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 Diarmot. "I am devastated."
Ilsa rammed her elbow into Diarmot's stomach. A part of her was pleased to hear his breath leave in a gasp and another part of her was a little appalled by her actions. A brief peek at her husband revealed him bent over clutching his belly as he fought to regain his breath. She winced, but quickly turned her attention to her brothers again.
"Curse it, Ilsa," snapped Sigimor. "Now we have to wait until he can breathe again. Wouldnae be fair otherwise."
"Listen to me while he recovers then. I ken what ye heard in the village,"
she began.
"Then ye ken why ye cannae stay here. The mon poisoned his last wife."
"Nay, he didnae. She poisoned herself."
Sigimor snorted in disbelief. "From what little I have heard of the woman, she wasnae the type to kill herself."
Ilsa was pleased to hear that Sigimor had learned some of the ugly truths about Lady Anabelle. It would make it easier for him to believe what she had to tell him. It also meant she did not have to say too much about the woman's behavior while Diarmot was listening. She desperately wanted to avoid reminding him too much of all the betrayals he had suffered in the past. Lady Anabelle's malevolent shadow caused her enough trouble already.
"She didnae try to kill herself," Ilsa said. "She was trying to rid her body of a bairn."
"Is that what he told ye?"
"Nay, Fraser told me all about it when I asked her why such rumors were being whispered about."
"She would defend him. He is her laird."
"Actually, although he is my laird now," Fraser said, "I came here as Lady Anabelle's companion."
Ilsa realized Fraser and Gillyanne had moved closer, obviously hoping their presence would cause the men to hesitate before coming to blows. "There, ye see, Sigimor? She would ken the truth better than most. Lady Anabelle didnae want the bairn and asked Glenda the village healer to give her a potion. Glenda refused for she doesnae deal in such things. So, Lady Anabelle got one from someone else or e'en tried to mix one up herself. It rid her womb of the bairn, but it also drained away all of her life's blood."
"That makes no sense. Why rid herself of a bairn? She had already had one and she was married."
"It wasnae Diarmot's bairn. It couldnae be and most all here would ken that."
"Aha!" Sigimor raised his fists a little. "That is why he gave her the potion that killed her. He couldnae abide the fact that she carried another mon's child. Tis said he already had to bear that shame once."
"Wee Alice isnae a shame," Ilsa snapped, "and I best nay hear ye say so again. Try thinking, Sigimor, if it willnae cause ye too much pain to do so."