Isabella thought the woman looked lovely and if she had been any skinnier, would have appeared gaunt and unwell. “I’ve met your daughter. Do you have other children?”
Eva nodded. “Our son, Nicholas, is two. He is asleep in the nursery.”
Isabella thought she saw a flash of pain in the woman’s eyes, but it was gone just as quickly. Intuition told her Eva had given birth to other children who hadn’t survived. It was something they had in common. She thought about her own daughter who hadn’t lived to see her first sunrise.
Eva smiled. “I will leave you now. A maid will knock on your door when it is time for the evening meal.” She reached the door and paused. “The garderobe is down the hallway on the right. I had a hard time finding it when I first arrived, but really all I needed to do was follow the smell.”
She waved a hand in front of her nose.
Isabella had heard about such things, but had never had the chance to use one. From Eva’s description, it didn’t appear to be a place she wanted to visit any time soon.
Alone in her room, Isabella sat down on the large bed with a sigh. Her gaze skimmed the colorful tapestries on the walls and the chamber’s high ceiling. The castle was a far cry from her cottage in the forest; that was for certain.
She thought about the laird. The Mackenzies were a mighty clan; their lands far reaching. Even though she had grown up a few miles from the castle walls, she had never dreamed that one day she would be allowed to step foot inside the grand structure.
Outside her window, a light rain had begun to fall, its steady rhythm drumming against the shutters and dampening the floor. Isabella knew she should close off the window to keep out the rain, but she found it soothing. She had often left the window in her cottage open to the elements. Surrounded by nature, her cottage had been more than her home, it had been her safe haven.
Isabella stifled a yawn as her eyelids grew heavy. With a sigh, she laid back on the bed and closed her eyes. Soon she was lost in a world of dreams.
Chapter
Five
“Is she awake?” the voice of a little boy asked.
“Shhhhhh. I think she is still sleeping,” a little girl answered.
Isabella awoke to the sounds of giggles. She turned her head and saw two pairs of eyes peering at her over the edge of the bed.
She sat up and rubbed her eyes as she looked at her visitors. One of them was Eva and the laird’s daughter, Anne, and she knew the other little one with a headful of red curls must be their son, Nicholas.
She attempted a smile. “Hello.”
Anne sighed as she turned to her brother. “See, Nicholas. I told you she was sleeping. Now we are going to get into trouble for waking her.”
Isabella laughed as she shook her head. “No, you won’t,” she reassured the children. “I won’t tell anyone. I promise.”
Anne looked at her. “You won’t tell our governess?”
Isabella shook her head. “No. I haven’t met your governess, so I could hardly tell her, could I?”
The little boy looked at her with round eyes. “Our governess is mean. If we misbehave, she makes us go to bed without eating.” He rubbed his tummy as he spoke.
“She is mean,” Anne said, agreeing with her brother. She studied Isabella. “Perhaps, you could be our new governess? Christmas is next month and I asked father if I could have a new governess as my gift.”
Isabella giggled. “And what did your father say?”
“He said he would think about it,” Anne said, as she twirled about the room.
A knock sounded on the bedchamber door, and before Isabella could answer, Gerard opened it and poked his head inside. He smiled when his gaze landed on the children. “I thought I heard wee voices coming from inside the room.”
Both Anne and Nicholas ran over to give him a hug and Gerard bent down and hoisted Nicholas onto his shoulders. “I passed your governess in the corridor. She is frantic with worry. Perhaps I should return both of you to the nursery before she alerts your father you are missing.”
He straightened and his gaze landed on Isabella. A soft smile curved his lips as he took in her disheveled state. “That will give you time to change and then I will escort you to the evening meal.”
Gerard turned, and with Nicholas on his shoulders, walked out the door. Anne turned to wave at Isabella before she too disappeared down the corridor.
