Page 35 of The Highlander’s Illicit Bride (Wicked Highland Lairds #1)
T hree days later, Isolde couldn’t keep the smile off her face as she walked hand-in-hand around the castle with Struan, who was surprisingly quiet after the council meeting he had had in the morning.
She had never imagined she could feel the sort of happiness he inspired in her.
Nor did she ever, in her wildest imagination, believe she could be as loved as he made her feel—or love as deeply in return.
Every moment she spent with Struan felt like a treasure.
An unexpected gift. And she fully intended to relish every single moment they had together.
Their wedding night had been unforgettable—a passion she never imagined she’d feel. Then, true to his word, he had taken her to the sparring yard the following morning and taught her fighting stances and movements that could one day save her life.
“Where are we goin’?” she asked.
“Ye’ll see.”
She smiled at him as they walked out to the yard where her new horse Skye, was already saddled and waiting for them.
Struan took the reins from the stable boy, who also handed him a pack, and gave him a nod and word of thanks.
After settling the pack on his shoulders, he turned to Isolde and picked her up.
She never failed to marvel at how easily he lifted her.
It was as if she weighed nothing at all to him.
Once he’d settled her into the saddle, he climbed up behind her then handed her the reins.
“She’s yer horse,” he said. “I expect ye tae take the lead.”
With a giggle, she took the reins from him and Struan slid his hands down her arms, settling them on her waist, sending a warm, delicious tingle through her body. She smiled and leaned into him.
“Are ye sure ye dinnae want tae go back tae our chambers instead?” she purred.
His laughter was a deep rumble that spread through her body like warm water. She closed her eyes and absorbed it.
“We’ll have plenty of time for that. Believe me when I say we’ll make time,” he replied but she felt like he was not sure of his words which perplexed her. “But let’s go fer a ride, I want tae show ye me favorite place in the lands.”
Struan leaned close, his lips brushing her ear and his warm breath washing across her neck.
Isolde shuddered, her body tingling. Biting her bottom lip to contain her smile, she got Skye moving.
The big mare trotted across the yard and through the open gates in the curtain wall with ease.
Soon, they were moving down the well-worn road and out into the open fields that surrounded Achnacarry.
The sun showered them in its golden light and the day was pleasantly warm. In the distance, tall, craggy peaks stood silent sentinel over the land and scattered, puffy clouds drifted lazily through the azure sky above. Just seeing the natural beauty made her heart swell.
“’Tis beautiful out here,” she said, admiring the landscape.
“Aye. I often like tae ride just tae see it.”
“So? Where are we ridin’ tae then?”
“Just up ahead, take that small path tae the forest.”
Isolde guided Skye onto the path and smiled to herself as the big mare moved easily at her commands.
They followed the narrow, winding path as it cut through the forest. The tall trees loomed over them, the thick canopy overhead blotting out most of the sunlight and leaving the forest floor cloaked in thick shadows.
If not for Struan’s steady, reassuring presence in the saddle behind her, Isolde might have been scared.
There was a sort of… tension in the air.
The path emerged onto the shore of a small loch.
The trees pressed close around all sides of the water, giving it a private, secluded feel.
Struan slipped out of the saddle, then turned and helped her to the ground.
He tied Skye’s lead to a nearby tree, giving her plenty of slack to graze and water herself, which the big mare immediately did.
“’Tis beautiful,” she said. “And so quiet.”
“Aye. ‘Tis why I like it out here.”
“And what are we daein’ out here then?”
His eyes glittered mischievously but she could see that something was worrying him. Just as she was about to ask him what happened during his meeting this morning, he said. “We’re goin’ fer a swim. And after that, we’ll… see tae our marital endeavors.”
Without waiting for her, Struan began stripping out of his clothes. Isolde’s cheeks flushed and she put a hand over her mouth, trying to stifle a giggle.
“What? ‘Tis naethin’ ye’ve nae seen already,” he smiled.
“I’ve never taken me clothes off outside.”
He tipped her a wink. “There is a first time fer everythin’ then, eh?”
Isolde watched him dash into the still waters of the loch, admiring the muscle and form of his body.
