Fergus leaned close to her.“Because you already chose to abandon his arrangement.”
Isobel licked her lips, spared a glance at the villagers, then laid her hand upon Fergus’ chest.“Have mercy, Fergus.I have journeyed all this way to speak with you.Will you not hear me out and offer me a measure of hospitality?”
Fergus did not point out that her husband had failed to offer him and Hamish such courtesy.It was too late for her to ride back to Dunnisbrae before dark, and he would not be to blame for any crime befalling her in darkness.Gavin had to eat, and he supposed that he would have to offer Isobel a meal, as well.
She could ride to Dunnisbrae in the morning.
He turned and pointed.“The midwife’s hut stands empty.You and the boy can sleep there this night.I will welcome you to the board for the evening meal.”Fergus knew his lack of enthusiasm showed, but was surprised by the rage that shone briefly in her eyes.
Then Isobel laughed, as if he made a jest, but there was no merriment in her eyes.“A hut?Fergus, you tease me!I will stay in the keep itself, of course, as befits my birthright...”
“There is no room,” Fergus said, interrupting her.“And it would not be fitting for you to sleep in the hall with warriors.”
Isobel’s tone was sweet, too sweet.“As I recall, there are two chambers in Killairic’s keep.”
“One occupied by my wife and me, and the other by my father.”Fergus held her gaze.“I will oust neither for a neighbor who arrives uninvited.”
Isobel inhaled sharply but bowed her head so quickly that only Fergus guessed her wrath.“As you wish, my lord,” she said with a sweetness that had to be feigned.“I look forward to seeing you at the board.”
Fergus returned to the hall, knowing that he had made the best possible compromise but distrusting Isobel’s intent all the same.He could not dismiss the memory of his dream or the fact that his dread had redoubled when Isobel entered Killairic’s gates.
Even though Fergushad warned her about their guest, Leila was startled when she came into the hall and found Isobel there.
The tall, slender beauty with hair of gold could be no other than Fergus’ former betrothed.She spoke to a young boy, as flaxen-haired as she, her expression so sweet and serene that Leila was reminded of a Madonna she had glimpsed in a church on their journey north.She thought it might have been in the chapel adjacent to the cemetery where they had buried Kerr.
She distrusted the other woman and disliked that she had arrived at Killairic’s gates unannounced and uninvited.Even without the warning of Fergus’ dream, Leila would have disliked how readily Isobel could anger Fergus.She had a power over him yet, and one Leila would have preferred to have seen dispelled.
Isobel glanced up at Leila and her smile was cool.Then she stepped gracefully across the hall.Leila noted that the other woman was almost as tall as Fergus and felt at a disadvantage.Isobel’s manner in greeting Leila was such that she might have been lady of the keep herself, which only increased Leila’s determination to conquer Gaelic.Leila was certain that her suspicions about the other woman’s malicious intent were correct, but she smiled politely all the same.
“It must be so strange for you in Scotland, Leila,” Isobel said, omitting any form of address.Leila knew it was no accident.She spoke slowly, evidently intent upon being understood.“Fergus’ stray Saracen, so far from home.”
“Fergus’ wife,” Leila replied.“In her new home.”
Isobel laughed, as if with pity.“But I understood you made only a handfast.”
“Surely the pledge of a man like Fergus has merit.”
Isobel shook her head.“Surely men are the same in all the world, Leila, especially in the matter of their pleasure.Why, Fergus pledged himself to me before his departure to the east.I doubt he was chaste.”
“I believe he was.”
Isobel laughed again.“Proving only that you believe men’s lies while I have learned my lesson.I should never have surrendered my maidenhead to Fergus, but four years ago, I was still trusting.”
Leila supposed that she should not have been surprised that a betrothed couple had been intimate, especially before one of them departed on a long journey.She could not think what to say, but Isobel gave her little chance.
She turned an adoring smile upon her son.“Gavin so resembles his father, does he not?”
“I could not say,” Leila admitted in some confusion.“I have not met Stewart MacEwan.”
Isobel laughed merrily at this, as if Leila jested with her.“You must see it, Leila,” she said in a confidential tone.Her eyes shone.“You mustknow.”
If Isobel meant to imply that Gavin was Fergus’ son, Leila would wait for her to say it aloud.She held the other woman’s gaze, fairly daring her to do it.
Isobel did.“Gavin is three years and three months of age,” she whispered, her eyes gleaming.“I married for the sake of Fergus’ son.I was with child and had no defender.Until Fergus returned to Killairic.I left Stewart this morning for the sake of Gavin.A son should be raised by his blood father and no other.Do you not agree that would be best?”
“Not for me,” Leila said, referring both to the notion of Gavin remaining at Killairic and her own childhood in her uncle’s home.
Isobel’s lips twisted.“Nay, the sole course best for you would be your immediate return to the lands of your own kind.”Fergus appeared at the base of the stairs, and Isobel continued in a quick whisper.“You will never be accepted as one of us.Your insistence upon remaining can only destroy Fergus and the regard that others have for him here.I know he acts with honor: give him the opportunity to do as much for his own son.If you care for him, surely you care for his advantage.”
