Chapter Five
Cold steel prodding one's side makes for a rude awakening. Iain felt the cold of the blade seep through his veins. When he slowly lifted his head from the sleeping Islaen's breasts, he knew a mixture of relief and consternation. For a moment he had feared that Catalina's lover had found him, which could well have meant Islaen's death along with his. The eight MacRoths surrounding his bed looked far from friendly, but they would at least not harm Islaen. They would also be appeased by the wedding.
"If ye be wondering why your squire didnae stop us ‘tis because he is tied up for the moment."
The iciness in Alaistair MacRoth's voice made Iain wince inwardly. It was hardly wise to antagonize one's father by marriage. Neither was it wise to get on the bad side of your wife's brothers especially when there were eleven of them.
"Ye best start explaining this and fast, laddie."
"Fither?” mumbled Islaen as she opened sleep-clogged eyes and began to realize that she and Iain were no longer alone.
That brought all eyes of the MacRoths to fix upon her. Iain watched those eyes widen with disbelief and followed the direction of their gazes. Islaen's lovely full breasts were bared to view. Seeing the stunned looks upon her kin's gaze, Islaen colored deeply. Her blooming had been kept a secret from a lot of people. He almost laughed when the MacRoths looked at him again, accusation in their faces.
Islaen hurriedly pulled up the linen to cover herself. It had been her intention to talk to her father, tell him of what she had kept hidden. This was a terrible way for him to find out that his own daughter had deceived him for years.
"What did ye do to the lass?” Alaistair demanded, his angry gaze turning back to Iain.
"Sir, I think if ye will but stop to consider for a moment, ye will ken that I had naught to do with that. What occurred here might have changed the lass but not to such an extent. ‘Tis not a mon's work ye view."
"Aye, aye, I am not thinking clear.” He ran a hand through his hair and frowned at Islaen. “When did ye grow those, lass? Ye have hidden the change from me and I cannae understand the why of it."
Embarrassed that such an intimate part of her body was being discussed so openly, Islaen nevertheless did her best to answer her father honestly. “I changed not long after I, weel, became a woman."
"When ye were but thirteen?” he croaked, totally astonished over the longevity of her deception.
"Aye,” she admitted reluctantly, afraid that she might have wounded her father with her secrecy.
"For six years I have waited for ye to grow and ye had grown apace already. Why hide it?"
Seeing her family look at her as if she were totally mad annoyed Islaen and she snapped, “Why not when all ye wished for was to set me out to market like a prized sow?"
"Here now, lass,” Alaistair blustered, puffing up in preparation of arguing with his daughter.
Before the argument could gain any strength, Iain gently interrupted, “An I might have a word with ye?"
"I have more than a word or twa I wish to say to ye,” Alaistair hissed, his fury directed at Iain again. “If ye mean to claim her unchaste now and flee the wedding that way, ye best think again."
"Papa,” Islaen protested, feeling it unfair to be so insulting when Iain had not even been given a chance to speak yet.
"I mean to wed her, sir. Naught has changed,” Iain said quietly but with a firmness none could doubt.
Seeing how all the MacRoths immediately eased their fighting stances, Iain moved to don his braes. He then handed Islaen her night rail. Giving her a reassuring smile, he turned to face Alaistair.
"Could we speak o'er here for a moment, sir?” Iain moved to the far corner of his chambers.
When Islaen made to follow, Alaistair growled, “Ye stay right where ye are, lass, and ye lads see that she does."
Islaen sat down reluctantly. She wondered what Iain and her father would talk about but knew she had no chance of hearing the conversation. Her brothers were clearly intent upon being very vigilant.
"I dinnae think I need say that I am ill pleased by what I have found here,” Alaistair growled softly once he and Iain were secluded on the far side of the room.
"That I can understand, sir. There is no explaining it or excusing it. I went mad,” he said with a strong hint of selfdisgust in his voice. “She came to me to reveal this secret she has kept for so long."
"Reveal it?” Alaistair's eyes widened as he began to get an idea of just what had happened.
"Aye, just that, sir. I havenae had a woman for near to twa years. ‘Tis no real excuse, I ken it, but when she set such lovely bounty afore my eyes.... “ Iain shook his head. “I had been drinking as weel."
"Did ye hurt her?” Alaistair asked tightly, his hand going to his sword in a clearly threatening gesture.
