Douglas laughed then grew somber. “What happened? All I remember is falling from my horse and you shouting.”
“Aye, an arrow struck ye. I tried to locate the enemy, but the forest was too thick. Whoever did it was gone before I could sight them. I thought you were a dead man. We put you on your horse and rode for home. When I got here, Isabel took control.”
“Who the hell shot me with an arrow?”
“Whoever it was wanted you dead. You’re lucky it didn’t strike your heart.” Burk took a seat next to the bed. “The clan had you buried, except for milady. She wouldn’t hear of it. In fact, she demanded they stop their death vigil.”
Douglas grinned then frowned. “Why would someone want to kill me? I don’t know of any enemies, besides Irving, and he’s too cowardly to do anything so crafty. Do you think this is related to Ellic’s oxen and Bonnie’s disappearance?”
“’Tis possible, Laird Kerr, but so far there has been no connection.”
“Tell Cedric I want to see him.”
“Aye, I’ll get ‘em. He’s been beset with concern since ye were brought back. He’s a fine soldier and commander.”
Douglas nodded, and told him to hurry. He sat up, and pulled the binding from his shoulder. His wound began to heal and itched. He lifted the plaid that covered him and was amazed to find himself completely naked underneath. He chuckled. Isabel had an unfair advantage, she’d seen him unclothed, but he hadn’t seen her. Burk acted so peculiar about her, and he wondered what was going on.
Cedric arrived and stood beside the doorway, watching him, but he didn’t notice him, until his commander-in-arms cleared his throat. “‘Tis the truth, you’re not dead?”
Douglas looked up and laughed. “Nay, I’m not dead. I want you to post additional guards and send out more sentries. My clan is in danger—”
“It has all ready been done, Laird.”
“Good, bid none entrance until I find out what is going on. Trust no one.”
“What about Wills? He’ll be returning soon.”
“He’s welcome, but no one else.”
“I’ve secured the keep and sent out several groups to scour the borders. The sentry checked the crofts and village. There have been no reports of anything unusual.”
“Will you let the clan know that I’m well? I don’t want them to be concerned.”
“Aye, Laird, I’ll let them know.”
“And Cedric …”
“Aye, Laird?”
“You’ve done well. It’s no wonder I trust you above all others.”
Douglas smiled at Cedric’s prideful look. He’d never praised him before, but he deserved it. He thought he should thank Cedric more often.
“What are you doing? Who told you, you could sit up, and where is your bandage? Get out, Cedric, your laird needs rest.” Isabel grabbed Cedric’s arm and tried to lead him to the door. Cedric seemed to stifle his grin.
“Isabel, that’s no way to speak to Cedric. What’s come over you?”
Cedric gave him a sympathetic glance and tried to give a warning. “Laird, I wouldn’t—”
“Get out.” Isabel pointed to the door. Cedric backed up until he could reach the handle on the door and made his escape.
“You,” she said, with a pointed finger. “Why did you remove your bandage? Now I’ll have to rebind it. You should be resting.”
“I’m fine. Actually, I’m feeling good right now. I don’t want another b-bandage.” Douglas felt groggy, and he tried to shake his head to ward off the feeling. He did feel good and nothing pained him, but he must still be tired from the ordeal.
“I don’t give a darn what ye want, Douglas. I didn’t work long hours healing you so you could harm yourself again.”
“Isabel,” he said softly.
“I don’t know why I care, go without the bandage, but you’re not getting out of that bed. I will make sure you stay put. Do you hear me, Douglas?”
“Aye, you’re yelling loud enough for my sentries to hear you in the courtyard. How are you going to go about it?” He became amused by her commanding tone and wanted to laugh.
“About what?” Isabel lost her train of thought. He was good at getting her to forget what she was talking about.
“How do plan to make me stay put? Do you know a way to keep me here?” Douglas grinned, thinking of it.
“Aye, I do. Don’t mess with me, Douglas. I am not in the mood to placate ye.”
“You’ve my interest. How are you going to keep me in bed? I want to know, Isabel.”
