Free Love's Ransom by Gwen Kirkwood

Douglas greeted them, smiling broadly, not even asking why Isabella had gone with them on her own. He was in excellent mood. Her new father-in-law strode towards Isabella and helped her dismount.
    ‘He’s lucky, that brother of yours, m’dear. Did you set him on his journey?’
    ‘We did.’
    ‘Good. I expect you would like to go to your husband now. He and Anna are inspecting the garden. He tells me you would like to grow some plants and have a patch of your own. We shall do all we can to please you. You go and tell Henry what you want him to do, m’dear.’
    The three young men listened in surprise, their eyebrows raised at Sir William’s evident satisfaction with his son and his new daughter. They watched Isabella walk across the courtyard.
    ‘We’ve made a man of my laddie at last,’ William said triumphantly, turning back to face Zander and his friends. ‘I’d begun to wonder if he’d ever act like a normal man but even a monk would find it hard to resist such a pretty young wife.’
    It was later that day when Zander learned the reason for his uncle’s jubilation. He knew the servants gossiped and they were curious about Henry and his young bride so they all knew about the blood stained sheet which Lizzie had brought for washing after she had been to their bedchamber that morning.
    ‘I could have sworn she was a virgin still,’ Walter muttered to Zander when they were alone together. Zander was in no mood to discuss his cousin and Walter guessed the reason for his friend’s dark mood. He did not speak to Isabella or Henry during the rest of the day.
    The following morning Zander was finishing breaking his fast when Anna and his uncle joined him.
    ‘I have decided to go on a journey,’ he announced brusquely. ‘I shall go west towards Dumfries town. I have a desire to see the ships which sail up the Nith river.’
    ‘You’re not planning to sail away on one, are you?’ his uncle asked.
    ‘Maybe. Henry does not need me to watch over him now he has a wife,’ he added, unable to hide his discontent.
    ‘Then you must take some trustworthy men with you. I hear the Johnstones and the Maxwells are constantly at war. You must not to get involved. Remember the wardens have the same powers over the West March as I have here.’
    ‘I am in need of adventure,’ Zandar replied.
    ‘Then please do not take Walter with you,’ Anna pleaded. ‘I do not want to be a widow before I have been a wife, as your own mother was, Zander.’ William Douglas frowned at her.
    ‘What can you know of your Aunt ? She died before you were born.’
    ‘I know she loved you, Father, and that you were going to marry her but you went away.’
    ‘I had to go abroad or end up as a prisoner in Edinburgh, and probably a dead man. Alexander, will you be bringing back some pretty trinkets for Anna?’ he asked deliberately changing the subject.
    ‘Is there anything you would like, Anna?’
    ‘Oh yes please. If you see silks or velvets Isabella and I would like some to make new dresses. Isabella needs several for daily wear but we shall weave some fine wool for winter. I know she longs for a needle case with different sizes of metal needles. Her father gave her one but she left all her treasures behind when she came here to offer her life to save her brother. She will need a special dress for my wedding too. Will you be back in time?’
    ‘Maybe Isabella will not fit into a special dress in six months,’ her father said smugly. Anna flushed a little and didn’t reply. Zander wondered if she knew and if she was as amazed as he was to discover Henry had managed to make love to his new wife. He did not care to dwell on such matters. The sooner he got away the better.
    ‘I fear Walter will not be happy at being left behind,’ he said.
    ‘If he truly loves me he will not go,’ Anna said with certainty.
    ***
    Isabella had plenty to keep her occupied but she missed Zander’s presence more than she had expected considering she had