“Aye, brother.”
Conall unwound the garment from his waist and left shoulder, his expression grown as somber as Cameron’s. “A fierce storm, indeed, but no more earsplitting than Butler’s howls of protest when Gabriel told the king what we were about. Rory Campbell isna pleased, either, Cameron. He’s here tae demand that you wed one of our clanswomen—aye, it seems Uncle Torence wasna too drunk after all.”
Aislinn glanced up gratefully as Cameron wrapped the breacan around her shoulders, only to see his jaw clenched at this news.
“He overheard us?”
“Aye. He knew you’d rode off and he sent one of his men right after tae Rory. Our chief might have found you, too, if not for the English they came upon and routed. Seems the bastards had been riding through the countryside, stealing women and livestock.”
“So my kinsmen slew the marauders… though not soon enough tae spare the MacLeans, God rest them.”
Aislinn swallowed hard at the dark glance between Cameron and Conall, who clearly grasped the import of his brother’s words and looked sickened.
“The whole family?”
“Their young daughter still lives,” Aislinn interjected sadly as Cameron guided her toward the entrance to the keep, Conall striding alongside them. “We left her at the convent until we return—ah, God, Cameron, wait!”
Heated voices had carried to her, a harsh and furious one rising above the rest, which made her fling her arms around Cameron and hug him tightly.
He hugged her back with the fiercest embrace, though he said nothing, only kissed her brow and then brushed his lips against hers all too briefly.
He looked fearsome, resolute, his mind already fixed upon what lay ahead. Aislinn felt her heart rush to her throat when he released her to grip the hilt of his sword with one hand and her trembling fingers with the other—aye, she was shaking.
“Come.”
She did, Conall gripping his sword, too. He moved ahead of them as if by some unspoken agreement with Cameron… and turned first into the great hall.
“My lord king! My brother Laird Cameron Campbell and his wedded wife, Aislinn Campbell!”
Conall’s ringing announcement both bold and triumphant, Aislinn drew in her breath as the clamor of voices came to an immediate—and stunned—halt.
Everyone looking at them… aye, King Robert, who stood on a dais next to his throne with guards not far from him.
The strapping dark-haired warrior Aislinn judged to be Gabriel MacLachlan, whose hand went at once to his sword as he drew his beautiful wife against him.
Magdalene’s eyes wide with astonishment… and then she lifted her chin and smiled at Aislinn as if ecstatic.
Another warrior neither as tall nor as broad-shouldered as Cameron and Conall, though he bore the same midnight hair and formidable demeanor—aye, Rory, the chieftain of Clan Campbell, who didn’t look pleased at all.
Somehow Aislinn lifted her chin, too, as Aengus Butler’s enraged curse seemed to shake the rafters… while her brother, Daran, standing next to the man, flinched and seemed to cower.
“Come closer!”
King Robert’s raised voice as ringing as Conall’s, Aislinn doubted she would have moved if not for Cameron’s hand drawing her forward.
“Consummated?” the king queried bluntly, stepping down from the dais to stride toward them.
“Aye, my lord king.” Cameron’s reply as blunt, he nonetheless squeezed Aislinn’s fingers as if to reassure her. “We married in a village church two hours’ ride north with a priest presiding and another cleric as witness—our names written in the parish register. We spent our wedding night at an inn there—”
“I care not if you plowed her in the road!” Aengus Butler spat out, his hand clenching the hilt of his sword. “I demand an annulment at once!”
“Youdemand?” King Robert rounded on him, and gestured for several stoic-faced guards to flank the Irishman, Daran shrinking back behind him. “You forget yourself, Lord Butler. This is my dominion—and I say that congratulations,notcensure, are in order.”
“Congratulations?” Aengus countered, clearly not intimidated at all by the king. “You contrived for this to happen… refusing first to grant your consent for my men and me to ride north in search of the wench—”
“Mywife,” Cameron cut in harshly, while Aislinn winced now at how tightly he gripped her hand as if Aengus might attempt to wrench her from him. “Enough, Butler! The marriage is done and not tae be undone by you! It’s time for you tae board your ship and return tae Éire and plague us no more!What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder—”
“Bastard! You dare to quote Holy Scripture to me when you’ve stolen my bride?” Aengus’s face florid with fury, spittle foaming at the corners of his mouth, he drew his sword only to have two guards grab his arms, the weapon clattering to the floor.