Recalling how mortified she’d been when he went swimming naked outside the crofter’s hut made her laugh.
Her cheeks flushed and her entire face grew warm.
It seemed a lifetime ago. They had come so far in what was truly such a short period of time together.
Isolde felt like a completely different person now, standing on the shore of the loch, than she was then.
And it was then, as she watched Struan swimming into the deeper water, that she realized she was a different person.
She had a completely different life, and a different future stretched out before her.
Now, she had a future she never expected, one that filled her with a joy she’d never felt. A life filled with something she thought would forever elude her… love.
“Why nae?” she whispered to herself with a smile.
Struan cheered as Isolde stripped down. She gently laid her dress over Skye’s saddle then laughing, she ran to the water.
She gasped as she plunged in, shocked by the cold, but the further she waded out, the more she adjusted to the temperature.
And it wasn’t long before the warmth in the air made the water around her feel pleasant.
“I ken ye could dae it.”
She turned to see Struan behind her, a wide smile on his face, some of the tension from earlier gone. The water had made his hair dark, clinging to his skin, beads of it glistening upon his skin.
“Admit it,” he said. “Ye like swimmin’ naked. It feels nice, eh? Freeing.”
She laughed. “It feels nice, aye. Like it? I’m nae sure yet.”
He splashed her with a handful of water, making her gasp. His deep booming laugh rang in her ears and brought a smile to her face. She splashed him back and for a few minutes, they took turns splashing each other, laughing together.
Eventually, they stopped playing and Struan swept her into his arms out of nowhere.
Isolde’s shriek echoed around the secluded loch as she wrapped her arms around the back of his neck and clung to him.
She stared deep into his eyes, feeling the air between them grow charged with a strange tension.
She cocked her head and looked at him as a sober expression crossed his face.
“What’s wrong?” she asked finally as her thumb caressed his cheek.
He licked his lips and frowned. The change in his demeanor sent an icy dagger of worry through her heart.
“We’ll be marchin’ tae Cluny House tomorrow.” His voice was determined, which, for reasons she didn’t understand, made the fear inside of her grow stronger. She felt like millions of ants were trapped beneath her skin and were trying to scratch and claw their way out.
“I didnae ken it would be so soon.”
“We didnae ken either, it was decided this morning that it’d be the best course of action nae tae wait any longer.
Everythin’ is prepared—the soldiers, the provisions, the horses.
We will follow yer advice and if everythin’ goes well with the plan, we should be back only a few days later, with Finlay in tow. ”
“I… I…” she left the rest unfinished but they both knew what she wanted to say.
I am afraid I will lose ye.
He raised his eyes to hers, holding her gaze firmly, and she saw the complex mélange of emotions roiling inside of them.
“If somethin’ happens tae me, if I dinnae come back…”
“Dinnae say that,” she cut him off sharply. “Ye’re goin’ tae come back tae me.”
His smile was wan. “Aye. I’m plannin’ on it,” he said. “But if fer some reason I dinnae, I just want—nay, I need ye tae ken that ye’ve changed everythin’ fer me. Ye’ve changed me. I’m a better man because of ye. Nay matter what happens, I want ye tae ken that ye’ve changed me entire world, Isolde.”
She pulled him closer to her and buried her face in his neck as waves of fear battered her insides.
She knew he would be marching off to battle soon, but never in her wildest fears had she considered the idea that he would not be returning to her.
On some level she thought he was invincible.
Or perhaps she had simply deluded herself into thinking he was.
“I love ye, Isolde,” he said. “I never kent I could feel the way I feel about ye. And I want ye tae ken I’m grateful fer ye.”
“When—nae if—ye come back tae me, ye can tell me this all again.”
They clung together in the water, holding each other tight.
Isolde felt foolish for having never considered the idea that Struan would not return to her after the fight.
But now that he’d put it in her head, she couldn’t stop thinking about it and it sent jagged blades of pain slicing through her heart.
As she gazed at him deeply, she thought she saw a grim look of acceptance and appreciation in his eyes, as if this might be among their last handful of moments together.