Chattan Bride

Chapter 6 - Part 1

All evening Alysandir thought about his discussion with Emma and her father. When he had left Isabel fairly imprisoned in her chambers, it was genuinely for her protection. He had known Emma for so many years and she had neither the capacity to plot a murder nor the malice to carry it out. Other forces, he convinced himself, were at work. And if not, she must have been driven into madness from sheer heartbreak. He assured the lairds that he would execute justice in due time, which offended them greatly. It was their mission and immediate desire to protect their laird and his wife. It required lengthy discussion to allow him to proceed with his intentions of discovering if his assumptions were correct. Emma would not divulge this to anyone but the man she trusted, the man she still loved. He vowed that it was the only honorable thing to discover the depths of this malevolent act before justice was done at last.

It was his purpose to explain to Isabel what Emma had told him. Stripped of her dignity and properly lashed by her father, she had been bound before Alysandir entered the room. With the motion of one finger her bonds were released and she moved to bow, falling straight down to her knees on the floor.

"Forgive me, my lord, I beg you." Her voice was thick with weeping.

It was gone, he realized. His passion for this woman, his tender concern for her, his regard and respect for her as well. Now she just seemed to be a woman he knew well and whose cooperation he needed. Laird Gow wanted to explain his child's behavior, claiming he knew nothing of another's interference.

"Let's not discuss that now, my dear," he soothed. "Sit and talk with me a while." She obeyed. He imagined the many arguments he would get from Isabel and how he doubted she would be weeping. But she would never do anything quite as mad as this either. No, those lists in her mind must be satisfied before she took any action. "Our separation has been difficult," he began. Emma dissolved into tears in agreement. "Tell me how you pass your time, who are your friends now that we are apart."

Emma peeked from behind her raven tresses and whispered: "Do you really wonder?"

"I really do," he stated emphatically.

"Mostly the same girls I used to spend time with. Of course, Martha and her husband are with child, well, she is about to give birth any day now. I don't see her very often any longer. Ana is still very dear to me. You remember her, don't you Alysandir? She had the beautiful singing voice. Just like an angel. Remember?"

"Aye," he responded while he searched his memory unsuccessfully.

"About two months ago she began courting a gentleman from far off. His accent was very strange, I remember thinking when I first met him, but he is very pleasant. He insisted that Ana and I remain fast friends. He would accompany her to visit me nearly every day."

"Your father did not mention his name. He knows that Ana has affection for this young man?"

"Oh, aye. I would meet them at the brook or the orchard. We would walk together all day and laugh. You should meet him; he's quite amusing. Your wife seems to have darkened your sense of humor if you ask me."

"What do you recommend to brighten it?" he kept his voice light despite himself.

"We should walk outside together, Alysandir. Like we used to. Gilbert says that the best way to restore your spirit is to take long walks with good friends. Friends that you can trust."

"Who does Gilbert say you should not trust?"

Emma laughed. "To never trust a hungry dog, a talking serpent or the English."