"Twenty-six,"she answered under her breath.
"Yet, ye're stunnin',"he said as he cupped his hand to her face, drawing her attention back to him. "I've been honest with ye; can ye nae share the same with me?"
"It's silly,really, and I know how it will sound to you," she stated as she dropped her eyes. "Just please don't call me crazy or say that I'm touched in the head."
Aaron shiftedin his seat as he focused on her. He watched her cheeks flush redder as she settled like a stone in the bottom of a lake.
"When I was five,"she started, her voice was heavy with uncertainty, "I woke from a dream, and instead of going to my parents, it was my brother's room I went to. But as I stepped into the room, I saw it."
Aaron's heartskipped as she drew her eyes to him. "What? What did ye see?"
"A darknessso deep that it was like looking into the abyss of hell itself. And I know how that sounds, but I'm telling you, it was ghost. And I watched it… I watched it kill my brother," she whispered so low he could barely hear her. He leaned in closer, his eyebrows crowded the bridge of his nose.
"A ghost?"
"See,"she said in a flurry of accusation. "I knew you weren't going to believe me. You think I haven't seen that same look on others?"
"Aye, but I'm wonderin'why do ye think it was a spirit?" he asked.
"I didn't see a face.It was just a blackness that swallowed the light of the room. And blood. There was so much of it…" Izzy's body quivered as Aaron realized it wasn't him that she was staring at but something much further in the distance.
The colorin her cheeks drained as she threw her arms around her shoulders as if that could keep her warm. Instinctively,Aaron threw his arms around her, drawing Izzy closer to him as he wished he could take away her sorrow and pain. The fact that she looked so vulnerable and small nearly broke his heart.
"So,that's what caused ye to recoil from me, was it? And here I thought it was me face that sent ye runnin' for the hills. Cannae blame ye though. Ye're nae the first to flee from me for such a thing. And I doubt ye'll be the last."
Izzy pulled away,her gaze direct and fierce, piercing through him. He swallowed hard as she fought the tears pooling in her eyes. She reached to his face, brushing her fingertips over the ruggedness of his face.
"It was never your face,"she said, her voice so full of compassion that Aaron was beside himself. The last time he'd heard such tenderness had been when he was only knee high. He ran his fingers through her hair, savoring the softness.
"I just can't…when I see blood…" She shivered in his arms. Aaron tightened his grip, squeezing her body closer to his. "I think of him, and it's like he's being murdered all over again."
Aaron bobbedhis head as he studied her face. How lovely she looked even with the red in her eyes.
"What a pair we make.It's no wonder the King put us together. You're despised by your clan because of some horrid rumor, and I've been tainted because of what I saw. No one believed it was a ghost. But I suppose I don't know what my life would be like if my own family thought I was the one to kill him."
"Ye were five,"Aaron said. "I bet they said it was just yer active imagination, am I right?"
Izzy bobbedher head and let out a heavy sigh. "More times than I'd like to admit. Soon, people thought of me astouched. It didn't take long before the suitors stopped calling, and every invitation we got to a party was only to poke fun of me."
"I'msorry ye had to go through that, truly. This world can be cruel and relentless. But I doubt yer family neglected ye for speakin' out."
"Oh,"Izzy said as her eyes shot to the blanket. "They did. It was the reason I had to go to the Earl's party with my aunt. My parents didn't want to be seen there with me."
"I must say,I have wondered why ye dinnae have an escort with ye that night. I thought maybe there'd be some sort of resistance on yer family's part."
"Why?Because they think of you as a monster?"
"Aye, somethin'like that. And daenae try to tell me they daenae see me that way. Yer maither fainted, and yer faither looked as if he were being raked across the coals."
Izzy'sunexpected giggle filled the room. "You know, I don't think I've ever seen my mother so flustered before. That had to be the funniest thing I've ever seen. And when she woke to see you again… I hope I never forget the way she looked."
"Well,I'm glad to see ye're nae holdin' a grudge over me," Aaron said. "And here I thought ye would never forgive me for stealin' ye away."
"I haven't forgotten the humiliation,"Izzy countered. "But it's nice to understand you a bit better. And I'm sorry as well. You should never have to hold the burden you are carrying. It was wrong of people to think you were the cause of the fire. Or that you killed your parents. I don't think you have it in you to be so cruel."
Aaron's chesttightened as he studied the softness in her eyes. He pulled in a deep breath, trying not to let her words get to him, but it was too late. Izzy was far wiser than he gave her credit for and just as kind. She was going to make a great mother, he could see that, and her tenderness would be her saving grace. Surely the clan would love her and honor her once she bore a child. But what would become of him? He dared not think about that at the moment. All that mattered for the time being was Izzy and protecting her at all costs.
"Ye cannae kenhow much that means to me to hear ye say," he said.
"Would you look at that,"Izzy observed as her smile brightened the room. "It looks like we have something in common after all. Rumors have ruined both our lives."
Aaron bobbed his head."Aye, well, at least there's a reasonable explanation for yer experience. Mine was done out of pure hatred for me."
"Reasonable explanation?I knew it! You don't believe me. You don't believe that I saw what I did."
"Now, be logical here,"Aaron said as he held her gaze. "Did it ever cross yer mind that maybe what ye saw wasnae a phantom but an assassin? They're just as mysterious and ominous. After all, when was the last time ye heard of the dead visitin' the livin'?"
