“His noble features are often favorably spoken of by lasses, or so I’m told,” Rory began.
“Aye, I’ve heard all aboot that, and I’ve seen them firsthand,” she replied, though it had been a long time since the latter had occurred. “I’m more interested in learning aboot his character, so that I may gauge whether he’ll be a fair husband.”
“There are those who say he demands perfection in all things,” Harris observed. “As his father did, in his time.”
“But his father yet lives, does he not?” Isla asked. “As does his older brother Duncan? Why, then, is Alex laird of the Oliphant Clan, and at such a young age?”
“The father lives, aye,” Bron said, “but barely, for his health has long since failed him. They say he can barely rise from his bed, and has nae been outside his chamber for well over a year. That clan has brought healers from far and wide, and none have yet been able tae banish the sickness from him.”
“As for Duncan,” Rory chimed in, “he left quite some time ago. Their family dinnae speak of it if they can help it, as I understand it, and so the news of it has nae traveled far… but ‘tis true just the same.”
This new information was strange to Isla. “Why would he abandon his duty to his clan?”
Harris shrugged. “None know the answer tae that except those who share his bloodline. ‘Tis a closely guarded secret.”
“And with good reason,” Bron remarked, “for if it became widely known that Duncan was off on his own, there might be those who would attempt to track him down, capture him, and ransom him back tae the Oliphants.”
Isla nodded slowly, for it made sense to her. She recalled how stand-offish Duncan had behaved during that visit years ago.
“In the time since he’s become laird, though,” Bron went on, “he has done much tae expand the power and influence of the Oliphants. There are few who would say it aloud within their borders, but he has earned far greater respect than his father ever did, and in a far shorter span of time.”
“Well, that’s impressive enough, I suppose,” Isla muttered to herself. It still didn’t give her much more insight into the sort of groom he might be, though, which frustrated her.
Then again, she supposed it was unfair of her to expect such information from these men, who would have no way of knowing. What had she expected, after all? That one of them might have intimate acquaintance with one of the servants of Castle Oliphant, and might therefore have more useful details about his private ways?
Aye, actually, I believe that was precisely what Iwashoping for, she thought with a rueful smile.So much for that.
“All by way of saying, my lady, if you’ll pardon the impertinence,” Bron said gently, “it seems you could do far worse by way of marrying.”
Before Isla could come up with an appropriate response, she heard her mother calling for her sharply: “That’s enough riding, Isla! Come back tae the carriage at once! We’ll be there shortly, and I dinnae want the sentries on the wall tae see you arriving on horseback like some peasant! I have already told you that Laird Alex expects a clean and comely bride, and his expectations must be met if this is to succeed!”
“Aye, I’ve heard you say that already, and I have no need of hearing it again!” Isla shot back. “I’ll ride a bit longer if I like, and you cannae stop me… not unless you intend tae mount a horse yourself and give chase! Is that your intention, mother?”
“Stop being a silly child!” Elspeth yelled. “Come back this instant!”
Isla saw a mud hole up ahead, and got an idea. “Perfect, aye?” she snickered. “I’ll show him ‘perfect,’ right enough!”
For in that moment, Isla fantasized that she would show up to Castle Oliphant spattered in mud, only to be angrily turned away at first sight by Laird Alex for presenting herself in such a condition. Then she could turn around and head back home, and her parents would see that it was futile to force her to marry someone she did not care for, and they would finally come toappreciateher sense of will and self-determination, and they wouldneverdemand such a thing from herever again, and she couldcontinue to keep her secret for as long as she damn well pleased!
Her horse seemed to whinny its support for her current course of action, and that gave her the final convincing she required to ride hard through the mud.
She was showered with muck.
It flew up into her hair, daubed her face, and thoroughly covered her dress.
“Isla!” Elspeth shrieked, horrified.
Isla blinked the mud from her eyelashes, laughed loudly, and then doubled back to the carriage with a triumphant smile. The mortified look on her mother’s face made her giddy, and she was almost certain that Elspeth would call the whole thing off that very instant.
“Would you still like me to ride the rest of the way in the carriage with you?” Isla asked innocently.
Lily snorted a laugh in spite of herself, then immediately adopted an appropriately solemn and disapproving look after Elspeth turned and scowled at her.
“You may continue on the horse,” Elspeth growled. “Hopefully, we will have come up with some solution tae this… thisfiascobefore we arrive at the castle!”
Isla coaxed her horse ahead of the procession once more. The guardsmen were laughing up their sleeves at her brashness, and that bolstered her enough to ride the rest of the way with her head held high.
5
