They rode back silently to the castle, and as soon as they entered the bailey, Sybella quickly dismounted. She grabbed the first person she saw and had him order a bath for Aunt Iseabail. When she turned, Alexander had lowered his aunt to her feet.
“Alexander,” said Sybella, reaching out and touching her husband’s back. He turned around and she gave him a gentle smile. “I ordered a bath for Aunt Iseabail, and I will take her to her chamber. Donna worry. I will see she is cared for.”
Closing what was left of the small distance between them, he glared down at her. “And after ye are finished, we will have words.”
When he switched all of that intensity to her, she became confused. Why would the man be cross with her? He should be thanking her.
Refusing to agonize over his sudden change in behavior, she stepped around her wall of a husband and draped her arm around Aunt Iseabail. “Come, Aunt Iseabail. I ordered a bath for ye, and we will get ye cleaned up.”
“Thank ye, my dear. Ye are so kind.”
As Sybella turned her head, the captain of Alexander’s guard forcefully shoved a man into the stone wall of the bailey.
She presumed the man was Ian.
Aunt Iseabail opened the door to her chamber and Sybella followed her in. For a moment, Sybella felt a pang of guilt for having been in the woman’s bedchamber with Colin. Only by chance had they managed to escape unscathed and undetected. She couldn’t imagine trying to explain her way out of that one. Colin’s curiosity could have raised much discord between the MacDonells and MacKenzies, had the two of them been discovered. And her search for the stone would’ve been over before it had even begun.
The men carried in the heavy tub and dumped in the buckets of steaming water. Once they had departed, Sybella helped Aunt Iseabail undress and get into the tub.
Sybella reached for a rag. “Are ye able to lift your foot?”
“I think so.”
As Aunt Iseabail lifted her foot, Sybella wiped the muck that was stuck to the bottom like a second skin.
“What happened to my foot? There is so much dirt,” the older woman asked.
Sybella paused and then rinsed the rag. “Ye didnae have anything on your feet when ye walked in the woods.”
“Why would I walk in the woods without my boots?”
“I donna know, Aunt Iseabail. Ye donna remember going for a walk?”
“Aye, I remember taking a walk, but how could I forget to don my boots?” The poor woman lifted her other foot and gasped. “What was I into?”
Sybella scrubbed Aunt Iseabail’s foot, not thinking her question needed a reply. “There. Ye are clean. Ye are verra fortunate nae to have any cuts or scrapes.” She grabbed under Aunt Iseabail’s arm, helped the woman to her feet, and handed her a drying cloth.
“Ye are a kind woman…” Aunt Iseabail’s eyes glazed over.
“Sybella.”
“Of course, my dear. My nephew is so lucky to have ye as his new bride.” She stepped out of the tub and Sybella handed her a shift.
“Would ye like me to have a tray brought up for ye, or do ye think ye will be all right to join us for the midday meal?”
The older woman’s eyebrows shot up in surprise. “I am nae dead, Sybella. I will join ye for the noon meal.”
A giggle almost escaped Sybella when the words left Aunt Iseabail’s mouth. Sybella remembered her own mother scolding her for asking the same question not long ago. “That would be delightful. Alexander hasnae really had a chance to show me much of Glengarry. I hear the gardens are extraordinary. Mayhap ye could escort me after the meal. I would love to see them.”
Aunt Iseabail donned her day dress and then placed her hand on Sybella’s forearm. “Let us have a bite to eat and then we will take a walk in the garden. I’m verra proud of my flowers.”
Sybella sat next to Alexander during the midday meal. Leaning toward him, she lowered her voice. “Aunt Iseabail is fine. There was nay need to call for the healer. I was thankful she had nay cuts or bruises, especially on her bare feet.”
He nodded in response. “Thank ye for seeing to my aunt. I will need to make certain she doesnae wander too far from the castle again.”
“Dè nì thu?” What will you do? When her husband raised his brow, she quickly lowered her gaze. She didn’t mean to question his authority. The last she wanted to do was upset him further. “Tha mi duilich.” I am sorry.
“Nephew,” said Aunt Iseabail, “after the meal, I will take your new wife for a walk in the garden. Ye cannae keep her all to yourself, ye know.”
“I have nay intention of doing so,” he said dryly.
Sybella started to take a drink from her tankard but hesitated briefly when she heard her husband speak softly to her.
“Lass, I called after ye, and I know ye heard me. Ye ignored my command and blindly rushed into the forest riding a mount that was unfamiliar to ye. Ye could have been killed.” When she remained silent and lowered her eyes, he quickly added, “Praise the saints. Ye arenae going to shed tears, are ye?”
She stiffened as though he had struck her, and then she whipped her head around. “It would take more than ye, Alexander MacDonell, to make me cry,” she responded sharply. “I spotted Aunt Iseabail from the path, and by the time I would have pointed her out to ye, she would have been out of sight. Ye do realize that the wolf would’ve attacked her. And I didnae blindly rush into the forest. I have been hunting with Colin since I was a wee bairn, and I am a superior rider.” She tossed her hair over her shoulder. “I will nae offer ye apologies for seeing to the welfare of your aunt.”
Alex’s wife perplexed him. To be honest, Sybella’s behavior had rendered him speechless. Earlier in the stables, the lass had insisted she could handle her mount—and she did. In addition, she had not hesitated to rescue his missing aunt. His wife was quickly becoming a pleasant surprise.
When he had met the young lass at the waterfall so many years ago, she was headstrong, reckless. But he would be the first to admit that he liked his women with some spirit. And he had a feeling Lady Sybella MacDonell had plenty.
Holding up his hands in mock defense, he gave her his wooing smile. “I donna want to spar with ye. I only show concern for your safety. I am now your husband and ye are my responsibility.”
She nodded briefly and took a drink from her tankard.
Neither one of them spoke for the remainder of the meal. He had an underlying feeling that he had made her angry, but he was only concerned for her welfare. Now that he had actually seen the lass handle the horse, perhaps he could learn to trust her words—in time. Until then, she was under his care and his protection, even if he had to protect her from herself.
“Aunt Iseabail, I shall accompany ye and my wife to the gardens.”
“That would be delightful, Nephew. I am sure your bonny new wife would love to have ye in attendance as well.”
Sybella nodded politely, but a blind fool could have seen the truth in her eyes. “It would be wonderful to have ye accompany us, my laird,” she said with false sincerity.
“Alex.”
A flash of humor crossed her face and she raised her brow. “Donna push me.”
“I wouldnae think of it.”
Alex escorted the women to the gardens. He often found solace on the walls of the parapet but had not wandered aimlessly along the garden paths for quite a while. He knew Aunt Iseabail prided herself on working in the garden beds, and her efforts were obviously rewarded. Most of the flowers were in full bloom, with red, yellow, and purple petals painting the sides of the garden path.
A breeze wafted the scent of roses through the air, and Sybella brought her finger to her nose as if to stifle a sneeze.