rank as she. Although she had cared little about that, the women had. Most of them had also been far more interested in the vast array of handsome Cameron males than in a too-thin, small girl child. Her brother Alexander's wife had arrived shortly after Ilsa had married Diarmot and moved to the cottage, so she had not really gotten the chance to know the woman well.
Now, having enjoyed the companionship of Gay, then Gillyanne and Fraser, Ilsa realized she had missed a lot, that a need she had not fully recognized was now fulfilled.
For a brief moment she felt guilty, as if she betrayed her brothers in some way, then told herself not to be foolish. She loved her brothers, had been happy in their company, and would always seek them out, even miss them when they were not close at hand. They had each other, however, and had often seemed beyond her understanding, just as she had often been beyond theirs. Even they would have to agree, there were simply some things a woman could not adequately discuss with her brothers.
"Ilsa, I believe your brothers are approaching," Gillyanne said. "Tis but two men so they must have eluded Angus and Nanty."
It took but one look at her rapidly approaching brothers for Ilsa to know they had heard the rumors. "Oh, dear."
"Weel, they arenae charging the keep so, if they have heard the gossip, mayhap they intend to be reasonable."
"I doubt it. Sigimor is wearing his enraged bull look."
"How can ye see his face so clearly from here?"
"Dinnae have to see his face. His head is lowered a wee bit, his shoulders are hunched up, and he is stomping along with his hands clenched into fists.
Aye, he has heard the gossip and he is in nay mood to be reasonable."
"Ah, weel, at least ye have a chance to soothe his temper before he sees Diarmot."
Catching sight of Diarmot and Connor coming out of the stables and walking toward them, Ilsa sighed. "Luck isnae on my side this day, I fear."
Seeing Diarmot and Connor, Gillyanne looked back toward the Camerons. "It appears they will all reach the same area of the bailey at the same time."
Ilsa stood up and squared her shoulders. "That cannae be allowed."
"What do ye intend to do?"
"I intend to grab the bull by the horns, as they say."
"Oh, dear," murmured Fraser.
*CHAPTER SEVEN*
"Move out of the way, Ilsa."
Ilsa met Sigimor's glare with one of her own. She had quickly placed herself squarely between Sigimor and Tait, and Diarmot and Connor. Even though the MacEnroys had no idea yet what had upset her brothers, they had already tensed in reaction to the fury her brothers revealed. The way her brothers had fixed their glares upon Diarmot as they had entered the bailey and immediately started toward him made Ilsa doubt they would have taken the time to offer any explanations before attacking her husband.
"Aye, move out of the way, Ilsa," said Diarmot as he stepped up closer behind her.
One glance over her shoulder was enough to tell Ilsa that Diarmot was as eager for a fight as her brothers were. "Oh, do hush, Diarmot," she snapped, too annoyed to enjoy his look of utter astonishment. "_Ye_ dinnae e'en ken why they want to pummel ye."
"I dinnae need a reason and, mayhap, I will pummel them," Diarmot said.
"Fine. As soon as I have this all explained and settled, have at it. At least then it will just be one of those strange monly things, and not something done out of a complete misunderstanding."
"Strange monly things?" Diarmot muttered.
Ilsa ignored him and glared at her brothers again. "Now, ye are going to listen to what I have to say."
"Of course," said Sigimor.
"Good. I am glad ye have decided to be reasonable," Ilsa said carefully, not really believing his swift capitulation.
"I intend to be verra reasonable. Whilst Tait and I beat your worthless husband into the mud, ye can go and collect Gay, the bairns, and all your belongings. Then ye can talk all ye wish to as we take ye back to Dubheidland."
"Oh, leaving me so soon, my love?" said
Now, having enjoyed the companionship of Gay, then Gillyanne and Fraser, Ilsa realized she had missed a lot, that a need she had not fully recognized was now fulfilled.
For a brief moment she felt guilty, as if she betrayed her brothers in some way, then told herself not to be foolish. She loved her brothers, had been happy in their company, and would always seek them out, even miss them when they were not close at hand. They had each other, however, and had often seemed beyond her understanding, just as she had often been beyond theirs. Even they would have to agree, there were simply some things a woman could not adequately discuss with her brothers.
"Ilsa, I believe your brothers are approaching," Gillyanne said. "Tis but two men so they must have eluded Angus and Nanty."
It took but one look at her rapidly approaching brothers for Ilsa to know they had heard the rumors. "Oh, dear."
"Weel, they arenae charging the keep so, if they have heard the gossip, mayhap they intend to be reasonable."
"I doubt it. Sigimor is wearing his enraged bull look."
"How can ye see his face so clearly from here?"
"Dinnae have to see his face. His head is lowered a wee bit, his shoulders are hunched up, and he is stomping along with his hands clenched into fists.
Aye, he has heard the gossip and he is in nay mood to be reasonable."
"Ah, weel, at least ye have a chance to soothe his temper before he sees Diarmot."
Catching sight of Diarmot and Connor coming out of the stables and walking toward them, Ilsa sighed. "Luck isnae on my side this day, I fear."
Seeing Diarmot and Connor, Gillyanne looked back toward the Camerons. "It appears they will all reach the same area of the bailey at the same time."
Ilsa stood up and squared her shoulders. "That cannae be allowed."
"What do ye intend to do?"
"I intend to grab the bull by the horns, as they say."
"Oh, dear," murmured Fraser.
*CHAPTER SEVEN*
"Move out of the way, Ilsa."
Ilsa met Sigimor's glare with one of her own. She had quickly placed herself squarely between Sigimor and Tait, and Diarmot and Connor. Even though the MacEnroys had no idea yet what had upset her brothers, they had already tensed in reaction to the fury her brothers revealed. The way her brothers had fixed their glares upon Diarmot as they had entered the bailey and immediately started toward him made Ilsa doubt they would have taken the time to offer any explanations before attacking her husband.
"Aye, move out of the way, Ilsa," said Diarmot as he stepped up closer behind her.
One glance over her shoulder was enough to tell Ilsa that Diarmot was as eager for a fight as her brothers were. "Oh, do hush, Diarmot," she snapped, too annoyed to enjoy his look of utter astonishment. "_Ye_ dinnae e'en ken why they want to pummel ye."
"I dinnae need a reason and, mayhap, I will pummel them," Diarmot said.
"Fine. As soon as I have this all explained and settled, have at it. At least then it will just be one of those strange monly things, and not something done out of a complete misunderstanding."
"Strange monly things?" Diarmot muttered.
Ilsa ignored him and glared at her brothers again. "Now, ye are going to listen to what I have to say."
"Of course," said Sigimor.
"Good. I am glad ye have decided to be reasonable," Ilsa said carefully, not really believing his swift capitulation.
"I intend to be verra reasonable. Whilst Tait and I beat your worthless husband into the mud, ye can go and collect Gay, the bairns, and all your belongings. Then ye can talk all ye wish to as we take ye back to Dubheidland."
"Oh, leaving me so soon, my love?" said
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