He listened to her soft, quiet breaths as she lay there next to him. He chanced taking a peek at her and slowly opened his eyes. He was startled to find her green eyes staring back at him. Not knowing what to say or do at the moment, he asked, “Are ye comfortable, lass?”
Aishlinn nodded her head slowly as a tender smile came to her face. “Thank you, Duncan.”
He knew that if he did not close his eyes that moment, he was going to end up doing something he should not do. “For what, lass?” he asked, shutting his eyes quickly.
“For being so good to me,” she whispered before a yawn escaped her. “For being such a good brother to me.”
He lied to her again for the third time that day. “Tis my pleasure, Aishlinn.”
It was not a pleasure being brotherly toward her. It was a torture and one he was not certain he could bear for much longer. Knowing well that she would die from embarrassment should anyone find them together like this, he promised himself he would wake early to send her back to her own room and no one would be the wiser.
******
Bree had gone to Aishlinn’s room early that morning only to find her bed empty and unmade. Assuming she was already in the kitchens, she went to look for her there but no one had seen her this morning, which was very unusual. She wanted to find Aishlinn to let her know Manghus wife had delivered a beautiful baby girl in the middle of the night. Perhaps they could go visit and take a peek at the new bairn.
Bree searched out of doors, even the stables and barns but could not find Aishlinn anywhere. Thinking perhaps Duncan might know where she was she went in search of him. After realizing she was searching the same places again and finding neither Duncan nor Aishlinn, she wondered if it possible they were together. Back into the castle and up the stairs she went first to Aishlinn’s room. ‘Twas still empty and Bree was beginning to grow concerned as Aishlinn was never difficult to find. Perhaps she would find Duncan in his room and he would know where to find Aishlinn.
She walked the short distance to Duncan’s room and quietly knocked on his door. Hearing no answer, she opened it and before she could speak his name she saw them there. Duncan and Aishlinn. Together. In his bed. Duncan had his arm wrapped around Aishlinn who had her back nestled into his stomach. A broad smile came to Bree’s face for she was glad the two of them had finally realized how they felt about one another. She quietly closed the door and hoped no one else would find them together.
******
Such a blessing it was, to be married to such a braw, strong man. It was amazing, really, that someone like him would love someone like her. Her husband was beautiful, if such a thing could be said of a man. Remarkably enough, her husband looked very much like Duncan, with the same chestnut colored hair and mesmerizingly blue eyes. Deep, blue eyes that even twinkled like Duncan’s!
And muscles? Glorious muscles! Big, strong arms that had no problem holding her close to his chest as they snuggled together in their marital bed. And strong, well-toned legs, as big at tree roots. ‘Twas odd though, her husband had three legs, and one was pressing into her lower back and buttocks. It didn’t matter if her husband had three legs, or even five, he loved her, loved her dearly and that was all that mattered!
One of the most amazing things about her husband was the fact that he was not blind. Perfect vision. And still, he thought she was beautiful! He had told her so repeatedly throughout the night. And how many times had he whispered in the dark, his hot breath caressing her ear, how many times had he said I love you? More than once, she was certain of it.
His hands were so warm, one of which happened to be pressed rather nicely against her stomach. In truth, she wished he would remove her nightdress so that she might know what his skin would feel like against her own. It would be a most magnificent sensation, she was sure of it. Perhaps after he woke, she might be blessed with discovering the wonders of that sensation. For now, she would let him sleep, and would remain content just to be held.
She snuggled closer to him as she let out a quiet sigh of contentment. Who knew love could make one feel this way? Safe, protected and cherished. These were the things dreams were made of.
Seventeen
As Bree closed the door and turned around with the smile still on her face, she ran straight into her mother.
“Bree, what are ya doin’?” Isobel asked her.
“Nothing!” Bree answered, knowing full well that if Isobel found out what she knew, Duncan and Aishlinn would be in a great deal of trouble. Thinking quickly, she asked, “How are Manghus’ wife and bairn doing?”
