Completely embarrassed at the raw and inappropriate display of emotion, Isa pulled her hands away.
“Macklin...” She threw an exaggerated glance toward her mother sitting by the invalid’s bed. “Now is not the place.”
Macklin looked over his shoulder, as if realizing they had an audience for the first time. “Of course, come, tell me what happened after I left the villa to save you.” He grabbed her hand and pulled her toward the door.
Knowing that the harsh words she wanted to say would also be inappropriate in their current location, she allowed herself to be pulled out of the room. As soon as the door was shut behind them, she wrenched her wrist from his hand.
She reminded herself that Macklin had no idea what had happened after he left the villa. “I appreciate what you did—”
“Isa,” Macklin cut her off, “I was so worried for you.” He grabbed her hand again.
She pulled her hand away. “Do not touch me.”
He placed his hands on her shoulders, stepping forward and hovering over her. “Did he touch you?”
She pushed his hands away. “Who?”
“That monster, if he dared to lay a finger on you!” Macklin’s eyes narrowed.
“You mean that monster who grabbed me and dragged me through my own home when youabandonedme at its mercy?!”
“Isabel,” he said, reaching for her once again.
“Don’t call me that, anddo not touch me again.”
He pulled his hands back. “Silly girl,” he said, “that was just a misunderstanding. Do I really need to spell it out for you? That’s why I volunteered to brave the wilderness and find help, to redeem myself in your eyes. For you.”
“Don’t fill my ears with your lies of bravery. That was just another cowardly act. You could not stand to be locked in a remote villa with a beast you did not understand.” She pointed to his chest. “You left because you were not brave enough to stay. Don’t try to convince me otherwise.”
He stepped away from her, his face difficult to read.
“Now, if you’ll excuse me, I came to see my father.” She turned and slipped back into her parents’ room.
Isa spent a long night by her father’s bedside. The morning brought no change; he was still breathing but burning with a fever.
Prince Erich returned early the next morning, assuring them he had spoken with the head of the guards and that the arrest warrant had been canceled. He had been called back to Iseldis immediately and could no longer take the Floutast to Chendas personally, but he had already arranged for someone to deliver it directly to the Council with all haste.
Exhausted but happy to have brought some peace to her family, Isa finally made her way to her own room and fell asleep.
She awoke later that afternoon, disoriented and groggy, and went immediately to her father’s room.
She opened the door, nearly colliding with a maid.
“Pardon me, milady,” the maid said over the pile of cream-colored linen in her arms.
“Let me get the door for you.” Isa stepped aside, so the maid could leave the room, then closed the door behind her.
“What was that?” Isa asked her mother, who sat faithfully beside Lord Bielsa’s bedside.
“We finished some lighter robes for the monks as you suggested,” her mother replied. “Eva just wanted me to check them before she delivers them.”
“Is she going there now?” Isa asked, looking back at the closed door.
Her mother nodded.
“How is Papa?” Isa remained standing.
“We managed to feed him some broth this morning, which is more than we could do yesterday.”
