In truth, she had more reason than she had admitted to Cameron for wishing to learn these things. If she did have to flee to Oban or go in search of the Summer Walkers, she needed to know those things. But she also had a desire to show Graham she had strength that she could give to him and with that strength, he would be stronger, not weaker.
Yet even with the training and riding lessons the week seemed endless with Graham away. Never had Isobel experienced such wretched, soul-ripping loneliness. She prayed to God on her knees—which she had been unwilling to do since the day she left the nunnery—for the strength of heart to continue to try to reach Graham and the wisdom to know when it was simply time to give up and gather the remains of her tattered heart before there was nothing left.
The moment she heard a thundering of horses in the courtyard below, she knew Graham had returned. Her plan was to show him that he could not erect a wall between them by openly giving him her love. With this in mind, she raced down to the courtyard, arriving just as he was handing off his destrier to the stable master. When Graham turned toward her, her breath caught deep in her throat and an aching need to touch him pulsed within.
He had several days’ worth of stubble that she longed to run her fingers against, and he wore a pair of braies that hung low on his hips and accentuated the sharp cut of his stomach muscles. He watched her with the steady gaze of one who bore silent expectation. Without hesitation, she went to him, ignoring the men around him and rising on her tiptoes. Praying he did not push her away, she brushed her lips over his. “I’ve missed ye, Husband.” Her heart pounded hard with her words.
“I’ve missed ye, as well,” he replied, his words wooden and automatic. Her gut twisted as he set her gently away. From the corner of her eye, she saw Rhona standing to the right with a group of women who were there to greet their husbands, but when she caught Rhona’s gaze, the woman cast her eyes down. Isobel frowned and settled her attention upon Graham once more.
“I’ve moved my things to yer bedchamber,” she said, deciding to be bold.
His eyes widened, and then his lips set in a grim line. “Ye should nae have done that, Isobel,” he replied in a low voice she was grateful for, as her embarrassment was now acute. “I value my solitude,” he added. “When I’ve need of ye, I will come to ye.”
Need of ye.The cold words sent a chill through her. “What of the passion between us?” she demanded, refusing to relent.
He flinched. “I desire ye, Isobel, but I am master of my desire,” he responded, though there was strain in his voice.
“I’ve something to show ye,” she said, deciding a change in her course of action was in order.
“What?” he asked cautiously.
Despite how wretched his homecoming was making her feel, the urge to laugh that her husband should fear being alone with her nearly overcame her. She bit hard on her cheek. “’Tis a surprise,” she chirped.
“Where is what ye wish to show me?”
“Meet me at the trees leading into the woods,” she said, excitement bubbling within her to show him what she had learned of weapons, riding, and seduction. He thought to shut her out, and she hoped to tempt him yet again and make him realize that what was between them must be relented to fully, with his heart and not just his body.
“Isobel, I’ve yet to speak with Iain. I’m certain—”
“I’ve his permission to have time with ye first,” she lied while searching the courtyard for Marion. She found her near the stairs. “I’ll see ye there shortly,” she rushed out before he could voice more protest.
She raced past the people in the courtyard to Marion and whispered in her ear. “I’m going to show Graham my ability with a horse and sword, as well as the breastplate.”
Marion’s eyes widened, and a blush came to her cheeks. “I’ll tell Iain that Graham will be detained,” she said with a grin. “Good luck, Isobel.”
A spell later, as Isobel made her way to the thick copse of trees where she had asked Graham to meet her, she fretted that it had taken too long to gather the destrier and don the breastplate and the sword. Not to mention riding with a heavy breastplate on and a sword tucked into a sword belt was awkward. The heavy cloak she had put on to hide that she wore only a breastplate and thin léine made her wonder how wise her plan was. As she scanned the trees and did not see Graham, disappointment blanketed her.
“Isobel,” he suddenly said from behind her. She turned sharply toward his voice and threw herself off-balance. Flailing her arms to right herself, she ended up half on the patient horse and half off while trying to hold her cloak closed so as not to reveal her surprise in such a clumsy way.
Graham was at her side before she could blink, his strong hands encircling her waist to lift her off the horse. He set her down on her feet, quickly secured her destrier, and then glared at her. “What in Christ’s name are ye doing, Isobel? And what the devil do ye have under yer cloak?”
“It’s a surprise,” she replied vaguely. “Where did ye come from? Ye scairt me.”
He motioned to a side path she had been unaware of. “That path leads to the laird’s solar. I went to see Iain quickly to ensure there were no pressing matters that needed tending.”
She tried not to let the fact that Graham had likely hoped pressing matters would pull him from her hurt her feelings, but she felt her heart tighten despite her best effort to be stoic. Pushing the pain aside, she slowly brought her sword out. “I’ve been learning how to defend myself and how to ride a horse properly,” she revealed. “I wanted to show ye.” She suddenly felt shy and very uncertain as Graham gaped at her for a long moment.
“Why?” he finally asked.
“Because I need ye to see that I am strong, nae weak. And because of that and because I am yer wife, I bring strength to ye, nae weakness.”
He gave her a look of utter disbelief. “A Dia, Isobel.”
“Please,” she rushed out, hearing the protest in his tone. “Just let me show ye.”
He pressed his lips into a thin line and crossed his arms over his bare chest as if to argue, but nodded his submission.
She let out a relieved sigh. “I’ll need ye to spar with me.”
