Page 46 of The Highlander's Illicit Bride
“They’re bound tae find out at some point.”
“Aye. I ken that,” he replied. “And I’ve been thinkin’ about that.”
Ewan looked at him waiting.
“Havin’ her here as me guest and under me protection is one thing,” he said. “But I dinnae think they’ll honor that protection.”
“I’d say probably nae. So, what is there tae dae about that?”
Struan grimaced. “I’ll nae be able tae refuse their demands tae return Isolde if she’s me guest, but if she’s me wife…”
Ewan’s eyes grew wide. “Ye cannae be serious.”
“’Tis the only way I can guarantee her safety,” he replied. “If I were tae marry her, they’d have nay grounds tae demand her return. She’d be me wife.”
“Without the permission of her faither.”
“’Tis but a tradition,” Struan countered. “I dinnae need his permission tae marry her so long as she agrees and is what she wants.”
“’Tis a reckless course, Struan.”
“Might be the only course I’ve got open tae me if I want tae protect both her and the clan.”
“Ye could always give her back?—”
“Nay. I willnae turn her over tae those bastards.”
“Struan, ye ken where this leads,” he said. “Is she worth goin’ tae war fer? Especially since we havenae yet gotten Finlay back yet.”
Struan sat back in his chair and took a long swallow of his mead, letting his friend’s reasoning go through his mind. He tried sorting through his emotion, tried to separate it from his logical thought, but he could not. They were inextricably linked. He turned to Ewan.
“Gather the Council. We’ve much tae discuss. And even more tae plan fer,” he said. “We will be gettin’ me braither back and we will be denyin’ them any claim tae Isolde.”
“Struan—”
“Dae it, Ewan,” he said abruptly. “Dae it now.”
CHAPTER TWENTY
The water in the tub had been so hot, it bordered on scalding, and Isolde had soaked in it. She luxuriated in the heat that seeped into her bones and the fragrance of rose and lavender that had filled the air. She’d washed away the days’ worth of grime that had accumulated on her skin and let the heat in the water unknot her muscles. There were moments when she’d been out on the road with Struan that Isolde feared she’d never know such luxury again.
Eventually, the heat faded, and she was forced to get out of the tub, albeit reluctantly. Thela and Isa, the two chambermaids Struan had assigned to her, had quickly helped her dry off and then helped her dress in a simple but lovely dress she had brought in her satchel.
“Thank ye so much,” Isolde said.
“’Tis nay trouble at all, miss,” Thela replied with a smile.
Despite the initial misgiving she’d seen in their eyes out in the yard, Thela and Isa had been nothing but polite. They smiled and laughed often and had been nothing but warm and welcoming. The same could be said for Struan’s sister, Mairi, who had treated her like they were friends rather than like she was a complete stranger. The generosity and warmth was completely unexpected and had left her reeling.
As if thinking about Mairi had summoned her, the door to Isolde’s bedchamber opened and the dainty, red-haired sprite swept in. She was bearing a tray loaded with wine and, judging by the sudden aroma of sugary sweetness that filled the air, sweet treats.
“How was yer bath?” Mairi asked as she set the tray down on the table in the corner.
“’Twas lovely. Exactly what I needed,” Isolde replied. “Thank ye so much.”
Mairi waved her away. “’Twas naethin’. Just a bit of hospitality as ye deserve.”
Mairi poured them both a cup of the sweet wine she’d brought as Isolde eyed the array of sweet treats on the tray before her. Lemon cakes, apple and cinnamon sweetcakes, and several others she did not recognize but that smelled amazing all the same. Seeing her practically salivating over the treats, Mairi laughed and handed her a plate and a napkin.
