Charlotte shouted to the nearest guard who came running up the stairs. Isabel listened intently from the crack. The words were muffled, but she understood enough.
“Please, that man! He is from the Scots. He is a villain of the worst kind. My lady, Miss Isabel, even believes he is the one which murdered her brother. Please go and get help!” Charlotte begged.
The guard turned and ran to inform the others. Word was sent to the Duke of Gordon and Ezra to warn them as well. Cormag was standing in the marble-floored entryway of the estate, waiting to speak with ‘the man of the house’ as he had requested.
Soon, Ezra descended the stairs, followed by the hobbling Duke.
“Ah, there ye are. I need yer help. They’re going to find out any time now. I need refuge,” Cormag said with desperation.
The Duke, with his bleary eye, stared Cormag down. A sense of remembrance shown on his face.
“I-I recognize this man. Ezra, is he the one who attacked us? In Scotland? From the Mccallions?” the Duke asked.
“Aye, it was me,” Cormag replied. He seemed not the least bit interested in communicating with the Duke. His business was with another standing before him.
“Yes, brother. It seems it was indeed. And now, this rat has come to seek favor from us?” Ezra asked in apparent confusion. A gentle smirk played at the corner of his thin lips.
Cormag let out a cackle.
“What are ye on about? He’s too drunk to ken the difference. Now give me refuge!” Cormag demanded.
The Duke looked from the Scotsman to his brother, and a connection played in his mind.
“It was you…” the Duke said softly.
“Shut up,” Ezra snapped. “You have no idea what you are talking about!”
“It was you all along. You wanted this, all of it. It is why you wanted to take charge in the battles, why you gave me so much to drink when James died. It is why you had me lock away my daughter,” the Duke said.
“You were the one who led us to this mess! It was all lies. Everything you said was for the best ultimately led us to bad things. Like our losses in battle. Like my constantly being witless because of your forthcoming drinks.”
“You did all of this just to harm us?”
Ezra turned on Cormag with vengeful eyes. “See what you have done?” he roared.
“Aye, I see what’s been done. I cannae say it was me own fault though. Ye be the one which hired me to do the job. So, what’s it worth to ye? I only got the first half of me pay. Ye claimed I didnae finish the job, well now I’m paying for it. So it’s time ye offered me protection,” Cormag complained.
“And you come here? To my home? To the house of the Duke of Gordon?” Ezra asked in anger.
“I dinnae care who yer brother is!” shouted Cormag. “I cannae go home. Give me a space to live!”
“I shall give you a space! A space in hell!” Ezra cried. He swiftly pulled a sword from beneath his cloak. He had hidden it when word came to him that Cormag was present.
Cormag had come unarmed. Typically, he would have brought his sword and perhaps even a mace, but his urgent departure from Scotland had left him without weaponry.
Ezra swung the blade toward Cormag who fell backward. He felt the terror again that he had felt half a day before when it was Edan standing over him.
The only difference was that Edan had integrity. Here was a man who had hired a murderer to end the life of his own nephew and brother just to claim a title and position in society.
Ezra swung again. Cormag ducked and covered his face, leaving only his bicep open for a sharp slice and a gush of blood.
“Argh!” he cried.
“This is what you get, you Scottish scum. You do not deserve mercy. You deserve only my blade. I gave you the money, and you never finished the job! My nephew is gone. And my brother’s eye. But where is my reward? You failed!” he cried, swinging right and left as Cormag continued to try and dodge the passionate strikes.
If Ezra had slowed himself, he would have been rid of Cormag quickly. But Cormag saw to his advantage that Ezra was unfocused.
He shifted his body and tried to dodge each strike. But Cormag had his own weakness. Strong though he was, his weight slowed him down.
And finally, Ezra made the strike that counted.
Severing the front half of Cormag’s foot, right at the arch, the brute fell forward, crying out in agony. He looked at the half of his foot that remained on the floor behind him. Four toes and countless scars, the result of previous battles, seemed to stare back at him. But this was the stroke that cut it for good.
With Cormag on the floor, Ezra took his advantage, piercing him straight through the belly with the broadsword.
Cormag leaned back against the wall and stared at Ezra. He gasped, and bubbles of blood sprang from his lips.
“Ye…will never…lead anyone,” Cormag said. It was a curse more than a sentiment.
Ezra watched his nemesis slump into death, leaving the floor streaked with rivers of red.
The Duke of Gordon watched his brother. He slowly inhaled and exhaled, completely unsure of what to do next. He knew he could not outrun Ezra.
Perhaps he could strike a deal, giving Ezra his title and the pomp that went along with it. He could excuse himself from society, even live in disgrace, allowing all of England to believe that it was his drinking which led him to abandon his position.
He wondered to himself what would happen if he stood long enough. Would Ezra forget him? Or would he move forward and kill him as well?
