“On our way to locate the lad we can stop in the kitchens and see if we can charm the cook into packing enough provisions to do us.”
She had gathered the covers from the floor and carried them over to the bed, but now she stopped, hands on her hips, staring at him.
“Provisions? Food, do you mean? Why would we need to carry food along with us?”
Obviously she didn’t realize how far they had to go.
He crossed the room to where she stood and gathered her in his arms, kissing the top of her head as he pulled her close. “It’s a two-day ride to MacQuarrie Keep, love. We’ll want something more than each other to nibble on along the way.”
She pushed back from his chest to look up at him, her brow wrinkled in confusion. “What are you saying, Robbie? I’ve told you before, I’m no going to yer family keep. I’ve no intent to leave my home, no for any reason.”
He stared at her, his thoughts a jumbled mess. “But last night... I thought that meant you’d agreed to do as I asked. I told you my time to get you to safety was running short.”
Isa took another step back from him, fixing her eyes on the floor in front of her. “Last night meant only last night. If you have to go, then go. It’s no like I’m saying you have to stay, only that I am.”
“Goddammit, Isa, why will you no listen to reason?” He grit his teeth until he thought his jaw would crack with frustration as he struggled to find some words, some way to convince her.
Maybe it was time to ignore her feelings. Though some sixth sense told him it would be a mistake, perhaps he should ignore that, too, toss her over his shoulder onto his mount and take her to MacQuarrie Keep by force if she wouldn’t go of her own free will.
It went against every natural instinct, but he had no reasonable choice left other than to stay with her until the Magic took him, and then she’d be left on her own. To face more dangers than he wanted to consider. Lardiner. MacDowylt.
No, his decision was made.
Until his gaze lit on the spot in front of the fireplace.
Burned into the stone, a blackened outline circled the place where their bodies had lain together on the floor.
It would appear the lightning he’d imagined when they made love hadn’t been in his imagination after all.
Which would mean that Jamie’s story about Isa’s mother being Fae must be true.
And if there was one thing Robert knew about the Fae, it was that you couldn’t force them to do anything against their will without there being serious consequences.
No wonder that sixth sense had been setting off warning bells.
How Robbie could possibly have assumed she meant to leave her home and go with him was beyond Isa’s wildest imagining. Or so she tried to convince herself.
If only her damnable conscience wouldn’t keep flashing bits and pieces of last night through her mind as a vivid reminder of why he might think she’d do whatever he wanted.
Isa picked up her pace, as if she could leave her guilty thoughts behind. Through the castle and out to the bailey she hurried until she was all but running to the stable to find Jamie.
“Slow yerself down or you’ll draw attention to our leaving.” Robbie’s deep voice flowed over her, as soft and gentle as the hand he wrapped around her arm.
She nodded her agreement, almost stumbling as she changed her pace.
“He’s there.”
Robbie pointed across the courtyard to where Jamie stood with a young woman, his head nodding in quick agreement to whatever she was saying. When he spotted them, he waved and hurried in their direction.
Isa dropped to her knees to speak directly to the boy. “I spoke to yer grandmother, lad. She’s asked that you come home with me to stay since she canna look after you. I’m going now and I’d like for you to come along with me. Will you do that for me?”
Jamie’s one-sided smile faltered and he looked from Isa back over his shoulder to where the young woman waited.
“Oh, Mistress Isa, that will be wonderful since I never see my gran anymore. But I canna today. It’s my turn at last to help with the churns. There’s fresh butter on warm sweet bread as a reward when the butter’s done. I’ve waited so long for my turn to help them.”
“But, Jamie,” she began, stopping as Robbie laid a hand on her shoulder.
“You go to yer churning, lad. And when you’ve finished, you come to Isa’s cottage, aye? But do so in secret, lad. Dinna speak of it to anyone, you ken?”