“If that is your wish, then I will oblige.”
Angus was both pleased and disturbed when she did not speak again for several hours. He did not wish to quarrel with her, yet he did not know what else he could say. He did not think her so shallow that she could not see the importance of his responsibilities. But surely safety came before romance?
Hours of riding with a vexed female in front of him took its toll on Angus. By the time they reached Oban, he was in a foul mood. He dismounted and tossed the reins at the stable hand. For a moment—only a brief one, by his estimation—he contemplated making her dismount on her own, but that would be petty and they were still pressed for time.
“We will rest here for a time and then continue on to Finlaggan. The sooner I have Islay in my sights, the better.”
As he helped her down, he noticed the redness around her eyes. Had she been weeping?
“Very well, my lord.”
He could not bear this tension between them. “Annabella, all will be well and you will be happy, I assure you.”
Her dark eyes searched his. He despised the reservation and sadness in hers. “As you say, my lord.” With that, she stepped past him and entered the inn.
Graham came through a heartbeat later. His mouth was set in a grim line and his brows drawn tight together. What now?
“Angus, I fear we must make haste to Finlaggan.” “What has happened?”
“Rorie MacKenzie has declared that you have broken your promise to his clan to aid in protection from the king’s attempts to claim their lands.”
Graham passed Angus the message from his steward. The message was two days old, and his steward said MacKenzies had surrounded the banks of Eilean Mor. Christ’s teeth! Would this madness never end?
“That is absurd! I know nothing about MacKenzie’s plight with the king. And it was his clan who tarried with the king at Dunrobin last year, not us.”
“If they are already there, then they may attack upon our approach,” Graham said.
“We must get my father safely to Iona and out of the way of this mess.”
“And what of Lady Annabella?”
It was a good question. He had promised her security once they were safely home, but it appeared he could not offer her any form of safety anywhere. With the Douglas no doubt on his heels, they had no choice but to press forward. If they took their ships from Oban, they had no choice but to land on the north side of Islay; they would be seen any other way.
“If we sail from Kennacraig, we could land on the south side of Islay at Laphroaig or Port Ellen. We would require horses, and there may not be many available. If Finlaggan is surrounded, sending a message of any sort may easily be intercepted.”
“It is not a taxing journey by foot, Angus. We have travelled farther.” “Aye, but not with a woman in tow.”
“She could stay here.”
“No. Douglas, remember? And I do not trust her to stay out of sight.” “‘Tis a tangle to be sure.”
Angus needed to take it one piece at a time. The one thing he could do immediately was to get his father safely away. A small party would be less likely detected.
“We must get Robert and Neville to accompany my father to Iona. At least then he will be safe. As for Annabella, I will speak with her. It is not likely she will like my decision, but unfortunately the choice is hers no longer.”
Angus hated even thinking like that. He did not want to dictate to her, he wanted to engage with her and probe her thoughts for a solution. One thing was for certain, the longer she remained unattached, the more danger she was in. Angus needed to find a priest, and they needed to marry immediately.
“What will you do?”
“She and I will marry as soon as I can find a priest.”
A slow grin spread across Graham’s face. “Do you think she will agree?”
“She has no choice. The king insisted upon this match, and though she is not happy at the moment, I believe in time she will see the grander scheme at play here. I expect Douglas here at any moment, and MacKenzie awaits me at my home. I have little at my disposal to protect her, but my name will carry much weight, and a married woman is much less appealing to a man like Douglas—or anyone else who wishes to tie my balls in a knot—than an unwed maiden.”
Graham’s smile did little to lighten Angus’s mood. “Very well. I will find a priest and prepare your father for his journey. With any luck, the ceremony can happen before your father sets sail.”
“Aye, I would prefer that, but am not willing to endanger him any further.” Graham headed off toward the chapel, which was further into the village, while