She strode through the door, banging it behind her. He was entertained by her behavior, and wanted to laugh heartily at her antics, but his head hurt too badly. He wouldn’t tell her that. She might have a fit, what with the way she’d acted. She thought to keep him in bed, and he knew of one way that she could keep him there. When she returned, he’d make the suggestion.
Cedric and Burk followed her inside the room. They each held ropes in their hands, giving Douglas a lamentable look.
“You’ll stay in that bed and if you don’t, they’ll tie you to it.” She stressed it by placing her hands on her hips.
His laughter boomed forth, making his shoulder hurt and the drumming in his head increase. “I promise to stay in the bed until you give me permission to leave it, Isabel. Leave us.”
“Mayhap we should stay to protect ye, Laird,” this came from Cedric.
“I don’t need protection.”
He watched them shove each other, trying to get out of the room. He wanted to laugh, but he didn’t want to hurt her feelings. She turned her frown on him.
“What happened to you when I was ill? I’m not sure—”
“I decided to be myself, Douglas. Is that not what you told me to do?”
“Uh … I didn’t know you were so formidable and so … Mayhap I should have kept my mouth shut for once.”
“Nay, it was time to put that coy, silly woman aside. You are seeing the true me, and perhaps you might not like it, but I will not change who I am again. I’m not the woman you thought me to be, Douglas.”
“I’ll be delighted to get to know ye.” Douglas grabbed her arm and pulled her against him, she half laid across the bed and him. “You don’t know who you’re messing with, Isabel. If it’s to be a war of the wills, you’ve a challenge before you.”
“It’s nothing I can’t handle, I assure you.”
He couldn’t resist. He’d intimidate her to return to the gentle maiden. Nay, he admitted that he liked her feistiness. Her body came toward him when he pulled her closer.
She knew what he intended and her eyes widened. Douglas touched his mouth to hers, holding her head in place. She tried to pull away, but was unable to release herself from his grip. He moved his tongue across her lips and groaned.
She tried to protest, but before she could utter a word, Douglas invaded her. She was probably concerned about the stitches in his shoulder. He hoped to make her forget about his injury, and kissed her with as much passion as he could mete. She whimpered, melting against him. He pressured the kiss, and continued to assault her senses. Inflamed by her, heat shot through his body like a flaming arrow. He dreamt of having her in his bed, and she was so close to being pulled next to him—right where he had wanted her for so long.
Isabel pulled back, smiling. “Douglas,” her voice barely whispered.
“Go before I lose what little control I’ve left.” His body heat rose, and he didn’t know if it was caused by his intense desire, or if his fever had returned.
“Perhaps I want you to lose control.”
“Isabel, I …” He swallowed hard; her words only fueled the fire. A dizzying sense overtook him and he saw two of her.
“Very well, but I’ll be back. No more visitors.” Isabel picked up the pitcher and looked at it strangely. “Douglas, did you drink this?” When she turned back around, he was fast asleep. She held the pitcher, and walked to the door, knowing it would be a long rest for him.
*****
/>
The next morning, Douglas waited for someone to come inside his chamber. He heard bustling in the hallway, but none entered. Then, finally his mother stopped by to see him.
She felt his head and smiled. “Thank heavens you survived. Ye had me worried, Douglas.”
“I’m well enough, just a wee sore. Where is everyone?”
“Things have been quiet during your illness. Nothing much to impart. Candace and I worried for ye, but Isabel assured us she wouldn’t let you die. She was so brave tending you. I didn’t know what to do, but she took control and kept you from dying. Our healer was ailing and could not attend ye.”
“What happened to Isabel? I awaken to find her changed much.”
His mother grinned. “She’s a force to be reckoned with, but if it wasn’t for her, you’d be dead and buried. As far as I’m concerned, she can be any way she chooses. Ye remember your promise, do ye not?”
“Of course. I haven’t spoken to Isabel about it yet.”
Douglas’ lips formed a straight line as he considered what his mother had said. Isabel had saved him again. That didn’t sit well. He was supposed to protect her, not the other way around. Didn’t she know that? Nay, she obviously didn’t, but he’d tell her so.
