“Easy, lass.” His deep voice echoed in the confined space. “We don’t want you breaking your pretty neck.”
“I find it hard to believe you would care,” Isabella retorted. “You act as if you can’t stand me.”
Gerard reached for her, pressing her back against the cold stone wall. His arms bracketed her on either side. “Is that what you think, Bella? That I loathe to be in your presence?”
Isabella could feel the heat of his body pressing up against her. He was close, so close that if she leaned forward slightly, their mouths would meet.
“You don’t appear to like me very much,” she whispered.
Gerard muttered an oath, before capturing her lips in a drugging kiss. He leaned forward slightly, pressing against her.
Isabella moaned as she twined her arms around his neck. She could feel the heat of him soaking through her clothing and knew it would be easy to become lost in his arms.
Gerard’s hand dipped inside her bodice and thumbed a bare nipple, before cupping the weight of her in his palm. “Oh, I like you, lass,” he growled. “I like you very much.”
He tugged on the bodice of her gown until her breasts were free. Hungrily he drank in the sight of them before leaning forward to lathe his tongue over an erect nipple.
Isabella clung to him as he pulled the nipple into his mouth and began to suckle. She could feel the pulls all the way to her center and she moaned as need quickly overtook her.
Gerard released her nipple and lifted his head. “I want you, lass,” he said, placing a quick kiss on her lips before pulling up her bodice and covering her. “I want you,” he repeated, “but this is not the time or place.”
Isabella worked to calm her breathing. She felt cool air rush against her as he took a step back. She placed a trembling hand against her lips. “I’m certain you have kissed plenty of women you don’t like.”
Gerard chuckled as he opened the door to the tower room. “No, lass, I’m not in the habit of kissing every woman I meet and I especially don’t kiss women I find repulsive.”
He ushered her into the small space and walked across the room to open the shutters. Moonlight streamed through the open window, bathing the room’s contents in silvery light.
Isabella walked immediately to the center of the room where a work table had been placed. Although it was empty at the moment, she could tell from its scarred surface that it had been well-used.
She placed her hand on its surface and felt a slight tingle. The woman who had worked here had possessed magic, traces of it still lingered in the room.
A cupboard sat against the far wall. Through its partially open door, Isabella could see containers lining its shelves. She walked over and after opening the cupboard door wider, pulled a container from the shelf. Removing its lid, she sniffed the contents and smiled as the smell of Juniper wafted around her.
“This room is perfect.” She placed the container back in the cupboard and turned to Gerard. He was leaning against the far wall and in spite of his earlier talk of ghosts, appeared completely relaxed.
He shrugged. “I always thought it was a bit dark and gloomy myself.”
“Ah, so you are afraid of ghosts,” she teased.
A smile twitched his lips. “No, lass, I’m not afraid of any spirit that may roam the castle. It is flesh and blood men that I worry about. A ghost won’t slit my throat in my sleep, but a man will.”
Isabella wondered if he was talking about men in general or if he had a specific man in mind. She had witnessed the dark look that had passed between Gerard and the soldier in the Great Hall. Something told her the two men were far from friends.
She crossed the room to stand beside him. “Is there more than one ghost?”
Gerard’s grin was wicked as he reached out to caress her cheek with the back of his hand. “Aye, there are many. It is rumored that the old cook still haunts the kitchen. The serving maids swear that if you walk into the kitchen in the middle of the night, you will find a cauldron over the fire and a spoon stirring as if by an invisible hand.”
Isabella shivered and took a step closer to him. He surprised her by wrapping a strong arm about her waist and pulling her snugly to his side.
“And then,” Gerard said, warming to the subject, “there is the ghost of the stable boy who was hung outside this very window. On windy nights, some say you can still hear his gurgled scream as he slowly choked to death.”
Isabella’s eyes widened as she looked around the small room. She believed in spirits, of course. She had even seen one a time or two and even though she believed them to be harmless, she still didn’t relish the idea of coming face to face with one. Especially in the dead of night when shadows loomed and a person’s imagination had the tendency to run wild.
“Scared, Bella?” Gerard murmured as he wrapped her in his arms and stole a kiss.
Isabella leaned into him. She could hear the beating of his heart underneath her cheek. It was slow and steady, telling her that he wasn’t scared of encountering any wandering ghosts.
Feeling foolish, she took a step back. She looked toward the window. She wondered about the stable boy and how long it had been since he had met his demise.
As if reading her mind, a slight grin tugged at the corners of Gerard’s lips. “Did I say it was this tower?” he drawled. “My mistake. I meant to say the other tower. The stable boy was hung from the south tower.”
Isabella arched her delicate brows. “Was there a stable boy?” she asked, beginning to doubt him.
Gerard chuckled. “Aye, lass, there have been plenty of stable boys at the castle, but none has met such a gruesome fate. Tis a story, nothing more.”
As if her feet had a will of their own, Isabella took a step closer to him, so close they were almost touching. “I will be sure and keep far away from the kitchens during the nighttime.”
A shadow moved in the corner of the room and she shivered as the temperature dropped. The room may not be haunted by the ghost of a stable boy, but it did come with a ghost, of that she was certain.
