Chapter 15
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
O nce he shut the door behind him, Ella hurried over to Isla and set the bowl of hot water down on the table. The two friends embraced warmly. When they parted, Ella stood back and put her hands gently on her friend’s shoulders, scrutinizing her face. “I’ve been worried sick about ye, Isla,” she said. “I thought ye were locked up in the siege with everyone else. I almost lost me mind when I saw it was ye under that hood. What the hell are ye up tae? And who’s that braw fella who brought ye here?”
“’Tis Laird Ballentine,” Isla answered.
“Ewan Ballentine? The very same enemy laird who’s layin’ siege tae the castle right now?” Ella whispered, her eyes wide with astonishment.
“Aye, that’s him,” Isla replied, supposing it must sound mad to her friend. So, to make things clearer, while Ella tended to her injury, she quickly explained everything that had happened since she decided to leave the castle in order to assassinate him.
Ella’s eyebrows rose higher with every word. “What! Are ye mad? Ye mean tae say ye’ve been livin’ in the enemy army camp and sharin’ a tent with Ewan bloody Ballentine this whole time?”
“That wasnae me original plan, but aye. After I tried tae kill him, Ewan gave me a choice. He could execute me then and there as a spy, give me tae his men, or stay as his captive so that I could not threaten his life again.”
“Nae much of a choice,” Ella replied as she finished cleaning Isla’s wound. “But I havetae say, Isla, ye dinnae seem much of a captive. And Ballentine seems genuinely worried about ye, enough tae bring ye here anyway. I was always told he’s a cold, ruthless man.”
“Aye, I thought that too. And he can be like that. I mean, he’s a laird.” She struggled to find a way to articulate for her friend her relationship with Ewan. “’Tis a strange situation, tae be sure. But now I’ve spent so much time with him, I’ve seen other sides tae him.” She could not quite keep her affection for him out of her voice. “He’s nae a bad man, Ella.”
Ella, who was gently applying salve to Isla’s wound, picked up on it immediately. “Isla, ye sound like ye’re soft on the man.”
“I’m nae soft on him!” Isla protested, and she was about to continue with her denial when she suddenly stopped. “I’m so confused. I dinnae ken what I feel any more. I’m loyal tae Gregory, tae our clan, of course, I am. That was why I left the castle and set out tae kill Ewan in the first place. I wanted tae prevent Gregory from havin’ tae fight in this war anymore. I wanted tae keep him safe, and I thought I could do that by killing Ewan.
“But now I see Ewan wasnae the cause of this war at all, it was Laird Allan. He stole Ewan’s land and then made out it was Ewan who stole it from him. He’s the criminal, but somehow, he convinced Gregory tae side with him. Gregory’s been expectin’ Allan tae send troops to help him fight off Ewan’s army, but he’s nae sent a single one, and the siege has been goin’ on fer over three weeks now! Ewan says Allan’s just bidin’ his time, waitin’ ’til both our armies are weak from fighting each other, and then he’s gonnae take over both clans.”
“What?!” Ella cried, pausing in her work, staring round-eyed at Isla.
Isla nodded. “Aye, and I believe him. He’s a good man, Ella, an honorable man. He could have killed me, but he let me live instead because his honor wouldnae let him murder a woman. He’s lied tae his men fer me, protected me, let me become part of his army. He’s been kind tae me. He tried tae get Gregory tae make peace with him, but me braither refused tae listen tae the truth about Allan. Ewan was very disappointed. But he still wanted tae avoid bloodshed, and that’s why he thought of the siege, as a way of savin’ lives,” Isla said with a passion that surprised her.
“All right, calm down, I believe ye. He does seem like a good man and he’s awful braw,” Ella replied, putting the lid carefully back on the pot of salve and setting it aside.
Despite her throbbing head, Isla smiled and said musingly, “Aye, he is, isnae he? Very braw. And so clever too. He sees the way ahead so clearly. That’s the trouble. He’s dangerous. He thinks of things I never would.”
Ella chuckled. “Hmm, like I said, sounds like yer soft on him.”
“Is it so obvious? I cannae help it, Ella! I didnae mean tae, but I’ve grown so fond of him. But me loyalties are torn in two the whole time. I feel like I’m betrayin’ Gregory and me clan by sympathizing with Ewan’s cause. But Ewan’s cause is just! He’s nae the warmonger or thief everyone’s been led tae think he is. Ach, ’tis all so wrong!” She threw up her hands, half in despair, half in confusion.
“I dinnae blame ye fer bein’ confused. This is a very difficult situation ye find yersel’ in, I understand that. ’Tis a unique situation that ye’ve made the best of so far. Ewan clearly thinks a lot of ye.”
“D’ye think so?” Isla’s heart warmed at the notion.
“Aye, I dae. But there’s nae book of instructions tellin’ ye what tae dae,” Ella pointed out.
“So, what should I dae, Ella? Tell me, please. I’ve had nay one tae confide in, and I really need yer advice,” Isla replied earnestly.
“Ye’ve a good heart, Isla. As yer friend, all I can tell ye tae dae is tae trust it.” Ella inspected her handiwork and brushed Isla hair back into place with gentle fingers. “Right, that’s all good. I’ll give ye some salve, some willow-bark tea fer the pain, and some extra dressin’s tae take back with ye. Keep the wound nice and clean, and with luck, ye’ll only have a small scar. It’ll add tae yer mystique,” she added with a playful wink.
Isla batted at Ella’s arm. “Ye goose! What mystique? Och, I suppose I dae have a wee bit when I’m disguised as Harris and everyone in the camp thinks I’m a lad.” They chuckled over that for a few moments but then grew serious again. “Ye should hear me pretend tae speak like a lad.”
