5
"He was there. I saw him," Izzy muttered to the empty room. Her mind was spinning faster than a seamstress paid on commission. She chewed her lower lip and paced the room trying to calm her frantically beat heart.
"Or was he?It was dark… it was darkthentoo," Izzy said as she moved from chewing her lower lip to nibbling on her the tips of her nails. Every sound in the room broke the silence and sent a rush of anxiety coursing through her like ice water rippling down the crag of a mountain pass.
"Isabella?"a soft voice drifted through the room like a gently melody playing on the breeze. The gentleness was off putting and alarming. Every nerve in her body fired as she spun around, ready for a fight.
"Aye, and who are ye?"she asked, wondering if the woman before her was really there or something she had concocted in the vastness of her imagination.
"I'm Chloe, the Laird's sister," she said as she bent down, trying to catch Izzy's eye. "I came to see if ye needed anythin'. I was told ye lost yer things on the road comin' here. I'm sorry to hear about it, truly."
Izzy studiedChloe as she moved from the door to the chair and draped a lovely lavender dress over the back of the chair. There was a kindness about her that settled Izzy's nerves.
"I thought maybeye might want somethin' to drink?" Chloe asked as Izzy turned her attention to the fire.
"That would be nice,but I don't think tea is going to settle my nerves."
"Good to ken seein'as how I wasnae talkin' about a cup of tea. Ye really are English," Chloe said as she rolled her eyes and walked to the table in the corner. A smirk stretched across her thin lips. She flashed Izzy a wink as she stopped and popped the top off the decanter and started pouring.
"Whiskey,"Chloe answered Izzy's unspoken question and stopped pouring. She handed the glass over to Izzy and batted her eyes as if she were the most innocent creature on the planet. "Trust me when I say that me brother will nae mind one bit. In fact, I think he might think it better ye to be a drunk than a loon."
"I'm not crazy,"Izzy said as she tossed her hair over her shoulder and took the glass of whiskey. Pulling in a deep breath, Izzy tried not to recoil from the sting of the liquor, but the aromawas overwhelming and potent. She glanced up at Chloe and flashed a timid smile.
"Could have fooled me,"Chloe chuckled. "By the way ye're holdin' that glass, I'd think ye'd never had whiskey before."
"I have,"Izzy said staring at the liquor suspiciously.
"Aye, sure ye have,"Chloe snickered as she hoisted her glass up before consuming every last drop, all in one swig. Izzy's eyes widened as her heart fluttered. She'd never tasted anything so foul smelling. It was champaign and wine for her delicate taste buds.
"Take yer time,"Chloe teased before she swiped the glass from Izzy's hand and swallowed the liquor in one go. "Or nae."
"I was going to drink that."
"Of course, ye were,"Chloe said as she moved to the fireplace and threw another log on. "I'll have the servants come in and see ye have enough wood in here. I daenae think ye're goin' to like the chill."
"Thank you,"Izzy said, her voice was laced with gratitude she could never fully express.
"Aye, well,"Chloe smiled as she tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear. "I couldnae just leave ye as ye are. Ye looked far too frazzled when ye came in."
Izzy's heart sank."I had passed out."
Chloe bobbedher head as she moved over to her and placed a hand on Izzy's shoulder. She tilted her head trying to catch Izzy's eye.
"Aye,and ye called me brother a monster. Now, I get that he can be a brute at times, but a monster? That's a wee bit harsh, daenae ye think?"
Heat rushedthrough Izzy's cheeks as embarrassment crashed over her. "I didn't see your brother. I saw the darkness."
"The darkness?"Chloe repeated with a hint of sarcasm and confusion lacing her tone.
"Don't thinkI haven't seen that exact same look on others," Izzy said as she moved to the window. "Go on, judge me. But I know what I saw out there. I've seen it before."
"To be honest,I daenae think ye ken me well enough to ken what goes through my head," Chloe replied as her lips curled at the corners. She had catlike eyes that made her smile enchanting. "But I hope that one day, ye might."
Izzy smiledand let out a heavy sigh. The events of the evening had finally caught up with her, and she was ready to sleep.
"The hour is late."
"Oh,aye, it is. Well, suppose ye'll be wantin' to get some rest. I'll make sure the servants daenae bother ye until tomorrow then. And let me ken if the dress fits. If it does, I've got plenty more ye can borrow until me brother sends for the tailor."
