The Sisters
671 Words
The Sisters~
Sethlyan Callan
Monaughty, Iverach
A brisk sea breeze was just what Seth needed to clear his head. He caught Gaven’s eye as they strolled behind the Iverach sisters.
“Which one?” he motioned the question.
Gaven pointed to Rosalee’s back and winked. Seth nodded consent. Isobel would have been his choice anyway. She seemed the marginally less fragile one.
They picked up their pace and stepped around them. Seth turned on his heel and walked backward until Isobel stopped. Rosalee faltered to a halt before Gaven.
“How about a fresh start?” he said.
“We’re not so bad,” said Gaven.
“Given half a chance.”
The Iverach sisters exchanged mortified glances. Damn, this was proving harder than it should be.
“Please forgive us,” said Isobel. “You are most welcome here. Giving offense was the furthest from our intent.”
“The very furthest,” Rosalee barely whispered.
“So we try starting again,” he said. “Gaven and I are out for a stroll, you see. Coincidentally—”
“—we cross paths with the lovely Iverach sisters,” said Gaven.
“So, of course, we stop to greet them.”
“Well met, ladies.” Gaven offered a polite bow. “My friend Seth was dragging me off to see the famed Monaughty sea caves. Truth be told, I’d rather see the gardens. Wouldn’t you?”
Gaven offered his arm. Rosalee hesitated. Isobel gave her the slightest nod. Rosalee accepted with a shy smile.
“Well, look at that. My friend abandoned me,” Seth said as Gaven led his Iverach away. “Maybe you could keep me company instead?”
Isobel blinked. Maybe she needed calming, like a skittish colt. Easy, now. That’s right. I mean no harm.
“You can trust me.” Seth offered his arm and waited.
When Isobel Iverach looked up at him and smiled, he found it hard to breathe. Deciding not to push his luck, he escorted her in companionable silence. Her gentle sway against his shoulder was an encouraging improvement.
“Please, my lord,” she said. “Tell me about Aleron. I’ve never seen the Redmist Mountains.”
So he told her about Glenayre. He talked about cattle and barley and his brother. Whenever he tried turning the conversation to her, she diverted him with another question. So he told her about Tulane collies, early snows, and trout fishing in clear mountain streams.
“Lady Isobel, be fair. I’m all talked out. Tell me about you.”
“There’s not much to tell. We lead a quiet life here.”
The breeze caught a tendril of ginger hair and danced it across her forehead. He reached to brush it back. She flinched and shied away. The colt was about to bolt.
“Why are you afraid?” he said. “I won’t hurt you.”
“Father did.”
He was slow to take her meaning. Isobel lowered her eyes.
“Until I learned to be invisible.”
Answers fell into place with startling clarity. A frightened girl cowered behind a woman’s eyes.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t know.” He fumbled for words. “I would never—”
“You should hear why. Please.” She brushed her cheek. “We don’t look like Calum, do we?”
“Not really,” he admitted. Thankfully, he left unsaid. “I thought you might have different mothers. Rogart and I do.”
“Lady Jenna birthed us all. Calum favors Dowan, but we do not. My father’s suspicions grew over time. He came to detest the sight of us. We learned to avoid his notice.”
Seth had no idea how to fix such a wrong. No response was better than an empty one.
“Then Mother gave him another daughter,” she said. “One with hair and eyes like ours.”
Seth had heard the rumors. Dowan Iverach succumbed to paranoia. His wife and infant daughter vanished. His son found him dead. Whether the Rhi’Iverach hanged himself or someone cleansed the world of the man’s foul taint remained a topic of speculation.
“I believe he killed Mother and the baby,” Isobel said quietly. “Then someone gave them justice.”
“Your brother?”
“No, Calum would have told me,” she said. “There are secrets only the walls of Monaughty know.”
“You can leave them behind,” he said. “Make a fresh start, like we did tonight.”
“Yes, my lord.”
She was retreating again. Seth tried drawing her back.
“Isobel, I realize we have little choice in the matter, but I would prefer to see you content with me. Tell me how. What is it you want?”
Isobel leaned against the balustrade and stared out over the ocean. When he had almost decided she would offer no answer, she did. Hers were the simplest of wishes and struck him as pitiably so.
“My own garden to tend. Your leave to visit my sister. Children to raise in peace.”
Chapter 15
- Writer
