“Let us just say we disagree in principle on the exact boundary of our lands. Ronan appears to have become greedy of late.”
“I do not wish to become entangled in a squabble with either of you over land, but I will help you both keep Muren out of the Douglas’s clutches.”
“I thank you for that, MacDonald. I will take all the aid I can acquire. She has a soft heart and would not last a day at Bothwell Castle.”
“Understood. But you waste precious time here. Why are you not having this conversation with Sutherland?”
“I received a message from Muren. She was frantic, and said Ronan had locked her in her room. It appears she threatened to come to me, but he would not allow it.”
“Do you suppose he is willing to go ahead with the arrangement?”
“She did not say, but she was distraught. Said she would rather die than be married to another man.”
Angus shook his head. “I still do not understand why you are here and not there?”
“Because I do not have the men to challenge Ronan, especially since he can call upon MacKay to add to his army.”
“So you supposed coming here would do what?”
Ronan stood. “I do not know. I am furious, and I supposed retaliating against you would make me feel like I was doing something useful.”
Angus grinned. He had experienced his own share of frustration and ill-intentioned plans in the last couple of years. He could not very well condemn Rorie for making the same sort of mistakes he had made himself. Then again, had he not made the most recent one, he would have never met Annabella.
He turned to the wall. “Annabella, will you join us, please?”
Rorie turned to the wall and drew his brows in tight. “Have you gone mad in the head?”
This time Angus laughed. “No, my wife has been hiding in there, though I am not certain how, since she was left secured in my chamber.”
Moments later, Annabella emerged from behind a tapestry and raced to his side. Her arms encircled his waist and she clung to him. “I feared for you,” she whispered.
Angus leaned down and kissed her. “I am unharmed, you need never fear for me,” he said in a low voice, meant only for her.
He then looked up at Rorie. “Would you subject this woman to the Douglas any more than you would your Muren?”
The man’s face reddened. Angus was not sure if it was from anger or shame. “I thank you for your friendship, MacDonald. I will send word when I need your assistance.” With that, he left the great hall, taking his men with him. Angus turned to Annabella. “Why did you leave the chamber?”
“Rhona came to find me and bring me here. She had seen the MacKenzies surround you and take you. She did not feel I was safe in your chamber.”
Angus looked over Annabella’s shoulder to where Rhona stood by the tapestry, gazing at Graham. Angus turned to where Graham stood, and realized two things: Rhona’s attention was finally averted from him to another; and Graham was oblivious to the woman’s affection. Angus smiled, relieved that he no longer had to worry about the lass.
“Will MacKenzie be able to save his woman from Douglas?” Annabella asked.
Angus did not know, but he would stay true to his word and give the man any support he could. “I do not know, but one thing is for certain.”
“And what is that?” she asked, looking up with concern in her eyes.
“We have been married for almost a whole day, and I have not yet made love to my wife.” Angus searched her face for a sign of approval.
She gave it by rising on her toes and kissing his lips. He would not rush her or their time together, rather he would savour every second of their first joining.
“I believe you promised me a wedding feast first,” she said.
His heart sank just a little. The feast would take a day or two to prepare, and could then go on for days more. Could he wait that long?
“Do you wish to wait until the feast?”
She pulled his head down so that she could whisper in his ear. “I want a large feast with all your clansmen in attendance, so we can celebrate with them,” she said. “But what I want more than that at this very moment, is to be with my husband.”