Isabella quickly changed into the cream colored dress, taking a moment to admire its folds as the skirt fell softly to the floor to pool atop her feet. She ran her fingers through her hair and wished for some way to secure the tresses, but having none, allowed the hair to fall to her waist in thick waves.
A knock sounded once again on the door and she moved to open it. Gerard leaned against the doorjamb and she took a moment to see details she hadn’t noticed earlier. He had obviously bathed and changed his clothes in preparation for dinner. Damp hair curled against the collar of his shirt and hung to his shoulders, creating damp patches on the material.
Isabella was struck anew at how handsome he was. Most men she knew only bathed a few times a year, but cleanliness appeared to be important to him and she found that she liked that.
Gerard’s grin was slow and wicked as he looked over her shoulder at the rumpled bed. “We could skip the evening meal, lass, and spend our time in much more pleasurable pursuits.”
His voice was low and deep and sent a shiver down Isabella’s spine. She took a step back. “I don’t know what you mean,” she said, even as her pulse raced at the thought.
Gerard straightened and chuckled. “I’m just teasing, lass. I wouldn’t miss the evening meal. The cook is one of the best around. You are in for a treat.”
He reached out to capture a lock of her hair, letting it slide through his fingers. Emotion flickered in his eyes before he cleared his throat and turned away. “We need to get going. The Great Hall is always crowded in the evenings and we will be lucky to find seats. You might not mind standing while you eat, but I intend to enjoy my meal.”
He turned away from her only to turn back. His gaze wandered over her, starting with the top of her head and ending at her feet.
If Isabella had been expecting a compliment, she was sadly disappointed. She motioned for him to wait while she grabbed a shawl Eva had left off of the chair. With deft movements, she settled it about her shoulders and fastened it at her throat.
“Goodness, lass,” Gerard grumbled, as they stepped out into the deserted corridor. “Dinner will be half over by the time we get there. I’ve been on the road for so long a home cooked meal will be appreciated, but there will be none left if we don’t hurry.”
Isabella stopped in her tracks, her eyes flashing fire. “I’m sorry you found my hospitality so lacking.”
Gerard stopped walking as well and turned to her in surprise. Understanding dawned in his eyes and his expression softened. “Ah, lass, I didn’t mean to make you angry. Of course I appreciate everything you did for me, but you have to admit your selection of food was a bit on the meager side.”
“Well, you shouldn’t have eaten so much of it then,” she hissed.
His eyes widened slightly, but he allowed her to continue.
“In case you didn’t notice,” Isabella said, giving him a scathing glance. “I didn’t eat just so you would have enough food in your belly.”
She turned, but not before she saw the stunned expression on Gerard’s face. Apparently it hadn’t occurred to him that there hadn’t been enough food for two. And why would it? He had obviously never gone without nourishment a day in his life. He didn’t know what it was like to wonder where your next meal was coming from or to feeling the gnawing pains of hunger twisting your stomach into knots.
“You didn’t eat?” He walked quickly to catch up with her.
Isabella stopped at the top of the stairs when his large hand closed around her arm. She waited for the torrent of angry words that she knew was forthcoming.
Gerard turned her to face him. Emotion
flickered in his blue eyes, but then was gone. “Are you telling me that I ate while you went hungry?” His gaze searched her face for the truth.
She nodded. “Aye. There wasn’t enough food for the both of us and you needed it far more than I. I was afraid your condition would worsen otherwise.”
Gerard let go of her arm and scrubbed a hand across his face. When he turned back to her, his expression was pained. “I’m sorry, lass. You should have told me.”
Isabella turned her back on him. “You were in no condition to make decisions where your well-being was concerned.” She tossed over her shoulder. “I did what was best.”
The Great Hall was crowded. Isabella stopped at the entrance of the room and scanned the tables, hoping to find a familiar face. She breathed a sigh of relief when she spotted Eva at the head table, seated next to her husband. The children weren’t with her, but she knew that Gerard had escorted them safely back to the nursery.
