“Cameron, I-I don’t understand,” she admitted, feeling breathless when he raised his head to stare at her again. “Three days?”
“Aye, Aislinn… for he knew where I’d find you because of our English prisoner. We told the king about what happened on the way tae Dumbarton, remember? When we went tae ask him if he would allow you tae accompany me tae the MacGodfrey stronghold?”
She sucked in her breath, nodding and feeling so foolish for having forgotten they had bared so much to the king. Mayhap her memory had suffered because of her injury; either that or she had been so preoccupied with thinking about Cameron. Heaven help them, they weren’t safe here after all!
“Dinna fear, love. I’m certain King Robert has said nothing about our whereabouts tae Lord Butler, and that English soldier is locked away deep in the castle dungeon. The king gave us three precious days so I could find you and claim you as my bride—och, God only knows what will come after, but for now, we must find a priest.”
She shivered at the huskiness in Cameron’s voice and the stirring import behind his words. Yet a cold chill suddenly struck her at the thought of what Lord Butler had vowed while Sister Agnes and the two other nuns had looked on with dismay…
“Aislinn?”
She had grown stiff in Cameron’s arms, shaking her head. “He’ll not rest… Aengus. He told me that he would have me forhisbride whether you had lain with me or not—so our marriage will not dissuade him! If he doesna go so far as to try and kill you, he’ll demand an annulment—
ah, Cameron! What are we to do?”
Tears welling in her eyes, she didn’t feel strong and courageous at all, but on the precipice of losing the man she loved!
“Look at me.”
She did, trembling as Cameron lifted her chin, his gaze intense upon her.
“We’re not tae fear what may come tomorrow. I would never have gone into battle if I’d allowed such thoughts tae plague me… and we’re in a battle now.No oneis going tae take you from me… the woman I love. Say you believe me, Aislinn.”
“Aye, I believe you.”
“We’re going tae fight whatever comes… you and I… side by side. Have you ever imagined a more fearsome pair? You… like a Norse shield-maiden, a valiant woman warrior, aye, that’s what you appeared tae me the day you stole my sword.”
“And you?”
“Your husband and protector… proud and grateful tae stand beside you. Rest will come later, Aislinn. For now, let’s find ourselves a priest.”
Chapter 19
“Ifear for my brother, Gabriel. He’s not thinking like a warrior, but a besotted fool! If Cameron lays claim tae Aislinn and defies King Robert, he’ll lose everything. I tried tae tell him…” Conall fell silent as his former commander and longtime friend seemed to ponder his words while Magdalene stood beside him, clasping his hand.
The tawny-haired beauty, as petite as Gabriel was tall, appeared thoughtful, too, and glanced from her husband to Conall.
“He must love her very much tae risk all that he’s gained. I will pray that we’ll have a chance tae meet Aislinn soon.”
Meet her? Was Gabriel’s new wife as blind as his brother to the consequences of disobeying their king? Certain now that his headlong ride to MacLachlan Castle had been for naught, Conall sighed heavily and looked down at his dusty boots.
He felt beaten and disheartened—as much that Cameron wasn’t thinking at all rationally as that the two of them had exchanged heated words.
Well, it had been Cameron, actually, to flail Conall up and down for his dalliances with women—yet he had never heard a complaint from one of them!
Aye, mayhap some of them had broached the possibility of marriage with a satiated whisper here and a fluttering of eyelashes there, but that had always been his cue to hastily retreat by whatever means offered the least resistance. Now that he thought of it, there had been one or two that had blocked a doorway to keep him from leaving and he’d had to climb out a window—
“You find some humor in your brother’s predicament?”
Conall sobered at once and met Gabriel’s eyes. “Not at all. We had strong words before he left the fortress… quite disagreeable, really, though it led me just now tae think of something else—och, forgive me. What do you suggest we do? Wait here for word that Cameron has been thrown into the dungeon at Dumbarton Castle? If that happens, the king might appoint a new baron tae take his place, mayhap even myself, and then Clan Campbell will be coming aftermetae take a bride—by God, man, think of something!”
Now it was Gabriel that laughed, Magdalene smiling, too—for surely she knew as much as her husband that marrying anyone was the last thing Conall wanted to do!
Yet they both grew serious again; Cameron riding out into the night in desperate hope of finding Aislinn was indeed a weighty matter.
“Gabriel, we must ride straightaway tae Dumbarton and make an appeal tae the king that he allow Cameron and Aislinn tae wed.”
Conall looked with surprise at Magdalene, but she was looking at Gabriel as if the decision had already been settled upon.
