Page 8 of Dark Side of the Laird
“Not, yet. But ye will be.” I pressed my palms to her cheeks and kissed her thoroughly, pulling back only with regret. “Now, I must be off. Ewan is most likely waiting in my solar for me.”
“I’ll go and see Cook,” Emma said, her voice showing a bit more enthusiasm than before.
I gripped her by the hand and we stepped to her chamber door, glancing up and down the corridor before exiting. “All clear,” I murmured.
Sadly, we had to look before leaving any room in hopes of catching spies and would-be attackers.
“Not really,” Emma said.
I turned to see that she watched Isabella making her way toward us from the opposite end of the corridor.
Coldness settled around my heart. Every bit of warmth and happiness I’d found inside the room with Emma was leached from me in the moment I met Lady Isabella’s eyes. She was a ruthless woman. Calculating, and from the triumphant look on her face, she was confident she’d already won.
I gritted my teeth. “Damn.”
3
Emma
My heart leapt into my throat, choking me.
Slow suffocation by nerves and hate.
I tugged my hand from Logan’s, observing the triumphant smirk on Isabella’s face. My fingers automatically curled into a fist I longed to use and knew all too well, I’d never be allowed to.
What did she have to be triumphant about? That she’d caught us? At this point, who gave a shit if she knew?
I swallowed, feeling Logan stiffen beside me, as bunched up and tense as I was. I forced my face to remain placid, certain every thought raced over my features. I never wanted to reveal myself to her.
“There ye are, Logan,” Isabella purred. The heels of her slippers clicked softly on the floor, muting as she walked over a tapestry rug. The jewels on her gown glinted in the torchlight as did the ones dripping from her ears and neck.
Logan grunted.
“I’ve been looking for you since ye were not outside to wish our king well.” Her glossy hair swayed softly, seductively as she came to a stop in front of us. If I didn’t hate her, I might be mesmerized by her. She was beautiful, elegant, the very picture of what young girls who dressed up for tea parties wanted to emulate—all except her cruel and sad heart.
“We spoke before he departed. Did ye need something?” Logan’s tone was brusque, dismissive.
I couldn’t help feeling a little triumphant myself, and hid the smile that inched up the corner of my lip with a little frown. Isabella’s confidence swayed physically, her face as open as a book—as open as mine had been moments before. The corner of her eye twitched as did her lip as she flicked her gaze at me for a split-second before turning back to Logan.
“Aye, there is something I need.” The book of her emotions closed, and the ice queen returned. I would like to ride the grounds. I thought mayhap it best if I were to ride with ye. I’d get a better account of everything if ye were to show me.” Her voice ended on a suffocating purr.
Why did women feel the need to lure men in with seductive voice changes? Made me feel a little less feminine, though I shouldn’t be. Logan was attracted to me because I was me. Because I wasn’t afraid to show my true colors, and because I didn’t tempt him with fantasies—other than ones I was willing to see met out.
Logan shook his head. “No one leaves Gealach walls.”
Isabella looked taken aback. No doubt the tart had wanted to get Logan alone. I could only imagine what she had up her sleeve. I’d told her before that Logan enjoyed the company of pigs in bed—he didn’t, but it had been the only thing I could think of at the spur of the moment to turn her off. I wouldn’t be surprised in her haste to ensnare him if she didn’t have a whole slew of piggies waiting in her chamber. I bit the inside of my cheek to keep from laughing at the image that brought to mind.
Isabella scoffed, cocking her head to the side, a delicate hand resting impudently on her hip. “Not leave the walls? That’s absurd. Ye canna expect me to remain within.”
Logan tilted his head, gave her the look I’d seen him make toward someone he thought might be a bit on the witless side.
“Lady Isabella, there is no one forcing ye to remain.” He swept his hand toward the stairs. “Ye are free to leave Gealach whenever ye please. But ye canna return. If it pleases, I will even provide ye escort all the way back north.”
Her mouth fell open, but she quickly recovered, switching back to seductress. She batted her lashes, cocked her shoulder showing off how silky her skin was, how her plush breasts could easily spill from her gown at that angle. The way she opened her eyes a little wider, giving Logan a doe-eyed gaze, made me nervous. The bitch was good. Damn good. I wouldn’t be surprised if she got what she wanted every time.
“Oh, darling, dinna be angry with me. I dinna want to go home. I simply wanted to get to know your lands, your clan.” She didn’t need to add that they would one day be hers, it was evident, dripping from every word. She stared past Logan, and at me, her eyes dark with venom. Isabella wanted to make sureIunderstood she intended to win.
I kept my face as blank as I could—the look I used to use with my ex-husband or his mother when either of them berated me. I wouldn’t show her that her words and actions stung. That would only mean she’d won, and there was no way in hell this bitch was going to steal away my man.
