Chapter Sixteen #2
But she didn’t have to say a word; Cam was already heading in her direction, looking quite concerned.
“Isadora?” he said as he came near, reaching out to steady her. “What’s wrong?”
Now that she was safe, Isadora realized that she was close to tears. “I was attacked,” she said. “A man… He came out of the trees and grabbed me.”
The concern on Cam’s face turned to something else, something dark and dangerous. “Who dared touch ye?” he demanded. “Did he hurt ye? Is that why ye’re limping?”
Isadora shook her head, clutching him. “Nay,” she said. “He dinna hurt me. I hurt my ankle when I fell. But he pulled a dirk on me. He was going tae kill me.”
Cam growled low in his throat. “Where is he?”
She pointed back to the trees over to the northwest. “In the trees,” she said. “I hit him in the head with a club so I could get away.”
Cam’s expression was deadly. “Wait here.”
With that, he headed back into the trees, leaving Isadora standing there, wondering what he was going to do. His chivalry had not gone unnoticed; Isadora had spent her entire life defending herself and others, so to have someone stand up for her was both touching and strange.
But wholly wonderful.
Nervously, Isadora waited until Cam finally emerged from the trees. He was alone. Grabbing hold of her as he drew near, he turned her toward the village.
“With me, now,” he said in a low voice.
He was moving swiftly, pulling her along and finally putting a supporting arm around Isadora when she continued to limp.
She had no idea why he should move so quickly, or so forcefully, and it was rather concerning.
She thought that perhaps her victim had regained consciousness and Cam was trying to protect her, so she moved with him gladly.
They reached Cam’s cottage on the edge of the village compound and he quickly ushered her inside, shutting the door behind them and throwing the iron bolt. It was dark inside as he fumbled for a fire steel and stone.
“What is wrong?” Isadora’s curiosity had the better of her. “Is the man looking for me?”
Cam lit the oil lamp and a soft glow filled the tiny cottage. “Did anyone else see ye leave the trees? Anyone at all?”
Isadora shook her head. “Nay,” she said. “What is wrong?”
Cam turned for the brazier. There were still some coals in it and he stirred them a bit, bringing forth a tiny blaze.
“The man in the trees is dead,” he said after a moment. “I saw the club ye hit him with. How hard did ye hit him, Isadora?”
Isadora was torn between shock and fear. “Hard enough so he wouldna get back up and hurt me.”
“Did ye hit him more than once?”
“Aye. I couldna risk him getting up and using his dirk on me.”
Cam nodded. “I saw his weapon. Ye crushed his skull, lass.”
Isadora’s eyes widened as she realized what she’d done. “Had I not defended myself, he would have killed me!”
Cam put a hand up to ease her because she was becoming quite upset.
“I believe ye,” he said. “But the fact remains that the man is dead. Since no one saw ye, dunna mention that ye saw the man or know of him. Deny everything. I am not entirely sure that Sir Clegg would be understanding if he knew ye murdered one of his wealthy gamblers, even if it was in self-defense.”
Isadora let his words sink in. She hadn’t meant to kill the brute, but she wasn’t sorry she had. The man would have killed her, given the chance. Emitting a hissing sigh, she suddenly plopped down onto the ground as if all her strength had abruptly left her.
“I dinna mean tae kill him, simply disable him so I could run away,” she said, peering up at Cam. “Is he really dead?”
“Definitely. Ye hit him so hard that ye cracked his skull open.”
“And ye left him where he fell?”
Cam nodded. But then, he dug into his long tunic and pulled forth a pouch made from embroidered silk. He tossed it to her, and she heard it jingle when she caught it.
“I took his purse,” he said. “I thought tae make his death look like a robbery. If it looks like a robbery, then I am sure any inquisition will end there. There are hundreds of men here tonight and rather than risk insulting them, my guess is that Clegg will keep the matter quiet. Clegg wants his patrons tae enjoy themselves, not be interrogated for murder.”
Isadora looked at him in shock before opening the silk purse to find dozens of silver coins. It was a good deal of money. “What are ye going tae do with all of this money?”
“’Tis yer money now,” he said. “Put it in a kerchief or in yer shoe. I will burn the purse so no trace remains, but ye’re tae keep the money for a reason.”
“What reason?”
“Me.”
Her eyebrows lifted. “What do ye mean?”
Cam sat down on the edge of his bed, his eyes never leaving her face. “Ye told me that yer father is here tae buy a warrior,” he said. “Ye told me that ye think I have the strength he needs. I told ye I wasna ready for such a thing, but I have reconsidered.”
