Relief passed over Sybella’s face. “Aye, I would often take walks with Mary to spend time with Anabel. The poor lass has two older brothers who sometimes arenae too kind to her.”
Alex stood to his full height. “Do ye want me to have words with them? Some men say I am a verra fierce laird.”
“Aye, I can see how fierce ye are with Aunt Iseabail and it truly frightens me,” she said with a more relaxed tone.
His voice was low, alluring. “Now Ella, ye know ye cannae yet speak openly of my prowess, except perhaps in our bed.”
* * *
Alex watched Sybella’s cheeks turn crimson. Although she was now his wife, he loved to see that he could still get a reaction from her. The woman held up better than Alex had expected. Granted, their marriage did not have the best of beginnings—between Aunt Iseabail’s jaunt into the woods and someone taking aim at Sybella’s head. But at least the lass was not cowering in the corner somewhere in tears. She was strong, and he actually found that quite refreshing.
John approached Alex in the bailey. “Who is the MacKenzie man? I donna recognize him.”
“He comes from Sybella’s village,” said Alex.
“So soon after the MacKenzie departed?”
“The man said his wife had fallen ill and couldnae travel to the celebration. The lass and Sybella are close, but I donna believe in chance occurrences. This MacKenzie man arrives shortly after someone tries to harm Sybella. My wife may trust him, but I donna. Have someone other than Ian keep a watchful eye on him. He might speak in truth, but I will nae leave anything to chance.”
Alex couldn’t help but notice the strange look upon John’s face. “What?”
John shook his head. “’Tis naught. I am only relieved to see ye still hold some sense and donna fully trust the MacKenzies. Your new wife doesnae yet hold your bollocks in the palm of her hand, and I am glad to see it.”
“Your words provide me with much entertainment,” Alex said dryly. “Make sure the men stay alert.” He gave John a brief nod and then walked through the bailey.
Another blessed night with another MacKenzie underfoot. Ennis and his daughter appeared harmless enough, but Alex had had his fill of Sybella’s kin. He stopped himself mid-thought. The lass probably felt the same way about the MacDonells, and soon enough the MacGregors would be in attendance as well.
As he prepared to sup, Alex couldn’t stay the nagging feeling in the pit of his stomach. How could there be no trace of the man who had tried to kill Sybella? That was practically an impossible feat. In fact, he didn’t know a single man who could be so skillful at hiding his trail. That was something he would surely contemplate. Perhaps the MacGregor could shed some light.
Alex entered the great hall to see that his wife and aunt had already taken their seats on the dais with Ennis and Anabel. He greeted his guests and took his seat beside Sybella. He couldn’t help but notice the lightened expression on the face of his wife as she conversed with the young lass.
“Can I give it to her now, Papa?” asked Anabel. When Ennis nodded his head in agreement, Anabel’s eyes glowed with enjoyment. She handed Sybella a small cloth bag. “’Tis a gift for your wedding.”
Sybella opened the bag and pulled out a handkerchief embroidered with tiny flowers around the edges. “Anabel, I absolutely adore this. Thank ye.”
“Mother made it, but I told her to put on the flowers since ye like the garden so much.”
“I shall treasure it always.” Sybella wrapped her arms around Anabel and kissed the top of the girl’s head. “It was a verra thoughtful gift. And how is your mother feeling?”
“She was in bed with a fever, but she is doing much better,” said Ennis, taking a drink from his tankard.
“I am relieved to hear it.”
Alex leaned forward. “Tell me, Lady Anabel, do ye have any lads that favor your company?”
Anabel crinkled her nose. “The only lads are my brothers. They donna let me play with them, but ’tis all right. I play by myself and can do things a lot faster without them anyway. Who needs lads? Besides, Sybella told me I donna need a prince to be a princess.”
Alex choked on his ale.
* * *
Ennis pretended to be fascinated with his meal and Alex coughed. Sybella believed a quick change of subject was in order.
“If ye are finished with your meal, Anabel, do ye want to see the gardens?”
“If ye see the dolt who pulled my roses, tell me, Sybella,” said Aunt Iseabail, waving her finger. “Who knows what that beast will target next!”