Ezra stared into the Duke’s eyes, apparently asking himself the same question. He had hired Cormag to kill his brother, why could he not do it himself?
The Duke glanced with his one eye behind Ezra’s form and opened his mouth to speak.
“Please, brother. Do not kill me. I understand why you did what you thought you must. I understand why you hired this vile creature to kill my son and me. But do not murder me now,” he said confidently.
Ezra narrowed his eyes, unsure of his drunken brother’s sudden strength.
It was only when Ezra felt the blade of a Claymore slide through his torso that he realized what his brother had been looking at. They had not been alone after all.
Edan, Laird of the Mccallion Clan, stepped in front of him.
Ezra looked at Edan one last time, let loose a snarl of a laugh, and collapsed to the floor.
Chapter 50
Edan ran up the stairs on his strong legs. With the key in hand, he swiftly unlocked the door to the attic, releasing the hinges with ease.
Isabel stood on the other side of the door, eyes widening at the sight of Edan’s face. She could not believe that he was here, before her. Strong and brave as ever, his frame stood before her in the doorway.
“Edan, my love,” she gasped, running to him and throwing her arms around him. Isabel fully expected him to push her off, to accuse her of her lack of trust. She expected him to respond in disgust or anger.
But he defied her expectations.
Edan wrapped his strong arms tightly around her body, unwilling to release her.
“I am so sorry,” she cried into his chest.
“I ken, lass. Dinnae worry. I forgive ye. We all don’t always do what is right when we deal with secrets,” he whispered gently.
Isabel was overjoyed that he had chosen these words. She had longed to hear them the entire time she had been locked away. Her dreams had come true at that moment.
“And when I got yer letter, I felt all the anger within me melting away. No matter how I tried to hold on to it, I couldnae forget how deeply I loved ye. How deeply I still and always will love ye,” Edan said.
“Oh, Edan! I meant every word. You are all I could ever hope for, and I was terrible for not trusting you!” Isabel exclaimed.
“Well, and now we ken the truth, so it doesnae matter much anyway,” Edan said.
“What do you mean? The truth of what?” Isabel asked.
Edan looked at her wit
h surprise. “Ye dinnae ken? Lass, a huge fight occurred, and we have finally made an end to this whole business.”
“What happened?” she asked half in anticipation and half in fear.
“Yer uncle. He was discovered. It was all his own plot to kill James and yer faither. He wished to control the title of Duke of Gordon. Lass, he hired Cormag from the beginning. I am sorry. I dinnae like telling ye that it was yer own family,” Edan said, pulling back enough to look her in the eyes.
“Uncle Ezra?” Isabel asked, incredulous at this news.
“Aye. I ken it’s not easy to hear, lass. But it’s the truth, and ye had to hear it,” he replied.
“You mean that he had it all planned from the beginning? That he was the one who caused all of this?” she asked.
“Yes, lass. It was yer uncle from the first. He thought that if he blamed it on the Scots, no one would suspect him. Then when yer faither wasnae killed, yer uncle helped him spiral out of control for a season. He was clever though. And an excellent manipulator,” Edan said.
“I suppose he must have been. I would never have thought that he was behind it all!” Isabel cried.
“Aye, I ken. He found ways to make everyone believe he was only looking out for yer faither. That he was trying to help him through his grief. Meanwhile, he was making all sorts of plans,” Edan said.
“And he had me locked up here?” Isabel wondered. She had hoped and prayed that it was not truly her father’s wish to send her away so cruelly. This might explain it.
“I would imagine so, me lass,” Edan replied.
“How awful!” Isabel exclaimed.
“Yes, well he had us all fooled. I believed it was me own uncle that killed yer brother just as ye were convinced that it was me.” Edan said again. He needed her to know that he understood her suspicion.
“And you have chosen to forgive me?” she asked, needing the confirmation that this was not all a dream.
“I couldnae do anything else. Truly, I accused me own uncle of yer brother’s murder. And if I could accuse him, suspect him as much as I did, then how could I not forgive ye for believing the same? I still loved me uncle when I suspected him. I still appreciated all he’d done for me.
“I imagine that must have been how ye felt. Ye thought it had to be me that killed yer brother. Ye needed revenge for that. But it didnae mean that what ye felt about me had been a lie,” Edan said.
“It is so true, my Edan. I loved, and I still love you. I cannot imagine my life without you,” Isabel said passionately.
“Then I suppose there is only one thing left for us,” Edan said.
“And what is that?” Isabel asked him, pulling him closer.
“We had best hurry up and get married,” Edan replied with a smile.
Isabel stood on tiptoes and leaned into him. Edan pulled her head back hard by her hair, captured her lips and kissed her greedily— demanding her well-worn soul melt into it. He wanted more of her.
