Page 232 of Wicked Highland Heroes

Isobel looked at her, brows lifted. Embarrassment washed over Rhoslyn when even Andreana cast her a curious glance.

“He is well,” Isobel answered. “He will be pleased that you asked about him.”

He would be pleased if his wife didn’t openly pursue another woman’s husband.

“The race is about to begin,” Andreana said.

They looked at the men.

“The markings on Sir Talbot’s arm is a picture of his sister, if I recall,” Isobel said.

“Aye,” Rhoslyn replied.

“The face puts me in mind of Lady Taresa.”

Rhoslyn jerked her head in her direction. “Lady Peigi’s mother?”

Isobel cocked her head. “I am surprised ye remember her. She left Buchan before you were born.”

“I know her only by name. It is Lady Peigi, I remember. She returned to Buchan when her father died—” Rhoslyn stopped and calculated “—nineteen years ago.”

“Aye,” Isobel said. “He swore she would no’ have his title or his land. In the end, he had his way. She died of a fever not long after he died.”

“Why was he so angry?” Andreana asked.

“Because she married against his wishes.”

“Then he had a right to be angry,” she said. “I will married whoever Grandfather commands me to marry.”

“Sir Talbot will choose your husband,” Isobel said. “Will you do as he commands?”

“I must,” she said.

Isobel laughed. “Then ye need no’ worry he will banish you as Lord Baliman did Lady Peigi.” Her smile vanished. “When Lady Peigi left, Lady Taresa went to live in one of Lord Baliman’s lesser castles in the westernmost part of Buchan. She returned to Narlton Keep when her daughter inherited the title, but left again when Lady Peigi died. She has no’ been back since. In truth, I am surprised she did no’ return to Spain. I think she stays as far away as possible from the squabbling in the family. They constantly fight over who will be her heir.”

“Lord Baliman met her on a pilgrimage?” Andreana asked.

Lady Isobel nodded. “In Galicia, at the Santiago de Compostela. It was quite a love match. Interesting, when you consider that his father was no’ more pleased with his choice in a wife than he was his daughter’s choice in a husband.”

“Who did she marry?” Rhoslyn asked.

“Some untried knight, is what I hear. Lady Taresa does no’ speak of her daughter.”

“I remember Lady Peigi as a very quiet, withdrawn lady. I saw her father only once. He was loud and full of vitriol.”

“Such things matter little to a man as wealthy as he.”

Rhoslyn nodded, remembering. “He was wealthier than Lord Lochland.”

“Indeed,” Isobel said. “It was the dissention amongst the Kenzies that allowed Lochland to rise to power. So long as the family fights over the title, he will remain the most powerful man in Buchan.”

Rhoslyn hadn’t realized the Kenzies played such a large role in the earl’s rise to power.

“Why does Lady Taresa not foster a son?” Andreana asked. “He could put an end to the squabbling.”

“An excellent question,” Lady Isobel said. “The answer is simple. She plans to let her husband’s name die. It is her revenge for him banishing Lady Peigi.”

“She is only hurting herself.” Andreana said.