Page 21 of Taken By her Highland Enemy

Chapter Eleven

Isabelle watched the fading figures of the two men that Eamon had just sent off to scout for her father. Fear seized her chest. Her mind had been so full of dreams and Eamon’s kiss that she hadn’t spent enough time being sensible. In the light of day, once she saw Eamon take action to get word to her father, she knew she had to act quickly.

Her mind needed to work to think of a plan. She scolded herself for her nighttime flights of fancy, which had kept her awake and clouded her judgment. She approached Eamon to tell him that he should have asked her for her opinion on what to do next. Once the words were said, she felt completely silly. He was right. She was pretending as if the kidnapping was all her idea. While it was, she couldn’t have Eamon thinking that, or else he would think her ridiculous.

Why should that matter when people’s lives are on the line?She scolded herself again. Eamon looked at her as if she was the most curious woman in the world. “Of course, they will be in danger. We are all in danger, lass, every moment we spend in running from your father. But they are intelligent men and good fighters. They are part of The Scots. They know what they do.”

Isabelle tried not to let her fear show too much on her face. “It is just that they are two men, instead of all of us going as a group. My father can be rather wily when he desires to be, especially when it comes to ambush. If he sees your men, he will certainly endeavor to capture them. You know that he will succeed.”

Eamon’s expression darkened, and Isabelle worried that she was too direct. But she knew that if her father had survived the village attack yesterday, he would be spewing with rage and would do far worse things to get his revenge than he had done before. It was a frightening thought, and her heart went out to the two unlucky men who had just potentially been sent to their deaths.

Eamon’s voice was at a dangerous level. “Lass, ye may need tae be tied up if ye are tae continue tae spread fear in my men and speak out of turn. Ye have naught tae do except wait for yer eventual return tae yer father.”

Isabelle wanted to stamp her foot into the ground. She needed to dress up as the spy and meet with Eamon as soon as possible. Being a woman, she knew that none of the men would take her warnings seriously, and her anger burned at Eamon. She had hoped he was different than the others, but perhaps she was wrong.

He had seemed so honorable and so wise. She thought he would listen to reason, but apparently not. She left him in a huff, returning to sit with Arya closer to the fire. “These men, Arya, they think they can handle everything themselves. They will hear of no suggestions or help from another, especially a woman.”

Arya smiled as she stared off at the men practicing their swords. “I can tell you desire to return to your male state, Mistress.”

“You know that I do. And I think it must be tonight.”

Arya turned to her. “How could you possibly do that? You have seen the way they guard the camp at night. You would never get away! And what am I to say once they find you missing?” Isabelle’s heart softened at the sight of Arya’s frightened eyes.

“I know it sounds ridiculous, but I have to try. I need to find out whether or not his men succeeded. If they are captured, then I at least can know where they are being kept.”

“Mistress, how will you get there without a horse? It will be too far to run!”

Isabelle’s heart sank. She hadn’t thought about that in her haste. “You are right. Perhaps I can steal one of the horses from here? Just for the evening?”

Arya’s mouth became a sharp line. “No, Mistress. I am sorry to respond so, but I am concerned for your safety. I beg you not to take such a risk. If you are caught, then Lord knows what the men will do to you.”

Isabelle tapped a fingertip to her mouth. “Do not worry, Arya. I will think of something. We cannot send those men off to their deaths, not if I can do something to help them.”

Arya nodded, satisfied for the moment. “By the way, Mistress, what happened yesterday evening? You mentioned something that filled your mind so much you could not sleep?”

Isabelle grinned. “I do not know if I should share with you, since I am Mistress and you are my lady’s maid.”

Arya crossed her arms. “I sometimes wish I could play the role of only a lady’s maid and brush your hair and help you to dress with none of these dangerous missions.”

Isabelle laughed and looked up into the blue sky, thinking back to yesterday. “It was a surprise, but you remember when he took me off into the woods away from the crowd to discuss something.”

“Yes, I remember. The men kept laughing amongst themselves. I was worried at first, but I had faith you could handle him on your own. And he did not look like such a man to do anything untoward.”

“Besides the willingness to kidnap, of course.” Isabelle kept smiling, the feelings from yesterday’s kiss renewed in her. “He wanted to test me to see if I was a true victim or if my father had sent us to be caught. He was confused about why both you and I were not afraid of our capture. He was also concerned about the lack of the boy’s appearance at the stables.”

“And what did you tell him?” Isabelle could tell by Arya’s strained voice, that she was nervous.

“Do not be concerned, my friend. I told him that I was not a trap and that I knew nothing of the boy’s plans. I said the boy was with my father as he should be during the riot.”

Arya visibly relaxed. “Surely, that is not what kept you up all night?” Arya’s eyebrow lifted in a query.

Isabelle blushed a little. “Most certainly not. One moment we were arguing, if that is what you could call it, and then the next minute, he grabbed me and kissed me.”

Arya’s hand fluttered to her lips. “Mistress! Are you all right? I know that you have never been kissed before. Did he hurt you?”

Isabelle playfully pushed away Arya’s hand. “Arya, it was not like that. I kissed him back.”

Arya watched her for a moment and then burst into laughter. “Well, this little plan of yours is going much better than expected, do you not think?” Isabelle sighed and looked up at the sky again, enjoying the feel of the warm sun on her face.

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