He lifted her up and laid her on the uncomfortable bed, but this time Isabel hardly noticed the lack of cushion. She was in Edan’s arms, and that was the only comfort she needed.
He undid the buttons on her dress, slowly one by one. He pulled apart the bodice and helped her out of her dress. And tossed it on the floor. He saw her chemise and her drawers.
“Why do ye English women wear so much damn clothing?” he asked with a wolfish grin.
“Most likely to ensure we remain chaste,” laughed Isabel, knowing chastity was not going to be maintained for the next hour.
“All the more reason for me to take it off ye,” Edan reasoned.
He untied the lacing around her shoulders, loosened the chemise and pulled it over her head. He lifted her hips and pull off her drawers. Again, he tossed them on the floor. He watched her body writhe before him.
He leaned over and kissed her
Isabel reached up and unlaced his shirt. She pulled it over his head and threw it on the floor. She ran her fingertips on his chest, slowly, studying the muscles. She loosened his kilt, swung it in the air to join the pile of fabric on the floor. She reached for him. The sight of Edan’s readiness excited Isabel. He was hard and firm before her eyes. But he did not immediately place himself between her legs.
Instead, he traced his fingers along the side of her neck and down her chest, outlined a circle around her breast, and gave her nipples a flick with his fingers.
Isabel moaned with pleasure. He remained there for a moment, traveling between the two as he felt her body tensing in its excitement. Her fingers grasped at the muscles of his back.
Satisfied that he had done his work there, Edan traveled to her navel and nibbled gently on her belly button. Isabel’s body lurched in readiness for him. But he had one further tactic to try. His tongue traveled just a little lower until he reached her most sensitive area, making Isabel cry out in excitement.
A series of spasms ran through her body, growing with intensity. Isabel’s breathing became more shallow with each stroke of his licks. He paused for a moment to blow a small puff of air against her.
Isabel gripped Edan’s forearms where they held her waist firmly, allowing him to keep her body in position for his actions. When she thought she couldn’t take it anymore, Isabel pulled Edan back up toward her and kissed him hungrily.
She gripped his buttocks and guided him inside her without much thought. Her body was too eager to wait any longer, and it needed to feel him again. She had forgotten how large he was, and it made her all the more sensitive to him.
Isabel responded to Edan’s every thrust. The wire bed frame groaned under the weight of their activity and noisily announced their mutual quickening excitement.
Isabel called Edan’s name over and over until her moans slowed to a heavy sigh. Edan gave a few light cries of pleasure as well until they held a final grip against one another and eased their bodies into the relaxation of satisfaction.
“Sorry if I was too quick this time, lass,” Edan said through gulps of air. His breathing was finally starting to return to normal.
“I could not have handled any longer, my love. You have no idea how much I have longed for that,” Isabel confessed.
“The same for me. It’s not easy to be strong against it when it’s all I’ve been craving for weeks. Yer body, when I didnae have it, it was all I could think of.
“Yer love and the way ye cherished me even when ye felt ye had to seek revenge against me? I ken ye wanted nothing but oor love to be strong,” Edan said.
“I am amazed at your understanding. I felt terrible, for trying to convince myself not to trust you,” Isabel said apologetically. She curled up against Edan’s chest.
“I ken, me lass,” he replied, suddenly growing quiet. It worried Isabel. But no sooner had she opened her mouth to ask him what was wrong than she heard gentle snoring.
She knew then that there was nothing wrong. Edan was quiet because he was content.
Isabel knew deep within her that she would make it her life’s goal to keep Edan content as often as possible, and to bring him honor as his wife.
Isabel snuggled into Edan’s body and made her nest there in the comfort of his muscled chest. And there in that small, haunting attic, Isabel, too, found contentment.
Epilogue
Two Months Later, Scotland
In the room that had been hers from the first day of captivity by the Scots, Isabel sat before a mirror with Charlotte standing behind her. She loved the feeling on her scalp when someone else was brushing her hair. Charlotte had always been excellent at hair.
Today, more than ever, Isabel was grateful for that.
“I saw your father this morning, he looked well. I believe the joy of today has aided him in his recovery,” Charlotte said.
“Indeed, he has been doing so much better. And I think this time away, breathing in the Scottish air, has done him very well. He has a much clearer mind, and he is well conditioned for his return this week,” Isabel replied.
“Yes, my lady, we shall have a pleasant journey home, I am sure. And what of you and your groom? Are you looking forward to your honeymoon?” Charlotte asked.
“Oh, more than I can say, Charlotte! Of course, I know that I am not cared for in Scotland, but Edan will keep me safe, I’ve no doubt. We will be going all the way north and to Land’s End,” Isabel said.
“I am certain it will be beautiful!” Charlotte said.
“Yes, yes I imagine that it will,” Isabel replied, watching her reflection transform from a spoiled English child, filled with poor decision making, into the strong, brave bride of a Highlander.
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