Chapter Twenty Eight

Chapter 28 Alex couldn’t stop touching Isobel; he didn’t care what his men thought or saw, all that mattered was that she was safe and in his arms. Marcus and Oscar had been the first to see the bedraggled women picking their way down the hillside beside the waterfall. Alex hadn’t wanted to believe his eyes at first. In his mind, Isobel was trapped in some horrible stone cell, chained to a wall not in his arms after having escaped from her captor on her own. Alex squeezed Isobel’s hand again as he noticed Bowden had a protective arm around Bridgette’s waist as she sat beside him on a log, devouring bread and cheese. The women, after being joyfully met by Bowden and Alex, kissed, hugged, and generally inspected from head to toe, had begun telling of their ordeal in an excited rush. After a few minutes, Alex understood that the women had escaped from a cell in the dungeon by way of a hidden door and a tunnel that came out behind the waterfall. Alex had sent Giles and four men to investigate the women’s claims, and they returned saying that there was indeed a huge tunnel hidden behind the waterfall that appeared to go on for miles. Isobel turned to give Alex a smile, and he smiled in return, though inside he seethed in anger at the bruises that covered her marring her creamy skin. Alex vowed he would make the men responsible feel her pain tenfold before he ripped their hearts out. “You should have seen Isobel when she tackled Dagda and then pounded his face; she broke his nose and blackened his eyes. It took two men to pull her off him.” Bridgette said around mouthfuls of bread. “He had just slapped me, and then Isobel just attacked him. I did not know she could be so fierce.” “The bastard slapped you?” Bowden growled in obvious rage. “Yes, but that is not the point; you should have seen Isobel come to my defense. She was like a wild cat pouncing on him and pummeling him.” Bridgette waived away’ Bowden’s scowl of rage. “While I am proud of Isobel defending you I am not happy that she took such a risk,” Alex said, and saw some of the happiness slip from Isobel’s face, and he cursed himself. “What I’m trying to say is that while I am proud of how brave Isobel was I would prefer she leave the fighting to me in the future, at least until I can train her how to fight.” Isobel, who’d been crushed by Alex’s rebuke, gave him a pleased look. “You would teach me to fight?” “Of course, I would do anything for you. Would you walk with me?” Alex rose from the log and held his hand out to Isobel, who readily slid her hand into his. Alex frowned at the cracked, bruised, and scraped knuckles; he gently closed his hand about hers, mindful of her injuries, and began leading Isobel away from the camp. “You are mad that I hit Lord Dagda?” Isobel asked. “Yes, no, I am happy that you fought to defend yourself and Bridgette, surprised that my timid mouse is really a little hell cat, and angry that you were in harm’s way. But you did nothing wrong; the fault is within me. My mother was small and quiet like you, but she was brave as you are. She died defending my brothers and I from a viper.” Alex paused on the river bank to pull Isobel into his arms. “When I lost her I thought my world had ended, that the sun would never rise again. It was some time before I could get past my grief. I love you, and when I heard you had been taken by that monster, I nearly lost my mind. All that kept me from riding out after you immediately was the knowledge I could not save you alone.” Alex gently brushed Isobel’s hair back from her face. “What I’m trying to say is that I can’t lose you, I hope you will forgive me for being a boorish fool knowing that I love you, and once we are home I shall teach you how to fight and to use any weapon you wish but for the next few days let me do the fighting.” The hurt that Isobel had felt fled, and she embraced Alex. “Agreed, I love you too. I hadn’t planned to ride to battle with you; it’s just when he hit Bridgette, it was like something broke inside me and years of anger, fear, and pain all came out at once. Bridgette and Sasha have been my family since I came to the school; he took my family from me once I wasn’t going to let him do it again.” “I understand your anger. I will see that Dagda pays for what he did to you and your family.” Alex stepped back and, using his fingers, gently tilted Isobel’s face upwards, then bent to claim her lips with his. As soon as their lips