* * *
They reached the stables a short time later. The foal and her dam were in a loosebox at the far end. Looking at the new arrival Isabelle couldn't help but smile. It was a filly. With her spindly legs and woolly coat and absurd little tail she was thoroughly engaging. As yet she was still shy, staying close to the mare, but curious too, regarding the visitors with huge liquid brown eyes.
'Beautiful, isn't she?' said Ban.
Isabelle nodded. 'I think she's wonderful.'
'She was born last night.'
'What colour do you think she'll be eventually?'
'My guess is bay like her dam. She'll likely make the same size too, or a little more.'
Robert looked up at his uncle. 'Can we ride her soon?'
Ban shook his head. 'Not for some time yet. Not until she's grown bigger and is strong enough to carry a rider.' Seeing the child's disappointment he added, 'You'll be a lot bigger yourself by then.'
'Will I be big enough to learn swordcraft?'
'Aye, you will.'
Robert beamed. Then Jamie drew his attention and the two fell into their own conversation. Isabelle surveyed them for a moment or two and smiled sadly, thinking that Ashlynn was fortunate indeed.
'Now that I'm on the mend we must go out for a ride,' said Ban. 'I'd like to show you the rest of Glengarron.'
'I'd like to see it, but not until your shoulder is up to it. I'd hate to be responsible for your suffering a relapse.'
'It's improving all the time. Exercise can only do it good.' He surveyed her speculatively. 'Of course, the pace might have to be slower than you're used to, for a while at least.'
She laughed. 'Ouch. I suppose I deserved that.'
'Let's just say that your predilection for speed is...memorable.'
'I shall not indulge it just yet.' She let her hand rest a moment over the site of the injury. 'The healers might take a terrible revenge otherwise.'
Her touch was light and fleeting but his pulse quickened a little in response.
'It might be unwise to cross them,' he replied. 'They have a formidable collection of medicines at their disposal.'
'I shall heed the advice.'
They left the stables and, while the children ran on ahead, strolled back towards the tower.
'Are you feeling a little better now?' he asked.
'Much better, I thank you.'
'You've had a bad time, and then been uprooted as well. I realise it hasn't been easy for you.'
'No, but everyone has been most kind.'
'I remember I felt like a fish out of water when I first came here.' He smiled ruefully. 'I had made up my mind to leave and seek service with the king, but then Iain invited me to stay and ride with him instead.'
'You have never regretted it, I imagine.'
'Never. He's a man I esteem very highly.'
'His reputation doesn't exactly tally with the man I've met,' she replied.
'Marriage has mellowed him somewhat, but don't be fooled. There's still an iron hand in the velvet glove.'
She smiled. 'Your sister is a remarkable woman nevertheless.'
'Yes, she is. And so are you.' They reached the tower doorway and he paused at the bottom of the stairs. 'Kindred spirits, I'd say.'
His words produced a golden glow deep inside. Nor could she fail to be aware of his nearness now or their relative isolation. Would he kiss her? It was painful to realise how much she wanted him to, how much she had missed close physical contact with him in the past few weeks.
For a moment or two he didn't move and her heart sank. Then, slowly, he reached for her waist, drawing her to him. His lips brushed hers, tentative, searching; then gradually becoming more insistent. Isabelle swayed towards him, closing her eyes, yielding to the embrace, her need keen, revelling in the familiar taste of him, in the musky scent of his skin. Pressing her hips against his she let her tongue probe his mouth, no longer caring if her manner appeared bold, knowing only that she wanted him, demanding his response.
It was instant. He crushed her closer and the kiss grew passionate. Deep inside a small spark flickered into life and created its own pool of warmth. And then she was kissing him back with equal abandon, avid, hungry, her hands clasping his buttocks, pulling him nearer. Almost immediately she felt him grow hard. Lifting her feet off the floor he carried her across the passageway and into the small storeroom beyond, heeling the door shut behind them before tipping her backwards on to a pile of filled sacks and following her down.
