Claimed By A Charmer (The Pith Trilogy) (17 page)

In search of Isabel, he wanted to
let her know he was leaving and to wish her well in her plan to woo Douglas. He
finally found her by the well.

“Isabel, there you are. I am
leaving and wanted to say farewell.”

“And where are you off to?” She
noticed his serious expression. “I’m sorry, Brendan, has something happened?”

“Aye, my niece went missing in
Londontown, and I must return home to protect my sister-in-law and nephew until
my brother returns.”

Isabel covered her heart in
grievance at hearing the news. “I’m sorry, I hope you find her.”

“Me, too. The lass reminds me of
you, she’s a hellion.”

Isabel laughed. “Surely you jest,
Brendan. Thanks for trying to help. I might give up on the idea. I doubt he
even notices me.”

“Don’t do that. That arse is just
mule-headed. I say you let go your pretense and be yourself. That would
surprise him enough to shake him from his boots.”

“Sure it would, but I don’t want to
shake him from his boots. You take care, and I’ll pray for your niece. What’s
her name?”

“Bonnie. Keep throwing your
daggers, and the next time I come, we’ll see if you can beat me.” He pulled a
tress of her hair and smiled.

“I can beat you now.”

Brendan scowled and gave her an
awkward hug. He cared for her and considered her a good friend. It was the most
bizarre friendship he’d ever had, never having befriended a woman before. Even
his sister-in-law kept her distance, and he liked Julianna, but Isabel and he
were kindred spirits. He shook his head, and walked away. Gil waited for him by
the stable with both their horses. They rode out through the portcullis, over
the drawbridge in the direction of MacKinnon land.

*****

Douglas was about to round the
corner when he’d heard Brendan speaking to Isabel. He stood beside the wall,
listening attentively, then leaned against the wall and watched Isabel go
inside. Brendan called her a hellion. Why had she been pretending to be a lady?
The lass was a riddle. She threw daggers? When had she done that? Hadn’t
Brendan said they practiced a target? But with daggers? Surely he was mistaken.
Douglas folded his arms across his chest.

“Well, hell,” he muttered aloud. He’d
reveal her true nature. It would be interesting to see how this unraveled, he
thought, turning to go inside.

He felt the cold flakes of snow hit
his face on the way to the keep. Winter was coming, and soon they’d be stuck
inside. His grin widened. He wouldn’t mind being trapped inside during the long
harsh winter months, not with Isabel there to occupy his time.

“It’s snowing, Douglas,” Wills
said, joining him on the steps of the keep.

“So it is. You’re back so soon?”

“Aye, it wasn’t urgent. I missed
Candace and couldn’t stay away. How does my lady fare?”

“She’s well. She and Isabel have
been up to mischief and running my mother around in circles.”

Wills laughed. “Aye, Candace is a
spirited lass. At least life with her won’t be boring.”

Douglas stopped dead in his tracks.
“What did you say?”

“I said life with Candace won’t be
boring. Why?”

“Uh … nothing, you made me realize
something, Wills. I’m glad you’ve returned.” He slapped his back, their
customary greeting, and took the stairs two at a time.

Later after supper, Douglas waited
patiently for all to turn in. He’d hoped Isabel would remain in the hall until everyone
left. He had his own plan in getting her to admit her deceit. He asked her to
join him in a chess game and she sat across from him studying the board. His
mother called her goodnight from the stairwell and left the hall. Now only
Candace and Wills remained, quietly conversing by the out cove. After two
games, in which he beat Isabel soundly, his sister and Wills finally retired
for the night. Candace called her goodnight and went up the stairs, while Wills
left the hall, closing the door behind him.

“Checkmate.”

“Not again. My mind is not on the
game, Laird Kerr. I’m not skilled at this game.”

“Douglas.”

Isabel’s eyes rose. “What?”

“Call me Douglas.”

She smiled. “Very well, Douglas.” She
lifted her goblet and drank the warm amber ale.

“So what’s this I hear about
daggers?”

Isabel almost choked, she gasped
and her eyes watered. “What did ye say?” Her eyes lowered to the table, obviously
hiding her reaction.

Douglas kept his face serene. “Ye
heard me. I want to know the truth. You’re skilled at daggers, are you not? It
was you?”

She acted dumfounded. “What?”

“In the woods that day, you used
your dagger to save me.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking
about. What in the woods?”

“Aye, lass, ye do know. You killed
that man, it was your dagger that struck him, and then you pretended to be a
fragile, weeping woman. You even cried over your mussed hair. Why?”