touched, everything but Isobel faded away; the fact that they were standing on a noisy riverbank before all his men in enemy territory at twilight didn’t matter. There was only Isobel and her softness, he deepened her kiss, and she made a soft mewing sound and Alex broke the kiss in alarm. “Did I hurt you?” Alex asked, cursing himself for having forgotten Isobel had a cracked lower lip and bruises. “No, my lip is a bit tender but not enough to make me want to stop kissing you,” Isobel replied. “If you are sure?” Alex felt Isobel tug on his neck and bent to kiss her again when he heard someone clearing their throat and turned to see Giles. “Yes, well, as much as I hate to break up this tender reunion, your supper is ready. And Marcus said, if you don’t come now, it will be your fault if it burns.” Giles gave Alex a dry look before starting to laugh softly. “Burnt, I ordered no fires to be lit,” Alex replied, annoyed at the interruption. “And we didn’t, at least not out here. While you and Bowden were talking with Isobel and Bridgette, I had the men begin to move camp into the cave.” Giles jerked his head over his shoulder at the waterfall. “The cave system is huge; you could hide a thousand men in it. I ordered six men to stay below to take turns on watch and guard the horses but within an hour we will have camp set up within the cave. Now are you coming? I’m starving.” “You are a genius, yes we’re coming.” Alex caught Isobel’s hand and led her over the rocky beach towards the cliff face beside the waterfall. Alex hadn’t been into the cave yet, nor come as close to the water fall as they now came. The path was slick from spray and moss, and one wrong step and you risked tumbling into the bottom of the falls. The sound of the water was nearly deafening as it fell to boil into the basin below like a huge cauldron, adding to the danger of the ascent. Alex had insisted that Isobel go before him for safety reasons, and he was glad he had because not only could he catch her if she slipped, but he could enjoy the view of her shapely backside as she climbed. Alex had been nervous about Isobel making the climb at first, especially in her skirt, but he could see he had no need to worry for she was as sure-footed as a goat. Isobel reached the top and disappeared from sight. Alex grabbed a large boulder as he rounded a bend and a huge cave opened before him on his left, while on his right the waterfall made a moving curtain. Alex stood staring in awe; the curved vaulted roof of the cave was a good fifty feet above his head and covered in stalagmites. The cave narrowed as it moved back to disappear from sight as the passage appeared to go around a bend. Giles, Bowden, Isabel, and Bridgette stood a few feet away waiting for him, while around them his men were pitching camp in the huge cave. In a small natural alcove along the right wall, Alex saw a bed made of pine branches covered with a blanket, while Alex watched Isobel dart forward to take something from a small wooden bucket. “What do you have?” Alex asked, looking at what Isobel held. “My lucky shears, I had them in my pocket when I was taken, and I used them to pry the door open,” Isobel replied, brandishing the badly bent shears. "I can't lose these now." “Lucky indeed,” Alex replied following the others to the back of the main cave section where a fire burned and several logs had been set up as benches. Alex wasn’t sure how his men had managed to drag the logs into the cave but he was glad they had when he saw Marcus helping Bridgette and Isobel to take seats on the log. On a large pan resting on a flat rock beside the fire was what looked and smelled like fish. “About time,” Marcus said as he handed plates containing fish, baked potatoes, and bread covered with melted cheese to Bridgette and Isobel. “Sit and I’ll fix you a plate.” “Where did you get the fish?” Alex asked sitting next to Isobel. “Well, Oscar and I were checking along the bank for firewood, and we found a pool full of fish. We figured the river must have overflowed the bank and the fish got caught, the pool was drying out so well I saved them from a horrible death.” Marcus held a plate out to Alex. “Thank you, you could have just thrown them back into the river,” Alex replied. “But then they would have missed their friends and I would have angered the gods by not taking what was provided for us. Now do you want the fish or not?” Marcus reached to take the plate back and Alex scowled