Ann Carr by Loyal Warrior Read Free Book Online Page B

girl’s hand while mumbling “come my lady”, before he hurriedly and thankfully drew her through the small hip high gate and onto the sacred ground of his church, where he exhaled a sigh of thanks for making it this far.
    Elizabeth peered down at the little man beside her, who was still tightly clutching her hand. For the first time that morning the mists cleared and she was able to experience some unexpected humour. With the smile still shadowed upon her lips she lifted her head to find herself blinded by an enormously broad chest. The lingering smile completely vanished, but not before it was witnessed by the gathered men, who were themselves all concealing their own smiles at the little man.
    Curiosity urged her to crane her neck back some more, her gaze coming to a halt on the most breathtaking face her eyes had ever fallen upon.
    At the sight of this wide eyed girl staring up at him, Duncan was overcome by unexpected feelings of protectiveness.  Perhaps this situation was going to have a few positives after all he thought!
    About to introduce himself, Duncan began to raise his arm, only to be beaten by Malcolm moving forward holding out his own hand. “My name’s Malcolm, my lady, and may I say how disappointed I am that this uncouth heathen beside me is going to have the pleasure of becoming yer husband” he slapped Duncan on the back to emphasize his point, “and not me!” Malcolm was pleased with himself with the small smile he noticed touching her lips. He was beginning to have faith that his friend was going to be blessed with a happier marriage than his last.
    At the sound of weapons being set down the smile quickly vanished. Elizabeth swung around to watch as her brothers one by one walked through the quaint little gate. “Well father. Get on with it!” Henry bellowed bad naturedly, “we don’t have all day for this!”
    Father Archer physically jumped back and quickly taking Elizabeth’s hand for a second time, dragged her behind him into the small stone building, hesitantly calling out behind him, “follow me if you will!”
    The building was made up of one room and was built out of dark grey stone, there were no windows, and the only item in the room was a small alter at the back, made from the same stone as the rest of the building. 
    Father Archer dropped Elizabeth’s hand and hastily set about lighting some candles to chase away the darkness with some light, but as soon as the men stepped into the building behind her Elizabeth felt it shrink, as though the breath had been sucked out of it.  Determined not to turn around Elizabeth set about following father Archer, she exchanged a nonsense conversation with him; valiantly trying to keep her mind off what she knew was to come. So focused on this goal was she that she missing the silent exchanges made by the men who had just walked in. All joviality was now gone, instead there stood ten men, who at the smallest excuse would delight in extinguishing the lives of the others.
    “So Duncan, it appears we are to be brothers here today!” Henry goaded.
    “Apparently so! But we’ll be brothers in name only, I’ll do you no favours, offer you no protection.” Duncan vowed quietly, without any inflection in his voice.
    Nonplussed Henry stepped forward, attempting to intimidate his opponent, “do you believe you’ll have a happy life if my sister discovers you’ve hurt her family?”
    Matching Henry’s step forward, Duncan uttered, “and what do you think is stopping me from hurting your sister?” Henry’s eyes gleamed with new found respect for his enemy; for he would do the same if the circumstances had been reversed.
    At the clash of a candle stick dropping to the stone floor the men’s attention was drawn away from themselves. Duncan cursed silently to himself at the look of terror the girl was sending his way. He hadn’t intended for her to hear that! Hadn’t actually meant to say it, but there was no time to explain that