“Aye, that is true, and in part why I am relieved. I would protect you, Lady Elspeth, but I didn’t say it was a perfect situation. At the very least your brother could not exploit you and you would have no chance to stow away in anyone’s ship.”
She could see his reasoning from his point of view and in his mind he was offering her a kindness. But there would absolutely be no life for her with him. She would be back to stitching pillows and boring conversation.
“I assume you had at least approached my brother?”
“I did and he laughed at me.” He looked like he was about to vomit.
Elspeth tilted her head back and laughed. “Malcolm my friend, you are free and clear of saving me from harm.”
“But what will you do?”
“Let us go inside and I will explain why I am in no danger anymore from my brother.”
He nodded and offered his arm which she accepted. Bless him for offering to help her even though he obviously had his own trepidations around the match. Nay, he had not done anything that would result in her opinion of his honour being swayed in her mind. It was a comfort to know she had people around her who cared for her wellbeing and would sacrifice to keep her safe.
When they entered the hall she could feel the tension from Magnus. She’d only been out of his presence for an hour, but she could sense his unease. Had Osgar told him why Malcolm had come to visit? She smiled at him to try to ease the frown on his handsome face.
“Magnus, I would like to introduce you to an old family friend, Malcolm, this is Magnus of Islay. He is the reason I no longer need protection.”
“You are wed then?” Malcolm asked as he moved toward Magnus and offered his hand.
Magnus looked at the man and his hand and at Elspeth. His raised eyebrows were almost comical. “We are not yet wed,” she said.
Magnus locked gazes with her as he shook Malcolm’s hand. He brushed past the man and stood in front of her.
“Can I speak with you for a moment?”
“Aye,” she said.
They walked out to the gardens and chose a bench near the small stone birdbath.
“That man asked you to marry him.”
“He did.”
“And you said no.”
“I did.”
“Good. There will be no other men asking for you.”
“There won’t?”
“You will be mine and mine alone.”
Elspeth couldn’t help but grin at him. She loved how possessive he was at the moment and recalled a similar feeling when they’d first met. The feast on Islay seemed like an age ago though in reality it was only a few days.
“And you will be mine and mine alone,” she said and placed her hands on her hips as if to enforce her point.
“Are we arguing and saying the same thing?” he asked, the tension slowly releasing from his body.
“I believe we are. I suppose if you are claiming me, we should go speak to my brother.”
“There is no need as I have already done so.”
“Before you even asked me?” Her voice was teasing and she loved it when he grabbed her around the waist and drew her in for a soul stirring kiss.
“You have already given yourself to me, many, many times. It is the rest of the world that will have to catch up to what we have already discovered. And I will hide my love for you no longer. Whatever you have to do to make arrangements, do them. I will sleep with my wife tonight.”
