A slight shock went through Dirk. "You know her?"
"I remember her from when I was a lad." Aiden smiled. "And I recall how you and your friends could not take your eyes off her when we visited her clan. Is she still as lovely as she was?"
Dirk shrugged, hoping to hide his true thoughts. "Aye, I suppose." If one considered seductive dark eyes, long lashes, lush rosy lips and voluptuous curves to be lovely. Which he sure as hell did. His body quickened when he imagined her the way she'd been two nights before, wearing naught but a thin smock as he carried her back to the bed. He drew in a deep cooling breath, hoping he could resist her once he brought her here to the castle.
Chapter Nine
Isobel paced before the small window of the cottage.
"You're nervous as a cat, Lady Isobel," Dirk's Aunt Effie said with a smile. The woman had sent her daughters to help finish cooking the midday meal along with their one servant. Isobel suspected Effie might want to pry some information from her, but she was not sure what.
"Pray pardon, Mistress. I am a wee bit anxious," Isobel said. She knew not if she would spend the next night here or elsewhere. Since Dirk and the other men hadn't returned the night before, she knew naught of what had happened at the castle. Had they been attacked or welcomed? She wished Dirk would hasten back and bring news. Aside from that, she missed him.
"Please call me Aunt Effie."
Goodness, she could not be serious. That implied she was family.
"Very well, Aunt Effie." She forced herself to sit on a stool near the hearth.
"I can understand how you're feeling, being away from home and all."
Isobel nodded.
"And I'm certain you're wanting to see that big strapping lad again."
"Lad?" Isobel asked.
"Aye, Dirk. I can see you already have a fondness for him. He's easy to like, that one."
Heat rushed over her. Effie thought she held a fondness for Dirk? Well, she did, of course. But she didn't want anyone else to know that. She would have to be more careful.
"I'm thinking he's a wee besotted with you as well, lass." Effie winked.
Isobel was sure her face glowed brighter red than the coals in the hearth and her heart pounded loud in her ears. "Nay. I hope not." Well, that was a flat out lie but surely it would disguise her attraction to him.
Effie blew out a doubtful breath. "I ken you're wanting to keep it a secret but 'tis clear to me."
She almost told Effie she was betrothed to a MacLeod, but she should probably keep that information to herself. The fewer people who knew the better.
"I only want to return to my brother's home as soon as the weather permits," Isobel said.
"Dirk will keep you safe in the meantime. Once they inaugurate him as chief, he'll be needing a wife."
Heavens, would the woman not stop with her matchmaking talk? Certainly the ruse of being married to Dirk had been a pleasant diversion, but it was not true. It could never be true. Her brother would have to negotiate again with the MacLeods and determine if and how he could remove her from the contract. If he couldn't, she'd run away to her aunt's home further south.
But she couldn't marry Dirk, the neighboring clan chief. Surely that would cause a feud between the MacLeods and the MacKays. To imagine violence and bloodshed, perhaps even loss of life, because of her was unthinkable. Besides that, the MacKays would have a dim view of both her and Dirk if they made him chief and then he started a war over her.
"It near broke my heart years ago when he had to leave us. We've all missed him sorely."
"Why did he have to leave?" Isobel asked, hoping Effie would give her more information than Dirk had.
"He didn't tell you? Someone came mighty close to murdering him."
A shock went through Isobel. "Who would do such a thing?" Dirk was so likable and respectful that she couldn't imagine anyone hating him enough to murder him.
"Well, who do you think?" Aunt Effie raised a brow as if Isobel should know good and well who'd want him dead.
"I have no inkling."
"His stepmother, of course."
"But Maighread Gordon is his stepmother." And she had been Isobel's mother's best friend for many years.
"Aye. You have the right of it," Effie assured her.
Though Isobel didn't know Maighread well, she had always seemed decent and friendly. "Why would she do such a thing?"
"So one of her sons could inherit."
"I see." Isobel didn't know whether to believe this news or not. But what reason would Effie have to lie? Mayhap they had it all wrong. "How did she try to kill him?"
"She hired someone to knock him off a cliff at the headland that juts out into the North Sea. The cliffs out there are a fright, around three-hundred feet high. Dirk fell several feet down the side of it and landed on a small outcropping. Conall rescued him. One of Conall's other nephews was killed that day by the same man."
"Dear heavens!" Isobel gasped. How could the Maighread she knew instigate such a tragic and violent event? Why would her mother befriend such a woman? She couldn't have known about her murderous side, surely. And it was no wonder Dirk was always on edge and vigilant for danger.
"Some people will go to great lengths in the service of greed," Effie said.
A horrid thought occurred to Isobel, sending icy fear through her veins. "Since he's come back, do you think she will try to kill him again?"
"'Tis what I've lost sleep over." Effie nodded. "I only pray Dirk is careful this time. Of course, he would never admit to fearing a gray-haired woman now that he's such a fearsome warrior, but she is sneaky. A lot of the clan members are loyal to her. She could hire anyone to do her dirty work."
Isobel had to do something. Of course, she wasn't strong enough to protect Dirk from an assassin, but she could watch his back. She would keep her eyes and ears open and learn if there was a plot against him.
"Where is his stepmother now? I wonder if she knows he's back."
"'Tis unlikely as of yet. She lives in a manor house at Tongue most of the time."
"And she is in good health?"
"Aye. She was a few years younger than Laird Griff when he married her."
Even if Maighread didn't travel to Dunnakeil herself, she might send an assassin.
"Please don't tell Dirk I told you any of this," Effie said. "He and Conall like to keep it quiet, considering who Maighread is. She's the sister of an earl and her family is powerful."
Isobel nodded, remembering who Maighread's family was. Although some from powerful families had gotten away with murder, Isobel had to make sure Maighread didn't.
"But I wanted you to know of the danger," Effie added.
"I thank you for telling me."
Although Isobel felt completely inadequate for the task, she had to help Dirk stay safe. Having done nothing like this before, she was unsure what she should do. Stay with Dirk every moment? Slip around and eavesdrop on the servants to see what intrigues they were gossiping about? If Maighread showed up, she'd cozy up to her to see what secrets she might reveal.
Conall MacKay opened the cottage door and held it for Dirk and Rebbie, who both ducked beneath the top of the door frame and entered, bringing the smell of fresh winter air with them.
Isobel's heartbeat raced at the sight of Dirk with his windblown copper hair.