Page 41 of In Bed with a Scot

Madden shook his head. “I dinnae. I had hoped tae acquire more evidence afore I spoke with ye, but Bain forced me hand. If ye allow him tae bring men here, it will be the end of ye and all that ye hold dear.”

“I cannae accuse him of attacking us without proof. I will nae risk me sister’s life on an unsubstantiated suspicion,” Arran shook his head.

“What if she was nae longer under his power?” Madden asked, his heart racing at what he was about to suggest. “What if I took her away from here?”

Lorcan’s eyes lit up in understanding. “Och, ye love the lass.” It was not a question.

Madden took a deep breath and nodded. “I dae.”

Arran’s brows arched in surprise. “Have I missed something here?”

Lorcan laughed. “Ye have a good excuse,” he reminded him, motioning towards Arran’s healing wound.

“Aye, I suppose that I dae,” Arran sighed. “I cannae in good conscious condone yer plan. As much as I respect ye, Madden, she is wed tae Bain. Nae distance on earth can change that. I will nae condemn me sister’s soul fer the sake of yer love. Leave yer suspicions with me. I swear tae ye that I will give what ye have said me fullest attention. Fer now, ye may continue to keep an eye on Bain and my sister but dae so at a distance. We cannae have Bain kenning yer true feelings fer her. He would murder ye both in yer beds.”

“Aye,” Madden nodded. “But only if I dinnae kill him first.”

“I would help ye,” Lorcan grunted.

Madden nodded in acknowledgement of the support, then left Arran and Lorcan to discuss what he had told them in private. It was MacKay clan business and there was only one MacKay that Madden wished to speak with now.

I pray that she is safe, and that Bain has nae gotten his hands on her.

Isabelle was walking in her mother’s rose garden, when someone emerged out of the shadows of the chapel and grabbed her from behind. “Madden,” she gasped, recognizing the feel of his arms around her. No other man felt as he did to her.

“Aye,” he breathed into the skin of her neck as she leaned into him, closing her eyes to soak in the warmth of his body against hers. “I was worried for ye and could nae stay away.”

“I am glad that ye found me,” she admitted. Being away from him for so long had been nigh unto torture after their confessions of love for one another.

“I have a surprise for ye,” he murmured, taking her hand, and leading her into the chapel. On the floor, he had spread out a blanket with food and drink. He had also picked her one of the roses and laid it in the center of the blanket. It was terribly romantic and was the first time that any man had ever done anything like it for her. Tears sprang to Isabelle’s eyes. “What is it, lass? Have I done something wrong?” he asked in concern.

Isabelle shook her head. “Nae, ye have done nothing wrong at all. Ye have done everything right.” Turning to him, she laid her head on his chest and breathed in the warmth of him as her tears soaked into his shirt.

“Och, lass, I meant fer this tae bring ye pleasure, nae sorrow.”

“I am nae sad. Ye bring me more pleasure than any other person ever has.” Isabelle lifted her face up to him. “I love ye, Madden. I love ye more than I ever kenned was possible.”

Madden caressed the tears from her face. “I love ye more than life itself,” he breathed, lowering his head to brush his lips gently across hers.

Isabelle smiled in encouragement, and he pulled her up against him, deepening the kiss. Laying her down on the blanket, he sat up to remove his shirt and trews. “Madden, what if we are seen?” Isabelle gasped in surprise at his brazenness.

“I have barred the door. Nae one will be able tae get through it, but even if they did, I am nae afraid of Bain. I will challenge him fer yer hand.”

Isabelle’s heart raced at his words, and she pulled him back down to lie on top of her, reclaiming his lips. After a long deep, passionate kiss, Madden sat up to remove her dress and shift, then lowered himself back down to her. His hands roamed over her body, caressing her, exploring every inch of her skin. He kissed all of her bruises one by one. Isabelle felt self-conscious about them and tried to cover herself.

“Dinnae hide yerself from me, lass. I love all of ye. There will never be a reason tae hide yerself from me.”

“I didnae always look this way,” she admitted, “but I can barely remember that time.”

“When did it start?” Madden asked, clearly understanding that she needed to talk about it.

Isabelle shook her head. “Bain started beating me once he realized that I could nae produce him an heir. Me faither’s beatings began after Arran left for France. I never understood what changed tae cause him tae become so violent.”

Madden ground his teeth in anger. Isabelle reached up and touched his cheek. He turned his face into her palm and kissed it. “Ye deserve better.”

Isabelle shrugged her shoulders. “So did me maither.”

Madden held her eyes with his own. “What happened tae yer maither was nae yer fault. Yer faither holds all of the blame fer what happened that day. Ye were and are innocent in the matter, ye were just trying tae protect her.”