Love's Ransom (5 page)

‘Someone must have tanned this well for you to make it so soft,’ he said.

‘Yes. It was my father’s old friend and tutor.’

‘Will Henry wonder where you are?’

‘I don’t know. When I crept from the room he was sleeping as peacefully as a baby. He seemed anxious when you had gone last night but he didn’t want me to cuddle him for comfort as I would have done my sisters. I was very tired but I think we shall be good friends. Only he – he didn’t even want me to touch him,’ she said remembering the long pillow between them.

‘I see.’ So if Henry didn’t want her to touch him… Zander’s spirits rose, even while he knew it was unworthy of him to want Henry to prove a failure as a husband, but he was more convinced than ever that his cousin could not have attempted to make love with Isabella. Yet how could any man resist? Friends? That could mean anything. She had not said lovers. She did not look like a woman who had been passionately loved. She still looked and sounded like the same innocent girl he had kissed goodnight. His stomach muscles clenched at the thought of her in the big bed in her nightgown with her soft pale skin glowing in the candlelight.

As they rode along the bottom of the valley the sun began to rise over the mountain in a splendour of crimson, pink, purple and gold.

‘How beautiful it is,’ Isabella breathed softly and Jamie, riding beside her, agreed but he sounded pensive. The same sun would rise and be just as beautiful over his own home but Isabella would not be there. He wondered what their mother would say and whether she would blame him. Wee Mary would cry, he knew that. Marjorie and Margaret would miss her dreadfully too.

Isabella and Sam were both surprised when Zander called a halt, long before they reached the narrow mountain path they had traversed when they arrived.

‘We shall show you a shorter way to the other side of the mountain. We were later setting out than Sam intended so it will save time. You must both swear on Isabella’s life that you will not share the secret with any man?’

‘I swear I shall tell no one,’ Jamie said solemnly. Sam saw Zander was serious.

‘I give you my word, young master. I welcome anything which cuts short the journey over the mountain,’ he said fervently.

‘Very well, though you may wish you had stayed on the mountain by the time you reach the other side,’ Zander said with a rueful smile. ‘And in return maybe you will show me the path across the marshes one day, now our families are joined. Perhaps we could mark the path with poles?’

‘We could, but I doubt if they would last long, and then you could be led to your death,’ Sam said gravely. ‘It is the black mud
that sucks things out of sight. I have seen sheep disappear and once the master and I saw a man and his pony sucked to their deaths. The man was a thief and thought to get away but no man could wish such a death for him.’

‘I see. You and Isabella are even braver than I realised to risk such a journey,’ Zander said. ‘May you have a safe journey home today. The path through the mountain is very rough so Thomas and Walter will leave their horses here and lead you through. It is a tunnel most of the way where water once flowed. It is dark and uneven but it will save a lot of time and it will be easier on the horses. I will stay here and wait with the horses. Isabella must wait here too.

Isabella dismounted at once and ran to hug Jamie and bid him and Sam farewell. Walter moved close to Zander.

‘Do you think she will make her escape if we take her through to the other side?’

‘No, I don’t think that would enter her head when she has given her promise to Henry, but she is safer here.’

‘Is she, my friend? It will take some time before we see them onto the track and return to this side. She is very pretty and I have seen the way you look at her.’

‘She is married now. She is forbidden to me.’ Zander replied coolly.

‘Since when did that ever stop you, Zander?’ Walter laughed aloud.

‘Isabella belongs to Henry. That is the difference.’

‘I cannot believe Henry has bedded her. She still has the same air of innocence and she was out of bed so early. Anyway I can’t help wondering if Henry would be able...?’

‘I know.’ Zander’s tone was serious. ‘There will be the devil to pay if he cannot produce a grandson for Uncle William. He has set his heart on it.’

Isabella stood until Jamie turned and gave one last wave before he disappeared from sight behind some boulders. When she turned Zander saw the tears streaming silently down her face. She had been so brave, so in control while Jamie could see her. His heart ached for her and he would have drawn her to him to comfort her but she brushed him aside.