Gerard chuckled as he once again draped an arm around her. His fingertips grazed the curve of her breast but didn’t linger there. “You would be wise to do that, Bella.”
Isabella knew she should step away from him, but she found herself leaning against him as her eyes scanned the room. A bed, barely large enough for one person, sat against the wall closest to the window. As if the room’s former occupant liked to keep the shutters open at night so that she could see the moon and the stars.
“I believe I would like to sleep here, tonight,” she murmured.
Gerard’s teasing smile vanished. He grasped her chin and forced her to meet his gaze. “Are ye mad, woman? Why would you want to spend the night in this drafty old tower when you have a perfectly comfortable bedchamber waiting for you?”
Isabella briefly wondered if his concern had anything to do with her spending the night in the tower or had more to do with the fact that she wouldn’t be sharing his bed.
She didn’t expect him to understand. How could she explain to him that the tower room with its containers of herbs and unhindered view of the night sky felt like home?
“I like it here,” she said, moving away from him and over to the fireplace. The fire was cold in the hearth and had been for months. She doubted if it had even been lit since the healer’s death.
Isabella turned. “Would you mind helping me to light the fire? I always did it at home, of course, but my dress is a bit cumbersome.” She swooped her hands over the folds of the fancy dress as she spoke. She had always envied noble women with their fine clothes, but now that she had the chance to wear such a garment, she found herself wishing for her serviceable tunic.
“No, lass.” Gerard’s eyes flared with a challenging light as if he dared her to defy him. “I will not build a fire for you. You can’t stay here tonight. It isn’t safe.”
Isabella folded her arms and tilted her chin as she met his steady gaze. “I will a
sk the laird. I’m certain he won’t mind if I spend the night in the tower room.”
Gerard snorted. “Rowan will more than likely think you have gone mad and lock you in your bedchamber with a posted guard out front. Believe me, he won’t approve of any of this.”
Isabella sat down on the small bed and smoothed her hand over the thin cover. “I’m staying. You can’t make me leave this room.”
Gerard arched a brow. “Don’t challenge me, lass. You won’t win. I have half a mind to toss you over my shoulder and carry you. If you think the diners in the Great Hall were talking about you before, just wait until I lug you through the room like a sack of potatoes.”
“I’m staying,” Isabella repeated. She didn’t know why the tower room meant so much to her, but from the moment she had stepped through the door it had felt like home.
She crossed the room once again to the fireplace and began to toss in logs that had been sitting in a pile beside it. She removed the flint and tinder from the metal tinderbox, only to have Gerard take them from her hands.
“You are a stubborn lass,” he growled, as he made quick work of the fire. Within a matter of minutes, flames were crackling cheerfully in the hearth.
Gerard turned back to her, his expression unreadable. “The fire should last the night. If you find it getting low, just toss another log on the pile.”
He moved to the door and prepared to leave.
Isabella stared after him in surprise. He was letting her have her way? Giving in, just like that?
At the door, Gerard turned back to her. “Keep the door locked, Bella. The men in the castle left the healer alone. Most were afraid of her. But believe me, they won’t hesitate to climb the stairs and pay you a visit.”
He arched a brow before continuing. “Or is that what you want?” he asked, taking a step toward her again. “Are you eager for some male company, Bella, because if that is the case, I will be more than happy to stay and keep you company.” He glanced toward the bed. “It is a little small, but I can make it work.”
Isabella’s cheeks heated as images of them intertwined on the bed flashed through her mind. She had no doubt that Gerard would make it work and do a fine job of it.”
She tilted her chin and looked him the eyes. “What will the laird and lady think if you spend the night in my bedchamber?”
Gerard flashed her a grin that bordered on wicked. “Rowan and Eva won’t even question it. They already suspect that I brought you here to warm my bed. Trust me, Rowan won’t mind, but Eva is a different story. She might be offended by my treatment of you.”
Isabella’s flush darkened. What would he think of her if she told him that she had thought of little else since they had arrived? She wouldn’t mind spending the night in the small tower room with him, riding the waves of pleasure until they both found their release.
“Is that the real reason you brought me here?”
Gerard hesitated and then sighed. “No, lass, it isn’t. I brought you here to save your pretty little hide. I had serious doubts whether you would last the upcoming winter if I didn’t.”
“Oh.” Isabella tried hard not to look crestfallen, but she was crushed all the same. It would be nice if a man wanted to spend time in her company just because he wanted to and not out of some sense of misguided duty.
A soft light entered Gerard’s eyes. “Good night, Isabella,” he said as he turned once again to the door. He didn’t wait for her response before exiting the room, shutting the door behind him with a firm click.
“Lock the door, Bella,” his muffled voice called from the other side.
Isabella hastened to do his bidding and pushed the bolt home. She listened as his booted feet thumped down the stairs, becoming fainter and fainter until she was left with nothing but silence.
For the first time, Isabella felt alone. Truly alone. She had been alone in the cottage after Owen had departed, but she had been surrounded by the familiar comforts of home. Here, she was a stranger in a place she felt in her soul she didn’t belong.
