Chapter 9 #2
Except it wasn’t her father’s decision. Now that she was Iain’s wife, she had to make her influence count, and the first thing she had to do was get him to spare Gavin’s life.
It might be an impossible task, and she feared the damage had been done already, but the only thing she could count on now was Iain’s good heart; the heart that had never wavered in all the time that she had known him.
“I believe it is time for us tae dance. They hae been waiting long enough,” Iain said, offering his hand.
Isla inclined her head and placed her palm in his. An expectant hush fell upon the crowd as the newlyweds took to the middle of the Great Hall. A slow, moving tune filled the air, and they moved around in a traditional dance.
“Iain, I feel as though we must speak…”
“Nae now, Isla. Nae in front of everyone. But aye, I agree,” he said.
Was there a cunning anger seething beneath this visage like her father, or did he wear his emotions plainly, like Gavin?
He danced well, and they put on a fine show for the crowd. As soon as the dance was over, Iain stepped back and bowed, although he kept hold of Isla’s hand. He then lifted it again, presenting her to the clan.
Isla dipped her head and spread out her arms, welcoming their adoration, knowing that she would have received quite the opposite reaction if they knew that the previous night she had been ready to climb out of the window and leave this Keep behind.
Someone’s applause lasted longer than other people’s.
Laird Sinclair emerged from the crowd, joining Isla and Iain in the middle of the room. His voice was loud without being aggressive, and his words reached everyone’s ears.
“Forgive me for interrupting the celebrations for a wee moment, but I wanted tae say a few words. I can think of nae better man tae whom I can trust my daughter, Isla. Iain, ye hae impressed me in every respect. I only wish my own sons were more like ye… but I dinnae wish tae sully this occasion with talk of such matters. Instead, I would like tae suggest that we usher this new era in as swiftly as possible. It is time for ye tae return tae ye chambers and consummate the marriage!” He swept his arms up in the air as he said this, encouraging the crowd to join in.
They all clapped their hands and hollered. Isla dipped her head, wanting to hide the flushed color that appeared on her cheeks. She noticed that Iain’s grip on her hand tensed for a brief moment. She could not tell whether this was due to anticipation or because he was tense.
“Come! Let us march them tae their room!” Laird Sinclair said, gesturing to the musicians to play some more music.
There was a swell of movement and Isla felt as though she was swept along in a tide.
She and Iain were forced to move at the behest of the people.
They were taken to the chamber, the door of which loomed before her.
Laird Sinclair skipped in front of them and opened it for them, bending in a low bow.
This time, when he spoke, his voice was low and his words were meant for only the two of them.
“I shall witness this tae make sure that ye are married in all respects,” he said.
Isla felt sick. Her face paled at the prospect of her father being in the same room with her, and she wracked her mind to think of an excuse. Thankfully, Iain was of the same mind.
“I appreciate all yer help sae far, but I dinnae need yer help in this, my Laird. Please continue tae enjoy the festivities,” Iain said, and then turned to all the people who had followed them.
“My friends, my clansmen, thank ye sae much for sharing this special day with us. I wish I could remain with ye tae celebrate long intae the night, but duty calls,” he said in a way that sounded charming rather than vulgar. “Enjoy the Keep, the music, the wine, and everything else.”
The crowd was quick to turn on their heels and return to the party. Iain leaned to some nearby guards.
“Make sure that everyone returns tae the Great Hall,” he said.
Laird Sinclair’s face showed barely concealed anger as he was shown away. Isla’s satisfaction was only brief, however, because soon enough she was in the room alone with Iain.
The bed seemed massive, and as she settled upon it, she felt lost. How was she going to go through with this? She undid her hair, allowing the copper locks to fall around her face. Iain came to sit with her. The bed creaked under his added weight.
“Ye looked beautiful taeday. Even more beautiful than usual,” Iain said.
“That’s sweet of ye, Iain, but I think perhaps we should speak.”
“This is nae a day tae speak of unhappy matters,” Iain said. A shadow fell across his face.
“But I wish tae explain.”
“Nae explanation is necessary. The matter is well in hand. We found the intruder before he could dae any harm, and he will suffer for his crimes. The important thing is that we were able tae get married.”
“Aye…” Isla said, wondering if it was better to be honest with Iain or give him some version of the truth.
She had to consider her future as well. She placed a hand on his arm.
“Ye were handsome taeday. It was nice seeing everyone happy. I could nae help thinking, though, that sae many of those men will be sent tae war.”
“Isla, please, this is nae a meeting of the elders.”
“Nae, ye are right. But I wonder… in the spirit of our marriage and the future we want tae build, we might show mercy tae our prisoner. The way we treat him would be a symbol tae everyone.”
Iain stared deeply into her eyes and then turned away slightly. “Isla, please, I dinnae want tae speak about these matters now. There is time for all this in the future.”
“I’m sorry,” Isla said, and knew that she was not going to make any progress tonight.
She spread her hand along the bed and breathed deeply, trying to calm the nervous shudders of her heart. Although she was mature beyond her years in many respects and knew a great deal about many things, the ways of love had eluded her.
She had thought about things often, especially on cold, dark nights when thoughts of Gavin crept through her mind. She wasn’t entirely sure what happened. She knew that people pressed their bodies together and then… something happened, although she was not sure what.
She had always supposed she would trust her instincts.
That was the way it was with Gavin. Isla was lost in the moment, in the feeling, but it wasn’t the same with Iain.
