Her eyes widened as dread settledin the pit of her stomach. “What? Why?” The sudden fear she felt was unreasonable.She knew he didn’t mean she was really going to die, but her palms weresweating and her lungs had tightened all the same. She sucked in air and wipedher damp hands down the length of her cotton skirts. Suddenly, the idea ofgoing to a foreign land and living with her mother’s clan, people she’d nevermet, made her apprehensive.
She didn’t even know if theMacDonalds—her uncle, in particular, who was now the laird—would accept her ornot. She was half-English, after all, and Angus had told her that when a Scotconsidered her English bloodline and the fact that she’d been raised there,they would most likely brand her fully English, which was not a good thing in aScottish mind. And if her uncle was anything like her grandfather had been, theman was not going to be very reasonable. But she didn’t have any other familyto turn to who would dare defy her father, and Angus hadn’t offered for her togo to his clan, so she’d not asked. He likely didn’t want to bring trouble tohis clan’s doorstep, and she didn’t blame him.
Panic bubbled inside her. Sheneeded more time, even if it was only the day she’d thought she had, to gatherher courage.
“Why must I flee tonight? I was toteach Eustice how to dress a wound. She might serve as a maid, but then shewill be able to help the knights when I’m gone. And her little brother,Bernard, needs a few more lessons before he’s mastered writing his name andreading. And Eustice’s youngest sister has begged me to speak to Father aboutallowing her to visit her mother next week.”
“Ye kinnae watch out for everyonehere anymore, Marion.”
She placed her hand over his on hershoulder. “Neither can you.”
Their gazes locked in understandingand disagreement.
He slipped his hand from hershoulder, and then crossed his arms over his chest in a gesture that screamed stubborn,unyielding protector. “If I leave at the same time ye feign yer death,” hesaid, changing the subject, “it could stir yer father’s suspicion and make himask questions when none need te be asked. I’ll be going home te Scotland soonafter ye.” Angus reached into a satchel attached to his horse and pulled out adagger, which he slipped to her. “I had this made for ye.”
Marion took the weapon and turnedit over, her heart pounding. “It’s beautiful.” She held it by its black handlewhile withdrawing it from the sheath and examining it. “It’s much sharper thanthe one I have.”
“Aye,” he said grimly. “It is.Dunnae forget that just because I taught ye te wield a dagger does nae mean yecan defend yerself fromallharm. Listen te my cousin and do as he says.Follow his lead.”
She gave a tight nod. “I will. Butwhy must I leave now and not tomorrow?”
Concern filled Angus’s eyes.“Because I ran into Froste’s brother in town and he told me that Froste sentword that he would be arriving in two days.”
Marion gasped. “That’s earlier thanexpected.”
“Aye,” Angus said and took her armwith gentle authority. “So ye must go now. I’d rather be trying te trick onlyyer father than yer father, Froste, and his savage knights. I want ye long goneand yer death accepted when Froste arrives.”
She shivered as her mind began torace with all that could go wrong.
“I see the worry darkening yergreen eyes,” Angus said, interrupting her thoughts. He whipped off his hat andhis hair, still shockingly red in spite of his years, fell down around hisshoulders. He only ever wore it that way when he was riding. He said the windin his hair reminded him of riding his own horse when he was in Scotland. “Iwas going to talk to ye tonight, but now that I kinnae…” He shifted from footto foot, as if uncomfortable. “I want te offer ye something. I’d have proposedit sooner, but I did nae want ye te feel ye had te take my offer so as nae tehurt me, but I kinnae hold my tongue, even so.”
She furrowed her brow. “What isit?”
“I’d be proud if ye wanted te staywith the MacLeod clan instead of going te the MacDonalds. Then ye’d nae have teleave everyone ye ken behind. Ye’d have me.”
A surge of relief filled her. Shethrew her arms around Angus, and he returned her hug quick and hard beforesetting her away. Her eyes misted at once. “I had hoped you would ask me,” sheadmitted.
For a moment, he looked astonished,but then he spoke. “Yer mother risked her life te come into MacLeod territoryat a time when we were fighting terrible with the MacDonalds, as ye well ken.”
Marion nodded. She knew the storyof how Angus had ended up here. He’d told her many times. Her mother had beensomewhat of a renowned healer from a young age, and when Angus’s wife had ahard birthing, her mother had gone to help. The knowledge that his wife andchild had died anyway still made Marion want to cry.
“I pledged my life te keep yermother safe for the kindness she’d done me, which brought me here, but, lass,long ago ye became like a daughter te me, and I pledge the rest of my miserablelife te defending ye.”
She gripped Angus’s hand. “I wishyou were my father.”
He gave her a proud yet smug look,one she was used to seeing. She chortled to herself. The man did have aterrible streak of pride. She’d have to give Father John another coin forpenance for Angus, since the Scot refused to take up the custom himself.
Angus hooked his thumb in his graytunic. “Ye’ll make a fine MacLeod because ye already ken we’re the best clan inScotland.”
Mentally, she added another coin toher dues. “Do you think they’ll let me become a MacLeod, though, since mymother was the daughter of the previous MacDonald laird and I’ve an Englishfather?”
“They will,” he answered withouthesitation, but she heard the slight catch in his voice.
“Angus.” She narrowed her eyes.“You said you would never lie to me.”
His brows dipped together, and hegave her a long, disgruntled look. “They may be a bit wary,” he finallyadmitted. “But I’ll nae let them turn ye away. Dunnae worry,” he finished, hisScottish brogue becoming thick with emotion.
She bit her lip. “Yes, but youwon’t be with me when I first get there. What should I do to make certain thatthey will let me stay?”
