Page 60 of When A Laird Loves A Lady
“You’d take me hunting with you?”Her eyes widened with surprise.
“Aye, it would be pleasing to takeye. Though, I’ve never hunted with a woman.”
“Never? Not even—”
“Nay,” he interrupted, realizing itwas time to return to the castle. “Nae even Catriona. Let’s dress. We can talkas we walk back to the hold.”
They dressed quickly, and as Iaintook Marion’s hand in his when they started walking, she peered at him. “I likethat there is something we will do together that you’ve never done with anyone.It seems as though it’s just ours.”
He thought about it and couldn’tsee how it could be a betrayal of his vow not to forget Catriona. He smiled atMarion. “I like it, too,” he replied with a squeeze of her hand. “And when weget to Dunvegan, I’ll have a dagger and a bow and arrows made for ye.”
She sucked in a delighted breath.“I always dreamed that my father would one day come upon me and see howtalented I was with a dagger and the bow, and then perchance he would be filledwith such pride that he’d not even be angry that Angus had taught me. Andthen,” she gushed, her words quick as she was caught up in her memories, “hewould finally find me worthy of loving.”
Her admission of her dreams waslike a dagger plunging into his gut. He stopped walking and looked at her. “Yeare worthy of loving.” He knew damn well his words would sound false to her,given what he’d told her before, given his own struggles. “It is nae ye but yerfather who is nae worthy.”
He gave her a long kiss, trying toimprint that knowledge in her head. “Nae ye,” he said once more and startedthem walking again.
For a long moment, she saidnothing, and then, very quietly, she said, “Then it seems being worthy of lovedoes not assure anyone wants to give it to you.”
He could not respond because shewas right, yet every part of him rebelled against agreeing.
After a lovely feast that night, they arose earlythe next morning to depart for Dunvegan. They had a road journey, as well as asea journey, ahead of them, yet Marion was already anxious about going toIain’s home, given what Bridgette had told her of Catriona’s sisters. ButMarion also had a sense of newfound hope. At dinner the night before, Bridgettehad asked her brother if she could go to Dunvegan with Marion to help heradjust to life in the Isle of Skye, and he’d thought it an excellent idea. Marionhad been surprised by his easy agreement, until Iain told her later that nightabout how Alex had spoken to him the day they’d arrived, requesting that hetake Bridgette for a time to allow a cooling period for the Campbell she’dsnubbed.
Marion was thrilled that Bridgettewas coming but not so thrilled that Alex had appointed Archibald to accompanyBridgette to Dunvegan. He was to keep her out of trouble. Astonishingly,Archibald didn’t oppose the duty. The man had actually seemed unconcerned, thoughhe may have hidden his annoyance well, since he did leave dinner early.
As they were packing the horses todepart, Marion realized Archibald had not come down from his bedchamber, sowhen he rode into the courtyard from the direction of the woods, she wasstunned to see him.
“Where have ye been?” Alexdemanded.
Archibald scowled. “Can a man naeeven say farewell to a lass without being challenged?”
Alex blinked in clear surprise. “Idid nae ken ye had a lass. Who is it?”
“Ye dunnae ken her,” Archibald said,rather evasively.
Alex waved a dismissive hand atArchibald. “Fine. Keep yer secrets. Ye may take them with ye.”
“I will,” Archibald grumbled.
Iain and Rory Mac exchanged a warylook. They didn’t seem to want Archibald to come any more than Marion did, andsuddenly she felt bad for the Scot. He seemed to be an outlander in his ownhome, just as she’d been.
With that in mind, she walkedtoward his horse and looked up at him. “Archibald, I’m glad you are coming withus.” She searched her mind for a nice compliment to give him. “You increase ourgroup’s strength and defenses, and that is always a good thing.”
Archibald gave her a surprisedlook, but then he offered a small smile. “Thank ye, Marion.”
Iain came up behind her and set hishand on her shoulder. “She’s right. Ye do aid us, and we welcome that. My wifeis wise.”
Marion turned and beamed at him.He’d complimented her in front of everyone. Things were going so well betweenthem now that Marion’s hope swelled a little further.
It only took a few more minutes foreveryone to say their farewells, and then they were bound for her new home,where she would hopefully feel as if she belonged.
As the rough sea made the birlinn dip continuously,Marion’s weary body felt as if she had abused it with a month of travel, thoughin reality, the trip from the MacLean hold to the farthest reaches of Scotlandhad been two and a half weeks. But the breakneck pace at which Iain had orderedthe crew to row, in spite of the turbulent waters, had left her battered, bruised,and seasick. She’d tried to appear brave so that Iain would not know just howuncomfortable she was as she sat huddled in his plaid, but the God’s truth wasthat she was afraid she’d never be warm again. Yet, she had to stay in thefresh air, rather than seek shelter, or she would most assuredly become sickagain. Even now, her stomach roiled.
The Isle of Skye and DunveganCastle could not come into view soon enough for her. The chill from bathing inthe icy rivers and sleeping outside in the winter-kissed highland air, followedby the chill from the constant breeze blowing off the water and being sprayedwhen the boat dipped had settled a cold deep into Marion’s body.
She seemed to be the only onebothered by the weather or freezing water, however. Iain had slept with hischest bare every night of their journey, and she was certain the only reasonshe’d not perished from the freezing temperatures was because she fairlyburrowed into him until he wrapped his arms tight around her. His body gave offheat like a fire, and she did her best to drink that heat up.
Yet, it wasn’t just Iain who hadappeared unaffected by the weather; it seemed all Scots were oblivious to it,from Angus, Neil, and Rory Mac to Archibald and Bridgette. Bridgette had evenhummed when they’d bathed in the frosty river, and at this moment, she stood atthe front of the birlinn without a cloak, her red hair whipping in the wind.Marion’s teeth chattered so strongly that even if she’d wanted to join in onthe humming, her frozen lips would likely fail her.
