Chapter 19 #2
Thoughts careened through Islay’s mind as she wondered what she was going to do next.
Part of her wanted to grab Cinaed by the throat and throttle her, getting revenge for all the people who had died in the attack.
But as yet, she did not have proof. She could not punish Cinaed unless she had proof.
“Cinaed! How dae ye say these things! Ye are being disrespectful tae yer laird and lady. Ye cannae speak tae Islay like that. Ye hae no idea what they hae been through,” Kirsten protested.
Cinaed didn’t pay any attention to her, though.
Her gaze and her emotions were fully focused on Islay.
Islay could even feel the air shimmer with hatred.
There was only one way she was going to catch Cinaed, and that was to get Cinaed back to the castle where Islay could reveal everything in front of Callum.
So she lied.
Wearing a pensive expression, Islay pressed her lips together and sighed heavily. “Perhaps ye are right,” she said. Both Cinaed and Kirsten looked shocked.
“What?” they said in unison, although one voice was laced with hope and the other with confusion.
“After all I hae been through, there is still a part of me that yearns for the outdoors.
I thought when I was married, the love I hae for my husband would diminish my other ambitions, but it haes nae.
When I look out there now, I dae still see a world I wish tae explore.
I know I cannae when I am tethered tae a life that I didnae ask for and didnae want.
I thought that I was daeing the right thing for the two clans, but if a wedding cannae even dissuade the bandits from attacking us, then what was the point in me getting married?
Perhaps I was right tae be selfish. After all, who else is gaeing tae give me the life I want?
“And ye are right, Cinaed. I could never love Callum like ye love him. Ye hae been with him all this time, standing beside him. It is only right that yer loyalty be rewarded. We should return tae the keep and speak with him. Perhaps we can find a way to make an agreement that will suit each of us,” Islay said, forcing the lies out of her mouth.
Her heart clutched, afraid that she was being too obvious, but these were the words that Cinaed longed to hear, and her desperate mind was not going to doubt them.
“Yes, ye are wise beyond yer years, Islay. I shall just gae and get myself cleaned up,” Cinaed said, spinning away from the door to style her hair in a more pleasing manner.
As soon as Cinaed was out of earshot, Kirsten clutched Islay’s arm, digging her nails in so tightly that Islay gasped in pain.
“What are ye saying? Surely ye cannae mean this? Hae ye been lying tae me this whole time?” The questions burst out of Kirsten’s mouth like bolts of lightning. Islay checked that Cinaed wasn’t within earshot, but even so, she lowered her voice to a whisper.
“Just play along. I know what I’m daeing.
Trust me,” she said. She did not have time to explain the whole plan because Cinaed came back within moments, looking fresh-faced and relieved.
In her mind, her dreams were coming true, but little did she know that Islay knew the truth, and she wasn’t going to let it go unpunished.
The more she thought about it, the more things made sense.
Cinaed must have offered to help purely for her own benefit.
If Islay had gone then Cinaed would have been left to console a man whose intended wife would have run away from him.
Islay remembered the moment when she had declined Cinaed’s offer.
The shock on Cinaed’s face had been evident.
At the time, Islay had been so touched by the offer of help that she hadn’t dared to look for any sign of disgrace, but now, when she reflected on it, it seemed obvious.
She chastised herself for not seeing it before.
Her mind went back to those many moons ago when Cinaed had approached her, so filled with envy for the girl who had been betrothed to Callum.
Back then, Islay had turned up her nose at the thought of marriage and declared that she was going to find her own path in life.
Little had she known the machinations that were at work in Cinaed’s mind since that day.
Little had she known about the schemes that had been forming, and they could so easily have resulted in Islay’s death.
As they road back, Islay kept a close eye on Cinaed and the area around them.
She was wary of any bandits coming out now that she was certain they worked at the behest of Cinaed.
Cinaed seemed in a happy mood, though. Her hair fell about her back like a slope of fire and she rode proudly, all because she was thinking that she had bent destiny to her own will.
Islay almost sneered in contempt at this woman who had endangered not only her life, but the lives of her sister and father as well.
“I am truly sorry that yer wedding day was disrupted, but I suppose it goes tae show that things werenae meant tae work out. Fate is always good at giving us these wee signs. I hae become familiar with some myself. When we first met, that was a sign.” Cinaed spoke with more lightness in her voice now that she had calmed down.
She acted relaxed, as though she didn’t have a thing in the world to worry about. Islay would soon show her.
“I was sae nervous when I heard that Callum’s betrothed was coming for a visit.
I haed heard stories of ye over the years, of course, but tae actually see ye in the flesh.
Well, I must admit I was relieved when I saw ye were naething but a whelp!
Ye were a wee little thing, and ye were sae adamant that ye wouldnae be married I took it tae heart.
Ye actually inspired me in a way, Islay.
I saw yer strength of spirit and knew that nobody would ever be able tae bend ye tae their will.
Nobody would ever be able tae make ye dae what ye didnae want tae.
I took that attitude for myself and vowed that I would never hae anything less than the best in life.
The fact that ye didnae want tae marry Callum made me realize that one day he would know that as well, and then he would be looking for a wife who could love him.
Ye gave me hope that day—hope that I would end up with the man of my dreams. Every beat of my heart since I can remember has beaten for him, and soon he might actually come tae see it. ”
The words were like poison to Islay’s ears. She silenced her tongue from speaking out against them and lashing Cinaed because she didn’t want to give Cinaed a chance to escape. If Cinaed should suspect that something was wrong, there was nothing stopping her from racing away.
“Aye, well, ye are a wise woman and I’m sure ye will make his dreams come true as well as yer own,” Islay said.
“I’m still nae happy about this,” Kirsten muttered. Islay glanced at her, and Kirsten shrugged.
“Perhaps ye will understand when someone ye love is involved,” Cinaed replied haughtily.
“Or when ye hae any ambition in life. Ye should be more like yer cousin. There is something I’m wondering, Islay...
how was the wedding night? I’m sure ye must hae been far tae tired from the bandit attack tae dae anything,” Cinaed said.
“Ye would be right. Far tae tired. What with me almost being killed and all. All I wanted tae dae was sleep and forget about it all,” Isla said.
“Aye, such a terrible thing, it truly is. I wish that I haed been there. Perhaps I could hae helped,” Cinaed said.
“It’s a shame that ye were ‘ill,’” Kirsten said harshly.
Cinaed turned her neck and pressed her lips together.
“I make no apologies for my absence. It was for yer own good. I fear that if I haed been there, I would hae spoken up and made a scene. It would hae been an embarrassment. It’s better that I stayed tae myself.
But now ye hae given me new hope, Islay. Ye really are a wonder.”
“I’m glad I can help ye. None of us should be unhappy. But Cinaed, will ye dae me one favor?”
“Of course, Islay,” Cinaed smiled brightly. Islay thought she would probably promise anything in the world while having little intention of keeping it.
“When ye grow old with Callum, will ye promise tae try and make him understand that this was done with no malice in my heart? I dinnae want hatred tae fester inside him.”
“Oh, believe me, with me around he wilnae hae any time for anything else other than love,” Cinaed said.
Her words drifted into a throaty laugh as she geed her horse and increased the speed.
The keep rose on the horizon, and Islay clutched the reins tightly.
Soon enough she would have Cinaed right where she wanted her, ready to accuse her of her crimes and get justice.
Cinaed had tried to ruin her wedding day, and now it was time for Islay to ruin the rest of Cinaed’s life.