Page 62 of Bride takes a Scot
“He will be well enough, wife. Do not worry about him. Cease your weeping.”
“I am just so…happy.” She pressed her eyes to stop tears from gathering. “Now what is this about us moving into the monstrosity?”
Edith returned and placed a small trencher of chopped chicken with chunks of pears and some kind of small bean. “This should help your ailing stomach, Milady.”
Isabella drew in the delicious scent of the meal. “It looks tasty.” She devoured the meal within a moment. When she had time, she would ask the cook what it was and would ask her to make it for her again.
Anse had remained quiet until now. “The thatchers are putting the last roofs on the outbuildings. On the morrow, they will move the kitchen. That’ll take a fortnight at least. But ye will have the small kitchen area at the back of the fief to use until the kitchen is moved.”
“Good,” Declan said. “And the inside? Are all the doors on the chambers?”
“Aye, the carpenter finished that task this day. He should be putting on the window coverings and finishing up some areas of flooring. All should be ready within the sennight.” Anse lifted his cup of wine. “Your new home awaits, Laird.”
“On the morrow, love, we can take a walk through it. It might look like a monstrosity, but it will be our home. Ye shall make it so.”
She smiled lightly at his compliment. “You have much faith in me, Husband.”
“Aye, I do.” Declan grinned at her and raised his cup to her before taking a sip.
A soldier peeked his head inside the door. “Laird.”
Declan stood. “All stay. I will return.”
Alone with Anse, Isabella thought the man was being too quiet and solemn. It wasn’t like Anse at all. “What is wrong with you? Why are you being so reserved?”
Anse shrugged. “’Tis the truth I hold a wee bit of guilt for what happened to ye, Milady.”
“Oh, Anse, you shouldn’t. I should have told Declan that the man was untrustworthy. I sensed it right off, but I wasn’t sure if Declan admired his stepbrother. I didn’t want to ruin their relationship if he cared for Silas. It is not your fault and as you can see, I am well.”
“I do not deserve your forgiveness, Milady. I must ensure your safety when our laird is not here.” Anse’s mouth set grimly. “I failed ye.”
“My forgiveness is unnecessary. Now, cease this silliness. You did not fail me. You will not be plagued by what that wretched man did. That is the end of it.” Isabella raised her voice slightly to effectuate his accord. “Before you go, Anse, I wanted to ask you something…”
“Aye, Milady, what is it?”
“If I wanted to irritate Declan…What would annoy him?”
“Ye want to displease your husband?” he asked with astonishment.
Isabella held in her laughter at the man’s shock. “Well, mildly. Tell me, what would annoy him. Is there something that would bother him and raise his ire?”
Anse seemed to ponder her question. “He has a fondness for his family. If someone threatened his family, he would be ireful.”
“I know that, Anse. No, I don’t mean anything of that sort. Is he possessive of anything?”
Anse chuckled. “Ye.”
She laughed and shook her head. “Besides me.”
“I do not understand why ye are asking me this but there is his sword. I am the only one who has ever touched it besides him. Declan is superstitious about his sword. A soldier’s sword is akin to his woman. He handles it with great care, shows it affection, and depends on it for his well-being. If someone were to move it, touch it, or God forbid, destroy it, he would be full of wrath.”
“Oh, that is quite helpful. My thanks.”
“Now, now, Milady, do not go and do anything to your husband’s sword. It cost him a good bit of coin when he had it made. Aye, he has had it for years and is fond of it.”
“I don’t plan to do anything with it. Worry not, Anse.” Isabella rose and piled the trenchers. She placed them on a smaller table for Edith to discard. As much as she tried to fill her time, Declan hadn’t returned. Anse left after a short while, excusing himself with a short bow, and she returned to her bedchamber to await her husband.
Isabella undressed and lay on the bed. She could have laughed at Anse’s reaction to her asking him what would anger Declan. Her reasoning was simple: she wanted to irritate him enough to have him be rough with her again. She longed to respond like she had when he was demanding.