‘Leave me. I need to be alone.’ She walked past him and sat by herself on a large stone with only her thoughts for company. After a while she regained her composure, and brushed her cheeks, wishing she could wash her tear stained face. She turned back to Zander. ‘What have you done with the horses?’

‘I let them loose to graze. They will enjoy the fresh pasture for a little while.’

‘They might run away.’

‘They’ll come when I whistle.’

‘I hope Beauty comes too. She is used to me calling her name.’

‘Don’t worry, Isabella, I’m sure she’ll stay with my horse and come to you. There is a spring of fresh water and a little pool at the other side of this clump of trees. Anna, Henry, Walter and I often used to come here when we were young. We thought we were having an adventure so far from home.’ He led her the short distance to the pool and found a patch of short grass for her to sit. The morning grew warmer as the sun rose high in the sky. He removed her cloak and spread it on the grass for her to sit but she went to the little spring and cupped the cold water in her hands and splashed her face several times then began to search for her kerchief to wipe her cheeks. It was nowhere to be found. Zander chuckled and passed her a clean white linen square from his belt.

‘Feel better now?’ he asked gently. She nodded and went to sit beside him on her cloak. ‘Tell me about your sisters and home and what you did as children. Did you wander far from home?’

‘Oh no. There always seemed to be raids expected or the men preparing to go on a return raid. It is much better since the King decreed we should be at peace with our English neighbours, though they still come sometimes. Anyway I did not care to wander alone since the day I encountered Neb Truddle and he tried to – to…’

‘You’re a very pretty girl. I can’t blame the man for wanting to kiss you,’ Zander teased. ‘Would it have been so bad?’ Isabel looked at him and shuddered.

‘Horrible! Tell me more about when you were all children?’ He began to tell her of various escapades. It seemed her new husband had always been an angelic little boy and even Walter had helped to protect him from danger or from his father’s wrath when they had played forbidden pranks. Isabel could have listened to his deep pleasant voice all day, especially when she detected laughter in it at some memory or other but he took her by surprise when he declared,

‘I am going to remove my boots and hose and dip my feet in the cool stream. Shall I undo the laces on your boots for you? You will find the running water refreshing.

‘Oh, I don’t think I ought to do that, not when I am here alone with you.’ Zander threw back his head with a spontaneous laugh.

‘What difference does it make? We are here alone anyway, Isabella, but you are perfectly safe.’ His face grew serious. ‘You are the wife of my cousin.’

‘I was Henry’s wife last night but y-you kissed m-me.’ Her cheeks burned afresh at the memory and she bit her lower lip. It was not something Zander would ever forget either but he could never let her know how much he craved a repetition.

‘Henry is uncomfortable undressing in front of anyone. I thought he would be grateful if I distracted your attention,’ he said lightly.

‘Oh! I see.’ Isabella felt deflated. So he had not kissed her because it gave him pleasure, as it had given her. She tossed her head and turned from his laughing blue eyes while she deftly untied the laces of her boots and pulled them off, quickly followed by her long woollen stockings. Although she did it discreetly Zander’s eyes widened in surprise and he wondered how she would get them on again without him seeing a long length of her slender white legs. The thought aroused his desire and he cursed silently to himself. He must resist every temptation.

The ice cold water made Isabella yelp. Her toes tingled but it was deliciously refreshing. She would have spent longer but Zander reminded her they would need to dry themselves in the sun so they could put on their boots before Walter and Thomas returned. He stretched out on his back with his arms behind his head and closed his eyes. Isabella wondered if he was closing them to give her some privacy, but she soon realised he was sound asleep.

