Beatrice rolled her eyes. “Oh Isobel, that again. Ye are not even sure the act happened. Did ye not tell me yerself, it was quick and painless?”
“We joined. I am sure of it,” she whispered. “Neither of us knew what we were doing, but he said he felt my maidenhead.”
“Do not speak of that coward. He preferred his hysterical mother over ye. The woman hated ye because ye took his attention away from her. What kind of mother is that?”
Isobel shrugged. “The kind that saved me from a horrible life.”
“Yer betrothal was canceled as if it never happened.”
Thinking back to the night, Isobel frowned. It had been a hurried affair, both of them nervous and awkward. Her betrothed, Ian, had not bothered to show any kind of affection, but had asked that she spread her legs and he’d pushed inside. At least she thought he did. He’d been quite ineffective if she were to be honest. His member was flaccid and other than dripping sweat on her, he’d not done much more than thrust three times before lying beside her and promptly pretending to sleep.
Isobel had no idea what time it was, but the entire keep was silent. Everyone was asleep, except the guards who patrolled the outside. She often wondered what they did to remain awake. One night she went so far as to climb the stairs to the roof of her own home and found some of the men playing a game, while others stood watch. The one she stepped over to gain access to the starry-lit rooftop had been sound asleep.
The men had been shocked at her presence, but soon grew used to her coming up to watch the stars. One man in particular, by the name of Galen, was very knowledgeable about star formations and had taught her to find specific ones.
Now, however, it was a completely different quest that she embarked upon. Without anyone’s knowledge, she had to find Darach and tell him the reason why they could not marry. Besides the obvious. They disliked each other. No, that wasn’t it. He disliked her. From her perspective, she found him a bit likable, but not someone she could ever fall in love with. He was not the type to be faithful and she would never marry an unfaithful man.
The corridor was dark, and she held up the candle to see better. Heading down to where she assumed was his bedchamber, Isobel made her way silently in bare feet.
When she came to the door, her heart began to pound. If someone were to find her in the laird’s bedchamber, then without a doubt, there would be no way out of the marriage.
Her hand trembled slightly as she reached for the door handle and push it down. The door opened just a bit, and she grabbed the front of her night rail to ensure not to trip. Noiselessly, she slipped into the room and blew out a breath.
The candle gave just enough light that she could make out the edge of the bed. Putting one foot in front of the other, she went to the nearest post, held up the light, and found the bed to be inhabited.
It was not Darach in the bed, but the dog, Albie, who lifted its head and let out a loud yowl. Then upon recognizing her, began wagging its tail and barking happily.
“Shh,” Isobel lowered to the bed and began petting the dog with her free hand. “Be silent,” she hissed.
The dog rolled onto its back demanding a belly rub and she complied thankful the animal was silent. Hopefully, whoever slept in the bedchamber across the hall would assume it was Darach who’d come to bed as he was most definitely not there.
After a few moments, Isobel backed out of the room. Albie seemed to be satisfied with the attention and curled back into a ball to sleep.
With a long exhale, she reached for the door handle, but what she touched was definitely not metal.
“What are ye doing in my bedchamber?”
Darach.
Isobel snatched her hand away from what was most definitely not a place any maiden should ever touch on a man. Despite her alarm, she wondered why it had felt much harder than at any time she’d been in bed with Ian.
“I-I… Oh, dear. I cannot breathe.” Isobel hurried to a chair and fell back into it. “I do not know why things have become so complicated since coming here.”
The laird walked in and closed the door. He was immediately greeted by Albie, who happily barked and whined demanding attention.
“Darach,” someone knocked on the door. “Why is Albie barking so much?”
It was Ella.
After a pointed look, he went toward the door.
“No!” Isobel hissed.
But he ignored her, yanked his tunic off, and opened the door just wide enough to look out. “Why are ye up, Ella?”
“I was asleep, but this is twice I’ve heard Albie. The first time he whined, just making sure he is well.”
“He’s fine.” Darach opened the door wider so that his sister could see the bed. Thankfully, where Isobel sat was not in her line of vision, as the door blocked her.
Upon seeing Darach’s sister, Albie jumped from the bed and scurried out of the room.
“Keep him,” Darach told Ella and closed the door.
He turned to Isobel and crossed his arms, covering some of the bareness. “Why are ye here?”
“Why are ye half-naked?”
“To convince my sister I was preparing for bed, otherwise, she would have walked in.”
“Oh.” Isobel could think of nothing else to say.
Darach neared and took the candlestick from her hand. “Explain. I am very tired and need to sleep.”
Although she’d spent the last couple of hours practicing her dialog, words evaded her at him being so close. And so undressed.
“Can ye get dressed?”
“What. Do. Ye. Want?”
She gave up on him dressing when he added a log to the fire in the hearth, giving her a full view of his wide