“Very well, I’ll concede. I did
kill him. He would have cut you down with his sword, had I not. But I didn’t
want you to know about it.”

“I should be thanking you. Why
would ye care if I knew or not?”

“It’s not ladylike.”

His eyebrow rose. “You’re not
ladylike?”

“I am sometimes—most of the time,”
she qualified, lowering her eyes. She couldn’t look at him and fiddled with her
hands. He wished he were close enough to get her to stop.

“When are you not ladylike, Isabel?”

Her eyes rose to meet his. “When
I’m throwing my daggers.”

Douglas couldn’t help it, he
laughed, not a light-chuckle kind of laugh, but a loud-grating, chest-rumbling,
out-and-out laugh. “You must be skilled for Brendan to be impressed, and I’d
say that he was, during your target practice.”

Isabel’s heart jumped at the sight
of his dimples. “I can’t believe he told my secret. Wait until I see him again.
He found me in the forest practicing, but my mind wasn’t on the target that
day. I missed a few times.”

“What were you thinking about?”

“Nothing of import. I think I’ll
turn in now. Good night, Douglas.” She rose.

“Wait, lass, I uh … I want you to
be yourself. You don’t have to pretend to be something you’re not, especially
around me. This is your home for the time being and …”

“That’s well and good, Douglas.”

The sound of his name on her lips
made him smile. He insisted on walking her to her chamber, and escorted her
into the room.

“What are you doing?” He’d entered
her chamber, and she became alarmed by his curious behavior.

“This.” Douglas kicked the door
closed. Stealthily moving as if he was a cat on the prowl, his shoulders rolled
with each step. He pulled her into his arms, grinning wickedly. He wanted her
hair out of the damned coif, and pulled it free of its ties. As her long silky auburn
waves cascaded down her back, he took a handful, gently wrapping it between his
fingers. He tugged on the strands to get her to tilt her head back then he
kissed her.

Isabel made a sound from deep
within her throat, and kissed him back.

He pulled back from her, smiling. “I
want you, cat-eyes.”

“Douglas, please.” She pushed him
away. “I cannot let you … do that. I do enjoy your kisses and you make me feel
…”

He didn’t let her finish, but
surrounded her with his arms and kissed her again. He kept her pressed against
him with his arm around her back, while his other hand roamed over her shoulder
and then covered her breast. He molded her to his frame. Douglas deepened the
kiss, and she responded passionately. Aye, she set his blood on fire.

He kept up his gentle attack and
realized he was vastly losing control. He pulled back, eyeing the bed. Then he
leaned his head against hers, fighting to calm his breath and his basic
instincts.

“Douglas, please leave before I …”
A knock sounded at the door, cutting off her speech.

They both looked toward it.

“Douglas, get out of that lass’
room this instant.”

“Damn.” Douglas jerked his hands
through his hair. “It’s my mother again. I swear the woman has the ears of an
elephant.”

Isabel laughed at his obvious
chagrin. “Elephant? Is that some kind of creature?”

“Aye, a very large animal with
gigantic ears.”

“How would you know of such an
animal?”

Douglas laughed. “I read.”

“I read, too.”

“Ah, but it depends on what you
read as to what you learn.”

“I never read of such an animal in
my readings.”

“Douglas, do ye hear me?” his
mother called through the door, tapping it.

He smiled at Isabel and ignored his
mother. “You would not learn of such in sonnets or romantic verse.”

Isabel placed her hand on his arm. “‘Tis
not sonnets or romantic verse that interests me, Douglas.”

He couldn’t help but smile. “Nay? I
better go before my mother pulls out a dagger of her own.” He kissed her lips
again and after a few seconds, he released her. “This is not over, Isabel. Nay,
it’s only just begun.” He slid his hand along her jaw and turned to leave.

His mother yanked him from the room.
She lectured him on the merits of being a gentleman, not a ravishing womanizer.
Douglas resisted laughing at her, and possibly angering her even more.

“You’re behaving unseemly. Don’t
let me find you in there again, Douglas.”

“Aye, Mother.” He smiled, and
whistled as he walked to his own chamber. If he wasn’t ready to burst with
laughter over his mother’s words, he’d be scowling at the fact that he wanted
to make love to the enchanting lass. He took his good old time walking down the
hall, and waited to hear what his mother said to her.

His mother looked at Isabel through
the opened door. “Isabel, don’t let him inside your bedchamber again. If he
wants ye, he’ll do it the honorable way. I didn’t raise him to be a
philanderer.”

“Aye, ma’am.” Isabel laughed,
closing the door.

