keeping secrets, I’m telling ye now that I am going to leave the keep on the morrow and will be gone most of the day. I do not want ye to worry.”
She rested her cheek on her knees and smiled at him. “Thank you for telling me.”
He shrugged, almost shyly, a thing she hadn’t thought such a fierce warrior laird would feel. “Will ye stay with me at my grandda’s cottage this night?”
The thought made her heart beat a little harder. Could it be he was just as affected by her as she was him? “I will if you’ll walk me back so I can get a change of garments.” Isabella stood and waited for him.
Declan called to the soldiers. “Take Noah back to Marian’s when he is finished swinging. Lorcan, ye are relieved of your duty for the moment.” The soldiers agreed and he sidled next to her.
They walked hastily in silence back to the family cottage and entered. Declan approached the table and took a hunk of cheese from the tray. “It looks good in here.”
Lady MacKendrick came out from one of the chambers and hurried to set a cup in front of Declan. Isabella was about to amble to her chamber to retrieve a change of clothes but heard the woman speak to Declan, and she stopped to listen.
“I vow I spent all day cleaning this cottage. It was a tiresome task, but it needed to be done. Your wife was of naught help. If ye need anything else done, I am happy to oblige.”
Isabella’s cheeks heated a little. The woman had blatantly lied though because she hadn’t lifted a finger to clean the cottage that day. Was she envious of the attention Declan paid to her? She considered that Lady MacKendrick wanted Declan’s approval and his regard. Isabella understood how that felt, to be overlooked by someone, so she decided not to make an issue of the woman’s duplicity now, here, in front of Declan and anyone else who might overhear them.
Instead, she turned and entered her bedchamber. There, she rummaged through her belongings and retrieved a thin chemise she intended to wear to bed. But as she returned to the living area, she heard Declan’s raised voice.
“I know ye did nothing here this day. My wife exhausted herself cleaning this cottage. Why would ye speak falsely? Is it your intent for me to dislike my wife? I remind you, Lady, that the king gave her hand to me, and that I am beholden to make Isabella happy. She deserves no less.”
“So, Leona meant so little to you then?” Helena tossed at him.
Declan scoffed. “When I was married to her, she meant everything. But the woman has been dead for three years and I will not mourn her forever. Let her rest in peace. If ye cannot be cordial to my wife, Lady Helena, then ye should seek to live elsewhere.”
Lady MacKendrick gasped. “Ye cannot mean that. Your father would turn in his grave to know ye spoke so disrespectfully to me and threatened to turn me out.”
“I am the laird now, not he. Ye are no longer the lady of the clan. Your place is not to question me or tell me your opinions. I am the laird. Now, if ye cannot respect my wife, ye will findsomewhere to live, another cottage preferably as far from the new keep as possible. I care naught where just as long as it is not here. I will not have my wife disrespected.”
“Very well,Laird,” she said with a huff. “I will be more cordial to your wife but only because I have nowhere to go.” Lady MacKendrick turned and left the living area, breezing past her haughtily.
Isabella stood there in complete awe of Declan’s conversation with the woman. She was grateful, too, that he’d stood up for her. She let him take her satchel and hand and guided her through the doorway. She felt the tenseness of his hold lessen when they stepped through the threshold.
“This night I am going to show you my appreciation,” she vowed.
Declan chuckled. “Appreciation for what?”
“For what you did there, saying what you did to Lady Helena, and sticking up for me. You are not such a wretched husband after all.”
Declan laughed. “Nay? Tell me that after ye have been married to me longer than a few months.”
“I am sure I shall be just as pleased with you years from now, as I currently am.” Isabella wrapped her arm around his waist and smiled. This night she wouldn’t hold back and would show him how much he meant to her. “I am going to kiss you everywhere.”
Declan stopped in midstride and pulled her into his arms. “Aye, and I am going to kiss ye right now.” He set his mouth on hers just as a regiment of soldiers was passing by.
Their calls and banter were ignored by her husband. Declan continued kissing her and Isabella enjoyed every moment of it.
Chapter Fifteen
Declan rode throughthe gate with only two soldiers, Anse and Trevor, on his quest to meet with Robbie Campbell. He didn’t want to present a formidable stance when he met with Robbie and hoped that taking only a few men with him would show his unwillingness to instigate the Campbells. The day dawned hot and steamy, much warmer than usual. On the way, they had to stop twice to water the horses and themselves. By the time they reached Campbell land, they were drenched, and their horses labored.
At the Campbell’s gate, Declan jumped from his mount and approached to call up to the watchman. “I have come to speak with Robbie Campbell. Tell him I need to talk with him and that it is important.”
“If he was not expecting you, I cannot allow you inside.”
Declan waved his hand and said, “As ye can see, I come not with an army, only myself and a few followers. I only want to speak to Robbie and I am not leaving until he agrees to see me.”
“Wait here and I will see if he wishes to meet with ye. I’ll return shortly,” the guard said and disappeared.