14
Isla stood staring in shock after hearing Alex’s announcement. Was she spoken for? Was it Finlay who had staked his claim? It would be so awkward if another man wanted to ask for her hand because after what happened last night on the islet bothy, Isla could never imagine herself being with anyone else but Finlay for the rest of her life! Her mind was in turmoil from all the unanswered questions churning in her head. Then her heart stepped in to soothe her.
Of course it is Finlay who has laid claim to me hand. We warmed each other, we kissed, and then we slept together with his strong arms wrapped around me. It is so like him not to waste time makin’ sure no other man gets ideas in his head about makin’ up to me.
When she was quite certain she would not be making a fool out of herself if she were to presume Finlay Dougal truly wanted her hand in marriage, Isla could hardly control the surge of happiness inside her, but then other negative thoughts stepped in.
I’m no’ even home yet. A large troop of the steward’s men stand between me an’ whatever my future has planned with the laird’s son because if there’s one thing I ken about the man already, it’s that he’ll no’ rest until he has reclaimed his land. That means we’re in for a fair lot o’ peaks an’ valleys until we can be together.
That made the smile fade from her face. What if Finlay was killed in battle before they had a chance to see their story through to the end? A wedding, a beddan, and bairns? All those things that made a union of the mind, body, and soul complete? Isla knew she would never want to dance again if anything happened to him. This realization made her tremble with fear, but she gave herself a shake, determined to be strong. Of what use would she be if she could not do everything in her power to see him safely through to the end? Then they could be happy together.
The quartermaster stepped up to the table and asked permission to address the men. “Fin, all told, we are seventeen men ready and well enough to sail back with ye to the castle. Includin’ the nineteen men ye brought back with ye, that makes six an’ thirty soldiers. Will that be enough?”
Isla inched closer to the long table where the men were sitting. It wrenched at her to see half of the men seated there had injuries of some kind, ranging in severity, but they were all eager to help their captain and laird reclaim his birthright.
“We need gold,” the quartermaster was saying. “We need to pay the healer for his services an’ give him extra if we expect the man to come with us. I hear from some o’ the lads that the craftsmen and craftswomen are fleeing the castle like rats from a sinkin’ ship—and I’ll bet me last penny the castle physician was amongst them.”
Fin spoke out, “The steward had guards posted at every door and exit to stop the flow.”
Alex shouted out so that every man could hear, “Every exit that they ken about! Have ye got any more aces up yer sleeves, Fin? An’ by that, I mean d’ye ken if there are any more secret tunnels in yer castle?”
“Aye, aye, never ye mind about that,” Finlay said. “I have all o’ that under control. Now, why did ye find nay gold buried here? Was it for lack o’ tryin’ or was there something else that stopped ye?”
The quartermaster allowed the head of the diggers to answer.
“Fin,” the man said, “we’ve been hard at it since ye left. The moment the ashes were cold, we began to check under the floorboards an’ yards, but it was all for naught. All we found was a tin box full o’ tawdry trinkets an’ pennies.”
Fin shook his head. “That’ll belong to one o’ the harbor dwellers—a tradesman’s daughter or merchant’s wife’s secret stash o’ bawbees. We need to find out where the Norsemen hid their gold.”
Taking all of her courage in her hands, as she had never been comfortable standing in front of folks and talking, Isla raised her hand. When he saw her gesture, Fin grinned at her and beckoned her forward, saying, “Ye dinnae have to raise yer hand, sweetheart. Ye have every right to speak here with the men after yer brave deed in the dungeons.”
Isla blushed and stared at the floor, only feeling confident enough to look up when she realized the men valued her advice.
“Gentlemen, I learnt from an older warrior a wee bit about the people in the North. They like to bury their treasure in mounds next to standin’ stones an’ beached longboats. If I were ye, I would start lookin’ for such landmarks around the island: standin’ stones etched with runes; burial mounds, both old an’ new, covered over with grass or yet to grow some; burnt-out longboats or sailin’ vessels pulled inland so the waves cannae carry them back to the ocean. That’s where I think ye might find something valuable.”
There was silence after she finished speaking, and Isla grew worried again that they might start laughing at her, but she was wrong.
The quartermaster roared out, “So?! What are ye waitin’ for? Lightning to strike? Get out o’ here an’ start lookin’ like the blacksmith’s daughter told ye to!”
There was a frantic scramble as the men ran out of the hall, only stopping at the tool sheds to retrieve their shovels.
Finlay watched them leave before he took Isla’s hand and raised it to his lips.
“I have been meaning to tell ye that ye were wrong last night, Isla. Our first kiss was nae at the castle gate; it was in the smithy forge when we first met.”
Alex cleared his throat a few times and said to no one in particular that he must be off to help the men dig, but he was not fast enough as he heard Isla say in a clear voice behind him, “Och nay, Finlay. That was just me fingers, an’ they don’t count!”
To which the laird’s son replied, “On our beddan night, I will take great pleasure in showin’ ye how important the fingers are, sweet Isla.”
Isla dipped her head to spare her blushes, but he pinched her chin gently between his thumb and fingers, raising up her face so he could look at her.
“Don’ hide yer fair face from me, ye ruby-haired temptress. Let me kiss those roses in yer face.”
It was not a deep kiss like the ones they had from the night before; Fin kissed her cheeks in such a way that made her shiver with suppressed anticipation. His mouth barely glanced over her skin, but she could feel the rough touch of his beard, and it made her mad with desire.
“Must we wait, Fin?” She reached out her hand and caressed his knee. She was fascinated with that part of his body; it was such a functional thing, a knee, but Isla knew that when she touched Finlay’s knee and then ran her hand under his plaid, she had the power to ignite his deepest passions. “Can I come to ye tonight? If ye bid me, I will come to ye…”
He gave a laugh, and she thought she had won, but he was pleased about something else.