“I will be sure to let ye know if I see him, Aunt.” She looked at Alex, and his eyes widened.
He leaned in close. “I thought she would have forgotten by now,” he whispered.
“I donna think that is going to happen anytime soon.” Sybella stood and held out her hand to Anabel. “Come, Anabel, and I will show ye Lady Iseabail’s bonny flowers.”
The girl jumped out of her seat. “Aye! I would love to!” She turned toward her father.
“’Tis all right, but ye stay close and listen to Lady Sybella.”
“Aye, Papa,” said Anabel, exasperated. Turning like a whirlwind, she shook Sybella’s hand. “Let us take our leave.”
Sybella walked leisurely through the garden hand in hand with Anabel. When the girl swung their hands, Sybella couldn’t help but smile. What she wouldn’t give to be that young and innocent again. Her biggest concern would’ve been spying on Colin. A little voice pulled her from her musings.
“Do ye like it here, Sybella, or do ye want to come home?” asked Anabel with a serious look on her face.
Sybella smiled warmly. “I will always miss ye and Kintail, but Glengarry is now my home.”
“But donna ye miss us?”
Sybella knelt down, turning Anabel to face her. “Of course I do, but I am now wed and my place is beside my husband.” Something in that statement gnawed at Sybella’s gut. She continued to speak in a soothing tone while she rubbed Anabel’s arms. “I told ye before I wed that doesnae mean ye cannae come to visit and that I cannae come to visit with ye. Ye arenae that far away. Do ye understand?”
The young girl became thoughtful for a moment and then she nodded. “Do ye love your husband? I heard Papa say that Laird MacDonell was our enemy before. Why? What did he do?”
“Anabel, ye shouldnae be worried about such things. Ne’er get involved in the ways of men. Who knows what goes on in their minds? Look at your brothers.”
Anabel giggled. “Aye, they are naught but a bunch of arses.”
“Anabel! Those arenae proper words for a young lady to say. Where did ye hear that?”
Anabel covered her mouth with her hand. “My apologies, Sybella. I heard ye call your brother that.”
Sybella stood and brushed off her skirts. “Well, I’m sure it was naught that wasnae deserved,” she mumbled under her breath.
The young girl ran from flower to flower, sniffing, touching, and spinning around. She was a bundle of pent-up energy. A dark cloud rumbled overhead, signaling that a change in weather was certainly going to curtail the moment. The first drop of rain hit Sybella’s brow, and she had just opened her mouth to speak when the skies blackened and buckets of rain pelted her in the face.
Anabel bolted around the corner of the flower bed and fell on the ground at Sybella’s feet. Sybella helped the poor girl stand, her dress covered in mud. In the middle of the storm, Anabel looked down at her ruined clothes and started to cry.
“Papa will be so angry at me for soiling my dress,” Anabel sobbed, holding out her skirts.
Anabel’s troubled expression pulled at Sybella’s heart as she stood in the middle of the garden with her dripping hair hanging in her face. Without giving it a second thought, Sybella bent over and picked up a handful of mud, wiping muck over her own dress.
“What are ye doing?” asked Anabel with widened eyes.
“He cannae be angry at us both. ’Tis only dirt.” She grabbed Anabel’s han
d and they ran for shelter, slipping and sliding on the soggy ground.
They sprang into the great hall, a welcome site, and their breathing was labored. Sybella looked at the watery trail left behind them and called for a maid.
“What the he…Er, what happened?”
Sybella lifted her eyes to see Alex standing there, flanked by Anabel’s father. With both hands on her hips, she confronted them. “We were caught in the rain.”
“And what? Fell in the mud? Ye two are covered in muck,” said Alex in a partially scolding tone.
She thought she detected laughter in his eyes, and then he winked at her broadly.
Anabel lowered her head. “’Tis all my fault, Laird MacDonell. Please donna be cross with Syb…er, Lady MacDonell. I fell in the mud and knew Papa would be angry with me, so Lady MacDonell put mud on her dress, too. I beg ye nae to scold her. I should be the one who is punished.”
