Page 56 of Never Fall for a Highlander

“Force?Did the mon hold a sword to yer throat?”

He stopped pacing and placed his hands on his hips.“Nay.He mentioned that if I dinna sign the agreement, he would consider The Gunns and The Mackays enemies.”

Helena waved her hand.“From the time I spent at Dun Ugadale and what I saw of yer warriors, I doona believe a threat like that would force ye to do what he wanted.Unless that was what ye wanted.”

“Nay.”He walked to her and pulled her up.She felt so good, so perfect in his arms.“The Gunn told Lady Lenora that if I dinna honor the betrothal agreement, he would marry her off to a known brutal mon who had already buried two wives under questionable circumstances.”

Helana sucked in her breath.“That is terrible.Why would a mon do that to his own sister?”

Robin shrugged.“But I’m afraid the story gets worse.”He hesitated for a moment, then said, “Lady Lenora showed up at the evening meal with bruises on her face and had a problem turning without wincing with pain.

“We took a walk in the garden where she told me if I dinna marry her and Gunn arranged for her to marry this other mon, she would throw herself off the bridge and into the river where her parents had downed.”

He felt the muscles in Helena’s body tighten as she listened to what he said.Her eyes grew wide and filled with tears.That was one reason why he loved this woman.Her sympathy and caring for others would make her a wonderful wife and mam to any bairns they were blessed with.

She began to shake her head, her face pale.“I understand the place Lady Lenora and The Gunn put ye in.I believe I would have made the same decision had I been faced with that.”

Robin closed his eyes and slumped in gratitude.

“But,” she said her eyes narrowing.“That doesna explain or forgive why ye dinna tell me first thing.”

“I ken.I should have taken ye aside when I saw ye in the great hall and explained what had happened and that I had hopes of having the agreement broken.But anger drove me to the Village Inn that night, with plans to speak with ye in the morning, but ye had already left.”

“So ye had plans to break the agreement when ye had arrived back at Dun Ugadale?”

“No’ at first since it seemed hopeless, and my fury at those who tried to direct my life almost blinded me.I guess I had hoped to speak with ye and maybe between the two of us could come up with a plan.”

“And ye did.”

“Aye.”

“What is the plan if the poor lass plans to toss herself off the bridge?”

Robin pulled her closer and grinned.“My brother, Craig is going to marry Lady Lenora.”

Chapter twenty-four

“I shall ask Sutherland to find a priest and we can marry today.”

Helena’s mouth dropped open.“We canna do that!”

He nuzzled her neck.“Why no’?”

She pushed him back since she found his warm body and soft lips distracting.“Ye are Laird of Clan Mackay.Ye need to have a traditional wedding with yer clan present.”

“Then we’ll do a handfasting now and marriage vows when we reach Dun Ugadale.”

She laughed, suddenly realizing he was just anxious to get her into bed.Not that she found the idea unpleasant, but everyone would know exactly why they did that.“Nay.We will return to Dun Ugadale and plan a wedding fit for a laird.”

“That could take weeks!”He looked like a bairn whose berry pie had just been snatched from his hands.

“I can send a message to Jena who can enlist the aid of yer sisters, yer cook, Maude and all the other lasses who work at the keep to begin preparation while we pack and travel to Dun Ugadale.”

“This a big event.My sisters are mere lasses.”

She shook her head.“Just like a mon.Mairi is six and ten years and Kendra is three and ten.”She poked him in the chest.“’Twill be soon that ye will need to look for a husband for Mairi.”

He looked surprised.“Six and ten?Aye, she will be needing a husband soon.”