'And you've been at Dark Mount ever since.'
'That's right.' He didn't add that there was nowhere else to go. 'Iain offered me a place among his men and I was glad to accept it. I've never regretted the decision.'
'He is a man who commands respect. My father always said as much and he did not give his praise readily.'
'Your father was right.'
'Well, I look forward to meeting Lady Ashlynn and your nephews.'
'You will be able to do so very soon.'
The thought occurred to her that if Ewan did not get through then the chance of any of them seeing Glengarron was remote. Perhaps Lady Ashlynn would wait in vain for her brother to return. Isabelle swallowed hard. The thought of his death was chilling, like the thought of a world without him. Yet he had obviously weighed the risk and found it worthwhile. Suspicion resurfaced and with it an urge to confront the matter head on. Whatever the truth it was better than doubt.
'Why did you come back for me?' she asked.
'No man takes what is mine and gets away with it. And, as I told you, I would not leave you with Murdo.'
She licked dry lips. 'Is that the only reason? After all, Castlemora is a considerable prize.'
He didn't pretend to misunderstand. 'Aye, it is and, God willing, we shall return and reclaim it very soon.'
'You mean you will claim it. You will be laird.'
'I shall, and you its lady, if events fall out as we hope.'
If. She shivered inwardly. So much hung on that one little word. 'And if they do not?'
'Come what may,' he replied, 'I shall claim Castlemora.'
'What?'
'It is a rich and valuable estate and the king would rather see it in the hands of an ally than an enemy.'
'And so at a stroke you regain all that you once lost.'
'That's right.'
For a moment she was speechless. No matter what happened he would emerge a winner whereas her position remained precarious. She dreaded to ask the next question but knew she had to now.
'Will you acknowledge our betrothal if...when we reach Glengarron?'
'When circumstances make that possible.' He paused, surveying her steadily. 'Nothing has changed. The arrangement still stands.'
'I see.' She lowered her gaze. He had been brutally frank but now at least every last trace of doubt was gone. Formerly she had been glad of his honesty and in a way still was, but this time it hurt too. His affections were not engaged; to him she was a means to an end. I do not love you any more than you love me. Tears pricked behind her eyelids and she blinked them away, sickened by her own folly. Her ability to please this man was limited to sharing his bed, or wherever else he chose to take her. It occurred to her then that Glengarron was both haven and fortress. She might have escaped from Murdo but, in doing so, she had put herself into hands that were more powerful and, in their way, more dangerous. This man had the power to hurt her in ways that Murdo never could.
'First though,' said Ban, 'we have to reach Glengarron.'
'One more thing I would ask, my lord.'
'Which is?'
Isabelle met his gaze. 'If we are not rescued in time, I beg that you will not let Murdo take me alive.'
For a moment he was silent as he tried to read her expression. 'The situation will not arise.'
'It might, and I would rather be dead than submit to him.'
'I promise you will never again be in his power.'
'Thank you.'
He squeezed her arm lightly. 'Don't be afraid. All will yet be well.'
Feeling the warmth of that touch Isabelle's heart constricted. How was it possible for a man to be such a mass of contradictions? How did one reconcile gentleness and courtesy with ruthlessness and ambition? How could a man who was so ardent in bed have a heart sheathed in ice?
'I pray you are right,' she replied.
His hand fell to his side. 'You should try to get some sleep, my lady. We have another long day ahead.'
She nodded, not trusting herself to speak further. Seeing her about to rise, Ban stood up first and offered his hand. There was a fleeting hesitation before she took it and as he drew her to her feet he felt her tremble. For a moment they remained thus facing each other. Then, with a tremulous smile, she withdrew her fingers from his.
'Goodnight, my lord.'
* * *
He watched her walk away, conscious of conflicting emotions. It hadn't been an easy conversation but he hadn't wanted to lie to her either. Only a fool would let slip an opportunity like the one he now had. Castlemora was going to be his. When that happened he wanted Isabelle at his side and he wanted to keep her there. He couldn't imagine any other woman in that role. It wasn't just her beauty that drew him now; she possessed intelligence, honesty and courage as well. Together they were a heady combination. Her company was agreeable too and, unlike that of most other women, it didn't pall. When he left her she lingered in his thoughts; with her he found himself speaking of things he didn't discuss with anyone else. She could be disturbingly perceptive at times, but she also had a way of seeing straight to the heart of a matter. It would be pointless to lie to her, she would know at once. Besides, he had no wish to because if he did she would think less of him. He sighed, wondering then what she did think. Probably her opinion of him was not high. Nor could he blame her for it. If they lived to reach Glengarron he would try and make it up to her.
For all his confident words earlier he couldn't deny to himself how serious their situation was. Everything depended on Ewan now. If he got through they had a chance. If not... Ban tried not to think of the alternative.
* * *
The rest of the night passed uneventfully and at dawn they rose and saddled the horses. There was no more food and already Ban could feel hunger pangs clawing his stomach. He knew the others must feel the same. It was hard enough on a man never mind a woman, yet he heard no word of complaint. Instead Isabelle greeted him with a brave smile. It touched him more than any tears could have done and his esteem increased. In spite of her youth and her vulnerability she could face a difficult situation with courage and he admired that.
Gathering the reins he mounted the big chestnut and waited while Davy lifted Isabelle up behind him. He felt her settle herself on the crupper and then the light, familiar clasp of her hands on his waist. He smiled wryly. The best he could say of present circumstances was that they offered the perfect excuse to keep her close.
When Nell was safely perched behind Jock, the little group set out. The pace was slower now and they rode with caution, their eyes watching for any sign of movement in the landscape. For some time it was open and afforded little cover but Ban knew that presently it gave way to stunted trees and rocky outcrops, the very places for an ambush. He had no intention of falling into one if he could help it.
'The bastards are there somewhere,' muttered Jock. 'I can feel it like an itch I canna reach.'
'Aye.' Ban scanned the terrain ahead. 'Even so we've no option now but to go on.'
'Ewan should have reached Glengarron by now.'
'Aye, he should.'
'That being so, help is on its way.'
Neither of them mentioned any of the possible ifs attaching to that statement. In spite of the sunlight Isabelle shivered inwardly. Safety was so tantalisingly near, a matter of a few miles, but it might as well have been a hundred. Her eyes scanned the surrounding land for any sign of movement. Like Jock, she could sense that the enemy was close. Perhaps Murdo was watching them even now. Her stomach knotted. She could almost see his gloating smile. He meant to play with them like a cat at a mouse hole.
In the event it was the flash of sunlight on steel that revealed the presence of the enemy behind the boulders on the hillside half a mile away. Ban reined in his horse. He had no sooner pointed out the location to his companions than there was an answering flash from a hillside opposite. He cursed softly.
'They're strung out in groups and who knows how far?' said Jock. 'We canna ride round them, and if we try tae go through they'll close in and encircle us.'
'Even if we got past this lot there'd likely be another group beyond,' replied Ban.
'They've seen us at any rate. What do ye want to do?'
'Let them come to us.' Ban glanced around. 'We'll take a position up there on yonder hillside. See where the land levels off a little under that outcrop? The rock face will protect our rear, those boulders our flanks, so they can only come at us from the front and a few at a time.'
'You mean to try to hold them until reinforcements arrive?'
'There's no other choice.'
He touched the chestnut with his heel and, with the others following, headed for the place in question. Isabelle half-expected armed men to rise up out of the ground and bar their progress, but they reached their goal unhindered. Ban dismounted and spoke to his men.