“Murdoc lied. I was never promised to Gunn. Neither my father nor uncle signed a betrothal agreement. My father would have told me if such a document existed.”
“But the court—”
‘Scottish court, Father.I am an English subject and beyond the jurisdiction of Scottish laws. Uncle Murdoc brought the petition to invalidate my marriage before me court at Stirling, and I would not put it past him to grease palms to attain a favorable decision.”
“Are ye sure of this, lass?”
“Aye. I would not lie to you, Father. I cannot wed Gunn. Furthermore, Murdoc is holding me against my will.”
“Do ye want to return to yer English husband?”
Rose smiled wistfully. “Aye, he is my life. I love him and miss him. Can you help me? I want to go home.”
Father Baen’s face hardened with righteousness.“If what ye say is true, lass, then we will leave the keep together. There is no need for me to remain if there is to be no wedding. And I canna join a man and woman unless both are willing. How soon can ye be ready?”
Elation colored Rose’s words. “Immediately. The sooner the better.”
“Wait here.I will return for ye after I gather my belongings and say a prayer for our safe passage.”
“I can never thank you enough, Father.”
“Pray for me, child, ‘tis all I ask.”
“I’ll fix food for the journey,” Thelma said, hurrying off after the priest.
True to his word, Father Baen returned for her a short time later. “Are ye ready, my child?”
Rose snatched up her cloak and rushed from the chamber. Thelma stood in the passageway with her two sons.
“‘Tis all right, Rose,” Thelma said. “Hugh and Douglas understand and willna stop ye.”
“What about the others?” Rose asked.
“Leave them to me, child,” Father Baen soothed. “I am a man of God and ye are under my protection; harming ye could bring eternal damnation.”
The priest’s words held true. Escorted by Hugh and Douglas, Rose and Father Baen walked down the staircase and through the hall to the front entrance without being challenged. The priest had arranged for their horses to be brought around, and Ladybird and Father Baen’s mount were standing in the courtyard. Hugh lifted Rose into the saddle, and Thelma handed her a basket containing food.
“Uncle Murdoc will be angry with you and your sons for helping me,” Rose said as she took the basket from Thelma.
“Donna worry about us, lass,” Thelma said. “Not even yer uncle would challenge a man of God. Return to yer husband, Rose, and give him many bairns.”
Father Baen reined his mount through the gate and Rose followed. She could not believe how easy it had been as they cleared the gate without being challenged. God was surely looking out for her.
Dominic led his knights toward the Scottish border at full tilt. His wound, though nearly healed, caused twinges of pain and he could feel himself tiring, but it would take more than a few small annoyances to stop him. Rose needed him; he felt it deep within his soul, knew it with each breath he took. His expression was grim; there was no trace of softness in his dark, merciless eyes. The moment he rode forth from Dragonwyck, he became the fierce warrior men feared, the brave knight bards immortalized in verse.
Dragon had just crossed into Scotland when he saw three riders approaching from the north. He raised his hand to halt his men and waited for the riders to approach. Sir Eric rode up beside him.
“Is it Lady Rose?”
Dominic squinted against the glare of the sun as he attempted to identify the riders. Disappointment cut deep into his gut when he realized that Rose was not one of the two women accompanying the man.
” Tis Piers and Vella,” Eric observed when they drew close enough to identify.“And if I’m not mistaken, that’s Murdoc’s wife with them. I recognize Lady Robina because she often accompanied Murdoc on his visits to Dragonwyck.”
Anxious to learn why Rose was not with them, Dominic spurred his mount and rode out to meet the travelers.
“Lord Dragon,” Piers said. “Thank God. I feared we would not reach Dragonwyck before MacTavish caught up with us. How did you know to look for us in Scotland?”
“‘Twas a wild guess. Quickly, where is Rose? Why is she not with you?”
“I will try to explain, if I may,” Robina said.“I am Robina, Murdoc’s wife. Murdoc came upon Piers, Vella and Rose while raiding across the border and brought them by force to our fortress. I dinna like what he did and found a way to speak to Rose in private. She said Murdoc was threatening to harm Piers and Vella if she dinna agree to wed Gunn.”
“Murdoc is mad,” Dominic snorted. “Rose is already wed. Does he not know she cannot legally wed another?”
“Murdoc is a stubborn man. He claimed that Rose was promised to Gunn and asked the court at Stirling to declare yer marriage to Rose invalid. The court agreed, but Rose dinna, so Murdoc threatened to harm yer vassals if she dinna wed Gunn. She asked me to free Piers and Vella so they could fetch ye to Scotland.”