“You are drawing attention to yourself,” Gerard leaned over and murmured in her ear. “There is hatred in the eyes of the women and lust in the men’s. It isn’t often they get to lay eyes on a stranger and a beautiful one at that.”
Isabella’s gaze moved over the crowd. A hush had fallen over the room and dozens of faces were turned in her direction. She took a step back and felt Gerard’s strong arm slide about her waist.
“Easy, lass,” he murmured. “They can smell fear. If you’re not careful, the women will rip you apart with their sharp tongues and the men will view you as prey. It isn’t often they get a new female within their midst. Most of the men, and some of the women, would be more than willing to take you to their beds.”
Isabella’s eyes widened at his words. She noticed an older woman sitting at a far table. The woman’s eyes were predatory as they raked her from head to toe and Isabella shivered. She had heard of such goings on, of course, but wasn’t willing to participate in them.
Gerard pulled her close to his side while throwing a challenging look out to the men in the room and a few of the women. He wanted it known that she was his and his alone.
His gaze fastened on one of his strongest soldiers, Ethan Mackintosh. He had been a squire for years and would make a fine knight one day. That is, if the young man’s temper didn’t get the better of him first. There was no question Ethan didn’t like him and they had more than one run in over the years, but he had proved himself loyal and when you were in the midst of a battle; that was all that mattered.
The young man wore a surly expression as he returned Gerard’s stare and then he raised his mug of ale in a mock salute. The cold look didn’t leave his eyes.
Gerard dismissed him and returned his attention to Isabella. He smiled down at her. “By now everyone has heard about you and most our curious to lay eyes on my new woman.”
Isabella felt her temper flare, as it seemed to always do in his presence. “I am not your woman,” she said through gritted teeth as she took a step away from him.
Gerard chuckled. “Aye, lass, you are. At least you had better pretend to be. In case you haven’t noticed, you are in a castle filled with men. Any one of them would be willing to warm your bed if they found out you are unattached.”
He placed a hand beneath her elbow and began to guide her through the maze of tables. Several men called out greetings as they proceeded and a few of them made bawdy suggestions that caused Isabella to flush.
“Do they always behave this way?” she whispered as they neared the head table.
“Only in the presence of a beautiful woman,” he whispered back as he guided her to an empty seat at the table. He slid in next to her and turned to her with a smile. “You will have to get used to it, lass, if you are going to live here.”
“I don’t plan to stay,” Isabella fired back. “I am returning to my cottage in the morning.”
“Over my dead body,” Gerard said softly, all the while smiling and nodding at the people around him.
Isabella took a bite of meat from the trencher a serving maid placed in front of them. She hated to admit it was good, better than anything she had eaten in a long time.
“You don’t own me. I’m not your wife.” As soon as the words left her mouth, she regretted them.
Gerard froze, the smile slipping from his face. “No, you are not my wife,” he replied evenly. “If you were, I would turn you over my knee for speaking to me in such a manner.”
“I would like to see you try,” Isabella shot back, aware that they were drawing curious looks from the other diners.”
Gerard arched a brow as he met her gaze. Fire burned in the depths of his blue eyes causing Isabella to inch away from him. “Challenge accepted,” he drawled, as he made a move to do precisely that.
“What is wrong with the two of you,” Eva intervened, looking perplexed. “You have only just arrived and you are already at each other’s throats.”
“I need some fresh air.” Gerard abruptly pushed back from the table. “This conversation is tiring.”
Isabella watched as he strode away, his long strides taking him out of the Great Hall and out of the castle itself. She turned to her hostess and shrugged. “I don’t know what has gotten into him.”
Eva gave her a secretive smile. “Oh, I have an idea.” She leaned across the table and whispered. “Gerard hasn’t been that worked up over a woman since Loran died.”
Isabella looked toward the entryway, hoping she would see Gerard, but it remained empty. Obviously he planned to avoid the meal entirely.
