If Alex had to discuss his coupling habits with his aunt one more time…
“My laird, pardon the intrusion. A moment, please,” said John, walking into the great hall. Water dripped from his soaked frame.
“I will leave ye lads to your business then.” Aunt Iseabail walked back toward the kitchens, and Alex breathed a sigh of relief.
“I must commend ye on your most appropriate timing.” He playfully wiped his brow.
John chuckled. “She wants a bairn under her roof before she dies.”
“Donna remind me. What was it ye wanted?”
“I had Ian tracking in the woods and he was still unable to find a trail. Now that we have rain—”
“Any trail there was is now dead.”
“Aye.”
“Sybella stays inside the castle walls and doesnae journey outside the gates until we find who is responsible. My cousin and the MacGregor arrive within the sennight. The man is verra wise in battle and may have a few ideas. Keep alert. I am by nay means lowering our defenses.”
John nodded. “Aye. Seòras watches the MacKenzie man and there hasnae been anything amiss.”
“Good. Make sure it stays that way. I will nae have a threat under my own roof.”
“I will leave ye to your duty then, my laird,” said John with a wry grin.
“’Tis quite enough that I hear it from Aunt Iseabail. I donna need to hear it from ye, ye bloody arse.”
Alex headed to the parapet to seek a brief reprieve. The heavy weather had passed, and he loved the smell of the air after a hard rain. He stood upon the darkened parapet with only the torchlight to illuminate the glistening walls. He lifted his face, feeling a light mist spray his cheeks.
Some of his men walked the walls and some sought shelter, conversing by the gate. In the time since his father’s death, Alex had managed to secure an alliance with their enemy and make certain the clan would be fed for several winters to come, and now he had a wife. He hoped his father was proud. If he could only solve the mystery of who would want to take aim at his bonny wife’s head, Alex could rest. Now he knew why he had waited so long to take a wife. The fairer sex was nothing but trouble.
Eleven
Sybella knelt in the dirt as Aunt Iseabail stood over her shoulder in the garden. It was hard to believe that almost a sennight had passed since Ennis and Anabel took their leave. Sybella already missed her kin, and her beloved husband wasn’t paying her much attention. The wooing part of their marriage was undoubtedly over or had been abruptly halted. Either way, something had obviously changed. And God help her, she missed her husband. Whether she wanted to admit it or not, she had developed a certain fondness for him that weighed heavily on her heart.
Alexander had not visited her bed since she’d been cursed with her monthly courses over the last few days. She had the impression that the man was either brooding because she wasn’t with child or was unable to bed her due to her womanly time, or perhaps both.
Sybella shook her head as she pulled a stubborn weed. She was somewhat disappointed that they hadn’t gotten the chance to spend more time together before he resumed his daily duties as laird. But he hadn’t taken long before recommencing his swordplay with the men in the bailey and seeing to the accounts. She wondered if she was ever in the man’s thoughts.
“I might be losing my mind at times, but I am nae deaf. If ye have something to say, speak your mind and cease your mumbling, lass. ’Tis driving me mad,” said Aunt Iseabail.
“My apologies.”
“I know my nephew can be infuriating, but—”
Not wanting to create unnecessary worry for Alex’s aunt, Sybella shook her head. “’Tisnae Alexander troubling me.”
“He had better nae be troubling ye,” said a familiar voice.
Sybella’s eyes lifted and then she flew to her feet. Hefting her skirts, she jumped over a bush and ran straight into her brother’s arms. “Colin, ’tis so good to see ye.” She held him in a tight embrace, not wanting to let him go.
He kissed her on the top of the head. “And ye as well, Ella. I see naught much has changed since ye became a MacDonell. Ye still look much the same, covered in dirt.”
She pulled back and playfully tapped his arm. “What are ye doing here?”
Before he could answer, Aunt Iseabail cleared her throat. “I will leave ye to your visit, then.”
Colin gave Aunt Iseabail a slight bow. “Lady Iseabail, ’tis a pleasure to see ye again.”
“Aye, be sure to tell William I wish him well,” she said with a slight blush on her cheeks.
“I will, m’lady.”
As Aunt Iseabail walked away, Sybella hugged her brother again. “I cannot believe ye are here. I have missed ye so.” She pulled away and smiled. “Ennis and Anabel came to visit—”
“Aye, I heard all about it. The wee lass couldnae stop speaking of it. She had a good time with ye and I think she misses ye.” Colin hesitated. “I need to have words with your husband, and then we will spend time together before I take my leave.”
Sybella had a difficult time keeping the whine from her voice. “Must ye take your leave so soon? Ye just arrived. In truth, I was hoping ye could remain for a few days. Alexander’s cousin should be coming from Glenorchy any day now, and it would be nice to have another MacKenzie around.”
Colin smoothed her tresses. “Come now, lass. Ye seem to be adjusting to your new life just fine.”
Sybella glanced over his shoulder and spotted the captain of Alex’s guard. He stood alert, keeping them both under heavy scrutiny. She leaned in close. “They donna trust us, Brother. He watches ye with the eyes of a hawk.”
“It doesnae matter if they donna trust the MacKenzies. ’Tis important that they trust ye, Ella.”
“I heard there was a MacKenzie at the gates,” Alex said as he walked up behind them.
Colin turned around and extended his arm. “Laird MacDonell, I come on behalf of my father. There are matters which we need to discuss.”
“Come to my study.” Alex clasped Colin’s arm, nodded, and then turned and gave Sybella the same gesture. “Wife.”
“Husband.” The man behaved no differently toward her than toward her kin—although Colin received an actual physical greeting, whereas Alex hadn’t touched her in days. Men were truly a mystery that she did not have the patience to figure out.
Sybella resumed her purpose in the garden, not able to stop herself from pondering. Why would her brother request an audience with her husband? Had he heard her mumbling to herself? Surely he didn’t think Alex had mistreated her. Perhaps she should intervene. Her husband wasn’t really treating her poorly. And the last thing she needed was to be the start of another battle between the MacKenzies and the MacDonells before she had a chance to look for the stone. Besides, she needed to tell her brother that Alexander was not the man he thought he was.
She ran to catch up to him. “Colin!”
Her brother turned around and smiled. When her eyes darted nervously back and forth, Colin sensed her unease. “I need only but a moment, Ella. ’Tis naught that concerns ye.”
His wife looked like a frightened rabbit. What the hell did she think? That he would pull out his sword and run a MacKenzie through in the middle of the bailey? What kind of man did she take him for? Alex couldn’t focus on his wife’s odd behavior because right now, he needed to find out what another damn MacKenzie was doing under his roof.
Alex escorted the MacKenzie’s son to his study and closed the door. He gestured for Colin to sit. He grabbed two tankards and pulled out MacGregor’s ale, pouring them each a healthy dram and placing one of the cups in front of Colin. “Ye look as though ye could use a drink.”