Her mouth parted at his admission.“So what then? Will King Edward require more of you if my father and Frostecontinue with their plot?”
“Aye. Edward will require my men tofight to bring down yer father if it comes to that.”
She sucked her bottom lip betweenher teeth. “I was afraid of something like that.” He expected her to weep atthe unfairness of it all; instead, she drew herself up and unwrapped her armsfrom around her waist. “I’ll marry you on one condition.”
He refrained from pointing out thatshe was in no position to have conditions. It was kinder to let her state them.“What is it?” he asked, motioning for her to follow him. He led her to Rory Macand Neil, and the men fell into step behind him as the four of them moved downthe street toward the horses.
“We must rescue Angus from myfather,” she finally said.
“I would never leave a man of minebehind, Marion,” he said, irritated that she’d think he might.
She set her hands on her hips.“What about a woman of yours?”
“It depends on the woman,” hereplied, just to see what Marion looked like when outraged. And he wasn’tdisappointed. Her eyes glittered in the moonlit night, and her full lips partedas she huffed in a breath that made her chest rise enticingly. Suddenly, all hecould think of was what she might be like to join with. Guilt shoved at him,but he shoved back. Lust was not love.
Marion pursed her lips. “Angus is agood man.”
“Of course he is. He’s a MacLeod,”Iain boasted, “and I’ll nae leave him to the likes of yer father. I went to yerhome to get ye, and yer father was set to beat him for accidentally starting afire.”
“What?” she gasped and grabbedIain’s hand. “We must make haste! When my father gets in a temper, he canbecome excessive with his violence.”
Iain had a sudden sneaking suspicion.“Did he ever do that with ye?” he asked casually.
“Sometimes,” she said with a shrugthat belied the hurt that crossed her face. She lowered her head as they rushedon, and fierce anger burned a hole in Iain’s gut. Death was too good for a manwho would beat his daughter. But Iain would not kill de Lacy unless to defendhimself or Marion. The king had commanded as much, and Iain would not riskhindering David’s release.
After he secured the weapons ontohis horse and then untethered Olaf, Iain helped Marion onto his mount. He swunginto the saddle behind her and pulled her between his thighs and against hischest to protect her. She started to wiggle her very soft bottom, but he put astaying hand on her hip. “Dunnae do that,” he demanded through clenched teeth.Lust had taken hold of him, and riding would be painful if he did not gaincontrol.
She stilled immediately. “Pleasehurry. I must save Angus.”
He was glad the Sassenach wasfacing forward and could not see him gaping at her.She must save Angus?Her loyalty to Angus pleased him, as did her courage, but God’s truth such courageconcerned him, as well. If she was too courageous, she was more likely to dosomething foolish and get herself killed.
“I’ll rescue Angus and ye’ll remainwith Rory Mac and Neil,” Iain said, clicking his tongue to get Olaf to go onceRory Mac and Neil had settled on Rory Mac’s horse. They moved down the streettoward the gate that would lead them out of Newcastle and back to Marion’shome.
As they rode toward the same gatethrough which they’d entered earlier, Iain turned to Neil to ask him of Angus,but Neil was slumped forward in the saddle with Rory Mac holding the man aroundhis waist to keep him upright. Iain had a vague memory of hearing somethingabout Angus, but the recollections were not clear.
He stared at Marion for a momentbefore speaking. “Why did Angus come to England to work for yer father?”
She turned her head slightly,presenting him with her perfect profile. Her nose wrinkled and then smoothed.“He came with my mother when she was forced to marry my father. Angus felt heowed her a debt. He was to come to Scotland soon after I departed, yet he hadto wait a short while to avoid my father becoming suspicious.”
He glanced at Rory Mac to see if heknew of Angus’s past, but Rory Mac shook his head. “I dunnae ken much aboutAngus MacLeod. Neil never speaks of him, but I do remember my father talkingyears ago about his friend Angus leaving Scotland for England.”
They rode in silence for a fewminutes, but when the iron gates of Newcastle came into view, Marion spoke.“When we get to my father’s home, you must let me go into the castle to saveAngus. I am afraid Father will try to kill you and make it seem an accident.He’ll not want me dead, at least not until he has his knights.”
Iain gaped at Marion and noticedRory Mac was doing the same thing. Rory Mac shook his head, a bewilderedexpression on his face. Iain scowled at the top of Marion’s head. She needed tounderstand a few things. “Ye offend me by implying I kinnae keep myself and yesafe.” He slid an arm around her stomach and tightened his hold as they nearedthe gate. If there was to be trouble, he wanted to have a firm grip on her ifhe needed to gallop away.
She stiffened under his touch. “Youimplied I couldn’t defend myself by commanding me to remain behind when we getto my father’s!”
He frowned. “Ye’re a woman.” Nomore explanation was needed. “I dunnae ken how it was before, but now, ye’lllet me keep ye from danger. Ye will do as I say.”
“Are you always this arrogant?” shedemanded, trying to scoot forward on the horse.
Iain pulled her back to him andgrinned. “Aye. It’s good of ye to praise me so.”
“That was not praise,” shegrumbled. “I fear we will not fare well at all.”
He chuckled. “As long as ye obey mewe’ll fare nicely.”
He didn’t hear her response, havingshifted his attention to the guards, but whatever she was saying, her tone wassullen and it made him want to laugh again. Taming the Sassenach was going tobe fun, and it had been a long time since he’d had any fun.
