“Me lady,” he nodded toward her, eyes shut. He then looked to Balloch. “Do ye take her, Balloch?”
“I do,” Balloch said with a grin.
“And ye, me lady?”
“What’s that?”
“It sounded like an aye to me!” the captain shouted to his crew, who erupted in laughter. Then back to Balloch, he asked, “May I be the first to kiss the bride?” He poked the Englishman in the chest.
“Not just yet, my good captain,” Balloch said, then sneered in her direction. “Perhaps later.”
Kenna finally found her voice. “We are not wed. I am no man’s bride, especially yours.” She refused to move her hands from her hips as he tried to lead her away, so he stopped.
“Did you or did you not agree to come along willingly?”
“Aye, but…” Her words were cut short by his mouth crashing into hers.
“That was definitely an ‘aye’ this time,” the man said, then slapped Balloch on the back, disrupting the kiss. “By my authority as captain of this vessel, I pronounce ye mon and wife.”
At the point of a knife and some horrifying threats whispered by the groom, Kenna signed her name to the parchment next to Balloch’s signature. She realized she had most likely just given away that last weapon.
A plethora of unattractive suggestions were thrown their way as the two of them made their way back to the captain’s quarters. Requests for table scraps and offers to take the nightwatchwere among the more polite calls. Their audience laughed when Balloch had to finally yank her through the doorway. A less willing bride there never was.
CHAPTER FORTY-ONE
Duncan took the two best horses from the four that had been left at the harbor and made his way south. With as little sleep as he’d had, he took the extra precaution of tying himself to the saddle. The MacCurrachs had said that a man could reach Edinburgh before a ship if he cut across the peninsula. He hoped they were right.
It was nearlyten o’clock when Jamie came to Tearloch’s chamber.
“Come,” he heard from within and opened the door, ushering in the maid who had swooned at the table.
Jamie held the girl’s hand as he pulled her forward and closed the door.
“If ye please, sir. Milady will be sore cross with me if I am no’ close to hand.” She looked scared utterly to death, and all the soothing touches Jamie gave her went unnoticed.
Tearloch feared she would swoon again if he frightened her any further, so he used his gentlest voice. “Come now. Ye may return to yer mistress after a few questions, will that do?”
She nodded.
He sat against the edge of a table in front of the hearth and gestured for her to come closer. “Ye must tell me the complete truth, or else it will go badly for another lass. Badly indeed. Do ye understand?”
“Aye, sir.” She was visibly shaking, but in no immediate threat of swooning.
“Ye remember seein’ me before?”
“Aye, sir. And how is my mistress? Does she live?” The girl’s fear was forgotten for a moment in the hopes of hearing good news.
“Aye, she lives at my home.”
“And she’s well?”
“Aye, she’s well and happy.”
“Oh thank ye, sir. I had worried so.”
“I will tell her. Tell me yer name again.”
“Fia, sir. Tell her Fia is happy to know she survived.”
