Quelling the need to devour him, she rummaged around in the dark for her discarded garments.
“I threw your chemise on the bed.”
Isla glanced back over her shoulder, caught him staring at her body with the same level of appreciation she had shown him. “Thank you,” she said with a smirk before pulling back the coverlet and locating the cotton shift.
“That round mark on your skin,” he said as he buttoned his trousers. “How did you come by it?”
Isla swallowed. “This?” she said rubbing her hip as though the seared impression was mud or dirt and not a symbol scorched into her flesh. “Nikolai had one. He marked me, too.”
A heavy silence permeated the air. She dressed quickly, keen to avoid any more probing questions that would ruin their carefree mood.
“Why?” he eventually said. “Why would he hurt you like that?”
She shrugged. “I have no idea. But the marquess and his wife have them too. I’ve always seen it as a means for Nikolai to express his superiority. He owned me, or so he believed.”
Lachlan clenched his jaw so hard she could hear his back teeth grinding against each other. “I swear if he were not dead I would hunt him to the ends of the earth and make him pay for what he has done.”
She appreciated the noble gesture. But in reality, they both knew Nikolai possessed the power to compel Lachlan to do his bidding.
“It is nothing.” She lied, waving her hand in the air to show her indifference. If she told him it roused feelings of shame whenever she looked at it, then he would always see it as such too. “I often forget it is there. Indeed, it appears to have faded over time.”
Lachlan shook his head and frowned as he gazed past her shoulder. “I have seen the symbol somewhere before, but cannot place it.”
“I have seen similar engravings on the Pictish stones, but I’m sure it is just a coincidence.”
They finished dressing, straightened the sheets on the bed. After locking the front door and hiding the key, they made their way out into the night.
As they strolled back through the meadow, Lachlan took her hand and stroked it affectionately with his thumb. “I missed you,” he suddenly said. “During my time in Edinburgh, you were on my mind constantly.”
Isla gave a low chuckle. “I’m sure you never gave me a second thought when you were busy entertaining other ladies.” She referred to the licentious behaviour Malmuirie had gossipped about even though it pained her to think of another woman lying in his arms.
“You’re wrong,” he said quietly. “I … I always imagined it was you.” After a brief pause, he added, “But despite my vivid imagination nothing compares to the real thing.”
Feeling a blush touch her cheeks, she gazed up at his profile.
I love you.
It brought a tea
r to her eye, just thinking of what he meant her. In one sense, the villagers distrust had brought her closer to Lachlan. And she was grateful for that, at least.
Aware of her penetrating stare, he turned to look her, but his attention moved to a point in the distance, and a deep frown suddenly marred his brow. He tugged on her hand, bringing them to an abrupt halt.
“Wait. Do you see that? There are people over there in the meadow.”
Isla followed his gaze to the amber lights flickering in the distance. Feeling a sudden rush of panic, she tried to swallow down the hard lump in her throat. She glanced back over her shoulder attempting to establish how far they’d walked from the lodge.
“I … I think the lights are coming from somewhere near the cairn.” She put her hand to her throat. “What would Ramsey and the others be doing trespassing on our land at this time of night?”
Lachlan put a reassuring hand on her shoulder. “Let’s get a little closer and find out. I can only count three lights so there is no danger of us being overwhelmed by an angry mob.”
“Can’t we just go back to the castle and forget we noticed them?” she asked pensively. All she wanted to do was go home and lie in Lachlan’s arms.
Stepping closer, he cupped her face and kissed her softly on the lips. “No. There is a traitor in our midst, and we must discover why he is so keen to cause you distress.”
She stood on her toes and kissed him again, purely because it gave her the courage to conquer the world. “Perhaps you’re right. But if they’re intent on blaming me for the death of their cattle, promise me will not do anything foolish or rash.”
“I will do whatever I need to do to protect you, however foolish it may seem.”