Page 27 of Beguiled By the Highlander
Njord grunted but appeared disinclined to discuss the other man further. She tried again, even though it went against the grain to mention the subject with him, when she knew Colban had fabricated the entire story.
But she would not have anyone accuse her of being unjust in her dealings.
“He told a fine tale that ye had attacked him without provocation. I only mention this so ye’re aware, should anyone else confront ye with it.”
She had the uneasy feeling she hadn’t been quite as neutral in laying out the facts to him as her grandmother would have wished, but it was too late now. Besides, she didn’t need him to deny it. She already knew he was innocent.
Njord gave her a sideways look, his stormy eyes filled with such primal heat it was a miracle she didn’t melt into a puddle of molten need at his feet. Hastily, she bit into the bannock to occupy her lustful thoughts, but it might as well have been hay for all she could taste of it.
“I punched him on the jaw, but only in self-defense.”
A piece of bannock became stuck in her throat, and she coughed, grabbing her cup, and taking a mighty sip to wash the offending particle away. Njord patted her on the back, which was highly ineffective in preventing her from choking, but she appreciated the gesture, especially when accompanied by the concerned expression on his face.
She waved away the curious glances from the others at the table to assure them all was well, before once again turning to Njord.
“He claims ye were both in a fight and he was the one acting in self-defense.” Then she couldn’t help herself. “Did he attack ye without provocation, Njord?”
He sighed. “It’s done, Isolde, and now he’s left Eigg it’s unlikely we’ll meet again. I don’t wish to cause any trouble between MacDonalds.”
“Ye may be a MacDonald yerself.”
“Aye. But I might not. And that’s why I’ve decided to seek passage on the ship leaving for Oban at the end of the week.”
Her appetite fled and she stared at him, aghast. “But ye are not well enough. How can ye travel when ye have no idea if ye have kin waiting for ye at Oban?”
“I can’t stay here, hoping a visitor to the Isle might hold the secret to my identity. But one thing I promise ye: as soon as I regain my memories, I’ll return to Eigg for ye.” Then he leaned closer, his gaze intense, and all she could see was him. “That’s if I have anything worth offering ye, Isolde.”
Heat suffused her heart, unlike anything she’d experienced before, and it was hard not to simply smile at him like a besotted maid of fourteen. No matter how she longed for everyone in the hall to know Njord had all but proposed to her, now was not the time to share that thrilling news.
But she had to make him understand that regardless of his heritage, he was enough.
“Ye can be the sixth son of an impoverished laird, and not own a strip of land to yer name, and ye’d still have plenty to offer me. After all, I cannot leave Eigg even if ye do discover ye’re the laird of a fine castle in the Highlands.”
She expected him to grin, not for a dark frown slash his brow. “That’s not the point. If I possess a fine castle in the Highlands, then I’m worthy to fight for ye, Isolde. I won’t be beholden to Lady Helga’s charity.”
Colban had thrown the word charity in her face when he’d spoken of Njord. She liked it even less when Njord himself uttered the word.
“’Tis not charity,” she hissed. “We’re merely helping ye get back on yer feet. What’s so bad about that?”
He expelled a measured breath. It was clear he was greatly conflicted, and to be sure, she understood that. But right now, he was simply being stubborn.
“Nothing.” He sounded as though he meant the opposite. “But I can’t spend the rest of my life indebted to the benevolenceof the ladies of Sgur Castle. How can ye not want to know what kind of man I am, Isolde?’
“I do know what kind of man ye are.” Except she also understood his frustration. If she had lost her memories, wouldn’t she do anything she could to regain them?
Aye, she would. And of course she wanted Njord to discover his past. But she couldn’t shake the sense of dread that if he left Eigg at the end of the week, she would never see him again.
*
For the followingthree days Isolde went about her daily tasks at the castle, assisting her grandmother in the management of their estates, and practicing her swordplay with Patric as usual. Yet even during the most mundane of duties, a frisson of awareness danced through her blood as though she had overindulged on the finest imported wine from France.
Even when Njord was out of her sight, he was never out of her mind. Their stolen kisses lingered long after they’d parted, and it was becoming harder by the hour to conceal how she truly felt about him.
That afternoon, Roisin joined her in the vault beneath the great hall to assist with the midwinter check of the castle’s non-perishables. They worked in companionable silence for a while until finally her sister let out a great sigh.
“Is Njord still determined to leave when the ship sails?”
Isolde sat on a broken barrel and contemplated the half-completed inventory on her lap.
