And though Monty would be grateful if the man did indeed bring his sister to them, he couldn’t suppress the brotherly instinct to pummel the man if he had been wooing his sister. Even James, impressive as he was, was not worthy of Isobelle.
The other Muir sister shook her head and smiled. Her entire face was a waterfall of wrinkles. “She is bringing…a dragon.”
CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE
Isobelle’s entire body shook as they neared Castle Ross just after midday. Her horse grew skittish as she could no longer control the trembling that increased with each step that brought her closer.
Home.
James insisted she see Castle Ross before moving on to where Monty, Morna, and Ivar awaited her. She would have one last chance to touch the place of her nightly dreams before it was tucked back in with the rest of her memories. But that’s all she’d dreamt of for nearly two years—one more chance to see it. A wish about to be granted. She could ask for no more than that.
What would they say at the gate?
“Let me do the speaking, lass.” James gave her a wink and urged his horse to the fore. When they reached the gate, a man waved to James, and before a word was said, the painfully familiar barrier swung open. He looked over his shoulder as they neared the inner bailey. “Ewan must have told them to watch for me, aye?”
Ewan. She was about to see Ewan!
They dismounted before the stables and she hurried inside to hide herself in the dimly lit out building. Gaspar joined her. James sent the stable lad to fetch his laird, then stood just inside the wide doorway. She’d kept the hood of her cloak far forward to hide her face, but now pushed it back a bit and peeked through a gap in the boards.
She thought the stable lad looked a great deal like Orie, the Smithy’s son, the one whose confession had been her doom. And she dearly wished she could show herself to the lad and share her secret—that she hadn’t died in the tomb after all—in case he thought himself to blame for her death.
Poor Orie. She’d thought about him often.
The number of men on the walls were double what she remembered. The bailey was full to bursting with folks she didn’t ken. It was not unlike the crowd when Scots from other clans had come to view her witch trial.
Two large shadows entered the stable, but she looked away before she might be recognized.
“Laird Ross,” James said quietly, “may I present Signore Gaspar Dragotti, and his companion, uh…uh…”
Isobelle turned and found a finer dressed version of the cousin who’d nearly drowned her in spirits when she’d escaped her tomb.
“Ewan!” She rushed forward and jumped into the outstretched arms of the new laird. “Oh, Ewan! Ye look so fine!”
“Isobelle,” he whispered. “Odin kens I would be pleased to see you on any day, but…”
She pushed out of his embrace and gave him a good frown. “Oh? Do tell, cousin.”
He rolled his eyes and scooped her up again. “Doona be frowning at me first thing, Izzy. I was about to say that the chieftains of a dozen clans are in our home just now, and if itwere another day, ye could have had free rein of the place. But now, no. The Gordon sent his wee son, Cinead, so there is at least one bastard who will recognize ye, if yer seen.”
He peeked over her shoulder and his eyes flew wide. Then he dropped her like she carried the Black Death and stepped back.
Isobelle turned to find a too-innocent Gaspar standing with his hands behind his back.
“Be nice,” she whispered.
“I am.” Gaspar and Ewan said it in unison and James laughed.
Ewan held out his hand. “Gaspar? Italian, are ye?”
“No.English.” And he folded his arms without looking at Ewan’s open hand.
Ewan turned a nasty look at Isobelle like she’d brought an Englishman just to vex him.
“He’s mine, Ewan. Ye’ll be nice to him. If ye must, tell yerself he’s The Pope for all I care. I’m keepin’ him.”
She grabbed her dragon by the arm and dragged him to her, then she pulled his head down until their lips met, giving him a kiss that was sure to make her cousin uncomfortable. Once that was accomplished, she growled against his lips.
“Shake his hand, Dragon. Or I’ll have ye kept in the dungeon for a time, aye?”