Isobel seemed distracted as she answered. “They are well. Have ya seen Aishlinn about this morn?”
“Nay, I haven’t.” ‘Twas partially true she told herself for Aishlinn was not actually about. She was sleeping peacefully in Duncan’s bed.
“If ya see her, please tell her I wish to speak to her.”
Bree nodded, her back still at Duncan’s door. She wanted desperately not to be the one who gave away Duncan and Aishlinn’s secret.
“Well?” her mother asked. “Don’t just stand there, Bree. Be gone with ya!”
Bree took off running down the hallway, hoping and praying that her mother would not find Duncan and Aishlinn together. Twould surely be a most frightful thing for both of them if she did.
Isobel stood with her hands on her hips as she watched her daughter run away. What on earth had gotten into that lass lately, she wondered? Shaking her head she prayed the good Lord to please give her patience when it came to her child.
Needing to speak with Duncan and not being able to find him or Aishlinn anywhere this day, she had grown frustrated. She had not meant to be so abrupt with her daughter, but she had been up all night helping Manghus’ wife birth her first bairn. It had been a difficult delivery for the lass but finally, after many long hours of hard labor the wee girl bairn was born. Isobel was tired and wanted nothing more than to sleep. But Manghus was quite insistent that he speak with Duncan straight away, about what, she did not know.
Not bothering with knocking, she opened the door to Duncan’s room. Not prepared for the sight before her, anger and frustration rose from deep within her belly as her heart sank. This was not good, not good at all.
“Duncan McEwan!” This was the last thing she needed to have happen.
She continued to yell as two half sleeping, disoriented and terrified young people jumped from the bed. A quick tug of war ensued over the sheet, each of them trying to lay claim to it in order to cover themselves. Aishlinn caught a brief glimpse of Duncan’s very naked behind and quickly decided he needed it more than she did and immediately gave up her end of it.
“Of all the lasses in the castle?” She could not remember a time she’d been this angry with anyone. “Of all the lasses ye could have bedded ya have to choose Aishlinn?”
Aishlinn stood frozen in the corner with tears welling in her eyes, horrified that they’d been caught together in such a compromising position. The anger in Isobel’s eyes sent a chill down her spine.
Duncan was trying desperately to hold on to the sheet while searching for a way out of his current predicament. He was trapped between his bed and a very angry Isobel. He thought of jumping over the bed and out the window, but a very shaken Aishlinn stood between the bed and his only means of escape -- the window.
“She is an innocent young girl! How could ya have taken advantage of her like this!” Angrier than she could remember ever being, Isobel looked about the room for something to either throw at him or beat him with.
“Ya wait until yer uncle returns Duncan! He is going to skelp ya somethin’ fierce. That is if I leave him anythin’ to skelp!” She truly thought of picking up a chair and hitting him over his foolish head. A more befitting punishment however, would be to leave him in the hands of Angus who would surely be more than angry with him.
Duncan held up a hand to protest, “Now, Isobel,” he said.
“Do not now Isobel me young man!” She would not lis
ten to him. “This poor lass comes to us for help and safety and ye do this to her?”
“Nothin’ happened!” Duncan roared. He had never raised his voice at Isobel before, for he knew his uncle would have killed him for showing such disrespect. She was jumping to conclusions and he had to explain to her what had happened. If she would only calm down long enough to listen, he would be able to explain that neither of them had done anything wrong. But in Isobel’s eyes, the mere fact that they had shared a bed together was bad enough.
Why was she so angry with him, he wondered? He had shared his bed with plenty of young women over the years. While Isobel had been disappointed in him over those dalliances, she had never been as angry as she was at this moment. Perhaps Aishlinn was as special and important to Isobel as she was to Duncan.
Isobel lowered her voice and glared at him. “Do ye really expect me to believe that?”
“Aye, I do! I would never take advantage of Aishlinn!”
