Isobel whispered soothing words to Lena as she patted her on the back. Over Lena’s shoulder, Isobel met Marion’s and Bridgette’s grateful but doubtful gazes. She had no idea how she would manage to keep her vow, but somehow she would.
After Lena settled, Isobel, Marion, and Bridgette helped her into the bath, and washed and dried her hair. When Isobel caught Bridgette grimacing and complaining of lower back aches, she insisted the woman retire to her bedchamber as the hour had grown late.
Later, while Isobel, Marion, and Lena were curled around the fire in silence, Marion fell asleep, and Isobel roused her and sent her on her way, too.
Lena who had barely said a word or even glanced away from her sightless staring at the fire suddenly blinked and looked at Isobel. “Ye dunnae have to stay. I’m certain my brother is impatiently awaiting ye in yer bedchamber.”
Isobel could not help but release a bitter laugh. When Lena arched her eyebrows at Isobel, she felt she had to explain. “I fear ye were nae far from the truth earlier tonight in the great hall when ye said if Graham had wanted me to sit by him he would have said so.”
Lena bit her lip. “I am sorry. I was trying to be cruel.”
Isobel waved her hand. “Dunnae fash yerself.”
“He’s nae been cruel to ye, has he?” Lena asked with indignation.
“Nay!” Isobel quickly explained what had happened with Graham. “He has nae asked me to share his bedchamber,” she admitted.
Lena’s eyes rounded. “He did make the marriage true, did he nae?”
“Aye,” Isobel mumbled, feeling the heat of embarrassment on her face.
Lena squeezed Isobel’s hand. “I ken how awful the joining is. I am sorry!”
Isobel’s jaw dropped slightly. “It was nae awful but wonderful,” she divulged, forgetting her embarrassment in her surprise. Then horror dawned at what Lena must have experienced in joining with Findlay.
Lena gave Isobel a doubtful look. “I’ve joined with a man, Isobel, ye forget.”
“Nay,” Isobel said in a firm voice. “I kinnae forget that as I’m certain ye kinnae, either. But, Lena, with a good, passionate, gentle man like yer brother, the joining is a beautiful thing.”
Lena still looked doubtful, but she nodded and then yawned. “I’m so verra tired,” she said groggily. “I have nae slept well ever since I was married to Findlay.” She glanced shyly at Isobel. “Would ye stay by my side until I fall asleep?”
“I’d be honored to,” Isobel said, meaning it.
Lena tossed and turned for a long time, and when she finally fell asleep it was fitful at first. Isobel was certain that terrible dreams haunted Lena because she moaned and cried out several times. Desperate to calm her, Isobel started singing a chant of peace theCeàrdannanhad taught her, and eventually Lena grew quiet and her breaths deepened as sunlight skittered across the sky.
Isobel rose from where she had positioned herself at Lena’s bedside and stretched her stiff legs. Her eyes were bleary and her head achy from lack of sleep, but when she opened Lena’s bedchamber door and discovered Graham sitting just outside of it with his head resting on his knees, her heart swelled with boundless love.
He stood up as she walked out of the room and came to her. His large hands cupped her face as he gazed at her with what appeared to be a mixture of wariness and awe. Mayhap she was simply overtired because what she was seeing could not be.
“Thank ye,” he said, his voice hoarse as if he barely held great emotion back.
Dare she hope?
Choosing her words with great care, she said, “For what? Bathing yer sister?”
“Nay,” he said, running his hand down her face so gently it felt as if his fingertips were feathers tickling her skin. “Thank ye for doing what none of us could. Ye reached her. Marion told me.”
“She came to ye?” Isobel asked, surprised. Marion had seemed so tired, Isobel would have thought she had gone straight to bed.
“Nay.” He shifted his gaze away from her, and she knew for certain she saw wariness now. “I was here when she came out of Lena’s bedchamber.”
Astonishment swept through Isobel. “Ye have been waiting here since we brought Lena into her bedchamber last night?”
“Aye,” he admitted. “I wanted to be certain that ye could manage her, and that she did nae pose a threat to ye.”
“But if Marion told ye all was well within, why did ye stay?” Isobel asked, feeling as if her grogginess was making her miss something important.
He shifted his weight, and his face clouded. “I had to see ye,” he admitted, his tone suddenly inflamed.
