Page 106 of The Hawk Laird
“You have. We both have,” he murmured. “But there is more I want to show you, my love. So much more. And we will find the time now, aye?”
“Oh, aye, my love,” she whispered.
Epilogue
James stripped outof his breeches and dove into the water, cleaving the still surface with a soft splash. The chill hit him like a shock, and he rose, gasped for air, and dipped again, gliding through the water. His muscles warmed as he went, his powerful strokes creating wavelets.
He swirled at the far end, kicked out and turned back, glad of the warmer water at that end, where he had piled hot stones. He surged upward to stand chest high, sluicing his hair back.
Isobel stood at the side of the pool, watching him. Torchlight flooded its amber glow over her tall, slender figure, clad in a simple silk shift. She smiled.
“They are all sleeping by now,” she said. “Quentin, Patrick, Janet, Sir Gawain—and Gawain the gos, too. We talked so long after you left us that I thought you might be gone when I got down here.”
He swirled the water with his hand and beckoned. “I would wait for you forever, lass. Come in.”
She tilted her head. “We have visitors to our high crag very soon after our marriage, husband. I was hoping we might be alone longer. Though I love them all dearly,” she added.
“We have been wed a month—and we have matters that need attention. Quentin and Patrick, and Gawain of Avenel too—who is proving a fine ally—brought some interesting news.”
“I know.” She looked down and trailed a toe in the water. “I was glad to hear their news too. Janet said Alice and Eustace aregetting on quite well, did you know? She says they giggle like bairns. Janet thinks it is wonderful. Even Ragnell likes Eustace.”
He laughed. “A very good sign. Alice has been lonesome a long while. What of your father?”
“He went with Henry Rose and Geordie to Aberlady to look over the damage. My father wants to rebuild, but he must consult with the Guardians of the Realm about that. They may ask him to wait for fear of another English attack. If so, he wants to join your band of rogues.”
“He would be welcome now that he is regaining his health. To be honest, years may pass before John or I can hold our own castles again. Wildshaw is still garrisoned, but Sir Gawain and I have a plan. We mean to take it to Robert Bruce, who is gathering forces to help win back Scottish castles.”
“’Twill be yours soon enough, I think. I feel it is so.”
“Do you now? Come in, lass.”
“Quentin said more and more local men are talking of joining you. That may gather enough men one day to take Wildshaw back.”
“I intend that to happen. I will request a meeting with Robert Bruce soon.” He splashed a wavelet toward her. “Come in the water, lass.”
She smiled. “Quentin said Father Hugh left to make a pilgrimage to Dunfermline, and on to Saint Andrews.”
“I know. Father Hugh may go down to Canterbury and then on to Saint James at Compostela. He feels a deep need to cleanse his soul of the pride that he thinks caused his son’s ambition and downfall.”
Isobel dropped down to sit on the edge of the pool, drawing up her hem and swirling her bare legs in the water. “’Tis warm at this end. It may be cold where you are.”
He surged toward her, dipping down to submerge his chest and shoulders in the water. “Come find out what it is like near me,” he said.
“Do you know that Janet still feels the burden of killing Ralph?” She watched the rippling surface of the pool as she spoke. “I did what I could to help comfort her.”
“She did what any of us might have done. But she must find peace with the matter.”
“Patrick asked her to wed him, did you know?”
“That does not surprise me.” He splashed water toward her.
“She refused. Though she loves Patrick, she likes her freedom. She needs time to think.”
“Aye, well,” he said, “some of us take time to decide who to wed. And some of us know from the first moment.” When she cast him a glance, he smiled.
“Did you know from the first moment?” she asked.
“I knew my heart had been breached that first evening,” he said softly. “But it took me a while to accept defeat.”
