Page 16 of When A Laird Loves A Lady
That was that!? He’d spoken!?
She turned away from him before shesaid some rather unladylike things. She learned in dealing with herhard-hearted father that sometimes it was better to simply do what you wanted ratherthan ask and be denied. And she wanted to help rescue Angus. It made perfectsense. She knew her father’s castle and Iain did not.
Iain may not know Marion de Lacyvery well yet, but he knew she was angry. Any clot-heid who could see wouldrecognize it from her narrowed eyes and high color. Plus, she turned swiftlyaway from him and her back was stiff and her foot tapping. He knew she wantedto help, but the best way she could help him was to ensure he did not worryabout keeping her safe.
“Marion, turn around,” hecommanded. When she didn’t budge, he stifled the annoyance that threatened tooverflow and decided to try a gentler approach. She didn’t know the way of theHighlands, after all. Maybe she didn’t understand that she should obey himwithout command, yet given his meeting with her father, he suspected de Lacyhad demanded obedience without question. Maybe that was the problem. MaybeMarion thought he was going to be as cruel to her as her father must have been.
“Marion,” he tried again. When shedidn’t turn toward him, he decided he could waste no more time. He grasped herby the shoulders and spun her around. She stubbornly kept her gaze down. Hesuppressed an unexpected desire to smile. He wasn’t used to being defied, andhe should be angry, but instead, he was impressed at her bravery. He hooked afinger under her chin and tipped her face to his until she had no choice but tolook at him. “When I’m talking to ye, I’d like to ken ye’re listening.Especially when yer safety is involved. Ken?”
“Just because I’m not looking atyou does not mean I don’t hear you,” she said. “And I already told you I wantto help.”
“Ye did. And the best way for ye tohelp is to stay here.”
She scowled at him and shook herhead. “Iknow the castle.”
“And ye ken the men. If ye had tokill one of them, would ye?” When her eyes widened and her lips parted, henodded. “Ye see, ye’d be a hindrance and nae a help.” Before she could sayanything, he turned to Rory Mac, who had been standing nearby, silently watchingthe exchange.
“Keep her out of the castle,” Iaincommanded.
Rory Mac nodded. “I’ll keep hersafe.”
Iain could tell by the derisivenoises coming from Marion that she intended to argue, so he stopped her beforeshe could start. “Nay,” he said, his hard tone warning her. “Ye will do as Isay and stay with Rory Mac.”
“I said nothing,” she muttered.
“Ye were going to.”
Marion huffed out a breath.
The little hints of how she feltfascinated him. He had to force himself to concentrate on his task instead ofwondering what she might do next. “I’ll get Angus and yer priest—”
Her brow furrowed. “Why would youcollect Father John?”
There was no polite way to tell herthis, so he simply stated the truth without preamble. “We need to be wed andthe marriage consummated as soon as possible.”
A shocked expression settled on herface, and she took a step away from him. “What?” she demanded in a hoarsewhisper.
Rory Mac laughed deeply, and Iainscowled at him. “Tend to Neil.”
“But I already—”
“Do it again!” Iain clipped.
“Aye, Iain.” Rory Mac turned andwent to the tree where Neil lay with his eyes closed.
Iain stared through the darkness atthis woman who was to be his wife. She was a stranger, yet he already knew shewas brave and loyal, and he did not want to add to the pain he assumed she’dalready had to endure.
He stepped toward her and touchedher elbow. Her body trembled under his fingertips. Was she going to faint?
She surprised and impressed him byshoving his hand away, notching her chin up, and pushing her shoulders back.“Since I know it’s not a great need for my person that’s driving you to forceme to be wed in wee hours, I suppose on the dirt upon which we stand will do…”
Guilt pricked him for where herinnocence would be taken, but there was no choice. The marriage needed to becompleted with the joining as quickly as possible. “Nae. We’ll find a nicepatch of soft grasssomewhere,” he teased in hopes to lighten the gravesituation, but her sharp intake of breath told him she was not amused.
“How considerate of you,” sheretorted. “I suppose you feel the need to seal the marriage before we flee.”
The time for teasing was over. “Idunnae like the circumstances anymore than ye do, Marion. We’ll flee first,then see to the other.”
“You’re mistaken if you think joiningyour body with mine will stop my father if he’s made up his mind to defy KingEdward.”