Douglas quickly turned away when
his mother left Isabel’s door. He entered his own chamber and undressed, and
readied for bed. He lay in his bed, thinking Isabel was an incredible woman. She
threw daggers, for God’s sake. She would definitely never bore him. He wanted
her—wanted her more than any woman. He felt excited and urgent, like a lad that
found his first love. It had been a long time since he felt such desire, at
least since Morna. He shook his head at the thought of her. He wouldn’t ruin
the wondrous feelings Isabel awakened with thoughts of that shrew.

The night dragged on, and he lay
thinking about her. He wanted to sleep beside her, but mostly, he wanted to
hold her in his arms and keep her safe. He realized at that moment, his
feelings ran deep. Douglas knew he should find out more about her. She had an
air of mystery about her. He pondered why she’d been sent to the asylum, and
why she held the knife to her heart.

In the darkness, his mind turned
over the questions he had. The first thing he would do was to make certain she
knew of his earnestness. She didn’t seem to realize that yet. Then he’d find
out the answers to his questions. Hopefully, she would be agreeable and wed
him. Aye, he wanted her enough to marry her. She would be faithful and loving. Isabel
would give him the children he desired and the life he’d hoped for. He hadn’t
met a woman yet who made him feel so alive like she did.

Douglas finally acknowledged it,
and decided to release himself from the constraints he’d placed on himself. Aye,
he felt more alive than he ever felt before. He reached over, taking the candle
from the stand, and blew out the light.

Graying clouds hung low, allowing her power
to heighten. The dismal sky lent its mien to her dejection, but sent a charge
of force through her. Feeling the pulse in her fingertips, she raised them to
the sky. “I shan’t be put off, ye shall be mine. Exist whilst ye can, warrior.

For if ye refute me, it will be your end.”

Douglas rose early the next
morning, ready to face the day,
and his sister
. He waited for Candace to
rise and come to the hall. She took her good sweet time, but he wasn’t in a
patient mood. He paced before the hearth and kept looking toward the stairs. After
waiting for what seemed like hours, he finally gave up his vigilance, and ran
up the steps.

He pounded on her door. “Candace?” She
couldn’t still be sleeping.

She opened the door just as he was
about to push it open himself. “What’s wrong?”

Douglas smiled lightly. “Can I come
in? I need to talk to you. It’s of import.”

“Aye.” She waved him inside,
closing the door behind her.

“I saw Isabel in the kitchen and I waited
for you in the hall. What took you so long?”

“I didn’t know you wanted to see
me. What’s so important? It’s not Wills, is it? Has something happened? Oh, God
above.” She slumped on the bed. Her face turned white.

“Nay, he left early this morn, said
he had clan matters to see to. I have questions to put to you.” He took a seat
on the window cushion, wondering why she looked so worried. “It’s about Isabel.
I want to know everything about her. I’ve come to ask—”

“Why do you want to know about
Isabel?”

He ignored her. “What’s her father
like?”

“He’s evil, Douglas, and treats her
horribly. He sent her to the asylum.”

“I know, I rescued her from there. Why
would he send her there? He’s not a caring father?”

“He didn’t want to be burdened with
a daughter. She says he detests women, and has no use for her, only his sons.”

Douglas scoffed and cursed under
his breath. “Will she deny my pursuit?”

“Pursuit?” Candace gasped. “Are you
saying you wish to wed Isabel?”

She sounded astounded by their
conversation, and her voice rose with each word.

“Aye, I want to wed her. Do you
think she will agree?”

“She hasn’t mentioned any feelings
for ye.” Candace looked as though she’d swoon, she leaned back against the
wall, eying him curiously.

“I’m not worried about that, she
does have feelings for me. I’ll not be put off.”

“You sound so certain, I wouldn’t
be, Douglas. I never know what Isabel will do, and I’ve known her for years.”

“I’ll gain her agreement. For now,
don’t say anything. I’ll have to take it slow.”

“This is wonderful news. I’m happy
for you both. She needs someone like you, and hasn’t had an easy life.”

“Tell me about her.” Douglas leaned
on his knee and looked expectantly at his sister.

“She’s been afraid for the longest
time, since I’ve known her. It took her a long time to confide in me. She
finally told me about it during our last visit, but she endured his advances
for years before she was able to go to her Uncle Stan’s.”

“Whose advances?”

“Her eldest brother, Nigel’s. He
tried to force himself on her and she was scared. That’s why I sent you to get
her, she was afeared he would hurt her. Now that she’s here, she’s finally
safe. I know she has another brother, Nathaniel, who she cares for. He’s the
youngest, and tried to help her, but her father and Nigel rule their keep.”

