Chapter 15
Fennella stood before Isla’s door with some trepidation, raising her fist to knock lightly.
She was in no mood to deal with the woman today.
Last night, after her and Aleck’s exchange, she had fallen into a dreamless sleep, rising well before the sun to spar on her own to rid herself of the nervous energy within.
She hadn’t truly meant what she had said to Aleck, but he had not returned for her to tell him just that. She didn’t regret marrying him at all. He had brought a measure of happiness to her life that she didn’t know she had been missing, her heart thawing each and every day because of him.
Fennella had even started to trust him.
But now he thought she had regretted coming here and because of her unsure words, he was upset with her.
She didn’t like when he was upset with her.
The door opened, causing Fennella to forgo her thoughts for now. “Lady Isla,” she stated, inclining her head.
“Lady Fennella,” the woman replied, her lips pursed. “I assume ’tis you who will accompany me for my daily walk then?”
“I would enjoy showing you our grounds,” Fennella said tightly, emphasizing our to stake her claim to this keep.
And to her wayward husband.
“Of course,” the woman murmured, sliding her tartan over her shoulders. “I imagined after last night that the laird would be the one who would come but ’tis no matter.”
Fennella nearly stumbled on the steps, her heart lodging in her throat. “You saw Aleck?”
The woman tittered with laughter, a smug smile on her face. “Of course. I thought—oh my, did he not tell you? We had a wonderful conversation last night, well into the night I might add.”
Fennella tried and failed not to let her hurt show. That was where Aleck had been last night. She had chased him out of their bed chamber and he had found this woman instead. What did that mean for them?
Did he want this woman? She shook away her traitorous thoughts. Of course he didn’t want his brother’s wife. He had just met her and there were still questions if she was who she was portraying herself to be.
Surely Aleck wouldn’t be that quick to be enamored by her flowery words.
“I say,” Isla said the moment they stepped outside. “This is a fine keep, a fine keep indeed.”
A bolt of pride shot through Fennella. “Aye it is.”
“And a fine laird,” Isla added with a laugh. “I would even venture to say that I enjoy his company over Lachlan’s.”
Fennella clenched her hands together tightly in an effort not to attack the pregnant woman herself.
Every snide remark was like a dagger to her fragile heart, knowing that her husband had not given any words to share his feelings with his own wife.
They enjoyed their time together in bed, but love and affection?
Fennella wasn’t so certain of where his heart lay nor was she certain she wanted it to lay with her.
“A virile laird I imagine,” Isla continued, a smile crossing her face. “Though I wonder, Lady Fennella, why you are not yet with child? Surely the laird would want to have a bairn quickly. That is, if he enjoyed your company.”
The woman was going to cause Fennella to do something horrid indeed! First, she clearly was lusting after the new laird, then to insinuate that Aleck and Fennella’s marriage was not what it seemed.
She wanted to punch the woman square in the face, and likely would have if she wasn’t with child.
“I’ve upset you,” Isla said softly, her malicious eyes twinkling with laughter. “Or perhaps I have struck a chord with you?”
Fennella walked faster, forcing the woman to hurry along and keep up. In her haste, Isla did not see the large mud puddle from the recent rains ahead and Fennella bit back a smile as the woman stepped into it, the water seeping through her boots and nearly touching her ankles. “Oh!”
“Oh my,” Fennella feigned, reaching for her hand to help her out. Isla brushed her extended hand aside as she got out on her own, stomping around to knock the water out of her boots. “I am sorry Lady Isla. You moved so fast I couldn’t give you proper warning.”
Isla looked as if she could lash out and strike Fennella. “You did that on purpose.”
“Of course not,” Fennella shot back. “The puddle is easily seen, well, unless you are unable to see it over your burgeoning stomach.”
The woman’s eyes flashed with anger and she took a step toward Fennella. “You do not belong here. I belong here. Look at you. No one, including your husband, has faith that you should be the lady of this keep. I carry the heir.”
“You might carry the heir,” Fennella started, not backing down. “But I am married to him.”
“We shall see,” Isla said softly, with a cold smile.
“Och what do we have here?”
