Chapter 11

CHAPTER ELEVEN

A fter splashing water on his hands and face, Owen changed his shirt, discarding the other one after discovering it was torn. He hadn’t noticed the tear earlier, which meant, it must have happened during the fight.

The fight ye should never have had, according tae Lady Mackay.

He was fuming after their quarrel downstairs. Not only had she completely humiliated him in front of all those men, but she had made accusations that were founded on complete falsehoods.

“As if I would start a fight just for the fun o’ it,” he growled, pacing back and forth across the creaking floorboards. “Aye, because I clearly have naething better tae dae with me time, fer God’s sake.”

While he was angry with what she had said about his motivations, he could not deny her other points, though he had not conceded such to her face. His pride simply would not allow it.

But she has a point.

“I ken,” he said, talking to himself. “I just didnae think. I saw what he did, and I acted.”

In hindsight, more Iseabail’s than his own, Owen had realized his mistake, even if it was begrudgingly. Knowing he was in the wrong had not suddenly rid his body of the anger he felt at her onslaught, however, and still nearly shaking with frustration, he continued to pace back and forth.

“I did it fer her. And dae I get any thanks? Nay. O’ course, nae. She’s too busy pulling me apart. How wonderful it must be tae be so bloody perfect. I’ll bet she’s made plenty o’ mistakes in her life too.”

Now ye’re just being sour.

Of course, he was. But then, he had every right. If she was mad at him, she could have made her point somewhere else. Not in front of every person walking back into the tavern, laughing at him, and making him look like he was a hen-pecked husband.

Only moments before, he had been the victor, but she had swiped that away from him and instead, made him look like an idiot. Besides, he wasn’t just angry at her. He was angry at himself for being so careless. She was right, he had brought the attention of the entire tavern on them, and nor was she wrong about the danger they might be in. He was better than that. He wasn’t known as the best scout in the Sinclair clan for no reason at all.

Ye let yer heart rule yer head.

Owen shook his head at that thought, but it still remained, and for a moment, he had no choice but to consider it because, it was, indeed, yet another truth. He had been jealous when the man had laid his hands on Iseabail. His reaction had been motivated by pure green envy.

And perhaps, a little showy display fer her too.

“Which clearly worked wonders,” he spat sarcastically.

After a little more time, he headed for the door. Iseabail had not returned to the room, and the idea of her being down there alone began to make him uncomfortable, especially given the fact that it was he, who had now made her a target with his antics.

He found Iseabail tucked away in a corner sitting at a table alone. Upon approach, she raised her eyes to look at him, and then quickly looked away.

“I’ll get us a drink,” he said, trying to offer some sort of olive branch, even though he remained a little frustrated. There was no point in them sitting there in silence. At least with a drink in hand, he would have something to do.

When he had battled through the crowd and returned to the table with their tankards, Iseabail seemed preoccupied with looking about her.

“Have ye lost something?” he asked, placing the tankards on the table.

“There was an old woman here nae long ago. But now, she’s away.

“Perhaps it’s past her bedtime,” Owen murmured.

“Nae. Ye dinnae understand. She was telling me about the crystal.”

Owen raised his eyebrows, now more interested. “And?”

“She said she didnae ken where it was, but that it was sought after by many. She also told me that I wasnae tae touch it. That it would be fatal fer me if I did.”

Owen took a moment to let that information sink in. How had the old woman known that they were looking for the crystal? He hadn’t spoken to any woman, and he doubted Iseabail would have either, given the fact that they had been looking for a man. It seemed a little suspicious.

Owen frowned. “Did ye ask her about it first?”

“That’s just it. I was sitting here minding me own business when she began talking tae me. In fact, when I first sat down, I didnae even see her, which I thought was a little strange.”

“She just arrived out o’ the blue?” Owen looked even more wary.

“Aye. But it’s nae as simple as that. The woman has powers and read me mind.”

Owen tried to hide his doubt. “Are ye sure it wasnae the other way around? Maybe it was she who was trying tae get information out o’ ye.”

“I’m nae a fool, Owen. I ken what I heard. Besides, it was she who did all the talking. She gave all the information tae me.”

“Then perhaps we should try and find this woman.”

But Iseabail shook her head. “I dinnae think she can help us anymore than she did. She was clear when she said she couldnae tell me where it was. Perhaps it is time we tried tae look again fer this trader.”