“She won’t ever return there. So
you lied to me and told me you promised to have her visit for your wedding?”

“Nay, I didn’t lie, Douglas, mayhap
fabricated a wee bit. We did promise each other that we would be at the
weddings, so I didn’t lie about that. I worried that you wouldn’t, well, Father
promised … Isabel knew I worried about marrying, and we made the oath a long
time ago. I knew about her being sent to the asylum though, but I couldn’t tell
you.”

“If she was in danger, you should
have told me. I would still have gone for her.”

“I couldn’t, Douglas, I promised
not to disclose it. I believe she was embarrassed, and I didn’t think you would
retrieve her if I told you. I knew you would bring her back. You have never
broken your word.”

Douglas sighed. “Nay, I would have
brought her back regardless.”

“There’s another matter that you
should know of …” She sat forward, a serious expression on her face. “I don’t
know how to tell you.”

“You must be honest with me,
Candace. I should be angry with you for not telling me the truth then, but I
cannot stay angered with you.”

She nodded. “When her brother tried
to … he struck her and knocked her senseless. She believes he might have done
the deed.”

Douglas gained his feet, his mood
turned murderous. He wanted to kill someone, and that someone was Nigel
Calvert. “That bastard, I’ll kill him.” He approached Candace and held her
arms. “What happened to her? Did he try to fornicate …?” His voice decreased to
a whisper.

Candace’s eyes began tearing. “She said
she was unaware after he struck her, but her brother Nate disrupted him and was
able to get her out of there. Her father sent her to the asylum because of it,
but she doesn’t know if he actually did the deed. They believe her mad.”

Douglas scoffed. “Cosh, no wonder
she tried to … the poor lass. None of that matters. I’ll take care of her and
make sure she doesn’t come to harm again.”

“I am pleased to hear that,
Douglas. I love her and don’t want to see harm come to her. Please, don’t tell
her I spoke to ye, she would be affronted if she knew I told.”

“I will have to talk to her about
it eventually, but I’ll wait until after we say our vows.”

He seethed with ire. Isabel never
let on about her plight. How was she able to hide all that had happened? She
was a courageous woman. Douglas strode morosely from Candace’s chamber. He
would make sure her father and brother paid for their atrocities. They’d never
hurt his woman again.
His woman.
It made him even more angered at what
they’d done. He needed to see her, but first he’d have to rid his anger. He
went to the stable and readied his horse, then rode swiftly through the walls.

Two days later, Douglas still
hadn’t been able to ease his tension at hearing Isabel’s dreadful situation. He
still couldn’t face her without becoming angry, and he didn’t want to her to
think his anger was directed at her. That had been easy, because she avoided
him. He decided to ride out again, in hopes it would relieve his frustration
and when he returned, he would confront her. As he rode to the gates, Burk rode
through the threshold, waving at him to stop. He pulled his mount to a halt and
jumped down. He hoped Burk had news of Bonnie’s disappearance. Douglas worried
about his cousin’s daughter.

Burk handed him the parchment that
Brendan had sent. He asked him to look into a matter concerning their ally,
Ellic McFie. A herd of oxen had been slaughtered a week past, and Ellic needed
their assistance. Brendan wrote that he couldn’t leave Julianna, and they
hadn’t found Bonnie yet. Robin was still in England assisting Colin with the
search, which left Brendan to care for the clan.

Douglas’ face reflected the
grimness of the situation. His cousin’s disappearance became a grievous matter,
especially since it appears she was abducted. The strange happenstance of the
girl’s abduction, coupled with the McFie’s oxen being slaughtered, concerned
him. What happened to the day when his greatest concern was that of a riff
between his crofters? It seemed that the peaceful setting they’d become
accustomed to had worn off.

“Wait for me, Burk, I’ll let my
mother know I’m leaving. We’ll ride to Ellic’s at all haste.”

“Aye, Douglas.”

Douglas found his mother rolling
dough in the kitchen. He wiped flour from her nose and kissed her cheek. “I’ve
been called to see to a matter for Colin. Brendan cannot attend to it, so I’ll
go in his stead.”

“Have they found Bonnie yet?”

“Nay, they haven’t. The matter
concerns slaughtered oxen at the McFie’s. I’m leaving Cedric in charge. Keep an
eye on Isabel for me.”

“Does that mean what I think …” He
nodded. “Very well, lad, be safe.”

He heard his mother’s delightful
laughter as he strode from the kitchen.

