“Have a sip of water, you look pale.”
The man that the priest had called Laird Campbell bent down on one knee to offer her a drink from what appeared a wineskin, but Lisette turned her head just as she imagined Isabeau would have done.In truth, she felt thirsty and hungry, her stomach growling so loudly that her captor flashed a grin that made Lisette’s breath catch.
“Och, lass, dinna fight me.I told you before that I wouldna hurt you.”
“You already have,” she countered, trying not to stare at him even as she thought again that she had never seen a man so handsome to look upon.“Mayhap you’ve slipped some potion in that water as well, just to tame me.”
“Tame you?”
The huskiness in his voice gave her shivers, but it was the knowing way he looked at her that made her heart skip a beat.
“Ah, lass, you willna struggle when the time comes.You might as well know that you’re tae become my bride tomorrow morning, so you can fight your fate or accept it—just as I’ve done.I’m Conall Campbell, and soon tae be your husband.Now take a wee draught or sleep the rest of the night parched as a stone, it’s up tae you.”
Tomorrow morning?Her thoughts spinning so wildly that Lisette could only nod, her fingers trembled as she held onto the wineskin he brought to her lips.
Conall nodded, too—Conall, such a fine strong name, she couldn’t deny it—as if pleased that she drank, but then he drew away the wineskin.
“Not too much, Isabeau, it could make you queasy, so I’ll not give you any food tonight, either.At dawn, you’ll dine on oatcakes like the rest of us—aye, you see what I mean?”
Lisette had winced at the thought of eating anything, though her stomach pangs felt eased from drinking some water.He leaned forward to give her another sip, the masculine scent of him overwhelming her senses—sweat and horses and wood smoke, but it didn’t repel her, no, not at all.
Conall seemed to inhale, too, though a quizzical look came upon his face that made her wonder what might be amiss.He shrugged his immense shoulders and stood up, outstretching his hand to her.
“Forgive me, it occurred tae me that you might need tae relieve yourself before you sleep.”
“Non, I’m fine,” she murmured, blushing to her roots, but he shook his head and reached down to pull her to her feet.
“A short walk will do you good, lass.”
She didn’t fight him, though from the raised heads of his men and the priest who had returned to their blankets on the ground, they seemed to anticipate a struggle.To her surprise, Conall gave a short laugh as if reading their thoughts and led her into the trees.
“Here, I’ll take your cloak.”
He whisked the garment from around her shoulders before she could answer.With the flames of the stoked fire lending some light to the surrounding forest, he gestured for her to venture a little deeper—she imagined, to grant her some privacy.
Lisette flushed again, though it was only a natural thing he bade her to do.She had no slippers, either, her feet bare, so mayhap that was why he believed she wouldn’t try to thwart him.
She stepped around a thick tree trunk and then another, and lifted Isabeau’s wedding gown so she could crouch down and quickly accomplish the task—which made her think again of what her half-sister would have done.
Yes, she was acting altogether too docile and pliant for the dreadful outrage that Isabeau would have believed was inflicted upon her.Lisette had no sooner stood up and dropped the gown back into place when she darted deeper into the woods, though she heard a wild crashing not far behind her.
“By God, woman,stop!”
Chapter5
Lisette did not stop, her heart thundering as she plunged further ahead, nearly slipping on the damp earth.She knew Conall was close behind her from the sound of his heavy footfalls, which made her gasp for breath and dodge her way faster through the trees.
“Isabeau, dinna you hear the howling?”came his frustrated shout, which made her slow her step to glance to her right and left as fear gripped her.
Ah, God,wolves?She spun around at the same moment Conall careened into her, a scream bursting from her throat, though he caught her before she tumbled to the ground.
His breathing hard.His curse low and angry.His arms locking around her to pull her against him.
“Woman, dinna ever do that again.Do you understand me?”
She stared up at him, bobbing her head though she doubted he could see her acquiescence in the darkness.Only a glimmer of light emanated from the distant camp, his men’s shouts echoing through the woods as they searched for her, too.
She heard it then, a wild howling from not too far away that made goosebumps prickle her skin.She felt Conall spread his feet as if bracing himself, still holding her with one arm while he drew his sword from his belt with the other.