“Aye, perhaps, but nae tonight. I dinnae ken about ye, but I havenae seen anyone fitting the man’s description. A man with a brown hat and a feather isnae hard tae miss.”

Not long afterwards, Iseabail excused herself to go to the bathroom. Owen remained at the table, thinking upon their predicament. If they couldn’t find this man, he wasn’t certain what their next move would be. Perhaps they would have to travel around a bit, asking farther afield.

Iseabail returned, looking perturbed, and hurriedly sat down again beside him.

“What happened?” Owen demanded, knowing by her fearful face that something had.

“It doesnae matter,” she said abruptly.

“Clearly, it does. Tell me.”

She was rattled by something, and with the number of men in this place, Owen already had an idea why. “Someone said something tae ye, didnae they?”

She flicked a glance in his direction and then quickly looked away, clearly shaken.

“Iseabail, will ye talk tae me?”

“Nay. I dinnae want ye jumping intae yet another fight.”

“So, someone has said something tae ye,” he pressed.

“Aye, they did,” she huffed. “But it’s fine.”

“I’m nae going tae let up until ye tell me,” Owen continued. “Or better still, I’ll get up from me seat and go and find the man who challenged ye.”

“Nay!” she gasped. “All right, I’ll tell ye.” Still, she hesitated, and even in her frustration at Owen, he could still see how shaken she was.

“I was just coming out o’ the lady’s room when a man approached me and pushed me back into it.”

Owen’s eyes flew open.

“I stumbled backwards while he said some bloody awful things. Things that he wanted tae dae tae me.”

“Where is he?” Owen growled, standing from his chair.

“Nay, Owen. Please. It’ll be fine. When I tried tae compel him tae leave me alone, it didnae work, and when I looked into his eyes, I noticed that he looked partially sighted. So, clearly, me gift doesnae work on everyone.”

Owen now had his fists clenched, and scanned the room for such a man.

“Will ye please sit down?” she begged. “We cannae afford another spectacle.”

Slowly, but still raging, Owen lowered himself into his chair.

“I managed tae push past him,” Iseabail continued, “but nae before he told me he would come and find me, nay matter where I hid.”

Owen was still scanning the room when Iseabail said, “Perhaps it’s best if we retire. If he doesnae see me again, he might leave.”

As much as he wanted to find this man and punish him for terrifying Iseabail into such a state, Owen knew he had caused enough of a scene for one night. Maybe Iseabail was right, even though it felt to him like they were running away. Something that displeased him greatly.

“Fine,” he said. “Grab yer drink. We’ll tak’ them tae the room with us.”

He had to admit it had been a long day, and they were both tired. Maybe an early night would do them the world of good. He still couldn’t help himself from scanning the room as they went. But as they approached the bar, Owen had an idea that was totally unrelated to Iseabail’s encounter.

“Inn keeper, I wonder if ye could help us.”

The older man frowned and leaned in closer so he could hear. “What is it that ye need?”

“There’s a trader that comes through this way. He sells crystal necklaces. Like this one.” Owen pulled his necklace free and showed it to the man. “Me maither bought one fer me faither, and like the clumsy fool he is, he has lost it. We’ve tracked down the merchant who sold it, and he sent us here. But we seem tae be having little luck. The man wears a brown hat with a feather.”

The innkeeper shook his head. “I cannae say I ken the man ye’re talking about, but I ken there is another merchant who comes through this way selling crystals. I dinnae ken if they are the same stones ye’re looking fer, mind.”

“Well, it’s worth a shot,” Owen pressed, eager for the innkeeper to tell them more.

“He’s expected on the dawn sailing. He should be here on the morrow.” The innkeeper looked a little worried. “This man’s said tae be dangerous, mind. If I were ye, I’d be wary about him.”

“And what daes this merchant look like?”

“He’s a big man, broad as a house with a scar on his neck right here.” The innkeeper pointed to just beneath his ear. “If I see ye about when he’s here, I’ll point him out tae ye.”

“Thank ye,” Owen said. “I’m grateful fer yer efforts.”

Owen was about to turn away when he heard Iseabail speak behind him.

“I wonder if I could have some hot water for a bath sent up tae our room please.”

“Aye,” the innkeeper nodded, “I’ll send the lasses up tae ye with a few buckets.”

“Thank ye.”

They climbed the stairs in silence, and upon entering the room, Iseabail said little to him while she arranged the screen in front of the copper tub. Whether it was because she was still angry with him, or the fact that she was clearly shaken up, Owen could not know. Perhaps it was both.