at him. “Tis as I thought. Enjoy it tomorrow it’s just bread and cheese.” “Thank you, Marcus, I for one am starving,” Bridgette said diving into the food. Alex was wise enough to keep his mouth shut and to enjoy the meal and the company as he planned his next move. Since Isobel and Bridgett were safe he had time to plan his strategy for taking the keep, while he’d ridden to battle many times he’d never planned a siege before and he had to decide how to best use his limited men. When the meal was over Marcus took the plate from him dropping it into a bucket of water. “I have made up beds for you all in the smaller cavern, I thought the ladies would want their privacy.” “Thank you Marcus that was very thoughtful of you and the meal was delicious,” Isobel said. “I don’t know about Bridgette but I could use some sleep.” “I don’t suppose you have a comb and a fresh gown someplace?” Bridgette asked rising from the log to brush at the dirt on her gown. “Actually yes, the countess sent clothes and the like for both of you.” Marcus stepped about the fire to lift two sacks one blue which he handed to Isobel and the other green which he handed to Bridgette. “I’ll show you your beds.” “Aye lead on.” Alex took the bag from Isobel and offering her his hand helped her over the log while Bowden did the same for Bridgette. Marcus lifted a lantern and walking about the fire led them towards the back of the cave and then right down a narrow passage for several feet before finally stepping into a chamber about fifty feet by sixty feet with a much lower ceiling. Two lean-to like structures had been set up in the cave one on the right-hand side and the other on the left, a small fire was burning in the center of the cave providing heat and light with the smoke spiraling up and through a crack in the ceiling. A shielded lantern sat before each structure with a bucket. “Now the problem is I’ve just the two shelters, the ladies can share one, or as they are married. Sir Alex and Isobel can share one and Lady Bridgette can have the other and Sir Bowden can sleep in the main cave with the rest of us,” Marcus said. “Or Bowden can share with Bridgette, we are betrothed after all,” Bowden grumbled, glaring at his friend. “I don’t think that is wise,” Alex replied softly. “What if the messengers are successful and Bridgette’s father and brothers arrive, and you confess you have been sharing a tent with her?” “We are betrothed, and I love her, and I don’t want her out of my sight. If I can’t sleep next to her, I’ll sleep on the floor before her tent,” Bowden growled. “I would do anything for her; now tell me again why I can’t share her bed.” “You truly love me and wish to wed me?” Bridgette asked, turning back to look at Bowden. She'd been examining the cave and not paying attention. “I do, you are the most intelligent, beautiful woman I have ever met and I have no intention of letting you get away from me. I will fight a hundred men to keep you safe, if you asked for the moon, I’d shout at the gods till they took me to heaven so I could steal it for you. Of course, I love you and wish to wed you.” Bowden replied. “Oh, Bow do you know what you just said?” Bridgette asked. “Of course I do, I said I love you and wish to wed you.” Bowden dragged his hand through his already messy hair. “No, I mean by declaring your love for me before others and saying before others you wish to wed me, we are now handfasted,” Bridgette said, taking Bow’s huge hand in both of hers. “Hand fasted; I don’t know what that means,” Bowden said with a shrug. “Bridgette’s people are from the far north, where often there are no priests and magistrates; a couple just has to declare their intentions and their love before others and a member of the bride’s family to be considered wed,” Isobel replied. “As Isobel is like my sister, all she has to do is give her permission, and we are as good as wed,” Bridgette said. “You are saying that I do not need your father’s blessing or a priest to bed you, just Isobel’s permission. That by saying I love you and wish to wed you, and you agreeing we are as good as wed?” Bowden asked and saw both women nod in unison. “Yes, if you promise to love her and care for her always, I give you permission.” Isobel gave Bowden a sly smile. “Well, that is easy enough; I’d rather rip out my own heart than hurt her,” Bowden replied. Alex gave his friend an amused look, but he knew that Bowden truly loved Bridgette. Beside him, Isobel