Sybella was about to speak when Alex knelt in front of Anabel. “Lady Anabel, ye should be commended for your bravery in speaking the truth. Know that I could ne’er punish a lass for speaking honestly, nay matter what the circumstances. Your word is your bond. When ye are truthful, ye are respected for your honesty. When ye donna tell the truth, ye are deceitful and donna earn the right of respect. And I most certainly respect ye for all of your honesty, Lady Anabel.”
He stood and patted the girl on the shoulder. “Now the two of ye get to your baths.”
Ennis escorted Anabel to her room, and as soon as Sybella lifted her muddied skirts, Alex leaned in close. “We will discuss your punishment later, Ella.” There was an invitation in the depths of his eyes, and Sybella was enthralled by what she saw.
“Aye, my laird, I have been verra, verra bad,” she said in a sultry voice.
Her intent was to give her husband a taste back of what he always insinuated. What she did not expect was to see his eyes darken, a muscle tick at his jaw, and his kilt tent in apparent arousal. Praise the saints. Why was her mouth suddenly so dry?
“Pray excuse me while I seek my bath.” She nervously stepped around him.
“Do ye need me to wash your back?”
She froze and then turned, merely lifting her brow.
* * *
Alex watched the muddied temptress walk away. His wife was indeed still a child at heart, and even her walk had a sunny cheeriness. His smile broadened in approval. The woman he’d married was compassionate enough to ruin her own dress to save the feelings of a little girl. He began to think perhaps he was wrong about the dreaded MacKenzies—well, one of them in particular.
“Alexander, there ye are. I have been looking everywhere for ye,” said Aunt Iseabail. She looked flustered.
“I have been here.”
“I can see that now, Nephew. I wanted to tell ye something…” She tapped her finger to her lip. “It seems to have slipped my mind again. Damn, Nephew. Donna get old. Ye will nae like it.”
Alex wrapped his arm around Aunt Iseabail’s shoulders. “Ye arenae old. I told ye before. Ye will more than likely outlive us all.”
“’Tis bothering me. I know I had something of importance to tell ye.”
“Donna think upon it. I find that if I think upon something else, my first thought will come back eventually.”
“I suppose. Where is the bonny little lass?” she asked, looking around the great hall.
Alex chuckled and rolled his eyes. “She and Sybella were caught in a storm, and the mud got the best of them. They are seeking baths as we speak.”
“Annie is such a bonny lass. I hope ye and Sybella soon have enough bairns to fill our table for the noon meal.”
“Anabel is quite lovely. I’m sure in good time when the gods are willing to bless us with a—”
“And I told ye, Nephew. Donna leave it to the gods. Are ye at least trying to get your wife with child?”
If Alex had to discuss his coupling habits with his aunt one more time…
“My laird, pardon the intrusion. A moment, please,” said John, walking into the great hall. Water dripped from his soaked frame.
“I will leave ye lads to your business then.” Aunt Iseabail walked back toward the kitchens, and Alex breathed a sigh of relief.
“I must commend ye on your most appropriate timing.” He playfully wiped his brow.
John chuckled. “She wants a bairn under her roof before she dies.”
“Donna remind me. What was it ye wanted?”
“I had Ian tracking in the woods and he was still unable to find a trail. Now that we have rain—”
“Any trail there was is now dead.”
“Aye.”
“Sybella stays inside the castle walls and doesnae journey outside the gates until we find who is responsible. My cousin and the MacGregor arrive within the sennight. The man is verra wise in battle and may have a few ideas. Keep alert. I am by nay means lowering our defenses.”
John nodded. “Aye. Seòras watches the MacKenzie man and there hasnae been anything amiss.”
“Good. Make sure it stays that way. I will nae have a threat under my own roof.”
“I will leave ye to your duty then, my laird,” said John with a wry grin.
“’Tis quite enough that I hear it from Aunt Iseabail. I donna need to hear it from ye, ye bloody arse.”
Alex headed to the parapet to seek a brief reprieve. The heavy weather had passed, and he loved the smell of the air after a hard rain. He stood upon the darkened parapet with only the torchlight to illuminate the glistening walls. He lifted his face, feeling a light mist spray his cheeks.
