“I’m the laird—”
“As you keep repeating. I’m sure you’re aware I used to be a duchess. And I can tell you, titles don’t mean a damn thing when all is said and done. A duchess can wander the countryside with no shoes, and a laird—” Can be an arse, she finished silently, not wanting to anger him.
With that, she turned toward the gate. If he wouldn’t allow her to take a horse, she’d leave on foot. She didn’t know where she’d go, but she didn’t want to lure the English to the MacKinlay clan.
Lachlan was justified in sending her away. He was responsible for the safety of his people. Harboring a fugitive of the crown was counterproductive to his duty.
“Marian, I’m sorry. Please stay,” he said when he caught up to her.
“Ridley knows I’m here. It will only be a matter of time before he returns with soldiers. He won’t leave without me. There’s a price on my head.”
Lachlan nodded and let out a breath. “My wife and children live within these walls. I’ll not endanger them. But you are my sister by marriage, which makes you my family as well. I have a duty to you, and I canna protect you if you leave the castle. So you’ll stay, and we’ll come up with a plan if Ridley returns.” When she didn’t move in the direction of the hall, he added, “Please.”
If he thought she was simply being dramatic, he was wrong. She wouldn’t put herself through the trouble of such theatrics for no good reason.
“I’ll not cause you to live in fear of an English attack because you helped me.”
“There are worse things to fear if you leave,” he said with a grimace, placing a hand on her arm. He didn’t grasp or pull, but still the contact made her flinch away. He released her quickly, his brows pulling together.
Surely Kenna had shared the reason she’d killed the duke. To her surprise, the laird didn’t look on her in pity. Instead, he lowered his hand slowly and let out a breath. “Please, stay.”
Marian nodded and let him lead her back to the hall. She paused and turned to him, offering a half smile when she realized what worse fears he had referred to. “You’re afraid of Kenna.”
“When it comes to my wife losing the sister she’s just gotten back, aye, I am.” He winked at her. “God and all the saints help me if I turned ye away.”
When they returned to the hall, she sat next to Cameron. He took her hand and gave it a squeeze under the table.
“Everything well?”
“Yes. Thank you,” Marian offered, though it wasn’t exactly true. Things were fine for now. But she did need a plan for when Ridley returned.
Lachlan thought it his job to protect the clan, but in this, she was the one who would need to save everyone when the time came.
Chapter Eight
Marian spent the day with Kenna talking about their childhood days and laughing. As the afternoon drew out, they turned to other topics.
“How was your first night in the castle? Did you sleep well?”
Marian could tell by Kenna’s sly smile she was asking a quite different question than the one she’d voiced.
“I did sleep well. Thank you for asking.”
“Can you not take a hint?” Kenna lifted her hands and let them fall to her lap.
Marian burst out laughing as she recalled how impetuous her sister was. Kenna’s laughter joined in, and it felt like old times.
“I’ve missed you,” Marian said sincerely.
“I’ve missed you, as well, but I have to say, despite your struggles to get here, I like that we know each other better now. We seem to have grown out of our differences.”
“You mean that you don’t spend your days swinging from the trees, and I’m not as focused on sitting properly and speaking without a brogue?”
“We’re on more common ground,” Kenna agreed.
“Aye.” Marian let the Scot word slip from her tongue, causing them to laugh again.
Eventually their discussion turned to their husbands. She knew Kenna was trying to tell if Marian was satisfied by Lachlan’s apology.
“I understand his position as laird,” Marian said honestly. “I’d not think poorly of him for doing what is right for Clan MacKinlay.”
“You make it sound as if you’re not part of the clan.”
She nodded. “My being a MacKinlay is born of a complication, not a choice by either party.”
“Perhaps, but I dare say ye may have found yourself in this position at some point anyway.”
Marian tilted her head in question, taking in Kenna’s wry smile.
“Cam favors you. It’s clear to see. And I’m still waiting to hear what happened last night. Don’t you think you’ve made me wait long enough?”
Marian shook her head. “I’m afraid you’ve waited in vain, for the story is less than scandalous.”
“Go on.”
Marian explained how he’d started out on the floor. “When I woke from a nightmare, he helped me into a dry garment—”
“And ravished ye?” Kenna asked hopefully.
“No,” Marian confessed. “But he did sleep next to me. Only to offer comfort,” she added quickly when Kenna’s eyes lit up.
“It’s good for now. It won’t be long before the two of you are comfortable enough for more to blossom between you,” Kenna predicted.
Marian wasn’t so sure. Even if she did find Cameron attractive, he was a man. And men were too unpredictable.
“I know you find him daunting. It’s true he is a large man, but he has a heart to match. He’d never hurt someone who did not deserve it. He has a tender soul.”
Marian had seen evidence of that already. Yet she also remembered how charming the duke had been before she married him. He’d seemed gentle, as well, but later was revealed to be the opposite.
“A war chief with a tender soul?” Marian chuckled at the thought. “He must have something lurking deep within that can bring him to kill in battle.” Marian swallowed. To think she’d shared a bed with the man the night before, and would probably have to do so again tonight.
How much longer before he dropped the charade and took what was his by force?
Unless she willingly gave it to him first… Would that be better? Heading off the battle before it was brought to her gates? It was a common strategy for clan wars. Could it work for her?
…
Cam wasn’t sure what to expect when he got to his chamber that night. Would Mari allow him to sleep next to her as she had the night before, or would he be consigned to the floor again?