Her body was cold with tension, and her mind was filled with thoughts of what she should do and how she should act, analyzing the situation like an observer rather than enjoying it like a participant.
“Ye are nervous,” Iain said, “that is why ye are babbling about all of these things.” He cupped her cheek softly, brushing her hair away from her face.
He was correct, she thought, but it was unlikely he could discern the whole truth. It felt as though she was betraying both Iain and Gavin, although she would have to find a swift way to resolve this inner conflict.
“We hae all our lives ahead of us. It was a long night and a longer day, ye should rest. There is time for this later. I am nae an impatient man. I waited for ye this long, Isla. I can wait a wee bit longer,” he cooed.
He stroked her cheek and then kissed her again, his lips lingering against her right cheek. He lowered her to the bed and pulled the blanket over her, then poured them both some ale. He sat on the edge of the bed, putting some distance between us.
Isla was moved by his kindness.
“It feels strange tae think of those days long ago, when we were just bairns,” he said wistfully.
“Aye, it does. Sometimes it seems like a dream.”
“I used tae dream then, Isla. I think I was always in love with ye, even before I knew what love was. I told Da, and he said that I should nae be in a hurry, but I wish I were. I wish this happened sooner sae that he was here. I miss him dearly.”
“Ye make him proud,” Isla said, remembering his father fondly.
He was always a kind, garrulous man, and she remembered wishing on occasion that her own father was more like him. That was more true now than ever.
Iain pursed his lips. “That’s all I hae ever wanted.
Isla, I want us tae build a future for the clan, the Highlands, but most importantly for ourselves.
I love ye and I ken we made our vows in public, but I want tae make a private one tae ye as well.
I swear that I will be the best husband I can be. ”
He looked at her with wide eyes, and this time there was no disguising his emotion.
“And I will be the best wife I can be,” Isla said, resolving herself to her fate.
A life with Gavin would have been wonderful, but that was not the life she had been given.
Iain blew out the candles.
Isla clutched the blankets tightly and closed her eyes.
Gavin could hear the faint echoes of the wedding.
He stared at the grim walls and the iron bars. He listened to the erratic drip of water and tried to ignore the biting thirst and aching hunger.
Tiredness weighed on his eyes. He had grown used to sleeping while uncomfortable over the years. A hard surface posed no issue for him when he had been used to going to bed with bruises and wounds.
He pictured Isla as a bride and was only sorry that he was not there to greet her as a husband.
It had been foolish to hope. He should have listened to Kirsty when she found him. A man like him was not meant to enjoy victory. His life had been a series of defeats, and that was going to continue. Anything else was a delusion.
Gavin was stirred from his slumber by heavy boots. He opened his eyes, ready to glare at Laird Sinclair, but to his surprise it was someone else.
Iain.
Gavin waited in silence to gauge what Iain was doing. His hand went to his side.
“Ye could nae kill me in front of Isla, sae ye kill me here,” he said.
Iain remained silent, but he did not produce a weapon. Instead, he produced keys. He unlocked the door. The sound was heavy in the silence. Then, he stepped aside.
Gavin furrowed his brow.
“Leave,” Iain said.
“What is this? What kind of trick are ye playing?” Gavin asked.
“I am nae in the habit of playing tricks. This is yer chance tae leave. I suggest ye take it,” Iain said.
Gavin pushed himself to his feet, looking at Iain suspiciously. Perhaps Isla had gotten through to him?
Gavin stepped forward, reaching the threshold of the door, although he paused before he took that final step.
“Why are ye daeing this?” Gavin asked.
“I ken ye dinnae come all the way tae the Keep just tae intrude. I am nae blind. I saw the way ye and Isla looked at each other when we came intae the room. I saw the way she reacted when Renard told me tae kill ye. Ye love her.”
Gavin took a deep breath and arched his head back. He did not deny the words. Iain nodded softly, taking this as confirmation.
“Does she love ye too?” he asked.
“I cannae say what is in her heart. But she is yer wife, and that is the only thing that matters.”
“I wish that were the case. I have kenned her since we were bairns. She was always fearless and wise. She hae taught me much, and every time I made a wish it was always for the same thing, tae marry her. But the funny thing is that I never thought tae wish that she would love me as well. I assumed it would happen naturally, but what is the use of being married if her heart belongs tae another?”
“She hae made her choice. She will nae betray ye.”
Iain hung his head and had a considerate look.
“But nor will she ever be completely mine. I am in an impossible position. If I keep ye locked, then she will always think of ye, her mind will always turn tae the man in the dungeons and I shall never be free of ye. If I kill ye, then I make ye a martyr tae love, and she will resent me for being cruel. Instead, I want her tae believe that ye fled. I want her tae think that ye chose yer own safety and freedom over her. She will be happy here. I will give her everything she needs, the life she deserves. And she will nae hae tae think of what might hae been with ye.”
Gavin met Iain’s eyes and developed a newfound respect for Iain. The Anderson Laird was stronger than Gavin might have assumed. In another life, they might have been allies. He wished that he had reached Iain before Laird Sinclair.
What he said wasn’t unreasonable. It wasn’t as though Gavin could ever give Isla a noble life. Perhaps the best thing he could do was to step away and let her love a better man.
It was as though he were stamping on the final pieces of his heart, grinding them to dust. But without Isla what did he need his heart for anyway?
He’d tried to rescue her and he’d failed. He’d tried to be with her, but she married another man. It was time to let her live her life.
He nodded to Iain and stepped out of the cell. But as he did so, figures emerged from the shadows.
Among them was Laird Sinclair.