Some of his men walked the walls and some sought shelter, conversing by the gate. In the time since his father’s death, Alex had managed to secure an alliance with their enemy and make certain the clan would be fed for several winters to come, and now he had a wife. He hoped his father was proud. If he could only solve the mystery of who would want to take aim at his bonny wife’s head, Alex could rest. Now he knew why he had waited so long to take a wife. The fairer sex was nothing but trouble.
Eleven
Sybella knelt in the dirt as Aunt Iseabail stood over her shoulder in the garden. It was hard to believe that almost a sennight had passed since Ennis and Anabel took their leave. Sybella already missed her kin, and her beloved husband wasn’t paying her much attention. The wooing part of their marriage was undoubtedly over or had been abruptly halted. Either way, something had obviously changed. And God help her, she missed her husband. Whether she wanted to admit it or not, she had developed a certain fondness for him that weighed heavily on her heart.
Alexander had not visited her bed since she’d been cursed with her monthly courses over the last few days. She had the impression that the man was either brooding because she wasn’t with child or was unable to bed her due to her womanly time, or perhaps both.
Sybella shook her head as she pulled a stubborn weed. She was somewhat disappointed that they hadn’t gotten the chance to spend more time together before he resumed his daily duties as laird. But he hadn’t taken long before recommencing his swordplay with the men in the bailey and seeing to the accounts. She wondered if she was ever in the man’s thoughts.
“I might be losing my mind at times, but I am nae deaf. If ye have something to say, speak your mind and cease your mumbling, lass. ’Tis driving me mad,” said Aunt Iseabail.
“My apologies.”
“I know my nephew can be infuriating, but—”
Not wanting to create unnecessary worry for Alex’s aunt, Sybella shook her head. “’Tisnae Alexander troubling me.”
“He had better nae be troubling ye,” said a familiar voice.
Sybella’s eyes lifted and then she flew to her feet. Hefting her skirts, she jumped over a bush and ran straight into her brother’s arms. “Colin, ’tis so good to see ye.” She held him in a tight embrace, not wanting to let him go.
He kissed her on the top of the head. “And ye as well, Ella. I see naught much has changed since ye became a MacDonell.
Ye still look much the same, covered in dirt.”
She pulled back and playfully tapped his arm. “What are ye doing here?”
Before he could answer, Aunt Iseabail cleared her throat. “I will leave ye to your visit, then.”
Colin gave Aunt Iseabail a slight bow. “Lady Iseabail, ’tis a pleasure to see ye again.”
“Aye, be sure to tell William I wish him well,” she said with a slight blush on her cheeks.
“I will, m’lady.”
As Aunt Iseabail walked away, Sybella hugged her brother again. “I cannot believe ye are here. I have missed ye so.” She pulled away and smiled. “Ennis and Anabel came to visit—”
“Aye, I heard all about it. The wee lass couldnae stop speaking of it. She had a good time with ye and I think she misses ye.” Colin hesitated. “I need to have words with your husband, and then we will spend time together before I take my leave.”
Sybella had a difficult time keeping the whine from her voice. “Must ye take your leave so soon? Ye just arrived. In truth, I was hoping ye could remain for a few days. Alexander’s cousin should be coming from Glenorchy any day now, and it would be nice to have another MacKenzie around.”
Colin smoothed her tresses. “Come now, lass. Ye seem to be adjusting to your new life just fine.”
Sybella glanced over his shoulder and spotted the captain of Alex’s guard. He stood alert, keeping them both under heavy scrutiny. She leaned in close. “They donna trust us, Brother. He watches ye with the eyes of a hawk.”
“It doesnae matter if they donna trust the MacKenzies. ’Tis important that they trust ye, Ella.”
“I heard there was a MacKenzie at the gates,” Alex said as he walked up behind them.
Colin turned around and extended his arm. “Laird MacDonell, I come on behalf of my father. There are matters which we need to discuss.”
“Come to my study.” Alex clasped Colin’s arm, nodded, and then turned and gave Sybella the same gesture. “Wife.”
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