Finally finding her voice, Aishlinn spoke up. “Tis true Isobel!” she said pleadingly. “Tis not what ya think.”
Isobel looked at the tears streaming down Aishlinn’s face. Did the lass cry from embarrassment at having been caught? “Go to yer room and wait for me.” Isobel tried unsuccessfully to hide the disappointment in her voice. “Go now.”
Aishlinn quickly walked around the bed to leave but paused at the doorway. “Isobel, Duncan was truly an honorable man last night. He did nothing improper and neither did I. He is like a brother to me and nothing more.” Without waiting for a response she hurried to her room.
Isobel turned to Duncan as she tried to regain some composure. She wanted very much to believe they were telling her the truth. However, the evidence at hand was quite overwhelming. Taking a deep breath while she studied Duncan closely, she asked, “Is what she says true?”
Nodding his head quickly he said, “Aye, ’tis.” He wrapped the sheet tighter around his waist. “Nothin’ improper happened.”
“Then why do I find her in yer bed this day?” she asked with her hands planted firmly on her hips. She was quite ready to skelp him the moment she detected a lie.
Exasperated, he let out a sigh as he ran a hand through his hair. “Tis the nightmares she has, Isobel. Every night she has them. She worries the soldiers will come here and find her. She worries that if and when they do, they’ll kill all of us, the people she has come to love and feel safe with.”
Isobel took a deep breath as the anger slowly began to leave her. She had not known the lass suffered so. Why had Aishlinn had not come to her with her troubles?
“I would never do anythin’ to hurt her, Isobel.” Duncan needed her to know it was God’s truth that he spoke. “She is a fine young woman and deserves no’ to be taken advantage of. I’d never do that to her.” His eyes pleaded with her to believe him.
Isobel studied him closely for a few moments and decided he told the truth. Duncan was a fine young man but she could tell from the way he spoke of Aishlinn, the way he looked at her, that he held very strong feelings for her. Perhaps respect was one of them.
“Have ya shared yer feelings with her?” she asked.
Duncan stood a bit taller before answering. “Nay. I haven’t.” As much as he would have liked to do just that, for whatever reason, he simply could not tell Aishlinn how he felt about her.
Isobel was quite relieved to hear it for she felt that Aishlinn was probably not ready for anything akin to a romance. “That is best, considerin’ all that the lass has gone through.”
“Twas my thinkin’ as well.” Certain Isobel was no longer ready to skin him alive he began to relax. “She needs time to heal,” he told her. “Aye, the bruises and welts may be long gone. But there be other wounds that take longer to heal than the body.”
Isobel released another heavy sigh as she wondered what to do with the two of them. True love could not be denied. She knew and believed that with all her heart. She could send Aishlinn to the ends of the earth and it would do no good. No amount of distance between two people who were truly in love would cause their feelings to diminish. If anything it would make them grow stronger.
“Please promise me, Duncan, that ye’ll give Aishlinn more time. She’s been through a hellish ordeal. She knows no’ who she is or what she wants from life.” Lowering her voice she asked, “Promise me ye’ll give her that?”
“Aye, I so promise.” It was what he had been trying to do all along.
******
Isobel took a moment to regain her composure before she entered Aishlinn’s room. She found Aishlinn standing near the open windows with a shawl wrapped tightly around her shoulders and she looked positively miserable.
Isobel quietly closed the door and sat on the stool near the fireplace. She had been angrier with Duncan than she had been with Aishlinn, for she understood far too well how being in love with someone often interfered with one’s good decision making abilities. Aishlinn had grown up without a mother and Isobel was certain that Broc had offered very little in the way of guidance when it came to matters of the heart.
“Come here lass,” she said, holding her arms open wide.
Aishlinn rushed to Isobel’s open arms and sank to her knees. She could not hold back the deluge of tears as she rested her head upon Isobel’s lap. The thought of Isobel being angry with her was unbearably painful as well as frightening. She would never want to do anything that would cause Isobel to send her away.
