Chapter 6

"What is going on with ye?" Keelin's voice demanded from above him, pulling Madden out of a deep sleep. He had not returned to bed until very late and had not had nearly enough sleep to be awakened by an angry Keelin. "What was that last night?"

Madden groaned and rolled away from her. "Go away, Keelin. Let me sleep."

"I will nae let ye sleep until ye give me answers. Ye were acting very strangely and ye bragged about a conquest in front of the entire clan. Ye have never been so uncouth when it came tae yer lovers before. It is a good thing that the woman in question was nae there tae hear herself being shamed."

A stab of guilt caused Madden to sit up and face his accuser. "I am sorry, Keelin. Ye are right. I am nae quite meself."

"Why? What happened with the lass that has ye this way?"

Madden shook his head. "Dinnae fash. I will nae behave as I did last night again. I will be on me best behavior."

Keelin sighed, eyeing him in assessment. "See that ye dae. As ye are clearly nae going tae tell me what happened, let us go and break the fast together."

Madden arose, splashed water on his face, tied his hair up in a knot, then followed Keelin from the room. They walked together to the great hall where Lorcan met them at the doorway. "Did ye ever make it tae bed?" Madden asked.

Lorcan shook his head. "Nae me bed," he answered with a smile of satisfaction.

Madden chuckled. "Good man," he replied, clapping the other man on the shoulder. "Break the fast with us?"

Lorcan shook his head. "Arran has called me tae his side. He has a meeting with the Laird Sutherland."

Keelin searched the room frowning. "Where is the Lady Sutherland?"

"She did nae come down this morning. She sent her regrets and begged the laird's pardon as she was feeling unwell," Lorcan explained.

"Should I go and look in on her?" Keelin asked. "Does she need a healer?"

Lorcan shook his head. "Her husband is with her now. I am certain that if she is in need of anything, he will tend tae her."

Madden grunted in disagreement but said nothing. He hoped that her husband had not discovered her absence last evening and punished her for it. Madden considered checking in on her himself but knew how that would look.

It is nae me place. She is nae me woman.

"I will speak with ye both later. Perhaps we could take a dram together this evening."

Madden nodded in agreement and Lorcan left the hall to join Arran in the library.

Keelin nudged Madden's arm. "I am worried about Isabelle. I think that I should go and look in on her."

"Lorcan said that her husband is with her. I dinnae believe it tae be wise tae interfere," Madden advised.

Keelin gave him a questioning look. "What dae ye ken about their marriage?"

Madden shook his head. "I dinnae ken anything. It is only a feeling. I dinnae want ye anywhere near the Laird Sutherland without me there. I dinnae like the way that he looks at ye."

"Looks at me?"

"Aye, he is a man who takes women whether they are willing or nae. I dinnae want ye tae be within arm's reach of the man."

Keelin's eyes widened. "Dae ye believe that he would…" She could not bring herself to finish the question.

"Aye, I believe that he would if given the opportunity. Stay away from him," Madden warned.

"And what of Isabelle? Who will look after her?"

"That duty falls tae her braither. It is nae our place tae intervene." Madden hated the words that were coming out of his mouth. After what Isabelle had said to him in the stables, he was having a hard time keeping his distance. He feared for her well-being but could do nothing about it. Sighing, he offered Keelin his arm. "Shall we?" In spite of the fact that neither of them had an appetite now, Keelin took his arm and they moved towards the dais to break their fast.

"I am going tae speak with yer braither. I wish fer ye tae accompany me and persuade him of our need," Bain informed Isabelle as she sat at the window looking out at the beauty of the morning light on the loch.

"I am nae feeling well," she admitted. She had not had a moment of sleep lying next to Bain, afraid of what the future held.

"Yer weakness does nae interest me, wife. I have told ye tae come with me tae persuade yer braither and that is what ye will dae." He gave her a threatening look.

Isabelle immediately arose to obey. "As ye wish, husband." She hurried to prepare for the meeting, then joined Bain at the door.

Satisfied with the results of her fear, he opened the door and stepped out into the corridor. Lorcan awaited them in the hallway. "The laird will see ye now," he announced, turning to lead the way to the library.

