“Nay, ‘tis I who owe an apology,” Isla answered, “for I was too quick tae believe you would be unfaithful tae me. You have a temper, true, but you have always shown yourself tae be a man of uncompromising honor and loyalty. I should ne’er have doubted that, and I vow that I never shall again.”
Their lips met, and they clung to each other passionately, having found each other so wonderfully and improbably in the midst of so much darkness. It was a miracle which had brought them together at the moment of most dire danger and despair, and one that showed them both they were meant to be together.
The ride back to Castle Oliphant seemed to Isla as though it took forever, largely due to the screaming and cursing and carrying on of Lady Romilly, who howled promises of gory retribution until Alex finally had to order one of the soldiers to gag her. Lachlan rode next to her mournfully, his hands bound, his horse led by an Oliphant warrior.
It felt as though there was so much Isla and Alex had to say to each other, but every time their eyes met, the understanding passed between them that this was not the proper time. The night had been long and full of grotesque events, the dawn still hadn’t arrived, and both of them were so fatigued and stunned by all that had happened that they knew further conversation would have to wait.
For their part, the soldiers dutifully rode in formation around them, and each of them glowered at Lachlan multiple times during the journey, wordlessly vowing to repay him for his treachery.
Lachlan could not bring himself to make eye contact with any of them. He simply stared straight ahead, his eyes filled with shame.
When at last they arrived at the castle, Romilly and Lachlan were delivered to the dungeon, and Isla was taken to the healer so that the rope burns on her skin might be soothed. “After that,” Alex said quietly, “perhaps she can give you something that will allow you tae sleep. Your ordeal has been exhausting, I have no doubt.”
He was right, of course, and she smiled at him gratefully. “Thank you. For everything.”
In the healer’s chamber, Isla took tea and light bandages from one of the apprentices. As she did, she kept casting anxious glances in the direction of the screen in the corner, behind which the chief healer tended to Moira’s wound. The fabric of the screen had many flecks and dots of blood upon it, and Isla offered up a string of silent prayers that her former servant would survive.
Once her wrists had been tended to, Isla was escorted up to her room—and it was a good thing, for the calming sips she’d taken worked quickly on her, and she nearly fell asleep standing up before making it to her chamber. Once there, she did not bother to undress. She merely fell forward onto the mattress, and was instantly unconscious. The fiendish spectacle she’d endured earlier with Moira and Lachlan floated away, mercifully, in favor of a dreamless slumber.
When she awoke,golden-red shafts of late afternoon sunlight shined through her window, and she rose slowly. She still felt anxious and shaky from the events of the previous night, andshe suspected she might carry those sensations with her for a while yet, as they had been so nightmarish. When she rang for a servant, Lily appeared, throwing her arms around Isla.
“My lady! I am so relieved that you made it back alive and unharmed! When the word spread that you were missing, I was so frightened! ‘Twas my responsibility tae look after you, ye know!”
“Aye, it was,” Isla answered with a soft smile, “and I rejected that, for I was too concerned with who had ordered you tae do so. I hope you will forgive me.”
“I do, my lady!” Lily replied, relieved. “Oh, if I’d had tae go back and tell your mother something had happened tae ye, she’d have had my head!”
“Tell me of Moira.”
The servant girl’s expression brightened. “She yet lives, my lady! The healers say that her recovery will be slow, but certain. Now here, let’s get you dressed, for time is running short…”
“‘Time?’” Isla blinked, confused. “For what?”
“Laird Alex has said he shall address the clan at sundown!” Lily informed her. “He wanted tae be certain you got as much rest as ye could manage, but he said he wished for you tae attend after you wake.”
“What on earth might allthatbe about?” Isla wondered. “Perhaps he wishes tae ensure that all members of the Oliphant Clan are aware that the MacGregors are now their enemies. Aye, that would be prudent enough.”
But then why would he make such an announcement himself?she mused, letting Lily fret over her clothes and hair.Why not simply send messengers tae the villages and farms tae spread the word, as most would?
She continued to ponder this for the next hour, and as she did, she stared out the window. The sun descended behind the hilltops, staining them crimson, and in its slowlysmothered light, she saw hundreds and hundreds of Oliphant Clan members ambling along toward the ramparts. They chose their spots to sit upon the grass and wait, all while murmuring amongst themselves, clearly curious about what they had been summoned to hear.
Lily returned to fetch Isla at the appointed time, and led her up to the top of the walls surrounding the castle. There, Alex waited for her with an affectionate smile. A short distance away, his aged and decrepit father Douglas sat in a carrier, wrapped with so many blankets that his face was barely visible. As usual, he wore a look of severe disdain and disapproval.
The bells of the tower tolled briefly, urging all to be silent and take heed.
“Last night, as some of you may already know,” Alex began, “the MacGregor Clan committed a foul act of aggression against us, and it nearly cost the life of Lady Isla MacDonell. Its perpetrator, Romilly MacGregor, is in the dungeon, where she will remain indefinitely due to her crimes. Her co-conspirator Lachlan—known tae many of you as a soldier within our own ranks—was likewise confined, but took his own life before daybreak.”
This was news to Isla, and she found herself glad of it, for Moira’s dying expression continued to haunt her.At least, in the end, he had enough shame tae do the right thing and remove his stain from this world,she thought grimly.
“It is my hope,” he continued, “that her actions did not reflect the intentions of her clan as a whole, and that peace may yet be in our future. If this does not turn out to be the case, though, then we will need to ready ourselves for war. In order tae win it, we shall have tae ensure that our clan is as strong as it can be.”
He paused, looking at Isla with tenderness. “However, I wish tae make sure everyone knows that this isnotthe reason I intendtae continue my engagement tae Lady Isla… and, indeed, tae hasten it, if she remains willing tae be my bride.”
Isla’s jaw dropped, and tears of joy filled her eyes. For a delirious moment, she wondered if she had indeed awakened, or if she was in the middle of some glorious dream.
If so, she hoped to never be roused from it.
“I know there are those among you who have heard about her past, and traded in gossip over it,” he went on. “That ends now. Her history means nothing tae me, and it shouldnae matter tae any of you either. She is a good and worthy woman, she has my whole heart, and she will sit beside me and aid me in the leadership of this clan during these difficult times, and all times to come. I will have nae other bride. As far as I’m concerned, any who object tae that may renounce the name of Oliphant and leave these lands at once.”
