Page 19 of When A Laird Loves A Lady
Her heart pounded viciously, butshe forced herself to speak, praying she didn’t sound scared. “Not yet you’renot.”
He blew out a long, hot, clearlyangrybreath that fanned her face. “Ye ken ye have nay choice but to marry me.”
Her gut clenched with bitterness atthe truth of his words, but she refused to acknowledge out loud that he wasright. Instead, she said, “Where is Angus?”
“When we saw yer father’s knightleading ye to the keep, Angus said ye were surely being taken to yer room. Wedecided that he’d get the priest and I’d come for ye.”
“Because I’m yours?” she asked,feeling slightly bemused by his nearness, his masculine scent, and the powerthat he projected by his sheer size.
He laughed. “Nay, butyearemine.” The words held a ring offinality she did not dare argue with.
“Then why did you come for me andnot Angus when he knows the castle and you don’t? Oh no!” she cried suddenlyand clutched Iain’s arm. “Angus is hurt.”
“Just bruised. He’ll mend, but he’sslower than usual and was uncertain he could properly defend ye if the needarose.”
He took her hand in his big, warm,rough one, and a jolt shot from her fingertips straight to her stomach. “Come.We’re meeting them outside the castle where I presume Rory Mac is still waitingfor me as I bid thetwoof ye to do,” he said pointedly.
’Twas true that it was hard to pullher thoughts away from the tingly sensation Iain’s fingers were causing, butsomehow she managed. “Don’t blame Rory Mac. I deceived him.”
“I dunnae doubt it,” he grumbled,“but the man should ken better than to fall prey to a woman’s charms.”
“Well, in his defense, he doesn’tknow me.”
Iain made a derisive sound in histhroat. “Ye’re nae helping his cause,” he said and then pulled her into thewall of brick that was his chest. She pressed her hands against the sinewymuscle and froze, enraptured by the fast beat of his heart tapping against herfingertips.
“Sassenach,” he said gruffly.“There will be time enough for ye to show me how much ye desire me, but now weneed to leave.”
“Are you always so arrogant?” shemanaged, though her throat felt thick and her thoughts spun a little.
“Aye,” he replied. “Now let’s gomeet the others.”
She gasped, suddenly realizing theconsequences of sending the guard to fetch the priest. What if the guard hadcome upon Angus retrieving Father John?
“We may have a slight problem,” shesaid.
“What?”
Marion bit her lip. “I sent theguard to get the priest in the chapel,” she blurted, thinking telling itquickly may make it less terrible. It didn’t.
“Why’d ye do that if ye intended toescape?” he demanded.
“I didn’t know that Father’s knightwas going to lock me in my room,” she grumbled. “I thought I’d escape while hewas fetching Father John.”
“And that’s what ye call knowingwhat ye’re doing?” he growled.
“Oh, do be quiet,” she snapped.“I’ve put up with my father being cruel to me for twenty years, I’ll not put upwith twenty more years of it from you. I’d rather chance a future with theMacDonalds.”
His hands came to her shoulders andgripped them. “I highly doubt ye have any chances with the MacDonalds atpresent, Marion. Yer uncle Gowan surely kens about our marriage. David likelytold him because of his position. And I ken yer uncle. He would have agreed tobind me to him through marriage to ye himself. So even if ye went to himbegging nae to wed me, I’d nae trust his help. I’m yer only hope, whether itpleases ye to accept the truth or nae.”
Iain cursed himself as tears filled Marion’s eyes.She blinked rapidly and glanced away, and when she turned her face to himagain, no tears trailed down her fine-boned cheeks, but the unmistakableglistening of unshed tears did shine in her lovely eyes. Presently, the onlyperson Marion needed defending from was him. He released his hold on hershoulders and gently cupped her face.
“I’m sorry,” he said, uncertainwhat else to say. It had been a very long time since he’d held a woman sofamiliarly, and Marion’s silken skin under his rough fingertips filled him witha need he’d forgotten.
“Don’t worry yourself,” shewhispered. “I’m aware no one really wants me.” She blinked up at him. She wastrying so valiantly to be brave, but her lower liptrembled,and all he could think about was that he’d caused her pain. He wanted to takeit away. With no other intention but that one, he pressed a kiss to herforehead, hoping to soothe her.
She quivered beneath his fingers,and his chest tightened. He had desired Catriona, to be sure, but it was acautious need because she had always been sick and frail. But life and strengthsimmered from Marion, and he realized with a relieved start that he’d not haveto be cautious with her. Guilt assaulted him, as if his relief was a betrayalof his love for Catriona.
He took a deep breath, glad thatthey needed to go and he could store this away to consider later. “We bettermake our way to the chapel to see if Angus needs help.”
