“There’s little Stephen knows that I don’t by now—whether I wish to know it or not.” He sighed wearily. “I dinna ken what happened to Lord Kincreag’s wife. I thought you didn’t care what anyone thought? You said you would judge him yourself.”
“That was before I heard he might be a murderer—or—or a man who drives his wives to fling themselves from cliffs to escape his evil stare!”
Philip dropped his jack and sword belt to the ground and covered his face with his hands. “God’s bones,” came the muffled curse. He lowered his hands and considered her for a long moment. “This is my fault. I shouldn’t have said anything to you about Lord Kincreag, but you have a way of pricking my temper, lass.”
“I want to know the rest.”
“What more is there to say? Stephen clearly left no ugly rumor untold.”
“I want to know about my father. There’s something wrong with him. I know it.”
He shook his head and grabbed up his sword belt and jack, pushing past her.
She caught his arm, stopping him. “Please.”
He held her gaze, his jaw rigid, then looked at the ground. He gave another hard shake of his head. “I canna.”
“Why? Have you promised someone?”
He said nothing for a long time, then, “I have.”
Isobel dropped her hand. “I see.” It was bad, whatever it was, if her father swore him to silence. And she knew now that Philip would not tell her. If he was anything, he was a man of his word.
She turned away from him.
His sword and jack dropped to the ground behind her. His hands cupped her shoulders. A shiver ran through her, settling at the nape of her neck. She turned and gazed up at him.
“Dinna look at me so. Your father only charged me with bringing you home. Nothing more.”
“And so you don’t care.”
His fingers tightened on her shoulders. “I’m not supposed to care.”
“What do you mean? If you care, you’ll feel obligated to do something?”
“Isobel—you’rebetrothed.There’s nothing I can do.”
Isobel laughed shakily. “What do you think I’m asking of you? I ask only for friendship. I’ve not asked you to intervene between Lord Kincreag and me. Regardless of what I’ve learned today, I still intend to marry him.”
He frowned deeply. “You do?”
Isobel smiled. “Of course. It’s what my father wishes. And though I must admit I’m rather…shaken by these tidings, my father thinks he will be a good husband, and that is good enough for me.”
Philip searched her face, still frowning slightly. “Good…that’s good. Just remember, no one knows for certain what happened to Lady Kincreag.”
Isobel nodded hesitantly, her belly tightening. “But you think he did it, don’t you? Why else would you not tell me and forbid the others to speak of it?”
She saw the concession to her logic in his face, but he continued to deny it. “All I know is he’s…odd. Reclusive. And I wanted to avoid any unpleasantness—that’swhy I didn’t tell you.” He sighed, his hands sliding up her shoulders to her neck. “I canna see you with someone like him…but that doesn’t mean it won’t work. You’ll bring light into his life, and he’ll be glad for it.” His hands cupped her neck warmly, holding her immobile.
She thought of kissing him again, and her heart snagged. Her lashes fluttered, though she fought to appear unaffected. She sensed he would retreat if he knew how she felt.
His hands stilled. “But what I spoke of before—your little games. I dinna believe they’ll amuse Lord Kincreag.”
She nodded jerkily. Nicholas Lyon was probably the kind ofman who’d burn his own wife if he thought he had sufficient cause. She smiled up at Philip, her lips trembling slightly. She felt so odd, filled with miserable joy when he touched her. It clawed at her heart, to look at him. Why could her father not marry her to Sir Philip?
He seemed torn, gazing down at her with obvious concern. Whatever he saw in her face made him pull her against him, his arms going around her, pressing her head to his shoulder. “It will be fine. You’ll see,” he murmured against her hair.
Isobel closed her eyes, her hands flexing like a cat against his chest. She breathed in the scent of him, the warmth of his body. His heart beat strong and steady beneath her ear. Mayhap it would be like this with Nicholas. Stephen had said his first wife was horrid. She would be a good wife, and he would love her and hold her as Philip held her now. And perhaps she would even feel the same way in his arms.
