He slung his arm over her shoulderwithout releasing his hold on the priest. “Aye, Marion,” he said gently. “Hereand now. It is for yer protection. If I were to be killed, my clan would comefor ye as my widow. They would defend ye with their life.”
She heaved in a breath, as if toargue, but Angus stood and spoke. “He’s right, Marion. I ken ye had otherideas—”
“What ideas?” Iain demanded.
She looked up at him, her cheeksturning scarlet. “It’s nothing,” she mumbled.
He released the priest with awarning glare and moved her far enough away that they would have privacy. “Tellme,” he said. He didn’t want to enter into the marriage with secrets betweenthem.
She sighed, her face turning redderthan he would have thought possible. “I wished to marry for love,” shewhispered and cast her eyes downward.
He felt as if he had suddenly beenrobbed of his ability to breathe. His lungs tightened.Love.He had nouse for the emotion or the word. It pained him to know what he was about to saywould hurt her, but he wanted to be certain she understood. “I want no part oflove.”
She quickly glanced back up at him,her gaze locking with his, and her lips parted slightly. “You cannot meanthat.”
The misery that still haunted himfrom losing Catriona weighed especially heavy in this moment when faced withthe stark truth that he was marrying yet again. “I do mean it, Marion, and I’msorry. I have been married before. I loved my wife, and when she died, so didmy desire and my ability to love that way again.”
It was as if a light went out inher shining green eyes. She stared at him for a moment before inhaling a raggedbreath and forcing a sad smile. “I see.” Her voice trembled, and he was afraidshe would cry and hated himself for being the cause of it once more.
He grasped her hand. “I will be agood husband. I’ll keep ye safe and treat ye kind. I’ll give ye everything thatis mine.”
Her sad smile turned brittle. “Justnever your heart.” Sorrow encumbered her words.
“Nay,” he agreed, feeling more likea clot-heid with every word. But he could not change how he felt. “Nae myheart.”
She slipped her hand from his.“Thank you for your honesty. I suppose we better hurry and marry.” She shiftedher face away, but not before he saw her lower lip tremble.
He cursed his own miserable self,but with nothing left to say, he turned to the priest and Angus, who glared athim but said nothing. “Get on with it, Father,” Iain said.
The priest paled. “But Baron deLacy—”
“Is planning to defy his king’sorders that Marion marry me.” Iain pulled out the scroll, but since it was sosoaked it was no longer legible. He threw the useless thing to the ground.“That was the decree, but it’s ruined. Marion has seen it.”
Marion nodded. “King Edwardcommanded it, Father John. You know I’d not lie to you.”
“I know, Lady Marion,” the priestquickly replied. Beads of sweat appeared on his forehead. “Let me see… Where tostart…”
“Isn’t the usual place the homilyon the sacrament of marriage, Father John?” Marion offered.
Iain glanced at her. She had themost innocent expression on her face yet she had drawn up to her full height,which brought the top of her head to Iain’s shoulder. The woman was slight inbody, but in spirit she was a giant. She had stored away the hurt he’d justcaused her and was gallantly facing her future. Pride swelled dangerouslywithin his chest.
The priest nodded as he withdrew awhite cloth from his robes and dabbed at his forehead. “Your full name?” heasked Iain.
“Iain MacLeod,” he replied. “AndAngus MacLeod will be the witness,” he added in an effort to hurry the priest.
Father John frowned at Iain before lookingto Angus. “Angus, are you a willing witness, or do you fear the MacLeod willkill you if you decline?”
“Father,” Marion chided. “That wasnot very fair. Iain would never kill a man for such a thing. He has assured mehe only kills those who try to kill him first.”
Iain laughed at the priest’ssuddenly pale face and Marion’s attempt to defend him. He was pleased she wasshowing such faith in him and such understanding already. “Go on, priest,” Iaincommanded. “We must escape this place presently.”
Angus came to Marion’s other side.“Father, I willingly witness for Marion.” She quickly hugged Angus, who pattedher back.
Father John nodded and rushedthrough the rest of the ceremony, sighing when it was over. Iain glanced at thepriest, deciding what should be done. “Ye better come with us,” he said. “Baronde Lacy will likely kill ye when he learns that ye married us.”
Marion nodded. “Yes, Father John,you must come.”
“No,” the priest said stubbornly,surprising Iain—and Marion, as well, by the way her jaw dropped open. “I sworelong ago to save your father’s soul, my dear, and I’ll not abandon my sacredvow, even if it means my own death because he’s angry that I married you.”