To find peace, she needed to return home. She decided to do just that at first light. No matter how much she was beginning to care about Gerard, and she was beginning to care about him even though she had only known him a short length of time, she didn’t belong in a castle. With a heavy heart, she walked over to the window and looked out at the moon and stars.
Far below her, she saw the figure of a man walk from the castle toward the stables. With a start, she realized the figure was Gerard. Halfway to his destination he turned and stared up at her window.
Even from this distance Isabella could feel the weight of his gaze and she took a step back. Her heart pounding. She didn’t know what it was about the rugged man that appealed to her so, but memories of their kiss flooded her mind and if she closed her eyes, she could feel the weight of his lips against hers and the strength of his arms.
“Get over it, you silly goose,” she whispered, as she sat back down on the bed. “That man isn’t interested in you.”
But, oh, how she wished her words weren’t true.
Chapter
Six
Isabella awoke to freezing cold. The fire had gone out sometime in the night and she hadn’t closed the shutters on the window. An icy wind whipped through the small space swirling dust motes in its wake.
She sat up in bed and placed her bare feet against the floor, wincing as she did so. Hastily donning her thin soled shoes, she crossed to the window. The sky was beginning to lighten. Before long, the sun would peak over the horizon, heralding the start of a new day. In the courtyard below, she could see stable hands tossing the straw from the mucked out stalls into a pile.
She briefly wondered if Gerard had returned, and where he had gone in the first place, but then decided it didn’t matter. More than likely, he had gone to the nearest village and found a woman willing to share his bed. Not that he would have much difficulty. She had seen the way women looked at him. He was a handsome man and no doubt had women lining up to please him.
Isabella sighed. She didn’t belong here with him and the sooner she realized it the better it would be for the both of them. He could get on with his life without feeling obligated to her and she could get on with hers.
She was a strong woman. A healer. She didn’t need a man to take care of her and she never would. She wasn’t like the pampered women who were sitting in the Great Hall below. She had known hardship and difficulties. Had weathered the storm and come out stronger in the end. She didn’t need a man to protect her from the trials of life. She could make it on her own.
Like the great Celtic war goddess Morrigan, she possessed strength and it was this strength that would see her through in the end.
Isabella turned from the window as a knock sounded on the door. Thinking Gerard had returned, she crossed the room and opened the heavy door. But it wasn’t Gerard who stood on the other side. Her welcoming smile faltered as the soldier from the Great Hall stepped inside, closing the door behind him.
“Good morning,” his deep voice filled the room as he flashed her a charming smile. “I don’t believe we have been introduced. My name is Ethan.”
Isabella could only stare at the handsome man. He was tall with broad shoulders. Muscles rippled in his arms and across his chest. Dark hair tumbled in waves across his forehead and halfway to his shoulders, while sooty lashes framed eyes that were as green as the trees in the forest.
She took a step back, aware that there was no place to run in such a small space. “My name is Isabella,” she said calmly, letting him know she wasn’t afraid of him.
Ethan inclined his head. “I know. I overheard Gerard talking about you.” He frowned. “He hasn’t been mistreating you, has he, lass?”
Isabella shook her head and almost smiled at the suggestion. “Why are you here?”
The smile returned to Ethan’s face. “The question is, what are you doing here?” His gaze scanned the small tower room, missing nothing. “I was surprised when y
ou didn’t return to the Great Hall.”
Isabella didn’t get a chance to respond. The door crashed open and Gerard stepped inside. His eyes flashed fire but his words were like ice. “It looks as if you are already busy this morning,” he said as his gaze landed on Ethan.
The other man inclined his head, but offered no explanation for his presence.
Isabella looked from one man to the other. She could sense the animosity between them and knew that they were far from friends. “Gerard, I…”
Gerard cut her off with a harsh look and a wave of his hand. “If you want to be the castle whore, Bella, it makes no difference to me. I just wish you had told me last night. I could have given you a few coins and spent a pleasurable night with you instead of retiring alone to my bed.”
Isabella’s anger began to simmer. “We didn’t…”
“Ah, but we did.” Ethan grinned, clearly enjoying himself. “And it was good, old man. She is the best tumble I have ever had.”
Isabella glowered at the man. He only grinned in return and sent her a wink.
Gerard looked close to throwing a punch. “How did you get up here?” he snarled at the other man.
Ethan smirked. “It wasn’t too hard. I think you are getting soft, old man. I simply stepped over you while you were sleeping and walked upstairs.”
He laughed. “If you want to guard this pretty little thing,” he pointed to Isabella, “you need to do a better job. An entire army could have walked by you and you would have been none the wiser.”
This time Gerard did lunge, landing a solid punch on Ethan’s jaw. The young man staggered back and glared. “Keep your whore, Gerard,” he spat, as he stepped toward the door. “You won’t be able to please her any better than you could your wife.”
Gerard roared and lunged again, but Ethan had vanished through the doorway. He turned to Isabella, his angry gaze raking her from head to toe. “Was he worth it, lass?” he growled.
Isabella’s temper flared. “You have no right to speak to me in such a manner,” she hissed.
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