“Why did Rose not come with you?” Dominic asked harshly.
“I went back for her,” Robina explained, “and I thought she was following behind me. When I realized she wasna with me, I turned back to find her, but ‘twas too late.” She wrung her hands, gulping air before she continued.“I saw Gunn dragging her away. He dinna see me, and I hurried back to tell Piers and Vella. We decided to go on without her and fetch ye. Ye are the only one who can help Rose now.”
She paused to catch her breath.“I couldna stay with Murdoc after betraying him. Rose said ye would protect me and see me safely to my father’s manor near Stirling.”
“Aye, I will protect you,” Dominic vowed. “Can you find your way to Dragonwyck, Piers?”
“Aye, my lord.”
“Then take Lady Robina with you and ask Lady Emily to see that she is made comfortable.”
“Be careful,” Robina said. “Murdoc canna be far behind us. With Piers and Vella gone, he has no hold over Rose and canna force her to wed Gunn.” A sob left her throat.“He will be verra angry with me.”
“You did right, Lady Robina,” Dominic advised. “Go with…”
His sentence trailed off and he cocked his head as the distant sound of horses’ hooves reached his ears. “Hark, do you hear?”
“‘Tis Murdoc!” Robina gasped.
“Into the trees, men! Half on one side of the road and half on the other,” Dominic shouted as he urged Piers, Vella and Robina into the woods.
“Stay here,” he ordered curtly.
Dominic drew his sword and waited for Murdoc to ride into the trap. The riders appeared several minutes later. Though heavily armed and carrying shields, they wore no armor. Dominic let out a war cry and rode out from the trees. Murdoc looked confused as knights wearing Dragon’s coat of arms upon their surcoats quickly surrounded him and his men.
Murdoc hesitated but a moment before he drew his sword and engaged the knight nearest him in battle. The fight was fierce. Men fell, others fought on. The Scotsmen were at a disadvantage without chain mail and began to fall back. Dominic saw Gunn fall and leaped from his destrier. Avoiding clashing swords and fallen bodies, Dominic reached Gunn before the Scotsman gained his feet and pressed the tip of his sword against Gunn’s neck.
Seething with rage at the thought of Gunn putting his hands on Rose, Dominic prepared to end Gunn’s miserable life when an anguished cry stopped the downward thrust of his arm.
“Nay! Desist! Donna kill him!”
“Instruct your men to lay down their weapons and mayhap I’ll spare your heir,” Dominic ordered.
“Lay down yer weapons, lads!” Murdoc shouted. One by one, the Scotsmen placed their weapons on the ground and backed away. Immediately the English knights closed ranks around them.
” Tis done,” Murdoc growled. “Are ye a man of yer word?”
Dominic stepped away from Gunn and sheathed his sword. Gunn lurched to his feet. “Unlike you,” Dominic said disdainfully, “I value my honor.”
“I am an honorable man,” Murdoc growled.
“Tell that to your wife.”
Murdoc went still. “What do ye know about my wife? Have ye seen Robina?”
Dominic indicated the woman emerging from the woods. “Is that not Lady Robina approaching?”
Murdoc’s mouth hung agape as he watched Robina ride toward him.
Robina reined in beside Dominic and dismounted. “What are ye going to do with him, Lord Dragon?”
“Escort him to his demesne and fetch my wife home. Do you still wish safe conduct to your father’s manor?”
“Nay, she doesna!“Murdoc replied. “Yer coming home with me, Robina.”
“Nay, Murdoc, ye donna appreciate me. Yer not the same man I married ten years ago.”
“Ye will do as I say!” Murdoc thundered.
“You are forgetting one thing, Murdoc,” Dominic interjected. “I hold the upper hand here. Lady Robina asked for protection, and I granted it.”
“Ye had no right. My wife betrayed me.”
“Nay, Murdoc,” Robina cried. “I did what was right.”
“Donna listen to her, Murdoc,” Gunn advised. “Let her go.”
“Ock, Gunn, do ye fear I will give Murdoc an heir?” Robina taunted.
Gunn laughed. “I fear naught from a dried-up old hag. Yer barren, Robina, accept it. Murdoc doesna need ye.”
“Enough!” Dominic roared. “My men and I will escort you to your demesne, and if I find that either of you have harmed one hair on Rose’s head, you both will suffer.”
“I wouldna harm my own niece,” Murdoc huffed. “I only want what’s best for the lass.”
