Page 75 of Once Upon A Haunted Castle
Chapter Seven
They had talkedfor hours, well into last night. Alex had taken care of her wounds again before they sought their bed and it helped the pain and tightness in her skin. Then, he had helped her to her side and lay next to her so carefully, it made her smile. Isabel could feel the caution he used so that his embrace did not hurt her more. He’d wrapped his arms around her so carefully and held her body close to his as they sought rest.
And they’d kissed. And touched. But they sought not a passion consummated but the extraordinary comfort in being alone with each other. With their fingers entwined, her body next to his, even their breaths mingled.
The words spoken had little to do with the danger around or trailing them and more to do with connecting once again where they had left off when they parted more than a month ago. Soft words. Promising words. Silly love words.
Then they had slept. Even with the shutters closed on the small window of the cottage’s wall, she could tell it was now nigh to midday. The fog had thickened yesterday as they rode, covering them but making their journey slower than Alex had hoped. She watched his movements as she sat on the small but comfortable pallet in the corner as he paced the small chamber.
His body was honed and muscled. Lean and tall, he walked with the grace of a predator, light on his feet and always... ready. Garbed or naked, he was a delight to watch.
“This kind of fog means a storm is coming,” she said, finally gathering her wits from her shallow perusal of him. Having lived on the coast surrounded by the sea, Isabel knew the patterns and the signs. A storm could blow in off the sea at any time, but this thick blanketing mist that swirled in the wind foretold of one.
“Aye,” he said, nodding at the sound of the wind. “We are far enough inland that the worst of it should not reach us.” He turned to her and smiled. “And we have enough supplies to keep us fed for a few days here.” Isabel stood and walked to him.
“So this was your plan? To hide here.”
“Nay. This is only a respite. For you to gain your strength for the rest of our journey.”
He leaned over and lifted her chin. A gentle kiss on her lips surprised her. After having to hide their affections, this felt good to her. To be within his reach and to be able to speak to him and to accept his caresses.
“The dark circles under your eyes tell me you are exhausted,” he said softly, kissing her cheeks. “And the way you collapsed into sleep earlier, speaks of your need to rest.”
Her stomach let out a grumble and she watched the smile burst forth on his face. His blue eyes flashed and the smile softened the strong, masculine angles of his face.
“And we should deal with your hunger.” She laughed then, safer and happier than she had been in weeks. The hunger in her belly was a good sign. “There are some bannocks already made.” He crouched down and search through one of the sacks. Finding what he looked for, he held out a smaller parcel to her. “Plain, but they will fill your belly.”
“I fear we might starve if you depend on me to cook,” she admitted. “’Tis a thing I have never learned to do.” She unwrapped the cloth and found some flat oatcakes there. Taking one, she bit into the crisp wafer and chewed.
“You cannot cook?” he asked, mocking filled his tone. “The daughter of The MacLeod has never mastered that skill?” His wink belied his voice. “Well, any good Highlander knows how to make a bannock and a decent porridge.”
“EvenTheMacDonald’sson?” she asked back, laughing.
“Aye, even his beloved second son can do that task.” He accepted the parcel when she handed it back and took a bannock from it. “I will teach you,” he offered.
When her stomach made its emptiness known again, Alex tilted his head back and laughed. “Worry not, I will see your belly filled before we try it.”
The oatcakes were gone within a few minutes, as was a small wedge of cheese he had packed away. He held out a skin of water to her and she quenched her thirst with it.
“Would you like to walk a bit before the rains come?” he asked, holding out his hand to her. “From what I’ve been told, you have been kept in your chamber for most of the last weeks.” She took it and let him help her to her feet. “You might enjoy the brisk air.”
“I would.” That had been the best of part of their journey for her. In spite of its necessity, it had been the first hours she had spent outside a building since... since before....
“You will tell me if I walk too quickly or if you are tired?” he asked.
It felt so wonderful to have someone worrying over her comfort that tears filled her eyes at his words. She could only nod in reply. He lifted the latch on the door and opened it for her. The winds blew and the fog swirled, but she did not care. Guiding her cloak around her shoulders and pulling the hood up, Isabel took his hand as they walked down the hill towards the stream and then along it for a short distance.
Although they had spoken of many things, reacquainting themselves to each other, Alex had not explained the rest of his plan. Or where they would go.
“Tell me, Isabel,” he said before she could say anything. “What do you think your father will do? By now, he knows you are missing and not in the keep or village.”
She shivered then, thinking on his wrath. If he had thought her disobedience was an insult, she could not fathom his reaction to her disappearance. A pang of guilt struck her then, forcing a gasp out to mingle with the mist around them.
“Are you ill?” Alex asked, turning to her, ready to aid her.
“Nay, not me.” Isabel shook her head. “I just realized that I left Evanna and the guard to face my father’s fury.” The food in her stomach rebelled at the thought of what he could and would do to them for failing.
“Either of them would have done whatever they needed to do to you, Isabel,” he said softly, leaning in and touching his lips to her temple. “There was no other way to get you away safely.”
