Nineteen
“You will not leave this castle without a proper marriage,” King Robert decreed.
“We have the contracts signed and a handfast in place. Lady Campbell and I can exchange our vows at Kilchurn in front of our clan,” Brodie argued. King Robert summoned Brodie to the Privy Council chamber the morning Brodie intended to depart Stirling with Laurel. A less demanding, but nonetheless persistent, knock interrupted their respite from court life. Now he stood before an aggrieved monarch while attempting to keep his temper in check.
“None of the other ladies may marry until after Lady Laurel’s wedding,” King Robert said for at least the third time, to which Brodie gave the same response.
“She had her wedding in a meadow when we exchanged vows. Lady Campbell is married. The others can go on aboot their lives without any more fuss. And I intend to leave with my wife.” Brodie crossed his arms. “Today.”
“You shall find that hard to do when the gates are locked to Lady Laurel, and you find yourself in a cell within my dungeon,” King Robert threatened. Brodie bit his tongue, knowing he’d finally pushed too far. Even if the king was goading him and bluffing, he wouldn’t risk Laurel being left alone so soon after they married.
“Very well,” Brodie relented. “But we’re not waiting until Monday. We can have the wedding this eve.”
“You are waiting until Monday, and you will have the ceremony at sunset,” King Robert insisted. Brodie pressed his lips together and swallowed the angry retort, but he nodded. “And in the meantime, you will leave Lady Laurel alone. She will return to her chamber and her duties to the queen.”
“You go too far,” Brodie hissed, keeping his voice low so only Robert heard. “You’ve seen the proof that we’re married. You will not keep me from my wife. I do not trust for a moment that she’s safe here.”
“She has been for eleven years.”
“She hasn’t been an impediment to anyone else’s marriage until now. There are many angry courtiers here, and I don’t trust them not to do something.”
“Very well. She may return to your chamber, but her days are to be spent as the queen demands.”
“Aye, Your Majesty.” Brodie bowed before taking his leave. He entered the passageway to find Graham, his second, rushing toward him with a piece of parchment in his hand. Brodie hurried to meet his most trusted guardsman.
“This just arrived from Dominic,” Graham announced. “Danny said it was urgent.”
Brodie nodded, knowing it wouldn’t be good news if his brother sent their fastest messenger and Graham was nearly running to find him. He slid the wax seal from the parchment and scanned the missive. Brodie clenched his jaw as he reread it. Not only had the Lamonts led another raid well across their border, the MacDougalls joined them by raiding several other villages. Brodie looked up at Graham.
“The Lamonts are harrying our villages, and the bluidy MacDougalls are in on it too,” Brodie explained. “I must find Lady Campbell, but first I must return to the king and share this turn of events.” Brodie wanted to groan at the prospect of dealing with the Bruce, but he had no choice. While Graham waited in the passageway, Brodie went back to stand before the king. He handed the missive over and waited for King Robert’s reaction.
“The Lamonts ended your alliance with the MacMillans, so why are they still harassing you?”
“I would like an answer to that too. Your Majesty, you must see that I cannot remain here. Lady Campbell and I need to return to Kilchurn, and I need to sort this mess out with both the Lamonts and the MacDougalls.”
“Absolutely not. You are not riding with another bride only to have the Lamonts attack again. Lady Campbell remains here until you return. She may be a nuisance, and she may be your wife, but she’s still the Earl of Ross’s daughter. An earl whose sister married the Earl of Sutherland, who is the brother-by-marriage to the Earl of Sinclair, who is the bluidy father-by-marriage of Laird Mackay!” King Robert was practically yelling by the time he rattled off the complicated family into which Brodie married. “She isn’t leaving this bluidy keep until you can promise me that whatever this is—” King Robert shook the parchment. “—is resolved.”
Brodie scowled, but he knew the Bruce was right. He wasn’t eager to travel with Laurel while bands of Lamonts and MacDougalls rained havoc on his clan. But he wasn’t eager to leave Laurel alone either. He’d just argued against doing that very thing. “If this weren’t so urgent, I would insist on the wedding today, but I must find my wife, then ride out.”
“Aye. She’ll be in the queen’s solar at this hour. They will have just returned from their walk,” King Robert offered, and Brodie bowed once more.
Brodie hurried through the castle’s passageway, with Graham his silent shadow. When the two Highlanders reached the doors to the queen’s solar, Graham stopped short and stepped aside. A royal guard opened the door only to reveal Laurel standing toe-to-toe with Sarah Anne. The queen wasn’t in sight, and the other ladies encircled the arguing pair. Laurel turned to look at the newcomer, her eyes widening when she recognized Brodie. She muttered something to Sarah Anne before swishing her skirts and making her way to Brodie.
Brodie could only imagine what made the color rise in Laurel’s cheeks, but he doubted he would have any sympathy for Sarah Anne when he learned. He brought Laurel’s hands to his lips, an appropriate greeting. But when he noticed Graham shift from the corner of his eye, he recalled he would soon leave Laurel. He pulled her toward him and brushed a soft kiss against her lips. Shocked, it took Laurel a moment to reciprocate. She kept it just as brief, but Brodie welcomed the touch.
“Something has come up, and I need to speak to you,” Brodie whispered. Laurel nodded as Brodie offered his arm. Graham trailed behind them until they reached their chamber, where the three entered. Laurel sat in a chair near the hearth and looked back and forth between the two warriors. “The Lamonts and MacDougalls led raids on our land.”
Laurel was on her feet and across the chamber in four strides. “What do you need me to do?”
Brodie thought his chest would explode. Pride and love filled his heart as he looked at the woman before him. He cupped her jaw and smiled. “Och, lass. I am a lucky mon.” The couple gazed at one another before Brodie sighed. “There is naught for you to do just yet. I thought to take you home, but King Robert pointed out how unwise it would be to travel with you until this is resolved.”
“You want me to stay here,” Laurel stated.
“It’s not what I want, but it’s the right choice. I won’t risk your life, Laurie. Here you are protected by Ross and royal guards. On the road it would only be my small contingent of men.”
“That’s not what I wanted to hear, but I know you’re right.”
“Graham and I need to ride out this morn, Laurie. I’m sorry to leave you behind, especially since we haven’t had the wedding yet.”