He drew up her skirt and slid a hand between her thighs, a touch that set every nerve alight. The spark became flame and its warmth expanded, forming a coil of tension. It elicited a faint unexpected ripple of sensation that was shocking and wonderful. Wanting more she relaxed her thighs a little to facilitate him. His fingers found the nub they sought and teased gently. She drew in a sharp breath as a wave of warmth flared in her abdomen. At its heart was the growing coil of tension. It tightened further sending a tremor through her. As the delicious stroking continued the sensation increased and then rippled outwards in a wave of pleasure. She gasped, her eyes widening with astonishment.
'Holy God!'
He smiled and continued. Her body shook as successive shock waves hit her.
'Ban, please...'
The words were involuntary since she had no real idea of what she was asking him for, only that he held the key to something just out of reach. Something elusive and magical. Isabelle writhed, her body bucking beneath his hand.
He shifted his weight, pressing her down, parting her legs wide. Then he thrust into her. Excitement intensified, her body quivering in response as he began to move inside her, with long slow strokes. Impatient now she closed her legs around him, pulling him deeper but he refused to be hurried, making her wait, letting the rhythm build gradually. Isabelle writhed beneath him, feeling the core of tension expand and rise, carrying her with it. She had no idea what it was carrying her to, only knew that she wanted this more than anything in her life before.
'My lord, I beg you...'
The rhythm increased, lifting her higher, carrying her towards the edge of a precipice. He thrust deeper and she cried out in ecstasy, arching against him. An answering fire flared in him, searing, hot and possessive. Still he controlled it, carrying her with him to the brink. Then he let go of all restraint and then they went over together in a rush of pleasure so intense she thought she might die.
'Dear God!'
Ban closed his eyes, breathing hard, his skin sheened with sweat. It had never taken much for her to inflame him but this was different again. Nothing had prepared him for the sheer heart-stopping delight he'd just experienced. He looked into her face and saw her smile at him, her lovely eyes dark with passion. The effect was sultry and powerfully erotic holding a promise of things to come. The implications created a thrill of anticipation. Unwilling to let her go just yet he remained inside her, holding her there at his pleasure. Most definitely at his pleasure.
He grinned. 'That was incredible.'
'Yes, it was.' Privately she thought that incredible didn't begin to describe the experience. Her entire being thrilled with it. Every last expectation had just been turned on its head. In that moment she understood exactly how lacking her former marriage had been, how barren in every sense of the word. Tears pricked her eyelids. 'Thank you.'
He kissed her gently. 'You're welcome.'
Chapter Fourteen
The revelation of that marvellous impromptu tryst refused to go away. It was as though she had awoken after a long sleep and found herself in a different world; a world she was desperate to explore further. Nor could she help thinking about the man who had taken her there. He filled her thoughts and her heart. Only now, in retrospect, did she understand the extent of his skill and his patience. It's going to get a lot better. At the time she'd had no idea what he meant, a depth of ignorance that was scarcely creditable now. Had Alistair Neil lived she might never have made the discovery at all, would likely never have met Ban. Her heart constricted. The idea of being without him was unbearable. He had given her life meaning. One day she hoped that she might come to mean more to him, that one day his love-making might be motivated by more than just physical desire.
* * *
Later she joined Ashlynn and the two of them spent an enjoyable hour examining gowns, eventually settling on one in deep-blue velvet. Fortunately they were much of a size, so it would be a simple matter of letting down the hem to allow for the fact that Isabelle was taller.
'It is kind of you to do this,' she said. 'I can't tell you how much I appreciate it.'
'I'm glad to help. I know what it's like to lose everything.'
'It still has an air of unreality about it.'
Ashlynn nodded. 'It was the most terrifying period of my life. To be cast into the world without family, friends, money or help is unspeakable. I still have nightmares about it sometimes.'