Isadora perked up when she realized what he was saying. “Then ye would be agreeable tae coming tae Auchnacree?” she said eagerly. “Ye may not be skilled yet, but ye have a strength, Cam. I told ye that. What ye dunna know, I can help ye with.”
He wasn’t as excited about it as she was, not in the least. In fact, he seemed rather unexcited, as if discussing nothing more than a simple business transaction. He pointed to the coins.
“I dunna know how much Sir Clegg will want for my freedom,” he said. “Add that tae whatever money ye brought with ye. Make him an offer with it.”
Isadora looked at the money in the purse. “It may not be as easy as that,” she said. “My da… he’s been watching ye fight. I’ve tried tae have him watch more frequently, but he wants tae watch the more advanced warriors. He has his eye on the man ye fought, the one they call The Beast.”
“The Beast is impressive,” he admitted. “But I can be impressive, too. There are fights scheduled on the morrow in honor of the pagan god no one has ever heard of. I’ll fight tomorrow. Make sure yer da is there tae see me.”
Isadora had hope in her eyes. “I will,” she said. “Do… do ye truly want tae return with us? Tae Auchnacree, that is. ’Twould almost be like going home for ye.”
There was absolutely nothing in his eyes or expression that suggested he was eager about it, or happy about it, or even wanted it. But he nodded his head.
“I want tae go with ye.”
Isadora was thrilled. It was exactly what she wanted to hear. Even if he didn’t appear excited about it, she didn’t care. She was excited about it. Now, she had Cam’s agreement. All she needed was her father’s.
And she was going to get it.
Quickly, she poured the silver coins from the stolen purse into her hose before tossing the silk purse into the brazier at Cam’s instruction. As it burned, she turned to Cam, still sitting in the shadows of his dim cottage. He seemed lost in thought, withdrawn. Quietly, she knelt at his feet.
“Tell me again,” she said softly.
He looked at her curiously. “What?”
“That ye want tae go with me,” she said. “Tell me ye love me and that this will be a new start for us. Ye said once ye wanted tae marry me, Cam. Have ye changed yer mind?”
He simply looked at her for a long, uneasy moment. “Nay,” he finally said. “I’ve not changed my mind. I still want tae marry ye.”
“When?”
“When I know yer father better. Then it will not be a stranger asking for yer hand in marriage.”
His answer made Isadora’s heart swell with joy, but there wasn’t the warmth behind it that she usually sensed coming from him. Since their conversation when he asked of her clan, something in his eyes had darkened.
Hardened.
Reaching out, she grasped him by the hand. “Then tell me what is troubling ye,” she whispered. “I know I did something terrible tonight, but had I not done it, it would be me lying dead in the trees and not that man. Is that what bothers ye?”
Usually, he squeezed her hands, but at the moment, he wasn’t responding to her. “Of course not. Ye did what ye had tae do.”
“Then what?” she pleaded. “Is it because ye know where I’m from? Because I finally told ye that I come from a little village in the hills? I told ye once I dinna want tae tell ye and ye told me it dinna matter. Did ye lie tae me, then?”
The focus was on Cam now and he looked away, unable to look her in the eye.
What could he tell her? That he was sworn to destroy her clan, the very people she held dear?
If he told her any of that, their fragile young love would be at an end.
As much as he hated the Keith, he didn’t hate them enough to lose Isadora.
He would lose her soon enough when he killed those responsible for his grandfather’s death.
He had no doubt.
Until then, he wasn’t strong enough to end what had grown between them, for his own sake. He would continue to love her until the moment he had his vengeance. After that…
He couldn’t think about after that.
He could only think of the now.
“Nay,” he said, turning to look at her distressed face. “I dinna lie tae ye. But I dunna want tae speak of it now, do ye hear? Not now, not ever. Dunna ever ask me again, Isadora. Please.”
He was begging her. He must have had distress written all over his face because she instinctively moved in to comfort him. The next Cam realized, Isadora’s lips were slanting over his.
Instinctively, he responded to her. He put his arms around her, pulling her body against his, loving the woman more than words could express. But it wasn’t more than the vengeance in his heart.
For the moment, that was stronger than the both of them.
“All ye ever need know is how much I love ye,” Isadora whispered, her mouth against his. “I’ll love ye until the stars fall from the heavens. Let me show ye how much.”
Her declaration broke down his resistance. Without a second thought, Cam picked Isadora up and laid her upon the bed, his big body covering hers as the firelight reflected off their features. His mouth drifted away from hers, to her neck, to her delicate shoulders.