Page 40 of Much Ado About a Scot

Isobel remained outside and looked out over the skeletal remains of the trees and the blackened fields. Who or what could have done this? Who had anything to gain by her losing everything? David Graham came to mind, but she pushed the thought away. Over the past few days, she had seen a different side of her neighbor. The villain who had scowled at her for the past year had transformed into a caring old man who was worried about the welfare of not only the land they both managed, but also that of her son.

But if not Graham, then who else? She frowned as her thoughts shifted back to the strange man in the window of Dunbar Manor. Could the stranger have had something to do with all of this? With a sigh of regret that she may never know, she started back toward the house when Xander strode toward her. His face and clothing were covered in smudges of soot and there was a tear at the shoulder of his shirt. The scent of smoke was stronger now that he was near her. “Are you well?”

“Accidents happen,” she said with a shrug. “I can either let this destroy me or try to move forward. And I choose the latter. I won’t give up. We still have half of the crop to sell.”

“This was no accident,” he said with anger in his voice. He reached inside the tail of his tartan and pulled forth a partially charred oiled cloth. “I found this at the edge of the field. Someone set this fire intentionally.”

Isobel shuddered as she remembered the blazing fields. “Who would do this? I doubt it was Graham. My fields burned, but also a small portion of his.” Isobel’s voice was raw from emotion as she looked across the fields once more. So much destruction. “What could have been the purpose?”

“I don’t know yet. But I will find out. Trust me on this.”

Trust. Did she trust him?

An awkward silence settled between them. They’d already said everything that needed to be said. He was leaving and she had to pull the tattered edges of her life back together.

“I need to tell you something,” he said, breaking the silence. “This is not the perfect time, but after last night I want no more secrets between us.” Xander reached for her hands, taking them in his own. “I wish we had more time to talk. But we don’t so I will tell you this now—bluntly—and hope that you understand.”

A cold chill crept down Isobel’s spine.

“I am a spy. My name is Alexander Godric Ross. I am one of seven warriors who are tasked with protecting the king. I came here on a secret mission to find and take the Earl of Bothwell into custody.”

The thundering of hoofbeats shifted her gaze to beyond where her fields had burned. Over a hundred men on horseback appeared across the landscape. At the head of the column of warriors were six riders. I am one of seven warriors . . .

She pulled her hands away from his. “Why have they come here?”

“The Earl of Bothwell has taken refuge at Dunbar Manor.”

“He’s the one trying to take the throne from King James?”

Xander nodded. “You should go back to the house and lock the doors while this conflict plays out. I will come to you when it’s over and we will talk more.”

Anger stiffened her spine. It made sense now . . . The man in the window was Bothwell. “From the very beginning, this has been nothing more than a mission to you. You came to us, you used us as a way to get close to the Graham estate and the man who is a fugitive there?”

He flinched at the words. “I won’t deny I used you to get to Bothwell.”

“Why marry me if that was all you wanted?”

His lips were set in a grim line. “You asked me to marry you. Besides, you needed my help. I needed your help. It seemed the perfect solution at the time.”

She shut her eyes. “I’m such a fool.”

“I didn’t want to hurt you, Isobel,” he said hoarsely.

“Well, you did hurt me, and Jamie also.” She opened her eyes, keeping a tight rein on her emotions. “All this is exactly the nightmare I imagined it would be. Losing you—” She broke off, unable to continue.

“My reason for being here was very singular at first, but I can’t say that any longer. You changed me, Isobel, in ways I can’t even begin to explain.” He took a step toward her.

“Nay!” She took a hasty step back. “You no longer have to pretend to care. Do what you came to do, then leave us alone.”

“I didn’t lie about what we became when we were together.”

She swallowed painfully. “I don’t believe you.” She gestured to the men advancing toward them. “They are proof of why you came here.”

A muscle jerked in Xander’s jaw. “Isobel, I didn’t have much of a choice in the matter. You don’t understand.”

“Then explain it to me.” She bit her lip to keep it from trembling.

He came forward and this time she didn’t pull back. He reached for her, running his hands up and down the chilled flesh of her arms as though cherishing the feel of her skin. Her heart constricted as she looked away, toward the army of men and horses coming ever closer. He was only trying to pacify her before he left. Any moment now, he would leave her and loneliness would once again creep into her soul.