Chapter Two #3
“Do what?” Isabella raised her eyebrows.
“Marry Lord Gaunt. Move to Scotland.” Frida folded her arms and met Isabella’s gaze without flinching. She had never been one to back down from a challenge.
Isabella feigned nonchalance. “You moved to Scotland and seem to like it well enough.”
“But I did not marry a man I did not love.”
“And how fortunate you are in that.” Isabella walked away from her sister, fighting back sudden tears. “You and Esme, both. And Mirrie and Tris, of course. Oft-times, it seems I am the only one of us siblings who lives in the real world.”
Frida stayed still, but followed her across the room with her all-seeing blue eyes.
Eyes that seemed to read the secrets of her soul.
“What do you mean by that?” she asked softly.
“I mean that most people marry for land or coin or title. Preferably all three.” Isabella made a show of straightening a tapestry, aware of Frida’s gaze burning into her back.
She spun around and almost winced at the pity shining from her sister’s face.
“Let us not discuss this. You will not understand.”
How could Frida hope to understand? Not one member of her family did. Isabella was near trembling with frustration. It took all her practiced poise to appear calm and in control, when deep down she had a strong desire to rip the tapestries from the wall and wail.
“You could return to Wolvesley. Wait a while. There is no need for you to remarry so quickly.”
Isabella answered with a short laugh. “Until my child-bearing years are done, you mean? Or until my looks have faded?”
Frida shook her head sadly. “You cannot force love.”
“I do not attempt to.” Isabella felt as if she was explaining something simple to a child. “I am happy for your good fortune, Frida. But I do not seek something so grand as love. I only wish to be a wife and mother.”
Something that came so easily to others.
Frida’s face creased with regret. “I see I will be unable to convince you.”
“Quite so.” Isabella nodded.
“In that case, why not ride with me to Greenock? ’Tis not far from our home at Kielder. We are set to depart at noon, but can wait until the morrow if you are not yet ready to leave.” Frida dredged up a smile that did not quite banish the sympathy in her eyes.
Isabella could not countenance several days of such pity.
“Nay. ’Tis kind of you, Frida. But a detour to Greenock would only slow your journey and I know how you long to be back with Callum and the children.” The words fell smoothly from her lips.
Frida inclined her head with a small smile. “I cannot deny that I have missed them all.”
Envy tugged at Isabella’s heart. “Anyway, ’tis all arranged. I am to meet an escort party from Greenock at Ember Hall. Our brother, Jonah, is expecting me.”
“Of course,” Frida shook her head in wonderment. “’Tis strange to think that Jonah is now the man of the house. He only ever came as a guest, but somehow he never left.”
Isabella rubbed at her arms and looked away. “Aye, well, with Esme and Adam so oft at Wolvesley.”
“So Mother can help with the twins,” Frida interrupted, smiling fondly.
“Of course.” Isabella smiled in return, though her smile was rather fixed. “I believe that Jonah has the house half closed up. He has only kept a skeleton staff.”
A thoughtful expression crossed Frida’s blue eyes. “I do not like to think of you journeying so far, with only our intractable brother and a skeleton staff to greet you.”
“What do you imagine could go amiss?” Isabella asked lightly.
Frida opened her arms. “Who knows, as far as Jonah is concerned?”
“All shall be well, I am certain.” Isabella grew weary of the conversation. With so much of her future unsettled and unknown, the prospect of breaking her journey at Ember Hall was the very last thing she wished to debate.
“I must give you a key.” Frida nodded emphatically. “That will make me easier in my mind.”
“Sister, there is no need.” Isabella shook her head, laughter on her lips.
But Frida was not to be reasoned with. “I always carry one, though Ember Hall has not been my home for some years now. You must take it. Put it in your luggage if not on your person.”
“My luggage is being sent on ahead,” Isabella protested. “I will only take what few things I require for the journey in some saddlebags.”
“Then put it in your saddlebags. I will give it to your maid to pack. Please, Bella, do this one thing for me.”
“If you insist.” Isabella forced herself to smile through her mounting frustration.
“I do.” Frida walked lightly across the room and took Isabella’s hands in hers. “Though the fact remains, I am sorry to leave you, sister.”
The warmth in her touch and in her eyes was enough to move Isabella to tears once again. Instead, she leaned forward, pecked her sister on the cheek and hastily withdrew, tightening her shawl. “Mayhap we will visit one another in Scotland.”
“I will make certain of it.” Frida paused. “Will Edward spare a suitable escort to see you safely to Ember Hall?”
“Of course,” Isabella replied airily, though in truth she doubted Edward would spare her many of his men. “Do not worry about me, Frida. I will be perfectly fine.”
She would have to be, for she had no other choice.