Chapter 18

Isobel threw down the papers in her hands, holding back a groan of frustration at yet more delays.

"Explain to me why it isnae completed yet?" she asked with thinly veiled exasperation.

The workman she was addressing stood motionless before her, his expression one of shock and uncertainty.

"Ye told me last week that construction in this part of the castle would be finished by now. What is the delay?"

"M-merely that the timber hasnae arrived, M'Lady. With the recent rains, we have heard it should be here tomorrow?—"

"Well, that isnae soon enough! These will be the Laird's chambers. Are ye nae prioritizing what is required for yer Laird? Perhaps ye dinnae think he is worthy of such treatment, is that it?"

"N-never, M'Lady."

"Thank ye," Emma's voice suddenly rang out in the room as she approached.

The other servants, who had been gawking at Isobel's conduct, went swiftly about their business.

Emma placed a gentle hand on Isobel's arm. "That will be all," she said to the workman. "I am sure ye will do everythin' ye can to ensure that the Laird's needs are met."

Isobel felt shame flood through her, and she raised a hand just as the workman seemed about to scurry away.

"Me apologies," she said softly. His gaze turned to hers. "I believe the stress of the day is gettin' to me. Both Laird Rothach and I ken ye're doin' everythin' ye can to get things completed for us, and we appreciate the progress ye've made so far. Everyone can see the castle will soon be restored to its former glory."

He bowed his head with a small smile. "Have nay fear, M'Lady, we will get to work as soon as the supplies arrive."

"I thank ye," she said solemnly as he took his leave.

Isobel watched him go but shook off Emma's hand as she turned toward her with a frown.

"Am I the Lady of this castle or nae? Do ye nae have a household of yer own to manage?"

"Is that any way to speak to yer sister?"

Isobel turned as Nora entered the room, looking at her reproachfully, her eyebrows raised and one hand on her hip.

"Last time I looked, ye arenae runnin' this household," Isobel shot back venomously. "Everythin' is delayed. Dozens of supply carts havenae arrived in time because of the storms. I am to sleep beneath drippin' ceilings and foul odors for the rest of me life."

She stormed out of the room, pushing past the servants, who were doing a pitiful job of pretending not to eavesdrop.

She walked away as quickly as possible, ignoring Emma's footsteps as she followed her down the corridor. Further behind, she could just hear Nora's slower steps.

She rounded a corner and made for her bedchamber door, fully intending to slam it behind her for good measure.

"Isobel Knox!"

She stopped before she reached it. She had not heard that tone in Emma's voice for a very long time, and it froze her blood. It was difficult to really anger her sister, but it appeared she had succeeded today.

She turned around, fiddling with her skirts, and trying not to meet Emma's eyes as she rounded the corner, a frown on her face.

Emma stood before her without saying a word, a tactic she often employed to ensure everyone had her full attention. On this occasion, it also gave Nora the chance to catch up. She puffed out a breath as she rounded the corner, holding her belly and leaning heavily against the wall.

"I have never understood how Isobel can walk so quickly," Nora huffed, but the tone of her voice was amused rather than angry.

Emma, on the other hand, was doing nothing to hide her rage. "Ye are bein' an ogre to everyone, Izzy. What on earth is the matter with ye?"

"She's pinin'," a little voice said from behind them.

Isobel turned back, her irritation spiking as she pushed open the door of her bedroom to find her little sister sitting under a fur blanket before the fire, with a book on her lap.

"Get out of me room," she hissed, storming inside and pointing an accusatory finger at Lydia. "Get out before I throw that book in the flames with ye."

"Isobel," Nora called as she walked into the room.

She shuffled across the space between them, puffing heavily, and tugged gently at Isobel's arm.

Isobel would have pushed her away if she had been Emma, but Nora was red in the face, her belly swollen and huge before her. She looked horribly uncomfortable, and Isobel reluctantly allowed her to pull her back toward the bed.

They sat down together, Isobel folding her arms over her chest and glaring at Lydia, who got to her feet and approached as though Isobel were a wild wolf ready to bite her head off.

"Like I said, she is pinin'," Lydia said with a smug smile.

"Away with ye, ye bampot."

"Isobel!" Emma chided.

"What? She's in me room without me permission."

"Are ye a lady or a bairn?" Emma asked in exasperation.

"Hush now," Nora muttered, and all three of them fell silent at her calming voice. "Lydia, would ye please go to the fireplace for me? I would go meself, but this bairn is weighing me down today."

Lydia dutifully did as she asked, looking back as she waited for further instructions.

"Pull four sprigs from the lavender above ye and bring them to me," Nora instructed.

Lydia reached up to the small pewter jug above the mantelpiece, where the dried lavender that Isobel had collected sat. She pulled four sprigs and then walked back to the bed, handing them to her eldest sister.

"Ye are all goin' to make this baby arrive early with yer antics," Nora muttered as she separated the flowers on her skirts.

She handed one to Emma and one to Lydia. They both took them dutifully, bringing the stems to their noses to inhale the refreshing scent.

Nora finally handed the third flower to Isobel, whose arms were still crossed over her chest, a frown on her face.

"Izzy," Nora said quietly, "I havnae seen ye this upset since ye lost that tournament. Please. For me? We cannae be at odds. Nae the four of us."

"Are ye makin' us friends with dead flowers now?" Isobel asked petulantly, and she instantly regretted it as Nora's sweet face fell.

