Page 47 of When a Highlander Loses His Heart
“Of course nae. ’Tis but a deceit,” the king said in a soothing voice that made Isobel dislike him. “If ye wish,” King David continued, “I can marry the Campbell lass to Gowan as I had intended, but I find the more we talk, the more appeal this suggestion holds. I trust no one as I do yer clan. I would have asked the marriage of Graham or even Cameron before now, but to be frank, I did nae believe either would willingly wed Isobel Campbell, Brigid or nae. I should have kenned the sacrifices ye would make to defeat yer enemy, though, Graham.”
Isobel held her breath waiting to hear what Graham would say, but he did not reply.
“What say ye, Iain?” King David demanded. “Will ye send Lena back to Findlay for now and gain Brigid forever?”
“Graham?” Iain said. “Ye offered this. Are ye willing to do this for revenge?”
For a long, tense moment, Isobel did not think Graham would answer, but then in a voice devoid of emotion, he said, “Aye. I accept what my revenge has brought to me.”
Isobel’s heart thundered against her ribs, and she had lost the ability to draw a proper breath. She gulped shallow, painful gasps of air. She was being married for revenge. She had been a fool to even hope that it would be more than that. For one brief moment in time she had thought perchance Graham would be her sanctuary and maybe she would be his, but the moment was gone.
“Spoken like a man with a king’s mind,” King David said. “Then the marriage will take place. I need to send word to Gowan. I’ll give him land to appease him. I’ll return shortly once the messenger has departed, and we can make further intentions regarding Brigid.”
Cameron jerked on Isobel’s hand at the sound of movement from within, and before she could react, she was being dragged into a shadowy alcove under the stairs. Cameron shoved her deep inside the small space and then pressed into the darkness with her. Cobwebs brushed her face and dust filled her nose when she inhaled, but she did her best not to move as the great hall door creaked open and then footsteps tapped up the stairs, first loud and then fading into nothingness.
The great hall door slammed, and Cameron tugged her out, but when he started toward the stairs, she pulled back.
“Come,” he hissed. “Ye must ready yerself for the wedding.”
“I am,” she snapped, looking at the closed door. She would know her future husband, her enemy. She started toward the door only to be abruptly pulled back.
“Ye kinnae go in there,” Cameron said in a low growl.
She faced him. “I’ve nae any intention of entering the great hall. I wish to listen more.” Once again she started away, but Cameron gripped her arm.
“Isobel,” he said quietly. “We must away. They will be coming for ye to marry ye soon.”
She nodded. “I ken. Release me,” she demanded, trying to make her voice sound as unbending as the ones she had heard Graham and Iain use. When Cameron simply narrowed his eyes at her, she added, “Release me or I will scream, and then yer brother will ken that ye did nae follow his command.” She felt bad about the threat, truly she did, but being obedient had not done much for her in the past.
Cameron glowered at her. “Be quick, aye? If Graham discovers us here, I’ll nae be the only one who receives discipline.”
She didn’t doubt Cameron’s words. With a nod, she moved near the door once more. She looked over her shoulder at Cameron. He stood near the stairs watching, she was sure, for the king’s return. Murmured voices came from within the great hall, and Isobel’s frustration mounted as she could not quite discern what they were saying, but then she caught a sentence.
“We are agreed,” Iain stated.
She clenched her teeth. Were they referring to coldheartedly sending their sister back to Findlay or something else?
“Aye,” Graham replied. “We will send word immediately to Alex MacLean to see if he will aid us in making it appear that Lena was taken by renegades on the road back to Innis Chonnell.”
Isobel sagged with relief. She did not want Lena returned to Findlay, though Isobel knew well this meant they were purposely defying the king.
“Findlay will suspect and come for her,” Iain said.
“Aye,” came Graham’s and Lachlan’s replies.
“And then,” Lachlan said, “when Findlay tries to kill us—as we all ken he will—we will end his life for his past crimes against our sister and the many more we ken in our hearts he has plotted for her.” He paused. “Should we be concerned about the king, Iain?”
“Nay. What David dunnae ken for certain, he will nay take umbrage to. With Findlay gone, it will be one less Campbell the king has to fash about conspiring against him, and that will please David. In truth, I do believe David fully expected us nae to comply with sending Lena.”
“Then why did he demand it?” Graham growled.
“He must,” Iain replied simply. “Just as he must feign he did nae ken we were taking Isobel Campbell in the first place. He plays a game, my brothers; he always has. He kens he can trust us to rule Brigid, even as he kens the best thing for Scotland is to try to avoid a war for the throne. He attempted to do that by using the Campbell to learn who else conspires against him and by giving us Brigid. He could not appear as if he was nae trying to appease the Campbell, though, so he demands what he kens we will nae ever give. He will look the other way when Lena disappears.”
“Ye could nae have plotted our revenge better, Graham,” Lachlan said, making Isobel blanch at the cold truth. “I am sorry I ever doubted ye. Dunnae delay taking the lass and making the marriage true.”
Isobel shrank away from the door, horrified. She whirled around toward Cameron. “I’ve heard enough,” she said, her voice no more than a whisper of hurt. “Please see me to Marion.”
Concern filled Cameron’s face. “Isobel, what did ye hear?”