Helena brought food and fresh clothing, she brought a bit of cheer into the room. Douglas spent the next hour alone, bathing and trying to come to an understanding about Isabel. The pain in his shoulder subsided and the drumming inside his head decreased. Once washed and in clean clothing, he felt rejuvenated. His mother returned after his bath, changed the bedding, and had him returned to it as soon as the coverings were replaced. She sat beside him, looking him over.
“I couldn’t believe someone shot you with an arrow. Who would want to kill you?”
“I’ve wondered that myself, Mother. I don’t have enemies that I know of, except for Irving Dunmore, and he’s a sniveling fool. There’s strange happenings lately and I’m concerned about Bonnie, then Ellic’s property was killed, the arrow… it all seems related.”
“We must think more on this. Mayhap this has to do with Candace’s wedding? Do you believe it might be one of the MacIver’s enemies?”
“That’s something to consider. Mayhap someone is interested in stopping our alliance. I’ll talk to Wills when he returns and find out if he’s had any trouble.”
His mother agreed, and left him to rest.
Douglas spent the remainder of the day setting his mind to figuring out who tried to kill him. Not only did the mystery of his foe baffle him, but so did Isabel’s remarkable change about. She bounded in his room, felt his head, checking his wound. She hummed as she went about her tasks, and offered him a concoction to ward off pain. He refused it. She patted his arm in a soothing gesture, and all the while, he lay compliantly, watching her. It took all his will not to grab her when she stood close. Her womanly scent filled the room, and if her smile didn’t lighten the room, he didn’t know what would. She had such a pleasing aura about her. He had to admit, she was delightful. He frowned when she left the room without saying goodbye.
Questions lingered, and he hadn’t come to any conclusion about his foe. He fell asleep shortly thereafter.
The next few days were spent with him being badgered to stay in bed. He argued that he was well enough to go about his duties, but Isabel wouldn’t hear of it. If it wasn’t for Cedric and Burk coming to visit him, he would have gone crazed with boredom. He wasn’t one to lie in bed and be coddled like a bairn. He grew agitated at being confined to his chamber. He was a warrior for God’s sake, not some weak lad in need of a woman’s care. Nay, he was a hardened warrior.
He was as frail as a newborn bairn, and Douglas didn’t like it one bit.
It took little effort on Isabel’s part to keep him in his room. He did feel poorly, but he decided to appease her, or so he reasoned that’s why he’d agreed to stay in bed. Isabel tried to give him more of her potion—whatever that was. The drink was God-awful, and he didn’t like the way it made him feel. She threatened to force it on him, but he wouldn’t hear of it, and he finally commanded her to put her blasted herbs away.
Now that he felt better, he would leave the bed, somehow. Douglas stood beside his window, looking at the brightness of the morning. Over a week had passed since he awoke from his injury. He tried to leave his room several times, only to be waylaid by that hellion. She screeched at him to return to his bed, and threatened him—the laird. Douglas laughed at her ploy though, and he couldn’t wait to see what was going on in his own hall. If she drove him to such a state, he could imagine what his clan members were going through. His mother wouldn’t tell him a thing; she was closemouthed. She would laugh and skirt his questions, and damned if everyone avoided talking about Isabel.
Douglas sent Burk for Brendan and Gil. He needed their advisement on how to find his foe. Someone wanted him dead, that was certain, and mayhap it would lead them to Bonnie.
He decided to leave the room today whether she agreed or not. He opened the door, peering down the hallway. Skulking from his room, he went down the stairs, feeling absurd for sneaking about his home. He stood by the entrance of the great hall, listening. It was quiet. He verged into the room hoping to find Cedric, but it was empty. Where was everyone?
He walked to the table and took a seat. Everything was still intact. He chuckled as he assessed the room. Cedric came into the hall from outside a moment later, giving him a nod. Douglas poured himself ale, and Cedric held out his cup.
“Did Burk leave to get Brendan and Gil, yet?” Douglas filled Cedric’s cup.
