She snorted. “Nae unless ye want tomake yerself seem a fool.”
Laughter erupted from the men,except a scowling Archibald, as Bridgette swept her gaze over Iain’s smallparty. She paused on Marion—who she acknowledged with a raised eyebrow—and thenIain, at whom she batted her eyelashes. “Well, well, if it is nae the MacLeod.Did I nae tell ye the last time I saw ye that one day ye would be begging me tomarry ye. Have ye come to beg, then? I’m afraid the line is long.”
“Aye,” said a man standing directlybehind Marion. “I’m in it.”
“As am I,” another man said.
“Me as well,” replied a third manwhom Marion couldn’t see, nor did she care if she could. The only person whosereaction she cared about was Iain’s. He’d told her he’d not been attracted to awoman since his wife had died, but maybe now that his lust had been awakened,he’d desire many other women. Her stomach twisted. The idea made her feel ill.If Iain was untrue to her, she’d leave, even though she had nowhere to go.She’d figure it out somehow.
A smile tugged at Iain’s lips, andMarion’s heart jerked. Was that a flirtatious smile? He rubbed a hand acrosshis stubble. “I see yer brother has nae made progress taming ye.”
She snickered. “Did ye think hewould?”
“For his sake, I’d hoped. I kenwell what a trouble-seeking sibling is like, as I have three of my own.”
“Since ye mentioned yer siblings…”Bridgette batted her eyes. “How is Lachlan?”
“Still nae the man for ye.”
“Is that because ye want to be theman for me, Iain?” Bridgette stepped very close to Iain and drew her hand downhis chest. Marion stiffened. She really didn’t want to act unladylike in frontof a bunch of strangers, but her temper was rising, which truly was somethingthat did not happen often. She didn’t even really have a temper. Except forwhen she was near Iain.Hebrought it out in her. And nowBridgettedid,too.It must be full-blooded Scottish people in general. Marion quirkedher mouth. But not Angus. He’d lived in England so long he acted more Englishthan Scottish. And not Neil. And really not Rory Mac, either, though he didlike to tease.
Iain moved Bridgette’s hand fromhis chest and finally turned to acknowledge Marion. It was all she could do notto glare at him for ignoring her for so long. “This is my wife.”
Marion stepped forward as Archibaldsaid, “She’s called ‘the MacLeod’s wife.’”
That did it!
“My name is Marion,” she growledthrough gritted teeth.
Iain gave her an amused look, butBridgette’s gaze rounded in surprise before she frowned. “Truly I’m stunned yemarried again, and a Sassenach at that. I dunnae understand men one bit.”
Iain suddenly looked veryuncomfortable. “She’s half-English, half-Scottish. She’s the MacDonald’s niece.And I married to gain David’s freedom.”
His words were like a blow toMarion’s gut. It was one thing for her to know he would never love her, but didhe really need to announce how he felt to everyone? Her cheeks heated withsearing embarrassment.
She straightened her spine, liftedher chin, and caught Bridgette’s eye. “And my only choice was to marry him orbe forced to marry a malicious knight intent on overthrowing my king.”
Out of the corner of her eye, shesaw Iain frown at her, and she heard the men murmuring around her, butBridgette’s hearty laughter and the woman linking her arm through Marion’s,captured her full attention.
“I like her,” Bridgette announcedto all the men standing there looking confounded. Bridgette stared at her. “Ilike ye. And I never like other women. Come, then.”Bridgettetuggedon Marion’s arm. “I’ll get ye a bath drawn and a decent gown for supper.” Thewoman eyed Iain with a smirk. “Is she sharing yer chamber, per yer odd custom,or shall I give her one of her own?”
“Give her a chamber next to mine ifit’s nae too much trouble.”
“It’s nae any trouble, but thecastle is cold and the night will be long,” Bridgette said in a teasing voice.
“I ken,” Iain said dully. His gazeflicked to Marion. “Stay in the chamber until I come to fetch ye for supper.”
She curled her hands into fists.“Stay in the chamber?” she sputtered, disbelieving how he had ordered herso—and in front of others.
“Aye,” he replied.
She opened her mouth to tell himno, but Bridgette gave a sharp shake of her head. Marion frowned. MaybeBridgette knew something Marion did not. She clamped her jaw shut and forced anod asBridgetteguidedher up the stairs.
Marion had never been so humiliatedor felt so unwanted in all her life, and that meant a great deal seeing as howher father had made it perfectly clear that he had only tolerated her becauseof the match she could one day make. As she picked her way carefully up thesteep steps, she thought of all the foul curses she knew her husband deservedto have hurled upon his head, and then she determined how many indulgences sheowed.
She gasped when she realized hertally was ten. She needed more coin and she needed to learn more curses. Theman was a heartless beast who deserved more than ten sinful thoughts, no matterhow poor it made her.
Nine