“Duncan did nothing wrong, Isobel!” No matter how much she wished that he had. She sobbed as she wiped the tears from her cheeks with the palms of her hands.
Isobel smiled as she stroked Aishlinn’s hair. “Tis all right, lass. I spoke with Duncan and I am sorry for flyin’ into such a fierce rage. I have only yer best interests in my heart.”
Och! How she wished she could share with her the reasons why she felt so protective. Isobel wondered if she wouldn’t lose her mind before Angus returned.
Remaining silent, save for the tears and sniffles, Aishlinn closed her eyes. If her mother had lived, how completely different her life might have been. She would not feel so lost and confused right now and her heart, she was sure, would not be breaking.
“Why dinna ya tell me of the bad dreams, Aishlinn?” Isobel asked quietly.
“I wanted not to bother you. You have so many duties and responsibilities,” Aishlinn said. “My problems aren’t as important as others.”
Isobel lifted Aishlinn’s chin and looked into her eyes. “But Aishlinn, yer not a problem or a bother. Yer very important to me, lass.” For a fleeting moment she was quite tempted to tell her why.
“I am?” she asked very surprised to hear it.
“Aye. Ya are!” Isobel said.
Aishlinn could not fathom it. “But how? I’ve only been here a short time.”
A warm smile came to Isobel’s face. “Does a mother need years to know her children in order to love them?” She wiped tears away from Aishlinn’s face. “Nay, she loves them the moment they are born or come to her. I loved Duncan, Findley and Richard from the day they came to live with us. I needed not days or months or years to know them. They were lads who had lost their families, just as ye’ve lost yers. They were good lads who needed to be loved and protected.” It had been easy for Isobel to love all the children she and Angus had fostered.
Aishlinn was perplexed. She was not a bairn or a small child. She was nearly a grown woman. Should that not make a difference? It made no sense to her how Isobel could love her so readily and with such ease. “But I be not a bairn nor a child.”
“Nay, yer not. But are ya no’ lost? Are ya no’ orphaned with no family of yer own?”
Indeed, she was.
“It is not difficult for me to love ya as if ye were my own, Aishlinn. Yer a sweet and fine young woman with a good heart and spirit. What is there about ya no’ to love?”
“Why then, could not my family, the people who raised me, love me?” she whispered.
Did it all jus
t boil down to the fact that her stepfather and brothers were just mean and cruel people? She had blamed herself all those years. Had she been prettier or better or worked harder then perhaps someday they would love her. Time and again they proved her wrong.
She realized in that quiet moment with Isobel that it had mattered not what she did, how hard she had worked or tried to please the men who had raised her. It never would have been enough. It would not have changed who they truly were -- mean, selfish, angry men. Black Richard had been right. Why should she believe those who were mean and harsh to her over those who were decent and kindhearted?
“I know no’ why some people are mean and selfish, Aishlinn. I think some just have poisoned hearts and minds. Unfortunately, ya were surrounded by them for too long a time.”
She smoothed Aishlinn’s hair with her hand and thought on how she should broach the next topic at hand. “How long have ya had these strong feelings towards Duncan?”
Aishlinn bolted upright, her face burned crimson. Had her feelings for him been that obvious?
“It matters not what my feelings are for him; he thinks of me only as a sister, nothing more.” No matter how badly she would have liked it to be otherwise, Aishlinn knew there was no possibility of a future with Duncan.
Isobel tilted her head a bit. “Are ye certain of that, Aishlinn?”
“Aye, I am.” The thought of Duncan having any romantic thoughts towards her was as ridiculous as putting trews on a pig. “He truly looks after me as a brother does a sister,” she said. “Why, just yesterday he gave me good advice on men.”
“Oh, he did, did he?” Isobel found that notion quite amusing. “And what, pray tell, is this advice he gave to ya?”
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