They both jumped at his booming voice, and headed across the inner courtyard and onward toward the great hall. Angus would have preferred a private audience, but it did not really matter that much. If all of Scotland heard what Angus had to say about this man, he did not care.
As soon as her and Annabella entered the great hall, the king and everyone around them stood and watched the procession. Angus’s eyes never left the Stewart’s. If the man wanted to prove he could govern the entire land, now was his chance to show it. Angus had his doubts, though.
“What is the meaning of this, MacDonald? That is my guest you hold.”
“I am well aware of who this is, Your Majesty. But is he aware of our new arrangement?”
The king paused. Clearly, he had not updated the Douglas on the new arrangement with Annabella. Angus could almost understand why the Douglas had been annoyed, but not the manner in which he had executed his displeasure.
Douglas shrugged out of Angus’s grasp and straightened his doublet, as if he’d been restrained by nothing more than a boy. Angus folded his arms across his chest and waited. Someone had better sort this mess out and soon, or else there would be a bloody battle in their future instead of a tournament.
The king put his hands up. “My lords, please join me at my table and let us discuss this as civilized men.”
Angus did not want to sit at the man’s table, nor to be civilized. By now, his father and Graham had joined them, along with several men standing near Douglas, and the various guards standing around the king. Either they were about to break into a country dance, or there would soon be bloodshed.
Something blunt nudged Angus forward. He turned to come face-to-face with a guard, then realized they were all surrounded by the king’s guard. He was contented enough to keep the peace, but he would be pushed around by no man.
“Angus and I will sit, Your Majesty, but you will honour your agreement with us,” his father said.
“Aye, your agreement with me is sound, MacDonald, have no fear.”
The Black Douglas slammed his hand hard on the table. “I will have Lady Annabella for my wife, as we previously agreed, or I will burn Linlithgow to the ground!”
To his credit, the king did not flinch, but merely stroked his beard and regarded the Douglas. Angus did not envy the man, but was in no way willing to leave Annabella to this beast and his clan’s brutish ways.
“Our agreement also stands,” the king said, after a time.
“No!” Angus shouted. “Lady Annabella is mine, in exchange for our alliance. Break that agreement, Stewart, and you will have a bloody battle on your hands.”
The king turned to regard Angus with cold eyes. “Do you dare threaten me in my own hall?” he asked.
“I will threaten you anywhere if you go back on your word,” Angus said in a determined, low voice. “You say you will honour both our agreements, yet we are both promised to the same woman. How do you propose to do this?”
At that moment, the queen swept into the middle of the building tension.
Clasping Annabella’s hand, she pulled her cousin away from the conflict. “Where do you take the lady, wife?” the king asked.
“To where it is safe, and away from the men who presume to bid for her. By my estimation, none of you are worthy at this moment.”
Before any man could speak, the queen and Annabella left the great hall. For a few moments, no one spoke. Angus would not apologize for his comments. She belonged to him, and he intended to declare that before God within a sennight. He would take down any man who would dare stop him.
“It appears you have a decision to make, Your Majesty,” Douglas said. “With whom do you wish to war? A band of fishermen and farmers who live hundreds of miles away, or a family who controls most of the lowlands? The choice is yours, my king.”
Douglas pulled out a chair and sat back, his legs crossed and his hands clasped behind his head. He had all the appearance of a man who held all the cards. Angus’s hands were fisted by his sides. How dare the man insult his great family and presume to brand him a fisherman and farmer?
The Stewart slowly rose from his seat, placed his hands flat on the table, and leaned forward toward Douglas.
“I rule all of Scotland, Douglas. And you would do well to remember that.” He then turned to Angus and his father. “You will marry Lady Annabella, as discussed. I trust our agreement is still sound?”
“Aye,” Angus said. “We will leave here with her at dawn.”
“No, by God you will not!” Douglas shouted and jumped to his feet. “She is mine!”
“I did not promise you Lady Annabella,” the king said.
Angus turned to regard the king. The man stood tall and folded his arms across his chest. “I promised you a noble woman close to my house. It is not my fault you assumed it would be Lady Annabella.”
“You cannot tell me you did not mean her when we struck this deal,” replied Douglas.