On his trek to the McFie’s, he
thought about Isabel and her position. He hadn’t declared his intention yet,
and he’d made little progress in the last few days because she avoided him. She
wore her hair in that blasted bun, and acted the opposite of the spirited lass,
he knew her to be. When he returned home, he would demand that she let her hair
out of that blasted bun. He longed to see her true spirit, the spirit she had
shown Brendan. He rode beside Burk, and a handful of men that flanked their
rear. After a while, he motioned for his men take the lead, and slowed his
mount.

“Burk, it seems strange that
someone would kill the McFie property, especially with them being aligned to
the MacKinnons.”

“Aye, Brendan was enraged and
wanted to take care of this himself. You know how that lad enjoys a good
fight.”

“When you return, tell him it
wasn’t a hardship for me to look into it.”

Ellic McFie joined them in the
woods adjacent to his lands. Twenty men rode with him, wearing hard faces that
showed uneasiness for what had happened to their property.

“Douglas, I’m glad to see ye. Brendan
sent word that you would come. I thank you for coming so swiftly,” Ellic said.

“What’s going on?” Douglas pulled
his mount to a halt. An unease settled inside him, and he was certain this had
to do with Bonnie’s disappearance, but he’d wait to hear the news.

“Someone killed thirty of our oxen.
We’ve sliced ‘em up and salted them. They’re stashed in our winter storage shed
now. They were a gift from my lady’s father.”

“That’s right, Ellic, I’d forgot
you married. Felicitations.”

“I never thought I’d marry. Now
here I am, married to Maureen.”

“I’m sorry I missed your wedding. Och,
I didn’t get an invite anyway.” Douglas grinned, and thought a bit of banter
would lighten the mood.

Ellic laughed at his mocking tone. “Aye,
my bride didn’t want to wait for a gathering. She’s from Ireland, don’t ye
know.”

“Ireland, good God, man.”

“Aye, and bonny for sure.” Ellic
grinned. “Shame that our gift was destroyed.”

“Who would kill your property? Have
you more enemies that we don’t know about?”

Ellic’s expression turned grim. “Nay,
since we’ve allied with the MacKinnons, we haven’t had any trouble with other
clans. ‘Tis the truth, it’s been rather peaceful until now.”

“I’ll ride about the woods, and see
if I can ferret out anyone. Have any other incidents occurred since or was
this—”

“Nay, this be the only one. I’ll
ride along with ye.”

“I could use the company. Burk
doesn’t talk much.”

Ellic laughed at his jest then
sobered. “I’ve more men in the woods, they’ve been keeping watch. We’ll catch
up with them. My sentry’s been on alert for days, but there hasn’t been
anything amiss. There haven’t been reports of men sighted by my neighboring
clans either.”

They stayed in the woods for a
fortnight, looking for signs of foes, but there was no sign of anyone having
been there. No remains of camp fires left, no trails to follow—nothing. Whoever
killed the oxen hadn’t stayed around after the deed either. Ellic told him the
remaining oxen were accounted for, so none had been stolen.

“I wish Gil was here, he’s good at
ferreting out clues. He would have found something. Hell, he can spot a broken
blade of grass.”

“Aye, that lad has a keen sense. Where
is he?”

Douglas turned to face him. “He’s
with Brendan at the MacKinnon holding. Bonnie’s gone missing in Londontown and Gil
went home with him. Colin needs Brendan to attend to the clan while he’s away
searching for the lass.”

“Bonnie’s missing in England? Aw,
the poor lassie. Colin must be beside himself. Mayhap I’ll send a message and
ask Gil to come have a look around, if he has time. It couldn’t hurt to have
his assessment.”

“You do that, I’m heading home. There’s
nothing more we can do until they make another move. I suggest you send out
sentries and often. Make sure they keep a good eye out.”

“Aye, I’ll do so. Thanks for coming,
Douglas.”

Douglas and Burk rode in the
direction of Kerr land. The MacKinnon land centered between Kerr, KirkConnell,
McFie, and Dunmore land, each touching the border. As far as he knew they were
all aligned, except for the Dunmores who kept to themselves. There were no
problems that would cause the Dunmores to go against the McFies, at least, none
that Douglas knew. The Dunmores were afeard of the MacKinnons and wouldn’t go
against one of their allies.

They would raise their sword
against the Kerrs though, being their sworn enemy, it was expected. Their
longstanding feud caused other clans to stay out of their scuffles. Douglas
knew Colin had gotten wind of their constant raids and skirmishes. Colin tried
to reason with both he and Irving, but neither would take heed. Douglas wasn’t
about to let Irving Dunmore get away with murder, and he’d told Colin so.