Her stomach knotted.
‘Do I look all right?’
Nell smiled. ‘You look beautiful.’
Isabelle smoothed the front of her gown and then quit the chamber, heading for the hall where her father would be entertaining their visitors. Already she could hear the sound of men’s voices. No doubt they would be refreshing themselves with a mug of ale and delivering messages from their lord. On reaching the doorway she paused a moment to take in the scene. With her father was Hugh and beside him another man, several inches taller than both, who had his back to her.
Isabelle took a deep breath and then, summoning her courage, moved towards them. Her father saw her approach and, after a swift appraising look, he nodded.
‘Ah, there you are, lass. Come and greet our guest.’
As he spoke the stranger turned and Isabelle’s heart lurched. In a flash all the adventure of the afternoon returned with awful clarity as she found herself staring into a pair of very blue eyes—eyes that conveyed both recognition and amused surprise. And then her father was introducing them.
‘Lord Ban, may I present my daughter, Isabelle?’
Chapter Three
For a moment she could neither move nor speak and her heart thumped so hard it seemed they must all hear it. Worse, she could feel a crimson tide rising from her neck to her cheeks as the blue gaze swept over her. Then she saw him smile, a mischievous smile that lit his face and spoke more clearly than words of huge enjoyment. For a moment she wished the ground would open up and swallow her; then indignation came to her rescue. Gathering her wits she dropped a proper curtsy and gave him her hand which he took with every sign of pleasure. He brushed it with his lips. The touch seemed to scorch her flesh.
‘Lady Isabelle.’
The tone was courteous but she could not miss the amusement beneath. Isabelle felt perspiration start on her forehead. Would her father notice aught amiss? Would her brother? Thank heaven Murdo wasn’t present for very little escaped him. Striving for self-control she summoned a smile.
‘Welcome to Castlemora, my lord.’
‘I thank you.’
‘Your men too are most welcome.’ Isabelle looked towards the door where stood a small group of retainers who immediately made their duty to her. Nothing in their expressions revealed that they knew anything about the incident at the pool. Why should they? Even if he had told them they could not know her identity.
If her father noticed aught amiss it was not apparent. ‘Lord Ban has brought some fine horses, Isabelle.’
‘I look forward to seeing them, Father.’
‘Presently.’ He turned back to their guest. ‘My daughter is a keen rider. She has a way with horses.’
Ban smiled. ‘I hope the animals will meet with the lady’s approval.’
‘I’m sure they will,’ she replied. ‘My father has often said that the Laird of Glengarron has a good eye for a mount.’
‘Quite right. Not just for a mount either; breeding stock too.’
Isabelle’s stomach churned. The subject was uncomfortably close to home and she hastened to redirect it. ‘His reputation goes before him.’
‘So it does, my lady.’ Ban hadn’t missed that fleeting expression of unease and was surprised. Experience suggested that she was no prude.
Her father nodded. ‘He has made Glengarron strong.’
‘As Castlemora is strong,’ replied Ban.
‘There’s even greater strength in unity, eh?’
The allusion was impossible to miss and Isabelle’s discomfort increased. Lord Ban didn’t bat an eyelid.
‘As you say, my lord.’
‘We’ll speak further on that in due course.’ Her father beamed. ‘In the meantime I’d like to see the new horses. Would not you, Isabelle?’
‘Yes, very much.’
He held out his arm for her and she took it gratefully, allowing him to lead her outdoors. Lord Ban stood aside to let them pass and as they did so she saw the mischievous smile on his lips once more, could feel his gaze burning into her back as he fell into step with Hugh and followed them out. The knave was enjoying himself. Isabelle’s chin tilted in militant fashion. The past could not be undone, but if he thought to discompose her again he was very much mistaken.
As they reached the courtyard they could see the horses standing by the trough; three lovely mares, strong and clean of limb. Hugh surveyed them approvingly.
‘You have brought fine horses, my lord,’ he observed.
Ban inclined his head. ‘My brother’s choices in this case.’
‘Fine choices they are too.’ Archibald Graham had paused some feet away, surveying them through narrowed eyes that missed nothing. ‘What say you, Isabelle?’
‘They’re beautiful,’ she replied and, relinquishing her father’s arm, moved forwards to the nearest, a glossy bay mare with a white star on her forehead. The horse turned towards her, testing her scent through flared nostrils. Detecting no threat she relaxed again and lowered a velvety muzzle into Isabelle’s hands.
‘Your father spoke true. You have a way with horses, my lady,’ said Ban, who had come to stand beside her. All too keenly aware of him she kept her attention focused on the mare.
‘My daughter could ride almost as soon as she could walk,’ said Graham, glancing her way. ‘There are few to rival her in the chase.’
‘I am sure the lady is unrivalled in many ways,’ replied Ban. The tone was decidedly ambiguous though as far as she could tell only the two of them knew it. She threw him a swift and reproachful glance which apparently left him quite undismayed.
Graham ran a practised hand over the mare’s shoulder, back and flank, letting his gaze move down the legs to the hocks.
‘Clean limbs. Plenty of bone,’ he observed.
Isabelle dutifully followed his gaze. ‘And stamina too, I’d say.’
‘Aye, likely.’ He turned to Ban. ‘They are all broken?’
‘All, my lord.’
Isabelle looked at her father. ‘May I try her tomorrow?’
‘Why not? Try them all.’
For the first time her spirits lifted a little. It would be fun. Indeed, if her assessment was correct, she was in for a treat.
Graham turned to his guest. ‘You’ll stay a while, my lord, and see the beasts settled in. Besides, I am sure Isabelle would be pleased if you would consent to ride out with her. I’m afraid my own health rarely permits it these days.’
Ban