Her gaze swept the room, landing on the dark haired man that had been frowning at Gerard earlier. A smile flashed across his handsome face as he noticed her watching and she abruptly turned away. She had problems enough with one man. She didn’t need the attention of another to muddy the waters.
Eva reached across the table to pat her hand. “Don’t worry about Gerard. He has a hot temper, but he cools down fairly quickly. Just you wait and see. In a few minutes he will be sitting at the table, laughing and joking as if nothing is wrong.”
Isabella appreciated the woman’s words, but she seriously doubted if Gerard’s anger would cool that quickly. She had witnessed the pain in his eyes when she had mentioned his late wife. She would give anything to have that moment back. Give anything to have chosen different words, but like usual, her anger had gotten the best of her. Her grandmother had warned her that her sharp tongue would get her in trouble one of these days and it appeared as if her grandmother’s prediction had come true.
Isabella held a hand to her temple as her head began to throb. “Do you have a healer in the castle?”
Rowan had been listening quietly to the conversation between his wife and their visitor, but chose this moment to respond. “The old woman who served as the healer died a few months ago.”
Isabella’s eyes widened in surprise. “Did she have a work place here in the castle?” She pictured a small room tucked away in a dark corner.
Rowan studied her before responding. “Aye, lass, she did. Her room was in the north tower. All of her things are still there. We weren’t sure what to do with them after she died, so we just left things as they were.”
Isabella felt her pulse race. Maybe there was still some herbs that would be of use. “May I see it?”
Rowan arched his brows and looked at her in surprise. “You want to see the healer’s room, lass?” He placed his elbows on the table and tented his fingers. “May I ask why it interests you? I understand that you are a healer, but we have no need for one. The traveling physician passes through every few months or so.”
Isabella knew she had to choose her words carefully. A lot of men didn’t trust women healers, preferring to rely on the wisdom of men to tend to what ailed them.
“My grandmother and mother were both healers.” She met his steady gaze without flinching. “I have been practicing for years. I know how to make several tinctures that might be of some use.”
Rowan didn’t respond right away. Instead, he studied h
er as he tried to determine her motive.
“What did I miss?” Gerard sat back down at the table and looked from Isabella to his cousin.
Rowan smiled, but it didn’t quite reach his eyes. “Your lady friend asked if she could see the healer’s tower room.”
Gerard turned to her, his blue eyes filled with surprise. “Is that true, lass? Did you ask to visit the healer’s room?”
Isabella lifted her chin and nodded. “I did,” she said firmly. “The laird mentioned that the healer’s room still contained all of her supplies. I thought there might be enough herbs for me to make a tincture for my headache.”
A corner of Gerard’s lips tugged upward in a crooked grin. “I’ve heard rumors the tower is haunted.”
Isabella met his gaze and smiled. It was hard to believe a seasoned warrior would be terrified of a fictional haunting, but something told her Gerard was just toying with her. “Are you scared?” she teased.
Several of the men sitting nearby laughed and Gerard sent them a dark look. “No, lass,” he said dryly, folding his arms. “But I will not show you the healer’s room. I am in no mood to deal with a hysterical female.”
“I think you are scared,” she whispered softly, so only he could hear. “Why else would you refuse to take me to the tower?
Amusement flickered in Gerard’s eyes as he rose to his feet. He made a deep bow. “After you, my lady,” he said mockingly.
He left Isabella no choice but to accompany him. She got to her feet slowly, aware that Eva and the laird, as well as the other diners, were watching her every move. The Great Hall had grown silent and she could once again feel the weight of numerous stares as she followed Gerard to the end of the hall and the steep flight of stairs that spiraled upward to the north tower.
“You didn’t have to cause a scene,” Isabella hissed, as she climbed the stairs in front of him. The stone steps were narrow and uneven and she had to clutch the wall or risk falling. At one point she stumbled, and was grateful when Gerard wrapped his strong arms around her from behind.
Loving A Highlander Page 5