She unclasped her arms and took the proffered flower, feeling guilt rush through her.

"Sorry," she mumbled, taking Nora's hand gently in her own.

"Now," Nora instructed, "crush the lavender flowers between yer thumbs and forefingers. Very good," she said as Lydia did as she asked without question. "Bring them to yer nose and breathe with me."

Lydia did it instantly, whilst Isobel and Emma met each other's gazes skeptically. However, as they followed Nora's instructions, Isobel felt the fog in her mind and the thrumming anger in her veins begin to ebb away. Nora instructed them to breathe in and out eight times in total, and finally, they all lowered their hands to their laps.

Nora put her hand on Isobel's shoulder. "Now then, what turned me sister into an ogre?"

Emma let out a laugh, until she met Nora's eyes and sobered quickly.

Isobel sighed. The scent of lavender was heavy between them, calming her nerves and reminding her that she always had her sisters to help her whenever she needed them.

She felt angry tears well up in her eyes. She hated crying in front of anyone but seemed unable to stop the flow as they began to roll down her cheeks.

She wiped them away furiously. "I just want the construction to be finished," she croaked, hoping the lie would be sufficient and her sisters would leave her be.

"We can all see the frustration with livin' in a ruin, but that has been the case since ye came here. Ye are residin' in a castle overrun with nature. I would think that was more yer dream than yer nightmare. What has happened? Where is the Laird?"

Isobel tsked under her breath, and Lydia pointed at her triumphantly. "Ye see? Pinin' for him, she is."

"I can still throw ye in the fire," Isobel warned.

Lydia let out a lilting giggle, and Isobel felt a reluctant smile spread across her face.

"Ye are a ken-it-all," she said begrudgingly.

Lydia preened at her words, looking as though she had been praised by the King himself.

"Did somethin' happen between ye?" Nora asked.

Isobel sighed. "He has gone to the village to spend some time with his crew—the pirates who came here from Rothach."

Her sisters exchanged confused glances.

"Why would he choose to live in the village instead of his castle? He must ken it doesnae give a good impression. I thought he wanted to be seen as a laird, not a pirate. Why would he do such a thing?"

Isobel rubbed her arm, trying hard to think of a reason she could use to explain his absence.

"What's happened?" Emma asked darkly. She had always been able to read Isobel more easily than Nora and Lydia.

"We…" Isobel looked at her sister's concerned faces. "We were attacked. On the beach. Someone fired arrows at us."

Nora stood up abruptly, and Isobel rose to steady her as she held onto her swollen belly with a cry, fighting against her to get to the door.

"When? Why?" Nora asked with barely disguised fury. "How could he abandon ye? I shall go and find that blaggard right now?—"

"Nora!" Isobel said firmly, tugging her sister back as best as she could. "Calm down. Think of the bairn. Sit down, please."

Nora took a deep breath as she slowly lowered herself back to the mattress, but she was vibrating with tension. Lydia walked across the room and dragged the chair by the fireplace over to them so that it was opposite the bed. She sat down, taking Isobel's hand, and Emma perched on the arm, all of them staring at her intently.

"We dinnae ken who it was. Alex and I were just enjoying the water, and we had come out of the waves." Isobel felt her cheeks flame at the memory of the kiss they had shared as he held her in his arms. "I was dressin'—" she said haltingly.

"We dinnae need all the details," Emma muttered.

"An arrow was fired. It barely missed me face by inches." Lydia's fingers tightened around Isobel's hand as Nora gasped, looking stricken. "I fired back, and Alex went to try and find out who was attacking us, but whoever it was fled before he was able to capture him."

Isobel felt fresh anger at what had followed. "We were headed back here when he suddenly changed his mind. He told me that he needed to find out the truth of what had happened and that in order to protect me, he would spend time in the villages."

She blew out a long breath, her voice becoming small and needy against her will. "But I want him to be here."

She gave Lydia a stern look as her younger sister leaned back in her chair, looking victorious.

"But is that nae a good thing?" Nora asked.

"I dinnae ken," Isobel confessed. "It feels as though he is hidin' somethin' from me." She fidgeted, not enjoying the truth in those words. "He asked that I dinnae join him, and I will honor that. But…"

"But ye miss him," Nora said softly.

Emma had been quiet for a long while, and Isobel looked up at her, knowing her counsel would be the wisest out of them all.

"How did ye part?" Emma asked, and then rolled her eyes at her sister's guilty look.

"I told him I was better off alone," Isobel admitted hesitantly, "and that…" She cleared her throat. "That we were better off apart."

All three of her sisters exchanged looks of exasperated affection.

"He is the one who has left me here alone, as though I can be of nay use to him. If I were there, we would have caught him already," she said defensively.

"Ye are angry that he isnae involvin' ye?" Emma asked. The question was not accusatory, and her eyes were kind.

"Aye," Isobel whispered.

"Then tell him," Nora urged, squeezing her sister's hands. "Tell him ye want him to return to the castle and ye can figure this out together."

"He said we should be apart for me protection."

"How can he protect ye when he is miles away?" Emma scoffed irritably. "Ye didnae part on good terms. Make things better between ye, and he can share what he has found out with ye. Living apart and sharing nothin' can only end in misery."

Isobel sighed, looking up at her sisters. They were all so different and so important to her in their own way. She narrowed her eyes at Lydia, who was looking incredibly pleased with herself.

"All right," she sighed. "I shall show him just how much he needs me."