smiled. “Well then, you have my blessing. I can’t answer for her father but, I say yes.” “Thank you, don’t worry, I’m not such a monster as to make love to Bridgette on a stone floor in a cave for our wedding night, but.” Bowden pulled Bridgette into his arms. “She will sleep all night in my arms.” “And do I have any say in this?” Bridgette gave Bowden’s chest a playful push. “On this point, no, everything else yes. Come, we are both weary. Alex in the morning, we shall make plans on how to make this bastard pay.” Bowden gave Alex a nod. “Well, I’ll take my leave,” Marcus said and, with a nod, walked away. Alex turned back to examine their quarters for the night. Tall samplings had been cut down and their branches removed to make poles. The poles, in turn, had been lashed together with ropes and then secured to several stalactites and boulders on the cave floor. The structure had then been covered with heavy tent canvas to make a crude eight-by-ten tent. Alex would have to compliment Marcus and his men later for thinking of Isobel’s comfort and safety. In front of the tent was a bucket of water and a lantern. Alex held aside the tent flap to let Isobel step inside first, then grabbed the lamp to follow her inside. The floor had been covered with more canvas to form a barrier against the cold rocks, and in the left corner was a crude bed about five feet wide and seven feet long. Alex set Isobel’s bag on the floor and then leaned back through the opening to grab the lantern and the bucket of water, which he set on the floor by the door. “Alone, at last, this isn’t the comfortable chamber I had hoped to bring you to, but you are safe and in my arms,” Alex said, stepping up to Isobel. “And that is all that matters; remember, I fell in love with the poor flower vendor long before the prince I was prepared to live in a simple cottage for the rest of my life.” Isobel rested her head against Alex’s chest as he led her close for a moment. “I remember all you wanted was me and a garden. Now, my lady, what can I do for you before we go to bed, for as much as I long to make love to you, we are both exhausted, and making love to you on a crude grass mattress in a cave with Bowden and Bridgette a few feet away has no appeal.” Alex kissed the top of Isobel’s head and stepped back. “You can help me out of this gown and my stays. I have worn them both for three days straight now and I think they have rubbed me raw. I am hoping that there is a clean gown in that bag.” Isobel nodded towards the large canvas bag on the floor. “Let us see.” Alex knelt beside the bag and tugged open its drawstring opening before rooting inside. He pulled out a hair brush and a comb, followed by a white man’s shirt, a boy’s breeches and jerkin, a chemise, and a dark blue cotton gown. “I also brought you clothes, your favorite green gown that you left in our chamber. What do you desire, my lady?” “The chemise for tonight, I will wear the boy’s clothes in the morning, for now I just want to be free of my gown and stays.” Isobel was so uncomfortable that she was about to rip her gown from her body. After three days, the once fashionable gown was filthy and stained with mud and blood, and she just wanted it off. “Vi tied the laces very tight to make my figure look better as I was supposed to meet you in the garden that day, but I just want it off. I don’t care if you rip the laces; I just want it off.” “Well, you need not worry about your figure. I love you as you are, now let me see your laces.” Alex stepped around Isobel as she pulled off her filthy and tattered apron, dropping it to the floor with her shears. The laces had indeed been knotted tightly and after three days, they were so tight that it would take a miracle to undo them. “I’ll have to cut the laces, so stand still.” Alex reached to his belt to pull free his knife, then, carefully lifting the laces to not risk harming Isobel began to cut through them. When Alex cut the last lace, he sheathed his knife and, catching the top of the gown, gave it a gentle tug, helping to ease it down and off of Isobel. The gown pooled at her feet, and she stepped out of it before kicking it aside, leaving her standing in her chemise, bloomers, and half-stays. “Stays next, do you want me to save them?” Alex asked, and Isobel shook her head. “I never wish to wear the horrible things again; I only wore them as Violet insisted that as a lady I needed to wear them,” Isobel replied holding