“Aye, Burk left early this morn. Brendan should have received your message by now. You can expect their arrival soon.”
“Has anyone tried to enter from outside our walls?” Douglas took another drink, he’d only been allowed milk for the past week. “This is damned good, pour me more.”
Cedric refilled his cup. “Rachel returned, we turned her away, but no one else has tried to gain entry.”
“If she returns, you may bid her entrance. I don’t think she was happy being returned to the Dunmores. Hell, I wouldn’t be either. Was she alone?”
“She was escorted by Dunmore men. I didn’t recognize a few of them, so we didn’t let on that you were injured.”
Douglas nodded. “No one else came?”
“Only Wills. Candace thought we wouldn’t let him enter and she threatened to go to Milady Isabel. Of course, once Isabel heard of it, she commanded us to let him in. She calmed down once she realized we intended to let him inside.”
“Commanded, ‘eh? Speaking of the lady, what’s she up to this day? I haven’t seen Isabel about for a few hours.”
“I haven’t seen her either. I’ve had my hands filled with keeping her out of mischief these past days. Now that you’re out of your sick bed, you can see to it.”
“I’ve a feeling I’ll still need your help. I want you to keep an eye on her, my mother, and Candace as well. Until I find my enemy, I don’t want my family endangered.”
“I knew you’d say that. I set men to guard them. They don’t know that though. Milady would pitch a fit if she knew I set a man to trail her.”
Cedric wasn’t speaking a falsehood, she would give them hell.
“I think I’ll find the lass and see what she’s doing.”
“I’d go out the back and avoid her, were I you. Whatever ye do, don’t let her send you back to your sickbed.” Cedric laughed on his way out the door.
Douglas followed him. The early winter day warmed enough to ward off the chill from the mountains, and the sun shined. Nary a cloud spotted the bright blue sky. He felt invigorated by the Highland air, and he breathed deeply. He spent the rest of the morning trying to locate the wayward lady. When he stopped to speak to his clan-people, asking if they’d seen her, some looked as though they’d seen a ghost. He assured them that he recovered and was well. They would only nod, pointing in a direction, smiling at him.
After asking the sixth person, h
e was finally directed to a copse of trees in the distance. He became alarmed that she’d left the keep. He strode purposely to the trees. She had better be safe or he would give her hell. He saw the young soldier Cedric had posted as her guard, and he sent him back to the keep. The man wanted to stay and protect her, but Douglas assured him that he would see to her safety.
He heard Isabel speaking to someone through the brush. Who was she talking to? Was she fornicating with someone in the woods? Morna. Was she like Morna? His body took an agitated state. He intended to kill the man who dared to advance his lady. Who thought he was invincible, and she worried for him? First, he’d kill the man then he would command that she only worry for him.
Chapter Twenty-Six
Isabel plucked a dagger from the tree’s bark, strolling back to her place. She finally had time to vent her frustration, by using her daggers at target practice. For the past few days, Douglas had kept her busy, keeping him in bed, and dealing with his surly nature. Finally, she had a few minutes to relax and decided to get out in the fresh air.
“He thinks he’s invincible.” She released the dagger; its sharp blade entered the bark at the exact spot on the tree that she aimed for. “I don’t know why I worry for him,” she muttered in exasperation. She pulled another dagger from her gown’s seam, and her attention drew to the sky. A hawk’s shrill shriek sounded overhead. Its wings flapped slowly as it made its decent, landing on a nearby tree.
His bright yellow eyes watched her as if he demanded a morsel. She held out her hand, offering the dried meat she’d saved for him. She enjoyed the daily jaunt to the woods, where she met her feathered friend.
“There’s my good lad. You’re anxious today. I have what you want.” Isabel giggled when the hawk nibbled at her hand.
She startled when Douglas bounded from the copse of trees that hid her. The hawk took flight, shaking the oak branch on which he rested. She watched the bird rise then turned to glare at Douglas. Her glare lessened when she noticed how angry he was. He was indeed furious, by the set of his stern face.
Claimed By A Charmer (The Pith Trilogy) Page 18