15
"An assassin?"
The word lingeredon the tip of Izzy's tongue as she rose from the bed. Her body tingled from the top of her head to her toes. She turned her attention to the fire and watched it consume the log as she wrestled with her thoughts. How long had she been haunted by the event? It had been years, decades even she had lived with the lie. Slowly her head started to bob in agreement as Aaron's words seeped deeper into her.
The air grewheavy with each breath she took. As much as she wished the world would stop spinning, she knew it wouldn't. The news rattled her to her core. "That does make more sense."
"Ye ken,I think I'll clean up here and call it a night," Aaron decided as he picked the tray of food up and brought it over to the table.
"I'm sorry,"Izzy mumbled as she rubbed her temples. The news was unsettling and jaunting. It felt as if the weight she had been trucking around all her life was finally gone. She didn't have to sound crazy anymore. But just as the relief settled over her, a new sensation stole her peace. "But why would anyone want to kill my brother?"
"That I cannae tell ye,"Aaron said. Izzy could feel him standing behind her. He was a comforting phantom lurking in the shadows of the room. And even though she wasn't looking directly at him, she knew the sort of expression that would be on his face, and she didn't care to see the pity lurking in his eyes. "There's all sorts of reasons why someone ends up gettin' killed before their time. Did yer brother have any enemies?"
Izzy shook her head."He was only sixteen when it happened. But if I'm being honest, I don't really remember. The commotion of it all scarred me for so many years."
"Isabella, I'm sorry, truly."
She turned to him,and sure enough, it was the pity in his eyes that stung her the most. As much as she wanted to turn back to the fire, she stood her ground, ears burning to hear what he had to say.
"Didyou kill my brother and ruin my entire childhood? Was it your fault that my family refused to take me seriously? No, I don't recall you being there when all this happened, so you have no reason to apologize to me. It'd be like me telling you howsorry I am for the fire that took everything from you. I didn't start it."
"True,ye dinnae, but that doesnae mean that ye still cannae feel empathy for yer fellow man," Aaron explained. "And I certainly daenae think that ye can do anythin' to change what happened, just as I cannae change the course fate put ye on. And so, here we are."
Izzy sankinto the cushion of the chair completely defeated in every sense. She couldn't shake the feeling that she'd been living a lie. And now that a new light flickered in the darkness, shining new light on her old demons, Izzy wanted to do something about it.
"What are ye plottin'over there?" Aaron asked as Izzy chewed on her lower lip, letting her ideas bubble and fester until they formed something solid. She wanted revenge for her brother and for the life that was stolen from her. But on the other hand, Izzy wished she could just let it all go. After all, Aaron was right about not being able to do anything about it. It wasn't like she could turn back the hands of time and change the course of events.
"I want justice."
"Justice or revenge?"Aaron asked as he arched a knowing eyebrow. The glare in his gaze caught her off guard. She had expected him to fully understand the turbulent emotions crashing against her. If she were alone out in the middle of the woods, she'd scream to let out her frustrations. Unfortunately,any peep out of her would only cause the servants to spread even more false rumors about the Laird.
"Vengeance is mine, says the Lord,"Izzy quoted as she kept her eyes focused on Aaron's face. It surprised her how handsome he looked when he didn't have the crease of worry in his brow. And the fire light dancing on his face only brought out the sharpness of his jaw line and bridge of his nose. By all accounts, he was distractingly handsome.
"Aye, and then there's that,"Aaron said as he gathered the chess board from the bed and put it back on the shelf.
"And then there is that,"Izzy repeated as she noticed the bed had been cleared. Aaron stood at the foot of the bed watching her as she realized what he was prompting. She swallow and glanced around the room as if expecting a second bed or place to lay her head.
"The hour is late,"Aaron said. "Ye may have the room, but I insist that ye daenae leave till mornin'. The King has given us clear instructions, and if we are to be obedient servants, we'll do as he says."
Izzy noddedas she fiddled with the tips of her fingers. "And where will you be sleeping if we're to be stuck in here together?"
A mischievous smirkplayed at the corner of his lips as his eyes gleaned with a playfulness that made Izzy giddy. How was it that he could make her smile just by looking at her? Was it because his gaze was direct, as if he could read her very soul? She feltas if there was a chord that started from the center of her being and was bound to the center of his. She pulled in quick sharp breaths, trying to understand what was going on with her body and why it was betraying her. All she had done to keep Aaron distracted and busy seemed for naught.
"There,"he answered. "And if ye need anythin', ye need to let me go fetch it for ye. I daenae want ye walkin' out there in yer shift or even yer weddin' dress. Appearances are everythin', and I cannae allow ye to flaunt yerself out."
"You're sleepingon the balcony? But you'll freeze."
"Been doin'it long before ye came to sleep in here with me. The bed is freshly stuffed as are the pillows. I wanted ye to be comfortable in this uncomfortable situation," he said over his shoulder. "Now sleep. We've a big day in the mornin'."
Izzy opened her mouth,about to ask him to stay, when the doors closed behind. She let out the air she had trapped in her lungs. The room swayed for a moment as she looked about the empty room. Aaron's presence only moments ago filled the space of the room, and in a flash he was gone, sending a ripple of abandonment coursing through her. Aaron's actions, however, piqued her curiosity. Did he truly spend each night outside in the cold? It was a strange idea she tried to grasp as she reached behind to untie the corset.
Panic shotthrough her as she realized she couldn't undo the dress. No matter which way she twisted and squirmed to reach the strings, they were consistently just out of her reach. Izzygasped as her heart fluttered wildly in her chest, and her eyes fell to the balcony door.
"It's all right,"she mumbled to the empty room. "I'll just sleep in the dress. Not like I haven't done that before."
"Are ye sayin'somethin'? If ye're talkin' to me, I cannae hear ye."
"No,"Izzy called as she tried to mask the embarrassment sticking to her tone like thorns in wool. "No. Not talking to you. Good night."
