Unfortunately, I dinnae ken if Diarmot loves me. E'en before the beating, he didnae actually say the words to me. In fact, if my brothers hadnae found us that day, I am nay longer sure that Diarmot would have married me. He didnae fight the handfasting nor did he show any anger or resentment o'er it, but he may ne'er have actually chosen me if it had been left to him alone."
"Weel, ye are married firm now," said Fraser.
"That I am," agreed Ilsa, smiling faintly. "And tis what I want when I dinnae feel like throttling the fool." Her smile widened briefly when both women chuckled. "I but need to hold firm until his memory clears and he finds out who his enemy is. However, right now, I just need to make sure my brothers dinnae kill him."
"Then we had best get down to the bailey to meet them as they come charging in," said Gillyanne as she stood up.
Ilsa stood and brushed down her skirts. "There is a part of me that would like to let my brothers knock my husband down at least once. Tis that part which is angry o'er the secrets he kept Howbeit, once the fighting begins, twill be verra hard to stop it. I doubt Diarmot's brothers would stand quietly by and allow my brothers to pound him into the mud, either. So, I shall hie to my husband's rescue."
Once out in the hallway, Fraser left them to check on Gay and the children, promising to join them soon. Recalling how Sir Connor never let his pregnant wife go up or down stairs alone, Ilsa kept a gentle hold on the woman's arm as they descended the narrow stone steps. She had not asked Gilly or Fraser to help her, but was glad of the support they so readily offered. The confrontation she was sure was coming would not be pleasant.
Once outside, she and Gilly sat on a bench near the steps that led into the keep and which faced the gates. It was a sun-warmed spring day and Ilsa wished she could enjoy it. Her brothers could be exceptionally stubborn when they felt they were protecting her and Diarmot was not in a mood to be conciliatory. It really was not a confrontation she wished to put herself in the middle of, but she had no choice. When Fraser arrived and sat with them, Ilsa was pleased with the added company and the diversion it promised. Waiting for a confrontation was almost as bad as being caught up in one.
"All is weel in the nursery?" she asked.
"Aye," Fraser replied. "Gay is a wonder with the bairns. She is trying to feed your lads some gruel and tis a fine mess they are making, much to the delight of the others."
"Tis a wee bit early to try gruel and mash with the lads, I suspect, yet they seem to need something more than the breast."
"They are going to be big lads," said Gillyanne. "My firstborn Beathan was ready for more verra early as weel. I could easily have weaned him completely at, mayhap, a six-month, but his wee sister still nursed. So, I would nurse her whilst feeding him his gruel, then nurse him a wee bit."
"That is comforting to hear. There are so many rules and opinions about it all. What rule do ye follow?"
"I have one hard and fast rule. I am nay sticking any part of my body in the wee devils' mouths once they get teeth."
Ilsa laughed along with the other women. There had been few women around Dubheidland, especially after her father's fourth wife had died, and none of those were of the same 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."