Claimed By A Charmer (The Pith Trilogy) by Kara Griffin Page B

Candace. Somehow she would find a way to
send it herself. A noise from the lower bailey echoed from the wall, alerting
her that someone was outside. Isabel ran to the window. She hoped her father
wasn’t outside, and that she could yell to one of her friends. Luckily, she saw
Russell, carrying a large vat of water, strolling along.
    “Russell.”
    He glanced up at her window. “What
are ye up to, Isabel?”
    “I need your help. Can you sneak up
here?”
    “Your father and Nigel are in the
hall, but if I wait until later, I might be able to get past them.”
    “Please, I need to speak to you,
Russell.”
    “Are you well? I heard that you
locked yourself in your chamber.”
    “Aye, I’m well enough. I’ll await ye.
Until tonight then?”
    “Aye, I’ll come.” Russell continued
on his way, taking the water in the kitchen entrance.
    Isabel moved away from the window. Her
plan for escape was made, all she needed was her message carried to the Kerr
clan. Nigel wouldn’t be put off much longer. He had banged on her chamber door
for the past five nights. Luckily, her door was well locked and he couldn’t
gain entrance.
    She returned to her pallet, but
then heard the bang at her door.
    “Isabel, open this damned door,”
her father demanded.
    “Nay, go away. I don’t wish to see
ye.”
    “Open the door, child. If you don’t
open it, it’ll be worse for you.”
    Isabel unlatched the door. Her
father pushed the door open wider, and entered the room.
    “I’ve come to find out if you’re
with child. Are ye?” He seemed to be searching her eyes for the maddened look
that he’d been told about. Nate filled her in on their conversation at supper
that night. She wasn’t deranged, but would keep her distance anyway. Truly, now
with her father in her presence, it wasn’t a laughing matter. His mean look
scared her a bit.
    “I don’t deem so. How would I
know?” Why would he ask such a question?
    “You know not of womanly matters? Have
you gotten your woman’s chore yet?”
    Isabel’s eyes widened. She’d never
answer such a lewd question and remained silent.
    He nodded. “Then we will await
until we know for sure.”
    “Father, I’m certain I am not with child.
Surely you don’t mean to let Nigel have me.”
    “Nay, I won’t let him have ye. You
will obey me, and not question me further. If you are with child, you could
become maddened. We cannot have that here.”
    Her father looked to want to vacate
the chamber, not willing to be in the same room with a woman who was mad. His
gaze kept returning to the door.
    Isabel felt relief hearing his
words. She took a determined step toward him. “Why do you hate me so, Father? I
have always been a good daughter, obeying ye. I don’t understand how you can
treat me this way.” She tried not to cry, but it became difficult to hold back the
tears. She finally asked the question that plagued her since childhood.
    “Hate ye? I don’t hate ye, Isabel. You’re
female, and I don’t concern myself with mundane subjects such as women. I have
more important matters to see to. Now—”
    “But you’re my father and I should
be important to you.”
    “Am I? Mayhap mother played me
false. I’d only sire good strong sons, not fragile females. Your mother must have
…” He trailed off, seeing her tears.
    “I am your daughter, don’t try to
pretend otherwise. I demand to know why you abhor me. What have I ever done to
make you despise me so?”
    “Demand? You’ve no rights being
female. You should have been born a boy then you’d have rights. I will send you
to Fairview Asylum at the soonest. There you’ll stay, and I shall be rid of
you. I should have done this long ago.”
    “Good, I’ll never return here, never.”
    “I’m only concerned for Nigel. He’ll
take my place when the time comes and—”
    Isabel threw her arms in the air. “Why
be concerned for him? He’s not of good character. He’ll not be a good lord to
our people, but you don’t care