After he had left her the previous evening Zander had drunk freely of his uncle’s French brandy, hoping to drown the memory of her in bed with her mouth so soft and responsive to his kiss, so innocent. He didn’t want to think of Henry’s fumbling efforts to make love to her or the pain he might unwittingly inflict. When he went to bed, sleep evaded him and he had had risen early to see Jamie and Sam on their homeward journey. This morning Zander felt relaxed and happy again, convinced the girl beside him was as innocent still as when he left her last night. He fell into a deep sleep.

He wakened to find Isabella shaking him. He sat up, rubbing his eyes, smiling apologetically at her.

‘I heard a whistle. Walter and Thomas have returned.’ He jumped to his feet, then remembered they were bare. He put two fingers in his mouth and gave a piercing whistle to let his friends know they were here and safe. Hastily he pulled on his hose and boots. Walter gave him a wry look and even Thomas raised his eyebrows when he and Isabella appeared. Isabella had managed to tidy her hair a little but Zander looked dishevelled and sleepy.

‘There’s no need to look like that,’ he snapped at Walter. ‘I didn’t sleep well last night and I fell asleep in the sun.’

‘Mmm, whatever you say,’ Walter said doubtfully.

‘It is true,’ Isabella giggled. ‘He looked as peaceful as a little boy, and almost as innocent.’ The two men stared at her. They realised she was speaking the truth. Zander recovered his good spirits and the happiness which had bubbled inside him as he fell asleep.

‘You were supposed to be guarding the horses. Where is the mare belonging to Mistress Douglas?’ Thomas asked. It took Isabella a moment to understand he was referring to her but Beauty was nowhere to be seen. Isabella called her name but she did not come cantering as she usually did.

‘She is probably too far away to hear your voice,’ Zander said. ‘You will have to train her to come when you whistle.’

‘But I can’t whistle,’ Isabella protested. ‘What if she is lost?’ The three men looked at the ground and walked further along the valley until there was no sign of the grass being cropped or droppings left from the horses.

‘She must have gone towards home,’ Thomas said.

‘The only home she knows is across the marshes,’ Isabella protested, swallowing a lump in her throat.

‘She didna go that way, Mistress, or we should have seen her,’ Walter reassured her. ‘She’ll have gone back to where she last had her oats.’

‘He’s right, Isabella,’ Zander said. ‘You’ll need to ride with me,’ and before she could reply his hands clasped her waist and lifted her onto his horse. He vaulted up behind her, holding her safely with one arm while he guided his horse with the other. Walter grinned and raised an eyebrow but Isabella did not see Zander’s warning scowl at his friend’s silent teasing.

Isabella felt safe and warm cradled against Zander’s broad chest but she was anxious about her little mare.

‘Beauty is the only link with home I have now,’ she said in a low voice, ‘I do hope we find her.’

‘This is your home now, Isabella, and we are your friends,’ Zander replied softly. ‘We shall find Beauty, I promise.’

They were almost within sight of the courtyard when Isabella called joyously,

‘There she is! There’s Beauty grazing happily. Beauty-eee,’ she called. The mare pricked up her ears at the familiar voice and came cantering towards them. Walter leapt from his horse and held up his arms to Isabella.

‘I think it best if she rides the rest of the way home on her own horse,’ he said. ‘After the brandy your uncle swallowed last night he might explode if anything displeases him.’ Zander knew what he meant but he was too happy to care after spending the morning in Isabella’s company.

They were surprised when William Douglas greeted them, smiling broadly, not even asking why Isabella had gone with them on her own. He was in excellent mood. Her new father-in-law strode towards Isabella and helped her dismount.

‘He’s lucky, that brother of yours, m’dear. Did you set him on his journey?’

‘We did.’

‘Good. I expect you would like to go to your husband now. He and Anna are inspecting the garden. He tells me you would like to grow some plants and have a patch of your own. We shall do all we can to please you. You go and tell Henry what you want him to do, m’dear.’

The three young men listened in surprise, their eyebrows raised at Sir William’s evident satisfaction with his son and his new daughter. They watched Isabella walk across the courtyard.