“I know what’s best for Rose, and believe me, ‘tis not Gunn. Mount up, we’re riding north.”
“I’m sorry, Murdoc,” Robina said. “I hope ye can find it in yer heart to forgive me.” She reined her horse about. Piers and Vella joined her as she rode south to Dragonwyck.
“Yer a fool,” Murdoc bit out.
The large party of English knights and their captives continued north. Murdoc’s keep was but a few leagues ahead when Dominic rode down the ranks and advised his men to remain alert. The walls of MacTavish keep had just come into view when Dominic saw two riders clear the gate. One wore black robes, and the other was a woman whose long blond hair streamed behind her like a golden banner. Spurring his destrier, Dominic burst forward, leaving his men in the dust.
He heard Rose shouting. The wind picked up her words and carried them to him. He heard her calling his name, and his heart nearly burst from his chest.
Rose, his feisty Rose, his beautiful Rose, was unharmed.
Dominic pulled back on the reins. His destrier pawed air, then skidded to a halt several feet from where Rose awaited him. He leaped from the saddle and ran to help her dismount. Rose slid into his arms, her face radiant as he held her against him.
“You’ve come! I knew you would, I just didn’t expect you so soon. Robina left shortly before dawn with Piers and Vella. Did you see them? Uncle Murdoc rode out to intercept them.”
“One question at a time, love,” Dominic said, silencing her with a kiss. He didn’t care who was watching. He didn’t care if all the world knew how happy he was to see Rose unharmed and have her in his arms again.
Rose’s arms remained firmly around Dominic’s neck as he framed her face between his hands and kissed her until they were both breathless.
“I love you so much, Dominic,” Rose whispered against his mouth.
Dominic stilled.“What did you say?”
Rose laughed; the joyful sound made his heart swell with tenderness.“Did you not know?”
“I… nay, but I hoped. Unrequited love is not a happy state of affairs.”
Rose stared at him. “Unrequited? You mean you … oh…”
Her words ended in a gurgle of embarrassment as the main party of knights caught up with them.
“What is it, love?”
Rose stared at the new arrivals over Dominic’s shoulder. “Uncle Murdoc and Gunn are with your men. What happened?”
“We encountered Robina, Piers and Vella first. While they were explaining what happened at the keep, we heard Murdoc and his men approaching. We hid in the woods and ambushed them as they rode past. There were several wounded on both sides, but fortunately, no one died in the fray.”
“It must have been a fierce fight. Uncle Murdoc does not give up easily.”
“He did not give up until I had Gunn beneath my sword. Then Murdoc surrendered rather than see him hurt. I released Gunn, but I would have killed him if Murdoc had harmed you.”
“Dinna I tell ye my niece wasna harmed?” Murdoc called out. “Tell him, lass. Tell Dragon I dinna hurt ye.”
“The lass is dangerous,” Gunn said sullenly. “I have a knot on my head to prove it.”
Dominic arched an eyebrow at Rose. “What’s that all about?”
Rose gave him a pert grin. “He put his hands on me and I took offense. The water pitchers in MacTavish keep make exceptional weapons.”
Laughter bubbled up in Dominic’s throat. “I should have known my plucky wife would find a weapon worthy of her skills.”
“What are ye going to do with us?” Murdoc asked. “Ye got what ye came for. Ye’ve also got my wife. Send her home, and we will call a truce.”
“Lady Robina is under my protection. Should she wish to return to you, I will not interfere.”
“Ye canna steal a man’s wife,” Murdoc charged.
“Why not? You stole
my
wife. Your Scottish courts have no jurisdiction over English subjects. If you want your wife back, I suggest you make things right with her.”
“I thought you cared naught for Robina,” Rose said.
“I misspoke,“Murdoc mumbled.
Then I suggest you tell her yourself.” She laid a hand on Dominic’s arm. “There is no need to punish him, is there? No harm befell me. Tis true he confined me to my chamber, but I was denied naught but my freedom. I believe Uncle Murdoc lost more than he realizes when Robina left him.”
“You are too tenderhearted, wife.”
“Please, Dominic, for me. I believe Uncle Murdoc has learned his lesson. There is no way he can claim Dragonwyck, and his greed may have cost him Mama’s regard as well as Robina’s.”
Dominic glared at Murdoc.“What say you, MacTavish? Do you think you deserve Rose’s forgiveness?”
“I love both my nieces,” Murdoc mumbled.
“You said you were a man of honor. Prove it. Swear an oath to leave me and mine alone, and you and your kinsmen can return home in peace.”