Highland Hellion (Highland Weddings #3)(52)
It was as silent as a graveyard. No one moved, and most of those watching held their breath as they waited. Diocail watched the looks some of the men made, quick glances toward silent members of the clan that told him exactly who was talking behind his back.
None of them stepped forward.
“It is done,” Leif said from the high table. He was the senior captain, a man who had served the Gordons for over thirty years. “Aed can start with the swearing of fealty.”
Aed was one of the men the other clansmen had looked toward. His jaw was clenched as he hesitated. He moved forward and drew his dagger. There was a long moment as everyone waited to see if he’d challenge or kneel.
He knelt and pledged as a line formed behind him.
Six
“I would have thought ye’d be talking to Katherine.”
Marcus MacPherson offered Rolfe a menacing grin. “Ye can be very sure I will be having words with me sister later.”
“She is no’ yer sister,” Rolfe responded. “At the moment, ye are acting far more like her father.”
“At the risk of agreeing with ye, when all I want to do is choke the life from ye, aye,” Marcus replied. “That’s a fine, healthy way for ye to think of me. Because I swear I’ll twist yer cock off if ye harmed that lass.”
Duncan let out a snort, gaining him a glare from Marcus. “Perhaps I’ll start with ye, Duncan Lindsey, for allowing this wedding on yer land when ye knew the lass was under MacPherson protection.”
Duncan sobered. “The lass agreed, or I would no’ have let it happen. And I do nae care for yer tone. A bit of ransom is one thing; rape under the guise of marriage is another. One I do nae hold with.”
Marcus nodded.
“She did agree,” Rolfe insisted. “So do nae insult me by suggesting I took her against her will.”
“Ye’re saying she went to McTavish land of her own accord?” Marcus questioned.
Rolfe drew in a stiff breath. “Nae.”
Marcus’s expression tightened.
“Colum Gordon had a mind to burn her at the stake,” Rolfe said. “Ye should nae have allowed her to run wild.”
Marcus bristled. “I made sure she could defend herself. Can ye tell me truthfully that the fact that she is English has no’ caused trouble for ye? I’m no’ so arrogant to think that, short of locking her abovestairs, there won’t be times she’ll have to rely on herself.”
Rolfe nodded reluctantly. “I am no’ debating the need for her to learn to defend herself. Did ye truly no’ see the harm in her riding out at night? Christ, man, me own men caught her once, thinking her a lad.”
“So,” Marcus growled softly, “ye were on me land?”
Rolfe grunted. “Ye enjoy a good raid as well as I do. Kat learned a lot from ye, and it’s me guess that she saw ye leaving on a raid she was no’ invited to.”
Marcus slowly cocked his head to one side. “Aye,” he rasped out. “That much is true. I know what I’m guilty of, McTavish. That does nae mean ye should have taken her home to yer land and no’ sent me a ransom demand.” Marcus pointed at Rolfe. “Taking her to Morton is something I can nae forgive.”
“Me father is the one who would nae allow me to send a ransom demand. It’s true enough that I failed to think that part of me plan through. Me father craves a title and sees Katherine as the means to getting it from Morton. I can nae refuse me sire any more than ye can,” Rolfe argued. “But I wed her to make certain Morton can no’ harm her.”
“And she will be staying on Lindsey land under my protection,” Duncan added.
Marcus looked from one to the other before he nodded. “It’s a decent plan, I’ll admit. However, neither of ye have ever faced Morton. I promise ye, the man will nae bend easily. He’s dangerous. Very much so. Wedding vows will nae keep the man from taking her.”
“This keep will,” Duncan declared.
“Do nae be too certain of yer plan,” Marcus warned. “Ye have kin the earl may strike at. I’ve seen him do it. The man has no honor. He’ll find a weak spot and force ye to give her up. The man annulled me own vows without so much as a Hail Mary said in penitence. Go down there, and he’ll slap ye in chains rather than ennoble ye if ye arrive without the payment yer father promised him.”
“I am no’ afraid of a few months in prison,” Rolfe answered tightly.
“Morton will no’ hesitate to chop yer head off and set it on a pike as a warning to the other Highland clans,” Marcus continued. “He sent Robert Gunn into me own castle to make it clear that he can reach into every one of our keeps. He is determined to destroy our way of life, man. Taking yer head, when ye’ve wed without the permission of yer laird and father, will be the perfect opportunity.”
“I will do what I’ve promised me father I would,” Rolfe declared firmly. “Ye’re right to be angry with me for taking her home without thinking about what me father might do with her. I took her there because she needed a lesson, one ye could no’ teach her after letting her have her way so long.”
Marcus let out a grunt. “Aye, true enough. It’s me failing, one I admit.”
“And I will do what me father ordered me to do,” Rolfe continued. “Just as ye would. To do less is to be unworthy of leading me clan. Ye know that is true. It’s the reason ye went to see Morton yerself.”