A/N: Thanks to Shiff n Tiff. x
Chapter 41
Isabella made the foolish mistake of following her husband outside. He hadn't ordered her to stay so she saw no reason why she shouldn't follow him. She had wanted to see what had gotten Jasper so upset. She wished she hadn't gone to look. She couldn't take her eyes off dead body that lay on the ground. She had never seen a one before, and this was so twisted and misshapen. She knew he was going to haunt her dreams. She wondered what the man had done to deserve such a cruel punishment. She couldn't imagine anything that deserved such a severe penalty.
Edward was furious. He was shouting at a group of strangers, soldiers by the looks of them. Isabella wasn't familiar with their plaid, but she surmised they had something to do with the body lying at their feet. She was surprised when her husband let them go, she was certain that he would kill them for the barbaric murder of his soldier.
"You should nae be here." Isabella heard someone say, but she couldn't tear her eyes away from the scene before her to realise who had spoken. "C'mon," they said, tugging her arm. That was when she let out the loud whimper that she had been holding in.
Edward heard the sound and turned around to see his wife standing in the crowd. She looked as white as a sheet and ready to swoon. Her eyes were locked on the dead body lying behind him. "Cover him up," Edward snapped at a soldier, before he hurried over to Isabella's side. "Whit are ye doing here?" he asked, grabbing hold of her arms, frightened that she was going to drop at his feet.
"I … ah, I," Isabella mumbled, struggling to form words.
"I tried to get her away," Garrett said, from behind her.
Edward looked at the soldier. He seemed eager for his approval, but Edward had no time for such nonsense. He merely nodded at the man and turned his attention back to his wife. "Come, let's go inside," he said, trying to turn her away from the sight behind them, but she wouldn't budge. He thought about lifting her up and throwing her over his shoulder, but he didn't think she would appreciate that much once she came to her senses. Instead, he decided to talk to her firmly, hoping that would be enough to snap her out of her daze. "Isabella," he said, sternly. "It's time tae go inside."
The harshness of his voice caught Isabella's attention. She blinked once and then turned to look at her husband. She believed that she had displeased him, but she could only find concern on his face. "I'm sorry," she mumbled, her body beginning to shake. "I shouldn't have come outside. I didn't … I didn't."
"Aye, ye didn't think," Edward agreed, this time managing to turn her around and start her walking towards the castle. "Ye should nae have come outside."
"I know," Isabella whispered.
"Ye should nae have seen that."
Isabella nodded, wishing she hadn't seen it. "Who was he and why did they hurt him like that?" She asked.
Edward shook his head as he led her through the front door and into the kitchen, sitting her down at the table. "Don't concern yerself wae that Lass. I'll take care o it." He had no intentions of telling her who the man was or why he had been tortured. It would only upset her more.
"It was so barbaric," she whimpered.
"Aye, it was," Edward sighed, but that was the English for you. He hoped his wife never found out just how barbaric her kinsmen could be.