She nodded. “I actually did.” She was hesitant to ask, but it was only polite. “And ye?”
“As well as could be expected.”
They walked to the great hall and took their seats upon the dais. Sybella had just reached to take a bite of oatmeal when Aunt Iseabail stormed into the hall. With reddened cheeks and a fiery look in her eyes, the woman cursed the entire way to her seat. Whipping out a chair, Aunt Iseabail sat down and clenched her teeth.
Sybella reached out and touched the woman’s arm. “Is everything all right?”
“Nay, ’tisnae all right.”
“Tell me what is amiss and mayhap I can assist ye,” Sybella said in a compassionate tone.
“Nae unless ye can repair the damage to my flowers,” Aunt Iseabail replied with a snappish tone.
“Pardon?”
Aunt Iseabail clutched her tankard until her knuckles turned white. “Some daft fool pulled out a large portion of my new roses. They were just starting to bloom, and instead of cutting them, the idiot pulled out all of the roots. I am afraid they are destroyed.”
Sybella bit her bottom lip and turned her head slightly toward her husband. Alexander sat as still as a stone statue, keeping his eyes on his trencher.
“How do ye know it wasnae a deer or a rabbit?” asked Alexander.
“Nephew, I am nae daft. The animals chomp at them. They donna pull them out clean by the roots.”
He nodded. “Rest assured, Aunt Iseabail, if I find the miscreant, he shall be punished.”
“I should hope so, Alexander. Ye know how much I favor the garden.”
Sybella looked at her husband and his eyes widened. “Nae a word,” he said under his breath.
Sybella managed a reply through stiff lips. “I value my life.”
He chuckled in response.
Alex didn’t try to speak with Sybella until he was sure he was clear of Aunt Iseabail’s ire.
“Ye said ye like to hunt.”
She nodded and swallowed what was left of her oatmeal. “Aye, verra much. If ye havenae figured it out yet, my laird, I love to be out in the fresh air.”
“’Tisnae that difficult to discern. After the meal we will test your skill with a bow.”
She lifted her brow and gave him a mischievous grin. “Why, Alexander? Ye donna trust me to hunt beside ye?”
“Before I give ye a bow and a verra sharp arrow, I want to be sure ye know how to use them. I am nae willing to take a chance alone with ye in the woods lest ye hit something of most importance.” He glanced down at his manhood and then gave her a wry grin. For some reason, he enjoyed jesting with her.
Sybella paused, clearly weighing her response. “Donna worry, my laird. ’Tisnae that big of a target.”
Alex choked on his wine, and his wife abruptly changed the subject to the matter at hand. “There is nay need to give me a bow. I brought my own.”
“Of course ye did. I wouldnae want to give ye one which wasnae familiar to ye. That would be a complete disadvantage. Why donna ye fetch your bow and I will meet ye behind the stables?”
“Verra well.”
He watched Sybella’s hips sway as she walked out of the great hall, thinking that her frequent displays of insolence made him smile.
Alex made his way to the stable. He took a couple of bales of hay from the loft and set up a mock target in the back. After setting the last bundle in place, he had just brushed his hands when a voice spoke from behind him.
“Ye cannae be serious.”
He whipped his head around and lifted his brow. Sybella wore the same gown as in the morn, with her bow thrown casually over her shoulder. Her mouth was set in annoyance, and her eyes narrowed in disapproval.
“What is the matter now?” he asked.
She lifted her palm, gesturing at the target. “Ye truly want to test my skill with a bale of hay. Is that how ye train all of the wee lads, then?”
Without giving him a chance to respond, she reached for an arrow, raised her bow, and barely took time to aim. The arrow whizzed low behind Alex’s backside and landed in the hay. He scarcely moved his arse in time. He turned his head and studied the placement of the arrow, dead center. Shaking his head, he turned to his wife, and personal triumph flooded through her.
She tossed her blond locks over her shoulder. “I see I have rendered ye speechless, my laird. They say there is a first time for everything.”
Alex winked when he caught her eye. “Verra well done…for a lass.” He paused long enough on the last word to intentionally irritate his wife.
Sybella was opening her mouth to protest when he quickly closed the distance between them. Wrapping his hand around her back, he pulled her close. He continued to plant kisses on her lips between each of her scolding words until she stood mute. Only when she finally succumbed to the forceful domination of his lips and he felt her soften and return his kiss did he gently pull away.
His eyes caught and held hers.
The look on Alexander’s face mingled eagerness and tenderness. Sybella wasn’t sure which dominated. She was without words as he lightly brushed his thumb over her jaw and they shared a smile.
“I told ye I was good.” When his eyes rounded, she quickly added, “A good shot.”
He bobbed his head in agreement and then backed away from her. “Come, Wife. I have something to show ye.”
“Nae now, Alexander. I have already seen it,” she said dryly.
He lifted his brow and Sybella followed him into the stables. He searched the stalls and stopped when he found what he was looking for. The magnificent creature stood tall, pawing at the ground. And the animal was exactly as she remembered from last eve.
“
Sybella reached out and patted the horse’s muscular neck. “I told ye before. He is a verra fine beast.”
“And he is yours.”
She stared wordlessly, her heart pounding. “Truly? I donna know what to say.”
“Since ye have nay suitable mount, I wanted to give ye one which I know ye can handle. Ye proved that more than enough last eve with Aunt Iseabail, lass. I only ask that ye have an escort when ye ride. Do we have an understanding?”
Between the roses this morn and now the shock of his generous gift, words wedged in Sybella’s throat. The MacDonell was actually a thoughtful and caring man. But she wished he’d stop doing things like this. Her feelings were becoming confused.
Sybella walked toward him and smiled. “Aye, of course.” Standing on the tips of her toes, she brushed a soft kiss on his cheek. “He is a magnificent horse. I truly thank ye for your kindness, Alexander.”
“Then grant me a boon.”
She froze. That’s what had gotten her into trouble with him in the first place. Why deals were never made in her favor was beyond her comprehension. She did not like this, but against her better judgment, she nodded in agreement.
“Please call me ‘Husband’ or ‘Alex.’ Surely ’tisnae that difficult for ye.”
Breathing a sigh of relief, Sybella smiled. “I suppose I could call ye that.”
“And I will call ye Ella.”
She didn’t know what to say. Colin was the only person who called her Ella. He’d been calling her that since she was a wee bairn. It was his own special name for her, and to be truthful, she wasn’t sure she wanted to share something so personal with the man she was destined to betray. She was perfectly aware that the closer she allowed herself to get to him, the more difficult her task would be. Agreeing to search for the stone had been a lot easier when she believed Alexander was nothing more than a cur. Then again, she still barely knew him. Their only history consisted of the waterfall and their wedding.
As Alex sensed her hesitation, the corner of his mouth curved in exasperation. “Do ye nae permit me to call
