Page 18 of Highland Dove

“Ye did the right thing,” said Storm, sheathing his sword. “I’m sorry things didna turn out the way ye wanted. I’m sure she never would have married him if she didna think ye were dead.” He turned and headed to the tavern as well.

“I never should have told her to marry another if I didna return,” Duncan told his brother, realizing his mistake. His heart was broken. He’d lost the love of his life and it was no one’s fault but his own.

“Well, like Storm said, there is nothin’ ye can do about it, Brathair.” Angus put his sword back in the scabbard. “What are yer plans for retrievin’ our castle and claimin’ the position of chieftain?”

“I’m no’ sure it even matters anymore,” said Duncan, suddenly wishing he had really died in the English prison. How could he go on without Mari?

“So ye’re givin’ up? Ye’re goin’ to let Eideard keep the title of chieftain? What about Mathair?” he asked. “We’re no’ goin’ to just leave her there.”

“Mathair,” said Duncan under his breath, having momentarily forgotten about her because of the ordeal with Mari. “Nay, we have to save her. But I’m no’ sure I ever want to see Mari again. I still canna believe she married Eideard.”

“Didna ye hear her?” Malmuira came walking out of the shadows, pulling her colored wimple tighter around her hair. Little bells tinkled from the hem of her skirt. “She told ye that she was forced to marry the man.”

“Aye. I forced her to do it when I told her to marry another if I didna return,” replied Duncan.

“Nay, ye fool, that’s no’ why. It was because Eideard threatened to kill yer mathair if she refused him.”

“By the rood, nay,” said Duncan. “Did he kill my mathair?”

“Nay. Thanks to Mari’s sacrifice, yer mathair is still alive,” Malmuira told him. “But Eideard’s hidden her away somewhere and no one kens where.”

Duncan’s heart felt heavy. He was still weak from being imprisoned and now his mind was in more turmoil than ever. “Mari didna tell me any of this.”

“Do ye blame her? She’s in love with ye, and I’m sure she didna want ye to turn her away. That’s why she was tryin’ to get home to talk to her faither. She thought he could help her get the marriage annulled. I’m sure she was waitin’ and no’ wantin’ to worry ye after all ye’ve been through.”

“I still dinna like it. I’m thankful she saved Mathair, but Mari was supposed to be my wife, no’ his.”

“Ye’re soundin’ selfish right now, Duncan MacLean,” scolded the gypsy. “I saw this tragedy unfoldin’ in one of my card readin’s, but I must tell ye that I also saw hope that all is no’ lost.”

“How can ye say that? I’ve lost the woman I love.”

“No’ true. Mari might be married, but they never consummated the marriage yet. Did ye ken that?”

Duncan couldn’t believe his ears. “Really?”

“Really. She left before Eideard could lay a hand on her.”

A spark of hope burned within him now. Mayhap all was not lost yet after all. “I didna ken that.” Duncan ran a weary hand through his hair.

“If the marriage isna consummated, then she might be able to get it annulled,” said Angus. “Mayhap we should go talk to her faither about this like she was goin’ to do.”

“Aye, but it still might be too late,” said Duncan, feeling suddenly frantic. “Eideard has Mari and she’s his wife. The first thing he’ll do when he returns to the castle is consummate the marriage.”

“Then I guess we’re too late,” said Angus.

“Nay, I willna allow that to happen.”

“Brathair, ye’re daft if ye think ye can stop a married man from couplin’ with his wife.”

“I dinna ken how, but I swear I willna let Eideard touch Mari. I will stop him from consummatin’ that marriage if it is the last thing I ever do.”

Chapter 6

“Angus, hurry,” Duncan called over his shoulder, saddling his horse himself, not wanting to wait for the stable boy to do it. He had to catch up to Eideard and save Mari. His only chance would be to get to her before they entered the castle walls. MacLean Castle was a strong fortress, and Eideard was sure to have many guards at the ready. Once they entered the bailey, there would be no hope of stopping him from having his way with Mari. “Bid the devil, I never should have let her go with him. And why didna she tell me any of this last night?” Duncan talked more to himself than Angus, since his brother was outside the stable with the old gypsy.

He mounted his horse and rode out, only to be stopped by Storm who was calling to him from over by the tavern.

“Duncan, wait,” called Storm, hurrying over with a young man Duncan recognized from Mari’s clan.