They both turned to see Aleck striding toward them, his chest bare and glistening from the sweat dotting his skin. Fennella’s mouth went dry as she took in the hard muscles that were on display.
Hers. He was hers.
“My lord,” Isla said, inclining her head. “We were just discussing you.”
“Aye?” he answered, arching a brow in Fennella’s direction. “What say ye Wife?”
Fennella sniffed. “I say you need a bath.”
Aleck threw his head back and laughed, catching the attention of those around them. “Always a vicious remark from ye,” he replied, reaching out to pull her against him. Fennella’s breath left her as she took in his smell, a smell that was truly Aleck’s.
The same smell that wrapped around her whenever he was in bed. “Your viciousness keeps me on my toes lass,” he murmured, pressing a kiss to her temple.
Fennella reveled in his warm touch, hoping that Isla was watching them closely. Regardless of what she thought had happened between her and Aleck, Fennella was showing her that whatever was between them was stronger.
“My lord,” Isla interrupted, forcing Aleck to pull away from Fennella, his hand still on her waist. “I wish to discuss something with you.”
“Go on,” Aleck replied. “I hide nothing from mah wife.”
Fennella’s heart softened at his words. She believed him, believed that he wouldn’t keep secrets from her.
Isla’s mouth twisted at his words, and Fennella watched as the other woman struggled to hide her displeasure. “I was hoping to discuss with you about a more suitable chamber. The one that Lady Fennella put me in is too confining and drafty.”
The snake. “I’m sure mah wife can honor yer request,” Aleck said softly, giving Fennella a squeeze before letting her go. “I will see ye both at dinner.”
Fennella watched as he walked back toward the sparring fields, the sight of him leaving just as powerful as the one of him coming.
“Well Lady Fennella,” Isla stated once Aleck was out of earshot, “you heard your husband.”
Turning toward the woman, Fennella gave her a tight smile. “What about one in the dungeon? Will that suffice for you, Lady Isla?”
The other woman huffed and started back to the keep, leaving Fennella to stare after her. The woman was trouble, that was clear.
Later that evening at dinner, Fennella toyed with the stem of her glass as she watched Isla flirt openly with her husband, having taken Duncan’s seat when he hadn’t arrived first. Fennella had watched the exchange for the better part of an hour, Isla finding every opportunity to touch Aleck, whether it was his hand or his forearm, her fingernails stroking his skin.
More than once, Fennella wanted to throw her wine in the other woman’s face for doing so, but she kept her emotions reined in the best she could. Why had Isla come now, when she and Aleck were just starting to build their marriage?
Why did she have to have lovely features, her curved figure far different from Fennella’s, even with her swollen midsection? She was everything that Fennella was not.
“Once the wee bairn is born, I wish to give it your da’s name,” Isla was saying, her serene smile directed at Aleck.
“What if it is a lass?” he asked, picking up his tankard.
“Then I shall give it your ma’s name,” Isla answered smoothly, her eyelashes fluttering. “After all, I want to honor the name of Lachlan’s parents for without them, I would have never met my beloved.”
Fennella snorted. What a bunch of rubbish.
“Ye have something tae say Wife?”
Her eyes met Aleck and she gave him a shrug of her shoulders. “I would think that a woman as smart as Isla would come up with a better reason to steal your parents’ names, ’tis all.”
“I’m not stealing them,” she shot back, clearing her throat when it cracked. “I am honoring them with the birth of their firstborn grandchild. Something that you have yet to do, Fennella.”
“We have only been married a short while,” Aleck stated, covering Fennella’s hand with his. “One would not expect a child so soon.”
Fennella smiled at his defense of her, glad to see that she hadn’t completely angered him. “I wish to enjoy my husband a bit longer by myself,” she answered, glaring smugly at Isla. “Before we produce our first child.”
“Och,” Duncan laughed, slapping at the table with his hand. “These lasses are declaring war over ye, Brother.”
“There’s no need,” Aleck chuckled, squeezing her hand, his eyes twinkling with laughter. “I know where tae go at night.”
She gave him a faint smile, hoping that his words were true. It wasn’t about losing Aleck to Isla.
It was about losing him to anyone.