Page 47 of Bride takes a Scot

As she finished speaking, Isabella heard the call of the gate watchmen. She turned and saw Declan riding through the keep’s gate. Relief overwhelmed her and she was pleased he was safely home. She would give him a little time to get his reports before she hunted him down.

“I’ll do that, Milady.”

“Please, Claude, you are my brother-in-law. Call me Isabella. It’ll be fun helping you search for your grandda’s treasure. It will be an adventure. Perhaps Noah and I can help you. A lad his age would love the quest.”

He smiled, bowed to her, turned, and walked away.

Isabella’s heart lightened that she’d been able to befriend Declan’s siblings. She thought about it as she retook her position on the blanket where Marian and Edith sat, discussing various methods of what stitch to use on a tapestry Edith was making. She listened as she snatched an apple from the trencher that sat in the center of the cloth and set about eating it. A commotion sounded from afar and she turned to see what was happening.

Declan stood before Willeli and Rhona. He didn’t look pleased by any account, as his voice rose and his face reddened. Quite suddenly, she saw him grip the lad’s tunic before shoving him away with great force. Willeli fell to the ground onto his backside.

She heard Declan yelling from where she sat. “I told ye nay, Willeli. Now, get back to your duties. And you, Sister, will return to the cottage and stay there. I will speak with ye later about your blatant disobedience.”

Willeli bowed his dark head to Declan and Rhona stomped her foot. They marched off in different directions. It was only a matter of moments before the lass lifted her hem in both fists and began to run, her hair streaming behind her as she sobbed.

Isabella took a deep breath. Her husband had just returned and already his homecoming was rife with problems. She waited for him to approach and when he stood before her, he threw down his hand to help her rise.

“Wife, there ye are. It is good to see ye.” The red-faced yelling man suddenly appeared pleasant and calm.

She would focus on that and not what had just occurred in front of practically the whole clan. “Declan, you are home,finally. What took you so long? I worried that something happened to you.” Isabella held tightly to his hand.

“Trevor was injured, and we had to hold up at the healer’s cottage whilst she tended him.”

“Is he well now?” she asked and hoped the soldier wasn’t permanently injured, or—God forbid—had perished.

“Trevor is still there, but he is out of danger. Still, the lad cannot be moved yet and will need to convalesce for some time.”

Isabella began walking, leading him away from the others, seeking privacy while they discussed how he’d just treated the young lovers. “I must ask, Husband. What were you yelling about over there? Everyone could hear you.”

Declan scowled. “My sister… I caught her and Willeli kissing. She knows my feelings on the matter of her marrying Willeli. I will probably have to send him away if she does not listen to me.”

She stopped, released his hand, and stepped back. “How could you? You don’t realize what you have done. I spoke to your sister and she—”

“Lower your voice, Wife. Dare ye tell me how to handle my family matters?” he clipped, cutting her off from explaining.

She wouldn’t allow him to shut her down. “I do when Rhona’s heart is involved. And I am your wife, for heaven’s sake. I should be able to speak to you about such matters anyway I please.” Isabella glared at him. He was in a mood, but she wasn’t about to allow him to belittle her in front of their clan.

Declan frowned fiercely, grabbed her arm, and forced her to walk with him. She huffed as he made her sprint behind him. They continued walking, more like running, until they reached his grandda’s cottage. After he opened the door, he gestured her inside, entered, and slammed the door closed.

Isabella stared at him with her mouth agape. She hadn’t realized she would instigate his rage when she spoke out about his reaction to Rhona’s relationship with Willeli. As she peeredat him, she remained silent. She’d never seen him so riled. Declan took two steps in one direction and then two back before her. He didn’t appear to know what he wanted to say but sent a glare at her.

The wait for his reprimand became unbearable and the silence in the cottage deafening. She wasn’t about to remain silent and Isabella’s ire raised her voice. “You have little patience for your siblings, Declan, and for me. I think you need to consider our feelings—”

“Feelings? I forbid ye from speaking to me in this tone,” he said and continued to march back and forth as if he were inspecting his soldiers. He wouldn’t meet her gaze either after he reproached her.

“You knew I was outspoken when you married me, so don’t tell me you forbid me from speaking my mind now. And I am your wife, lest you forget, and I am telling you that you are acting like a brutish fool when it concerns your sister. If you’ll only—”

Declan pressed his hands over his face and his shoulders moved from his heavy sigh. “This is not what I had hoped for on my return. I do not mean to be cross, Wife, but my siblings are my responsibility, and I won’t discuss them with ye.”

“We are married. What concerns you, concerns me. Let me help you, Declan. Explain to me why you are so distant toward Rhona and Claude. They only seek your approval, surely you must know that.”

Declan rushed at her, scooped her in his arms and set her on the small table near the hearth. His eyes darkened with passion. “All I wanted to do on my return was this,” he said and set his mouth on hers and crushed her lips. His hands fumbled with her garments as he tried to undress her.

Isabella in turn unfastened his tunic and splayed her hands over his warm skin, until she was finally able to lift it over his head. She’d never tire of the sight of him ungarbed with hismuscles taut from her caresses. She then moved her hands to his waist and tried to unlatch his belt, but her hands shook. Desire swarmed her heart and body now and all she wanted was for him to hurry and take her.

“Declan, please…I need you.”

He pressed his mouth back on hers, growled low in his throat, and dislodged his mouth from hers. “I want you badly, Wife.”