Page 27 of In Bed with a Scot

“I dae,” Isabelle lied.

“I dinnae believe ye. If ye loved him, ye would nae have shared yer bed with me.”

“I wanted revenge, that is the beginning and the end of it. It had nothing tae dae with ye.”

“I dinane believe ye,” he repeated once more.

“Believe it. It was the first time that I had ever done something like that, and I have been made tae regret it. I have nae intention of ever being so foolish again.”

“Be foolish with me,” he breathed against her skin. “Be foolish with me again.”

Unable to resist him for another moment, Isabelle melted into him, their lips joining in a passionate kiss that threatened to put them both on fire. A shout from the woods beyond caused them to break apart. Isabelle looked all around them and saw torches moving through the woods towards the loch. “I cannae be seen with ye like this,” she breathed frantically.

Madden nodded and without a word slipped beneath the surface of the water not a moment too soon as the light from the torches reached them. “Lady Sutherland?” a guard’s voice called out over the water.

“Aye,” Isabelle answered. “Turn away! I am nae decent fer the eyes of men! How dare ye tae disturb me bathing!”

Madden touched her leg under the water startling Isabelle. Without thinking, Isabelle kicked him in response. Ripples emanated from the action and air bubbles popped up on the surface. Madden’s head started to emerge. Panicking, she pushed his head back down under the water. Realizing that they could see everything that she was doing, she hid her reaction by splashing her hands as if motioning for the men to leave her alone. She was sure she looked like a daft woman, but she did not care as long as no one ever discovered the truth of her current circumstances.

“Our apologies, me lady,” the guard called back.

“Go, and dinnae return,” Isabelle commanded with an authority she was not actually feeling. In that moment, her voice sounded strangely like her mother’s. It was an odd sensation. “Go!” The guards, not certain what to make of her behavior, nearly ran back to the castle just to get away from her.

Once the guards were out of sight, she let Madden back up out of the water. He sputtered, coughing. “Are ye trying tae drown me, lass?”

“Drowning will be the least of yer worries if Bain discovers what we have done. I should never have joined ye in the water. This has been a mistake from the beginning. If we are discovered, we are dead.” Unwilling to risk being seen for another moment longer, Isabelle struck out for the shore as fast as she could swim. When she reached the embankment, she donned her clothes as quickly as possible, then returned to the castle, leaving Madden alone and naked in the darkness.

CHAPTER ELEVEN

The next day, after the evening meal, Madden, Arran, Bain, and Athol were sitting around the table near the great hall’s large fireplace playing cards. Lorcan sat watching over them, not willing to stand down for even a moment until the culprit of the castle attack was found. The card game had been Arran’s idea to get a better understanding of the man that his sister had married. He had told Madden and Lorcan of his plan beforehand and they had agreed to help him.

Madden greatly disliked Bain and was in no mood to spend any more time with the man than was necessary, but he too wanted to get a better understanding of the brute that had left all of those bruises on Isabelle’s body. His anger burned just barely under the surface and was ready to erupt into violence at any moment.

“Games are fer children,” Bain grumbled as Arran shuffled and passed out the cards. “They are a waste of time and money.”

“If ye dinnae wish tae play, why did ye agree tae dae so?” Madden asked, his tone less than respectful.

“I chose tae play out of respect fer our host,” Bain informed him as if teaching a small child manners.

Lorcan gave Madden a warning look not to respond.

Bain noticed and raised his brows in question. “Arran, is givin’ yer guests dirty looks a part of yer guards’ training?”

Arran shook his head. “It is nae unless the guest deserves it,” slight amusement in his voice.

“I have noticed, Laird MacKay, that yer men train daily as if they are about tae go off tae war,” Athol joined the conversation. “Dae ye expect tae face battle in the near future?”

“I always expect battle, that way it never catches me unprepared,” Arran replied honestly.

“A tactic ye learned as a mercenary in France nae doubt,” Bain observed. “Something that ye and Kinnaird have in common.”

“Aye,” Arran answered, sharing a look with Madden. “France taught me much, as did me beloved Scottish Highlands.”

“Dae ye expect tae be attacked by any of yer neighboring clans?” Bain asked, taking a sip of his ale as he studied his cards.

“Nae more than the usual raids on cattle. Dae ye nae have the same problems?” Arran answered, laying a card down on the table.

“Aye, all lairds deal with such raids, but I dinnae train me men as if they are an army preparing fer war.” Bain’s voice hinted at something below the typical meaning of his words.