“What do you want?”
“Only what was promised to me, and it appears she is loose enough that I may share her around without much drama from her, which is pleasing to me.”
“She is mine, and there is nothing you can do to stop that.” Angus would die first. “Have you had her yet? If not, then she is still mine, as per the arrangement I made with the king but days ago. Money has changed hands, MacDonald. She is my property and I will have what is mine.”
Angus pushed Annabella back farther and turned again. Though Douglas tried to peer around him, he successfully blocked the man’s view.
“Out of my way, MacDonald.”
“New terms have been agreed upon, and unless you want to end up on the bad side of the king, I suggest you honour them and leave now.”
“I did not agree to new terms, but was merely informed of them. I have not shaken hands, nor signed my name in agreement. And, besides,” the Douglas mocked, “all of that was before I saw her. Oh, I had been informed of her beauty, but those accounts were grossly underestimated. Now stand aside and let me see my prize.” Bile rose in Angus’s throat. It was only too easy to believe every vile story he had heard about this man. Cruelty to women was not something to which Angus was accustomed, but it appeared this man relished it.
“Leave now and the new agreement will stand. Do not, and I will leave here with her and you will receive nothing. Not the satisfaction of a fat purse, nor being defeated by me at the tournament,” Angus said.
“I do not need a tournament to best you, MacDonald, and I do not need her English money. Let me be clear—I want neither. All I want is her. Give her to me now, and you may live to see another day.”
“You may threaten me all you like, Douglas, but you will never lay a finger on the lady as long as I draw breath.”
“A point easily remedied,” Douglas said.
The distinct sound of a blade leaving its sheath filled his ears. Angus was not wearing his and would need to disarm the man quickly.
Before he could stop her, Annabella stepped out around Angus and raised her hands. Douglas’s eyes flicked over her and grew wide. “Enough!” she said. “If I go with you, will you let him go free?”
“Annabella, no!” Angus said, a large knot forming in his gut.
“Aye, my pretty little thing. I will let him go if you come with me to Bothwell Castle tonight.” The man’s teeth gleamed as his lips curled into a hungry smile.
As Annabella turned toward Angus, she winked, and he understood the hint and her diversion for what it was. He would play along.
“No, Annabella, you must not do this.”
“I must, and I shall.” She turned to the Douglas again. Just a few more moments of deception and Angus would have the opportunity he hoped for.
“I will come with you now, Douglas, but you must promise me that no harm will come to me in your care,” she said.
The man tipped his head back and laughed. It was all the opportunity Angus needed. He moved past Annabella, grabbed Douglas’s sword arm, and twisted so hard that the blade popped out of the man’s hand and clattered to the ground.
Annabella grabbed it and held it up with both hands, while Angus bent the man’s arms behind his back and pushed forward.
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
Angus shoved the Douglas hard ahead of him, while holding the man’s wrists tight behind his back. He cared not what the king thought of any alliance with this man; he needed to pay for his actions. Angus would have given his last breath to defend Annabella. For a few fleeting moments, he had thought that might have been the case.
“You will not get away with this, MacDonald.”
“It is you who will pay,” Angus said. “How dare you threaten me and my intended.”
“We will see who is expected to pay when we reach the king,” Douglas said. “I assure you, it will not be me.”
Angus did not trust himself to speak. He wanted to snap the man’s neck for his arrogance and daring. Surely the king would throw the man in the dungeon, where he would rot like the filth that he was.
When they reached the palace, Angus shoved Douglas inside while still holding him. The guards stood tall and focused their attention on both men.
“What passes here?” the first guard asked. “Take me to the king,” Angus said.
The two guards hesitated, then Angus leaned in toward the first one. “Now!”