Ella made up some willow-bark tea and had Isla drink a cup immediately to help ease her headache. While they were talking quietly, there was a gentle tap on the door. It opened a crack, and Ewan’s head appeared around the edge. “Are ye done yet?” he asked, unusually hesitant.
“Come in, come in. Aye, she’s done. She’ll be good as new after a week or so,” Ella declared, smiling warmly at him as he stepped inside.
“D’ye think there’s a chance she could have a concussion?” he asked, going over to them and peering at Isla. Her heart melted when she saw the worry in his eyes.
“’Tis impossible tae say. I advise ye tae keep her awake fer as long as ye can tonight. And when she falls asleep, try wakin’ her up every couple of hours, just tae make sure. If she seems feverish, or gets sick and dizzy, or her eyes seem dull, send fer me at once.”
The broad smile of relief that broke out on Ewan’s face had Isla’s heart fluttering in her chest. She felt a great wave of affection flow from her heart towards him. “Thank ye, thank ye so much. I was very worried about her,” he said, looking into Isla’s eyes and squeezing her hand. She found herself squeezing it back and beaming at him.
Soon after that, they took their leave of Ella, with Isla bidding her friend a polite, grateful goodbye fitting for two people who had only just met. “I’ll come back and see ye as soon as I can,” she whispered to her friend when Ewan stepped away to untie the horse and helped her up into the saddle once more.
Her headache was starting to recede, so she simply gave in to the tiredness that overcame her, letting herself loll against his warm, broad chest as they rode back. She forgot all their troubles and dozed off, lulled by the steady beating of his heart beneath his coat and the rhythmic clopping of the horse’s hooves.
“Annie, Annie, wake up.” The deep, gentle voice broke into her sleep.
“Hmm, what is it? Is it mornin’?” she murmured, disoriented.
A slow, rumbling chuckle resonated in her ear. “Nay.”
She opened her eyes, surprised to find it was still nighttime and the moon was shining high above. She looked up at Ewan and realized where she was.
“We’re halfway back tae the camp,” he said, his eyes soft as he gazed down on her. “Ye need tae change out of yer dress and back intae Harris’s clothes.”
“Och, aye, I remember,” she murmured, stirring in his arms, trying to sit up between the hard, muscular thighs enclosing her. He slid from the saddle and lifted her down, his hands easily spanning her waist. She put her hands on his forearms to steady herself, saying, “Thank ye. And thank ye for takin’ me tae see the healer too. I’m glad ye did. Me headache’s almost gone now.”
“I’m pleased tae hear it. She was very kind, and I’m glad ye’re feelin’ better. Now, can ye remember where ye hid yer clothes?”
She scrunched up her face, trying to think. “I’m nae sure.”
“Shall I come with ye?”
“Would ye mind? I think I put them at the base of a big old oak, among the roots.”
“Well, this is the wee path ye took intae the trees. Did ye go far in?”
She shook her head and instantly regretted it. “Nay, about ten feet maybe, straight ahead on the path.”
“Come on, then. Let’s go look for them.” He started off down the narrow track. Acting on instinct, Isla caught hold of his hand as she followed him into the trees. It felt good when his large, warm palm closed around hers. They followed the track for a short way and soon came to a small clearing, in the middle of which was the oak tree.
“Here it is,” Isla said, going to gather the bundle of clothing she had concealed there earlier. However, she felt so weary she could hardly get out of the gown and into Harris’ garb.
“D’ye need some help with that?” Ewan asked after watching her fumble with the front lacing for a few moments.
“Aye, I think that willow-bark tea has made me sleepy,” she replied, yawning and going to stand in front of him. She waited docilely while he undid the fastenings for her. When they were undone, she held his hand again while he helped her step out of the gown. Feeling faintly ridiculous in nothing but her shift, woolen stockings, and boots, she laughed.
“What’s funny?” he asked, patiently holding her trousers out for her to put her legs in, like a parent dressing a child. She leaned a hand on his shoulder for balance, enjoying the tingling sensation his gentle touches left in their wake.
“I feel a bit ridiculous, standing here in me shift and naethin’ else but me stockin’s and boots.”
“Ye dinnae look at all ridiculous,” he told her, giving her one of the crooked smiles she had grown so used to and which always made her feel funny inside. He pulled up the trousers and fastened them at her waist. “Ye look… sweet, with yer plait and that wee bandage on yer head.”
She giggled. “Sweet?!” He held up her waistcoat, and she turned around to shrug into it.
“Aye, sweet little Annie, me would-be assassin. What would I dae without ye, eh?”
Before she could stop herself she said, “Luckily, ye dinnae havetae find out.”
There was a strange silence as Ewan assisted her into her uniform coat, tied her kerchief around her neck, and placed her old woolen cap on her head. Taking care not to hurt her, he pulled it down low and carefully tucked her thick golden plait out of sight.
“There. That’ll dae,” he said, patting her gently on the head.
Isla was genuinely touched by his tender ministrations. “Thank ye, Ewan. Ye’ve taken care of me so well tonight, I’m grateful. I’m sorry I’ve been such a nuisance, and ye didnae get the information ye wanted.”
“Who said I didnae?” he asked as he led her back along the track to the lane, to where the horse was nibbling on the grassy verge.
The closeness Isla had felt with him seconds ago evaporated, and she was instantly alert. “But I was with ye the whole time.” Frowning with worry, her head starting to ache again, she let him pull her up into the saddle front of him.
“Sometimes ’tis the things folks dinnae say that tell ye what ye wantae ken,” he said enigmatically.
All the way back to the camp, she was silent, wondering what on earth he meant by that, and whatever it was, what the consequences might be for Gregory and everyone else who was being held captive in the castle.