her hair up and out of the way. “Your aunt said she never wears them that her seamstress created something else for her to restrain her, umm bosom shall we say. She was going to have her seamstress make some for me and my friends.” “Well, death to the stays then,” Alex replied and using the tip of his knife carefully sliced through the laces letting the stays fall to Isobel’s feet. Isobel sighed happily free of her confining clothes and kneeling picked the stays up to hold them away from her by her fingertips. “Would you do me one last favor and throw this on the fire.” Alex gave Isobel a bemused look, but taking the stays from her, stepped from the tent to throw them onto the fire, where they quickly caught. Alex could understand why Isobel did not like the stays; he had broken several ribs once in battle, and the confining bandages had been a nightmare to wear. Alex stepped back into the tent and gasped in shock. Isobel had taken off her chemise while he’d stepped out, and her back and sides were rubbed raw and covered in bruises. “By the gods, how can you even stand? Here sit; I have salve in my bag.” Alex crossed to his back, and rooting through it, pulled out the small bag of medicine he carried, a length of bandage, and a bar of soap. “Sit on the bed while I tend you.” Isobel sat on the edge of the bed, which crackled underneath her weight, while holding her chemise before her. “I’m sure it looks worse than it is.” “It looks like you were beaten and then rubbed with sandpaper. I need to wash these first and then apply salve lest the abrasions become infected. I shall try to be gentle, but I know it shall sting.” Alex grabbed the bucket of water and dipped the cloth in it, moistening it before rubbing it over the bar of soap. Isobel tried not to flinch as Alex began washing her back and sides, but her skin was more than tender, and the bruises stung and throbbed. Alex finished with her back and sides and then moved around to her front, giving her a questioning look. “Just below my breasts aches, but it isn’t bad, I’m sure.” Isobel felt herself blush, and pressed the chemise tight against her bosom her arms so Alex could examine her. Alex tried to focus on his work and not the mounds of creamy flesh above his hands. There were vivid red marks on Isobel’s stomach and ribs as well as more abrasions, some so deep that they had bled. “If this is what stays, do I forbid you from ever wearing the damn things again. In fact, once I am king, I shall pass a law making stays and corsets illegal.” Isobel laughed at Alex, who in his own way had told her how much he loved her. “I do not know if many women will be happy,” Isobel replied, trying not to wince as Alex finished tending the last of her scrapes. “Well, I shall say it is a matter of public health.” Alex placed the salve back in his bag and set the soap on top of the washcloth, then grabbing the clean chemise, eased it over Isobel’s head. “Now into bed.” Alex pulled back the blankets and nodded towards the bed, whose lumpy, makeshift mattress was covered by a blanket and then a sheet. He would have to thank Marcus for thinking to ride to rescue with bedding as well as clothes for Isobel. Isobel didn’t argue but gratefully climbed beneath the blankets and watched as Alex stripped down to his small clothes and scrubbed himself quickly with water from the bucket before crawling under the blankets with her. Alex slid next to Isobel, slipping his arm about her waist. “In the morning, I want you to show me the tunnel and the door you escaped through, and then come with me to the top of the hill and show me your keep.” “I would like that; you will not try to tell me to stay behind, as it is too dangerous?” Isobel asked. “If I were a smart man, I would, but you, my little mouse, have shown me that you are really a ferocious she cat, and while I would keep you safe I have need of your knowledge to take the keep. You will however, promise to do what I say.” Alex said as Isobel gave him a sleepy nod. “I love you, Alex.” Isobel mumbled as she snuggled closer to Alex and then drifted quickly off to sleep. “I love you too.” As much as Alex wanted to lock Isobel in a tower to keep her safe or surround her with a hundred men, he knew that in doing so, he would crush her spirit. She had more than shown she was capable of fighting for herself, as her champion, he would fight not only for her but beside her and let her become the woman she was destined to be.