“The truth,” she muttered. “In a loch of thick lies, I finally have the truth.” Before Cameron could question her more, she brushed past him and started up the stairs, uncaring if she was actually headed in the direction of Marion or not.
Graham clenched his teeth as he stared at Lachlan. He understood why his brother would think Graham intended only revenge with his offer of marriage. Hehadoriginally gone after Isobel with only retribution as his desire, but his feelings had changed.
“Isobel will be a MacLeod, Graham said. “I expect ye and everyone else to treat her with respect and nae as our enemy. Her heart is pure.”
Lachlan’s face took on a startled look. “Ye truly care for the lass? I thought yer fever talk was simply lust.”
Graham frowned. “I dunnae care for Isobel. I owe her protection. I took her, and she is nae as I thought.”
“Ye bind yerself willingly to a womanfor lifesimply out of guilt?” Iain asked, giving Graham a skeptical look.
“It is neither aye nor nay,” Graham replied, refusing to explain himself. He cared for Isobel but not simply because he felt guilt. She was brave, honorable, and innocent.
“Lust has turned yer head to muck,” Lachlan bit out. “Do ye forget what her family has done?”
Graham shook his head. “Nay, but she did nae do those deeds. She risked her life to save me from drowning, and she risked her life to save Cameron from Jamie. She is selfless.”
Lachlan scoffed, but Iain held up a hand for silence. “Yer offer to marry her had nothing to do with Brigid, did it?”
“Nay,” Graham admitted. “I could nae stand the thought of her being used at the king’s whim. I did nae know the king would demand Lena’s return to Findlay.”
“But he did,” Lachlan growled. “And ye did nae rescind yer offer of marriage when he made his conditions known.”
Graham blew out a frustrated breath. “I could nae. But I vow I did nae have any intention of allowing Lena to be sent to Findlay.”
“I ken ye would nae allow that,” Lachlan said, “But ’tis a dangerous plot ye have drawn us into, even if we will gain control of Brigid.”
As Graham clenched his teeth to keep from arguing, Iain clamped Lachlan on the shoulder. “Enough. We are all angry and tense. Let us avoid words we will later regret.”
Both Graham and Lachlan nodded.
“The marriage is good for the clan since we will attain Brigid,” Iain said simply, then gave Graham a long, assessing look. “It does nae matter why ye volunteered yerself.”
Graham had a definite sense that Iain, who had always been very perceptive, suspected Graham had left much unsaid, and he had. Yes, he had felt guilt and had not wanted to see her used, but it was more than that. Christ help him, the idea of another man’s mouth on the sweet one he had claimed made fierce possessiveness stir in him. Maybe his nearly uncontrollable desire was what had truly driven him.
“Desire is a good reason for a marriage,” he snapped at his silent brothers, who now both studied him. He refused to consider it might be more. He could not allow it to be more.
“It’s a good start,” Iain agreed to Lachlan’s accompanying nod.
“I must admit,” Lachlan grumbled, “she’s surprised me thus far.”
“How so?” Graham asked.
“Well, when ye were ill she somehow managed to convince both Rory Mac and Cameron to disobey Iain’s orders to nae leave her door unguarded so that they could carry information on healing ye to Marion. I could nae figure how saving ye fit into any ill-conceived Campbell plot, but after hearing she risked herself to save yer life and Cameron’s, I suppose I must admit, she may well be different from her father, brothers, and Helena.”
Graham swallowed, turning the information Lachlan had just given him over in his head. She had risked her safety for himagain. There was a part of him that was proud and another part that was angry for her foolishly risking herself once more, and there was yet another part of him that was impressed and astounded that she had been able to convince Rory Mac and Cameron to disobey orders. He would have to speak to them both. It was unacceptable for them to be so soft, but he could see how it might happen if Isobel beseechingly turned her large, luminous blue eyes on them.
“What shall we tell Lena?” Lachlan asked, drawing Graham’s focus back to his brothers.
“We kinnae tell her the truth,” Iain immediately replied. Graham had thought as much, but to hear it voiced settled dread in his stomach.
“I agree, but she’ll likely become even more distant and angry when she learns she is to go back to Findlay,” Graham said.
“Aye, but with her outbursts, she kinnae be trusted to keep the secret, and if our true intentions become known, the king may well feel forced to oppose us, even though he dunnae wish to,” Iain said. His expression grew taut as his gaze locked on Graham. “Take a care with yer future wife, Brother. Lena hates her, as so many others.”
“And what of the both of you?” Graham demanded.
Iain and Lachlan exchanged a swift look. “’Tis nae such a simple thing to dismiss that she is a Campbell,” Lachlan said. “I’m sorry, Brother.”
