Part 48 (2/2)

”It doesn't matter that he's laird,” Brod.i.c.k interjected. ”Franklen kept Marrian and he isn't laird. Robert kept Meagan,” he added with a shrug.

”I kept Isabelle,” Winslow added.

”It's our way, la.s.s,” Gowrie explained.

”You didn't just keep Isabelle,” Brod.i.c.k told his brother, determined to set that misconception straight. ”You asked for her. There's a difference.”

”I would have taken her if her father had been difficult,” Winslow argued.

Judith couldn't believe what she was hearing. They had all gone daft. She pulled her hands away from Iain's grasp and took a step back, away from this madness. She stepped on Graham's foot. She turned around to give him her apology.

”I'm sorry, Graham. I didn't mean to step on-He can't just keep me, can he?”

Graham nodded. ”Gowrie was right when he told you it's our way,” he explained. ”Of course, you're going to have to agree.”

His voice was filled with sympathy. Iain had given the pretty woman quite a startle. She seemed to be a little overwhelmed, but certainly thrilled with this announcement. It was the highest of honors to be chosen as wife of the laird. Aye, she was so pleased, she couldn't seem to form a coherent word of appreciation, he supposed.

Graham supposed wrong. In the s.p.a.ce of a minute or two, Judith recovered. Then she shook her head. She might have been able to control her anger if Iain's supporters hadn't all nodded at her again.

G.o.d's truth, she wanted to kick every one of them. She'd have to quit sputtering first. She took a deep breath in an effort to gain control, then said in a hoa.r.s.e voice, ”Iain, might I have a word in private with you?”

”There really isn't time for chitchat now, la.s.s,” Father Laggan called out. ”Merlin won't keep.”

”Merlin?” she asked in confusion.

”He's a Dunbar,” Graham explained. With a smile he added, ”He's in need of a priest.”

Judith turned to look at Father Laggan. ”Then you must go to him,” she said. ”Is he dying?”

The priest shook his head. ”He's dead, Judith. His family's waiting on me to bury him. It's the heat, you see. Merlin isn't going to keep much longer.”

”Aye, he's got to get him in the ground,” Brod.i.c.k explained. ”He'll marry you first. The Maitlands come before the Dunbars.”

”Merlin won't keep?” Judith repeated the priest's explanation and put her hand to her forehead.

”The heat,” Brod.i.c.k reminded her.

She started trembling. Iain took mercy on her. It had taken him days of hard thought before he'd come to the conclusion that he couldn't let Judith leave. He realized now he probably should have given her more time to think about his proposal.

Unfortunately, there wasn't any time left to consider all the reasons. After talking to Patrick and confirming his own suspicions, he knew he had to marry Judith as soon as possible. He wasn't about to take the chance that someone else might find out about her father. No, he had to marry her now. It was the only way he could protect her from the b.a.s.t.a.r.d Macleans.

He took hold of her hand and led her over to the corner of the hall. She stumbled and he ended up half dragging her. She stood with her back against the wall. He stood in front of her, effectively blocking her view of the rest of the room.

He nudged her chin up so she would look at him. ”I want you to marry me.”

”No.”

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