Isabelle felt ridiculous being treated in such a formal manner in her own home, but in truth she had not been meant to attend the meeting. It was clear that Arran had set out to put Bain in his place before granting any favor. Her suspicions were confirmed when Arran looked up in surprise to see Isabelle enter with her husband. "I didnae expect tae see ye this morning, sister. Are ye feeling better?"

"Me husband needs me by his side," Isabelle answered, taking her seat opposite her brother.

"Me wife kens her duty tae the Clan Sutherland," Bain boasted, his chest puffed up. He had clearly noted the insult and was responding with an overcompensation of pride. To his mind he owned Isabelle and as her master, he had an entitlement to what Arran had as well. By the look on his face, Arran clearly did not agree.

"Me sister is dear tae me, and I dae care about her wellbeing, but I cannae give ye the amount of coin that ye are asking fer," Arran replied to Bain's insinuation. "Me first duty must be and is tae the Clan MacKay. If I give ye the amount of coin that ye are asking fer, they will suffer fer it come the winter."

Bain looked at Lorcan standing guard behind them. "May we speak in private as family?"

Arran sighed and nodded his head for Lorcan to leave the room. "Ye may go."

Lorcan nodded and stepped out into the hallway but remained by the door.

Once the door was closed, Bain turned back to Arran. "Ye can spend money on frivolities such as the tea that Isabelle and Keelin drank together last evening, but ye cannae loan me the pittance that I ask fer tae save me clan and provide fer yer own sister?"

Arran looked at Isabelle in question. "Tea?" he asked, his brow arched in confusion.

"Aye, tea," Bain answered on her behalf. "Dirty water is worth more tae ye than yer own kin."

Arran sighed. "Let me sit with it fer a time. I will see what I can dae." He dismissed them with a wave of his hand. As if on cue, Lorcan opened the door and stood waiting. As they arose to leave, Arran called for Isabelle to remain. "Might I have a moment tae speak with me sister? It has been too long since I have had the pleasure of her company."

Bain grunted. "Ye are welcome tae it. Perhaps it will remind ye of yer duty." With that, Bain left the room grumbling under his breath about troublesome wives and their kin.

Once the door had closed behind Bain, Arran turned his attention back to his sister. "Tea with Keelin?"

"Aye," Isabelle lied, averting her eyes.

"I ken that ye did nae have tea with Keelin last evening as I was having a dram with Keelin here in this very room." He eyed Isabelle with suspicion and concern. "What is going on, Isabelle? Where were ye last night?"

"I went fer a walk about the castle, but I did nae wish tae have Bain's dog, Athol, following me around. I told Bain that I was having tea with Keelin so that he would allow me tae go alone. Please dinnae tell him, Arran. I cannae bear more of his wrath."

Arran searched her eyes, his face drawn in lines of concern. "Tell me of yer husband. What sort of a man is he?"

Isabelle shook her head. "He is me husband. That is the beginning and end of it."

"I am nae blind, Isabelle. I can see that ye are nae happy. I can see that he does nae make ye happy or even respect ye. Daes he cause ye harm in any way? Are ye in trouble?"

Isabelle shook her head, lying as convincingly as she could. "I am nae in trouble."

Arran gave her a look that said he did not believe her. "If ye need me, I am here. Come tae me and I will give ye protection."

"I am well, brother, but should I be in need of yer protection, I will tell ye."

A knock sounded at the door interrupting their conversation. "Enter," Arran called out in answer.

Lorcan opened the door and Cara walked through carrying a tray of food and drink. "I was informed that the Lady Isabelle was feeling poorly, but when I went tae her room she was nae there. The Laird Sutherland informed me where I could find her," Cara explained to Arran as she set the trencher on the table near Isabelle's chair.

"Stay and join us," Isabelle invited Cara wanting to spend some time with her old friend and companion.

"I must return tae the kitchens. The cook is in rare form with such important guests afoot," she gave Isabelle a wink, before turning back towards the door.

Grabbing the trencher of food, Isabelle stood and followed after her. "I should thank Mary fer her hard work myself. I will accompany ye."

Cara nodded with a smile. "She will be pleased tae see ye."

"Isabelle," Arran's voice stopped her in the doorway. "I meant what I said."

"As dae I," Isabelle responded, then left the room with Cara.

I need tae remember tae keep me distance. This is nae longer me home. These are nae longer me people. I must guard me heart. The truth can never be kenned by anyone, especially nae me braither.