Page 34 of In Bed with a Scot

Isabelle in turn knew that she was not talking about Bain, but Madden. “I dinnae ken him well enough tae answer that question.”

Keelin studied Isabelle’s face, then shook her head. “It is clear tae anyone with eyes that Bain daes nae love ye. I cannae judge ye fer seeking the affections of a better man. Love is never simple, but nae matter how it comes in tae yer life, it should be cherished. I just want ye both tae be happy.”

Isabelle shook her head. “I dinnae believe that such a thing is possible fer me.”

Before Keelin could respond, Madden reentered the hall. The look on his face was one of concern. “Isabelle, might we speak,” he requested. “Alone?”

Isabelle nodded. “Follow me.” Isabelle led him out of the hall, through the lady’s chapel, and out into the flower garden beyond. The smell of roses and lavender filled the air. “This was me mother’s favorite place.”

“It is bonnie,” he complimented the space.

Isabelle turned back to face him and noticed that his wound had not been tended to. “Why have ye nae sought care fer your wound? All of the other men of the clan have been tended tae. There is nae excuse fer ye nae tae be cared fer now.”

Madden shook his head. “It will keep.”

“Allow me tae at least clean away the blood,” she requested, taking a bowl of water and a cloth from the chapel and motioning for him to take a seat on the stone bench along the garden wall. He obeyed. She sat down beside him and instructed him to remove his shirt. He did so and she began to clean his wounds. “When I saw ye and Arran enter the hall, I feared the worst. I thank ye with all of me heart fer saving me braither’s life. He is all of the family that I have left.”

Madden took the wet cloth from her hand and held her fingers in his. “Me wounds are nae what I need tae speak with ye about,” Madden informed her.

The seriousness of his tone told Isabelle that he needed her full attention. “What is it? Did ye ascertain who did this?”

Madden shook his head. “I dinnae ken anything fer certain, but I need ye tae tell me everything that ye ken about Bain Sutherland and his man Athol.” He leveled a look at Isabelle that said he was dead serious. “And I dae mean everything, including what he has against ye.”

Isabelle breathed in sharply. “Ye dinnae think that…” She could not finish the sentence.

“Everything, Isabelle, and spare naething.”

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

Eleven Years Earlier…

“The coffers are empty,” Laird Rory MacKay announced to his wife and daughter as they broke the fast. “We dinnae have enough coin tae pay the king’s taxes. I am forced tae go a begging tae Laird Bain Sutherland tae either petition the King tae give us more time tae pay or tae give us coin himself.”

Seventeen-year-old Isabelle MacKay looked up in concern. The foul, bad-tempered tone of his voice was a warning sign that violence would soon follow. She sat very still, waiting to see what choice he would make. Her mother, Ella, did the same. Everything within Isabelle screamed to run, but she would not leave her mother to face his wrath alone. Fortunately for the both of them, this time he chose not to lash out.

“As he is me friend, I believe that he will grant me his grace. Be ready tae leave within the hour,” he instructed. Standing, he left the house to tell the stable master to prepare the horse and cart, grumbling about the humiliation of a proud Highland man being forced to beg.

“If he did nae drink away all of our money, he would nae have tae beg the King for leniency,” her mother muttered under her breath as they went to prepare for the visit.

“Shh, Mama, he might hear ye,” Isabelle cautioned. She was terrified of getting another beating. The bruises from the last beating her mother had received had not quite healed yet.

“I dinnae care if he hears me,” her mother argued in rebellion, even though they both knew that that was not true.

“Mama, he will beat ye again and I will nae be able tae stop him!” She knew that her mother was terrified but was putting on a brave face for Isabelle’s sake.

“Dae as he has commanded and prepare fer departure,” Ella instructed.

“Why does he wish fer us tae go with him?”

“I dinnae ken, but we must dae as he says.”

They informed the cook to pack enough food for the journey, gathering anything else that they might need, then joined Rory out by the horse and cart. Isabelle climbed into the back of the cart, while her mother sat next to her father. “Are ye nae afraid that the Laird Sutherland will take the horse and cart from ye in payment fer this favor?” Isabelle’s mother dared to ask.

“He will nae dae so if he wishes tae get any money from me in repayment. As our only source of transportation, it would be foolish tae take the mare from me.” As the laird of the Clan MacKay, he should have had many horses, but he had gambled and drank them all away.

Isabelle doubted that the Laird Sutherland or the King would care about her father’s excuses, but she said nothing. They journeyed in silence, only stopping to relieve themselves and water the horses. When they arrived at Sutherland’s fortress, the laird greeted them with happy smiles. “Rory, me friend, tae what dae I owe the honor? Where are yer men?”

Rory dismounted from the cart and handed the mare’s reins to a stable hand. “I have traveled alone so that we might speak in private.”