The Border Lord's Bride by Bertrice Small Read Free Book Online

to this recitation with horror. "If I could kill you I would," she said softly. "No one could love a murderer such as you."
    "Ye dinna hae to love me, Ellen MacArthur. As my wife ye legitimize my claim to these
    MacArthur lands, and our children will carry the blood of Ewan MacArthur. What hae happened here today will eventually be forgotten. The MacArthur clansmen of Lochearn will be more content knowing a MacArthur still leads them, and nae a MacNab. But I am a fair man. We will postpone the wedding. First ye will bury old Ewan and Donald. Then ye will hae a month in which to grieve. But ye‘ll wed me before the solstice, my hinny, and by this time next year ye‘ll hae my son suckling at yer tit."
    "I will never wed you," Ellen said implacably.
    Balgair MacArthur laughed. "Aye, ye will," he said. Then he turned to Duncan Armstrong. "‘Tis nae yet noon, my lord. Ye and yer men are free to go."
    "Will you give me your word before God, and in the presence of this priest," Duncan said, motioning to Father Birk, "that you will give the lady Ellen her month to mourn? And will you give me your word that my men and I may depart in peace, and not be followed with murder in mind? I have done what I was requested to do by my friend the king. I have returned Ellen MacArthur to Lochearn. I will inform him so when I return to court. I am expected to return." He smiled coldly.
    "I hae no quarrel wi‘ ye, Armstrong, and I dinna want the king coming to look for a missing friend here. Are ye truly his friend?"
    The laird nodded. "I was with him on many occasions before he took his throne, and I fought by his side at Sauchieburn."
    Balgair MacArthur nodded. "The MacDonald told me to do what I must to gain Lochearn and the lady Ellen, but he would punish my family severely if I brought the king north and down on his head. Go! I gie ye my word no harm will befall ye."
    "And your word regarding the lady Ellen too," the laird pressed.
    Balgair laughed. "Aye, I swear before God that I shall nae harm ye or yers, and that I shall gie Ellen MacArthur a full month to mourn her family before I wed her."
    "Father?" the laird said quietly.
    "Aye, I have heard and accepted his oath," the priest replied.
    The laird of Duffdour turned to Ellen. "Lady, I have done what scant little I could to protect you.
    God comfort you in your mourning." He bowed politely. Then he turned again to face Balgair MacArthur, giving him a scant bow, but saying nothing more.
    "With your permission," Ellen said, looking at the man she now considered her enemy, "I will escort our guest from the hall."
    "Go," he said with a wave of his hand, pleased by what he considered her public show of respect toward him. Like all women, he decided, she could be brought around.
    As they exited the hall the laird looked quickly around to see if there was anyone to hear him.
    There was no one. "I will tell the king of what has happened here today," he said. "Try to hold your kinsman off as long as possible. I will attempt to convince the king to interfere in this matter. But if you cannot prevent this marriage, and there comes a time that you need my help, you have but to send to me, Ellen MacArthur. I am sorry there is naught I can do this day to aid you. My men and I will ride as quickly as we can, for I do not trust Balgair MacArthur‘s promise to let us go freely. Keep him with you as long as you can to prevent him from giving the order to follow after us. If he has not already done so." Duncan caught Ellen‘s hand up in his and kissed it. It was such a small hand, he thought. What could such a dainty lass do to prevent a man like Balgair MacArthur from having his way?
    "I understand your position, Duncan Armstrong. Thank you for all you have done—have tried to do for me. God keep you safe, my lord," Ellen said, feeling the warmth in her cheeks when his lips touched the back of her hand.
    "Be brave, lass," he replied, and then turned quickly away before he succumbed to the urge to