Page 45 of In Bed with a Scot

“I would like tae take ye and Isabelle back tae Hamilton lands where I can protect ye both from what I fear is tae come. I spoke with Arran about our suspicions pertaining to Bain and Athol’s actions. He cannae approach him without proof, but once he has that proof, things could get dangerous fast.”

“Ye want tae take Isabelle with us?”

“Aye,” Madden nodded firmly. “I am nae leaving her in the hands of that monster. If I take the both of ye home tae Edith, Braden can give me men tae provide support fer Arran.”

“It will nae be easy. Bain has her guarded night and day.”

“Aye, but it can be done. I have been able to find moments with her alone. I can do so again.”

“When would ye want tae leave?”

“Tomorrow. I will need that long tae retrieve Isabelle from her husband’s guards.”

“Now all we have tae dae is survive the night,” Keelin breathed as they turned back towards the castle together.

CHAPTER NINETEEN

Isabelle paced back and forth in her room. Bain had doubled her guard and she had not been able to leave her chamber since the incident over the necklace. She needed to speak with Madden and get it back to assuage Bain’s anger. She touched the ring that Madden had given her concealed inside the bodice of her dress where it hung by a ribbon. She had been foolish in giving him her necklace caught up in the moment of love.

I must retrieve it before Bain realizes what has happened to it.

Opening the door to her room, she peered out into the hallway. The guards that Bain had posted were still there. “May we be of service, me lady?” one of the guards asked and Isabelle searched her mind for an excuse to leave her room that they might not follow her for but could not think of anything. Sighing, she shook her head. “Nay, I just heard a sound and wished tae see what it was.”

“Ah, that was me, me lady. Me apologies fer disturbing ye.” The guard inclined his head in apology, seeming to accept her explanation.

Isabelle wondered just how much her guards knew about why her husband had them watching her or if they were just blindly obeying orders. She was not entirely certain herself why he had doubled her guard, but there had been something particularly dangerous about his tone when he had paid her a visit and asked about her necklace. There had been a hidden message in his words, and she feared the rage that she had seen in his eyes. Closing the door, she continued to pace her room. Walking over to the window, she peered out at the courtyard below. The window was entirely too small for her to squeeze herself through it. It was more of an arrow slit than an actual window if she was being honest.

A knock sounded on the door. “Enter,” Isabelle commanded.

Cara entered the room with a trencher of food. “Yer husband informed the cook that ye would be eating in yer room,” she announced as she entered the bedchamber. Turning, she closed the door behind her and set the tray down on a table beside the bed. “Are ye unwell? Nae one has seen ye all morning. I grew worried that Bain had decided tae take his vengeance out on ye after all.”

Isabelle shook her head. “Nae, I am nae unwell. I am being held prisoner in me own bedchamber.”

“Is there anything that I can dae tae help? I could tell yer braither.”

Isabelle shook her head. “Arran is nae fully healed from his wounds. I dinnae want him tae challenge Bain and be killed in the process. I need tae speak with Madden.”

Cara shook her head. “Bain challenged Madden tae a fight in front of the other fighting men of the clan. They were training on the field, and Bain punched Madden straight in the face. I was nae there, but one of the other men heard Bain tell Madden tae stay away from ye. He was wise enough tae inform yer braither but did nae say anything to anyone else. He told Madden tae stay away from ye until he can discover the truth about what happened.”

“Can ye get a message tae Madden fer me, or better yet, can ye cause a distraction so that I can go tae Madden meself?”

“A distraction? What kind of distraction?”

“I dinnae ken, any kind of distraction.”

Cara stood thinking for a moment. “In truth it would be easier tae deliver a message, but I can see from the desperate look in yer eyes that what ye truly need is tae see Madden fer yerself.”

“Can ye help me?”

“I will try, but what ye are asking is dangerous. If Bain kens what is between ye and Madden, he will end yer life afore Arran, Madden, or I can dae anything tae stop him.”

“It is worth the risk.”

Cara sighed. She stood thinking for a few moments more. “I suppose that I could make them believe that I have fallen and need their help. It would give ye a brief moment tae slip quietly out of the room afore they kenned that ye were gone. How dae ye plan tae return tae the room without them kenning where ye have been?”

“I will worry about that when the time comes.” Isabelle gave Cara a hug in gratitude. “I thank ye fer doing this fer me. Please, be careful. I dinnae wish fer ye tae come tae any harm.”

Cara smiled. “Dinnae fash. All will be well.” Cara returned Isabelle’s hug, then walked back over to the door. Opening it, she stepped out into the hallway and walked past the guards. Just as she was about to reach the stairs, Cara feigned a fall, crying out for help. Just as she had predicted, the guards rushed forward to help her, giving Isabelle just enough time to slip silently from the room and sprint down the hallway to the back stairwell.