Page 70 of Bride takes a Scot

She tried to appear demure and smiled. “The king needed unmarried men to wed to the women he chose by the border.”

Murray laughed and the edges of his eyes crinkled. “’Tis humorous, that. When I heard that Declan was released, I tried to end him in the woods, but his men thwarted me, and he got away.”

Isabella frowned but then quickly changed her demeanor to humor. She chuckled. “Was that when he returned home with an injured leg?”

Murray leaned to the side and peered at the tables. “Aye, and I suppose that healer fixed him up, or did ye?” He fondled his beard and his eyes changed from mirth to a stern mien.

“Of course, I did. It was my duty to mend my husband.”

“Your husband will no longer exist after this day.” His eyes glinted with amusement. “Does this distress ye? Aye, I hope it does.”

Isabella couldn’t let her emotions get the better of her. She had to remain pragmatic and gain his acceptance of her if she was to survive, for she had no doubt he intended to kill her along with Declan and perhaps everyone in their clan. “Not at all. I am not one to become distressed and I don’t believe in love. We made a marriage contract to which I have held my part of the bargain. So, you seek revenge against Declan because of what his family did? What did his family do?”

Murray took a sip of the water and then another. “His mother took advantage of my father. They were at a festival, and she lured him into a tent where they had relations.”

Isabella held her breath as he looked down at the cup he held and frowned. But then he shook himself and said, “Their affair continued and when my mother found out about it, she killed Declan’s mother. Aye, she forced her to take a potion that did her in and killed her almost instantly. That would have sufficed as retribution but then my mother took her own life after because she could not live with the guilt of taking Lady MacKendrick’s life.”

It was funny how he too was consuming a potion of sorts and yet, was unaware of it. “I am sorry, Dermot, that you suffered. You do know that Declan had nothing to do with his mother’s actions and he has suffered too.” Isabella took his cup and returned to the table where she kept her back to him. Her heart thudded in her chest as she added a few more drops of “devil’s eyes” to the cup. The man was large and apparently needed more medicinal than she’d thought. She turned back to him and held the pitcher, refilled his cup in his view, and handed it back to him.

“It matters not. Before I am through, no one will ever remember the name MacKendrick. I will ensure his clan is abolished and that Campbell’s clan is too.”

“What has Robbie to do with this?”

Murray grinned. His speech was somewhat slurred when he answered, “He will seek revenge, aye for the murder of his da, his sister, and his comrade. I mean to take care of that before he gets the better of me.”

“You mean before Laird Campbell seeks his own justice?”

“Justice will be enacted but only by me,” Dermot said and tilted on his chair.

Isabella stayed where she was and stared at the madman. “I hope you don’t intend to harm me. I suspect you deem that by harming me, you will hurt Declan. But I assure you he cares not for me.”

“Now I know ye speak falsely. Just look at ye. You are a bonny woman, and any man would be pleased to be married to ye. Surely Declan cares for ye. If ye were my wife, I certainly would care.” Murray slid from his chair onto the floor and gazed up at her in wonder.

Isabella stepped back waiting for him to succumb. “You compliment me when you don’t even know me.”

“I…Ye…are…a clever…lass,” Murray stammered and pitched to the floor, flat out.

Isabella gasped and jumped back. She breathed heavily at the danger she’d been in. With the man unconscious, she had to ensure he was unable to move if he awakened. She took the ties from the newly hung window coverings and tied the man’s hands and feet with them. She checked on Robbie to discover that he watched her through his slitted eyes.

“Stay still, Laird Campbell. You are at the MacKendrick keep. We have tended your wounds, but you must be still, or you will undo the care.”

He gestured with his chin and his voice emerged in a whispered rasp. “What is Murray doing here? And why is he tied up?”

Isabella smiled and enlightened him. “He is your enemy. Worry not, he cannot harm you now, at least not for a time. I have rendered him asleep.”

“What did ye do to him?” Robbie raised his head to lean toward the side of the bed and scowled at Murray.

“I gave him a drink. Of course, it was laced with a few drops of the ‘devil’s eyes’. He shall be out for some time.” Isabella heard the banging on the keep’s door. Shouts came and sheglanced out the window casement in the chamber. There were what appeared to be two scores of soldiers ramming the door. “I best go and let them in before they break the door down.”

Laird Campbell guffawed and lay back.

“Declan would not like that at all because the door was only recently put on. He’s fond of this fief.” She opened the door and smiled at him as she passed through the threshold.

Isabella rushed down the stairs and unlatched the beam holding the door closed. Within seconds, the great hall filled with soldiers. She had never felt so protected even though she’d pretty much saved herself.

Chapter Twenty-Four

The forest wasstill. Their adversaries were there somewhere. Declan signaled to his men to take cover. His plan was simple: he and his men would ambush the ambushers. They would wait in the forest until the interlopers rode through. Whoever attacked Robbie had to be in the forest. He’d brought Campbell’s men and thirty of his soldiers. Declan hoped Robbie’s clansmen would recognize the men who attacked their laird.