“Aye.”
“Why dinna ye tell me at the loch?”
In a rare moment of tenderness, Alex caressed her cheek. “We were interrupted, remember?”
“Ye had plenty of time to disclose such an important detail about tonight.”
“I wish I hadna been so selfish, Keely. Sometimes my temper gets the best of me, as it does any man who’s been wronged.”
“So ye wanted to hurt me?” Her voice was tremulous.
“Nay,” he said. “I wanted to spend some time with ye, see if ye’d changed yer mind about staying here. Tis better to have a willing bride.”
“I know this isna very easy for either of us.”
“But we are both here.”
“Aye,” she said. “I had two choices, accept this marriage or escape. I’m tired of running.”
“I canna promise ye love, lass, but I can give ye comfort and pleasure—and protect ye.”
“Ye doona love me?”
Why did she have to gaze at him with those lovely blue eyes at a moment like this? Most men would lie about their feelings. But he dinna want to build their marriage on falsehoods. “I care about ye, lass.”
“Tis a start.”
“Aye. Give me yer hand, Keely.”
He twined his fingers through hers, ready to stand before the priest and exchange vows.
“Yer tunic is ruined,” Keely pointed out.
Alex looked down at his clothes. Aye, he looked the part of a bloodthirsty Highland laird. All the better, for he must deal with the other men who had accompanied Levi into the hall. “If ye’ll be patient, there is one more thing I must do.” She nodded, and he turned his attention to the waiting offenders. “Rebels,” he said. “How dare ye disturb the peace in my home.”
The six men dropped to their knees.
“Please,” one of the men begged, “have mercy on us.”
“We dinna mean to hurt anyone, milord,” another said.
“Mercy…” two more cried in unison.
He scoffed. “Did ye show mercy?”
Silence enveloped the great hall.
“I willna tolerate such behavior. Ye falsely accused my bride and dishonored the clan with yer filthy lies. Ye screamed for justice. And ye’ll have it. Mathe!”
“Milord?” The captain stood at attention.
“Bind these men and take them to a cell. Let them rot.”
“Aye.”
“After I am married, perhaps we shall sacrifice them to whatever god or devil ye want. For they are not worthy of living another day.”
The crowd gasped. The days of ruling this clan with a light hand was over. John had done them a great disservice. Alex loved his people: he’d die for any man, woman, or child, but he wouldna tolerate uprisings of any sort.