Not long after that, a knock came upon the door. When Owen opened it, two maids stood at the door, both with a bucket of steaming water in each hand.

“For the bath, sir,” the prettier one said.

Owen opened the door wider. “In ye go.”

The maids swiftly deposited their water, and then hurriedly left as quickly as they had arrived.

“I will leave ye tae tak’ yer bath in peace,” Owen said, turning toward the door.

“Nae,” Iseabail said, panic clearly in her voice. She looked more than worried. “I ken, this isnae proper, but…”

“Ye’re frightened,” Owen concluded gently.

“Me gift has protected me so far,” she explained. “I never really felt in danger. But without it, I am powerless. And if that man discovers where I am…” she trailed off again.

Owen nodded. “It’s fine, Iseabail. I swear, I willnae let any harm come tae ye. I will stay. Away and get yer bath.”

“Thank ye,” she murmured, and then turning, she slipped behind the screen.

While Iseabail began undressing behind the screen, Owen found himself wandering over to the wall to look out of the window. He needed some sort of distraction. The idea of her undressing not ten feet away was doing things to him that he needed to control. Across the room, and positioned just beneath the attic window that gave them a view across the water, stood a dresser with a mirror.

As he gazed out across the darkening sky, he caught a movement in the mirror, and glancing down at it, he noticed the angle caught Iseabail just behind the screen. He continued to pretend he was looking out of the window, but instead, as though mesmerized by her, he watched her strip layer after layer from her body.

“Want me tae come and wash yer back?” he said lightly, partly to cut through the silence, partly because he felt the heavy tension of her earlier experience.

“Indeed, I dae nae,” she said firmly. “Amazingly, I have been able tae wash me own body fer many years.”

“Och, well, that isnae quite true, is it?” he came back, watching her lift the shift over her shoulders. She was facing away from him, and inch by inch, the pale skin of her back was revealed.

Soft skin too, he imagined.

She turned slightly, giving him a glimpse of the curve of her breast, and sucking in sharply, he swallowed a gasp as her form took his breath away.

“What dae ye mean?” she said, the confusion evident in her voice.

“Well, I’m sure, as the lady o’ the castle, ye have maids tae dae that kind o’ thing,” he said, struggling to control his desire from spilling into his tone.

He watched her now lift one leg over the tub. She let out a breath, likely because it was so hot, but soon enough, the next leg followed. Then holding onto the sides, she slowly lowered her entire body down. Now all he could see was her shoulders and the back of her head, but it was too late. His groin already twitched with arousal.

“And ye are a maid now, are ye?” she countered.

Owen allowed his gaze to linger just a few seconds more before finally turning back to look out of the window. Watching her undress had been wrong, but it was as though his eyes had been glued to her body. He had simply been unable to look away. She truly was a beautiful woman, and a part of him wondered why she was not yet betrothed or wed.

“I ken plenty o’ maids,” he smiled, “but indeed, I am nae one.”

He could hear her snort at him, and while he could no longer see her, for he had moved across the room and away from the temptation to look at her again, he could imagine her shaking her head and rolling her eyes.

“Ye’re intolerable,” she hissed.

“And yet, ye are stuck with me,” he countered, not caring a wit for her judgement. “Tell me, Lady Iseabail, why are ye nae yet wed?”

“What?” she gasped.

He frowned at her reply. It was a simple question.

“Married, me lady. Why are ye nae yet married?”

“I hardly think that’s any o’ yer business,” she retorted.

“Ye’re right, it isnae. I was just curious.”

She didn’t reply to that, which left Owen wondering about it. Not just the fact that she wasn’t yet married, but also her seemingly affronted reply. Most ladies might reply that they had not yet found the right suitor, or that they were betrothed to another but were not yet married. Iseabail’s reaction seemed far more abrasive.

Clearly, she’s still mad at me.

He was still a little mad at her, if he was honest. And with that conclusion, Owen moved across the room and laid himself down onto the bed, trying to push the images he had witnessed moments before from his mind.

He closed his eyes and thought about home, wondering if any of the men who were chasing him had turned up at the castle yet?

It has only been a day. They were nowhere near close when ye left.

No, but it was only time before they were. They had already made it across the country. No doubt, they would be asking around for a man who fitted his description. Someone was going to say something. They always did, even in innocence. They would arrive at the castle eventually, and then Daire would have no choice but to tell Madigan everything.