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“What more could there be?”
Her question, though naïve, was an innocent one She really didn’t know her own appeal, and therefore had obviously never used her beauty to get her way
“I won’t waste ti their twisted motives,” he said
“And you? You would ruin your life—”
“Gabrielle, I would never allow any woman to have that kind of power over me,” he said unequivocally
“No, I don’t suppose you would”
“I don’t kno the barons in England treat their wives, but I have a suspicion that most misuse them”
“Not most,” she countered
“We do not mistreat our women here I will never hurt you, and you will be well-protected”
She believed hie didn’t sound so terrible after all Perhaps because she had nowhere else to go
“Did you have a date in e?”
“You have a choice,” he said as he once again glanced toward the entrance He was becoet this discussion over and done
“Explain this choice, please”
“We’ll marry now or in six months However, if we marry noon’t live as man and wife until six months have passed”
Thoroughly confused, she asked, “Why six months?”
“So that the clan will know the only child you carry is mine”
He’d rendered her speechless When she found her voice again, she said, “You told me you didn’t believe the lies—”
He interrupted “The suggestion came from Brodick He doesn’t want anyone to question who the father is if you were to be with child right after we’re wed”
Appalled and embarrassed by his bluntness, she could only shake her head when he asked if there were any other questions he needed to answer before he took his leave
Halfway to the stairs he remembered the other matter he wanted to talk to her about
“Gabrielle, I allowed your guards to accompany you here so that you would know that you are safe But they cannot stay”
She bounded to her feet “They must stay”
He was astounded by her outburst She’d been so cooperative when he explained her future, but now she was belligerent and combative
“No, they cannot stay,” he said quietly “It’s my duty and the duty of my soldiers to protect you now that you are to live here, and it would be an insult for an outsider to interfere”
“You don’t understand You must—”
“This isn’t open for discussion,” he snapped “Your guards will be handsomely rewarded because they protected my brother”
“Reward the them stay here with me”
He shook his head “Shouting at e , but when I return, I will talk to your guards I’ my decisions, but in this instance, I will Once I’ve made my position clear, my men will escort theood-bye”
He walked doo steps, turned around, and commanded, “I will have your acquiescence”
She looked at him for several seconds, then affected a perfect curtsy
“As you say”
Relieved that there hadn’t been any tears, Col Three hours later, upon his return, he was inforone
MACHUGH CAUGHT UP WITH HER NEAR THE BASE OF HIS h just barely Had he returned to his holding an hour later to hear of her departure, Gabrielle would have already started across Finney’s Flat and been a fair target for the predators aited for the cover of nightfall to crawl out from their holes
What in God’s nao out into the wilderness with but four men for protection? Didn’t she realize what a temptation she was?
But she was safe, he told himself as he rode toward her Safe from everyone but hi hard about throwing her over his shoulder and carrying her back to his keep Dragging her back didn’t sound all that unappealing, either
Gabrielle heard his horse thundering toward her She had stopped to water the horse and had walked far enough away froet back to her horse before Colht up with her
There was no guessing what his ht The fire in his eyes and the clenched jaere obvious indicators He leaped froh she had a strong desire to back away, she stood her ground and held her chin up as he stomped toward her
Her guards naturally took a defensive position to block the laird, but Gabrielle knew MacHugh wouldn’t retreat She’d been in his couards wouldn’t retreat, either It was up to her to stop the confrontation before it started
“Please move out of my way I wish to speak to the laird”
Faust orried “Princess,” he whispered, “it is our duty to make certain he won’t harm you”
Stephen, like Gabrielle, was a good judge of character, and he’d already determined what the laird was all about He had noticed the way MacHugh’s clan had greeted hienuinely happy to see him, not afraid Their homes were sturdy, there was firewood outside each door, and children didn’t run away and hide when MacHugh and his soldiers cah protected those he cared about, and the relief Stephen saw in the laird’s eyes as he now spotted Gabrielle told the guard that he cared, even if just a little, about her
Stephen prodded his friends’ shoulders and ordered, “Get out of the laird’s way Our princess is safe with him”
Colaze was locked on Gabrielle, and he stopped just an arth from her “I would have a ith you, Gabrielle” His voice had a noticeable bite to it
The laird towered over her, and she retreated several steps so she would not have to crane her neck to look at him “What is it you wish to say?”
“What part of our discussion thisdidn’t you understand? I would like to know so that I may clarify it for you”
“Discussion? I don’t believe it was ave orders”
“Which I expected you to obey”
“Why?”
Her question sounded impudent, but he didn’t believe that to be her intent She really didn’t understand, and though it had been a long while since anyone had asked him to explain himself, he allowed it
“Because I have said so”
“That isn’t a sufficient answer Why would you think I should obey your commands? I’m not a member of your clan”
He was determined not to lose his patience with her “You are to obey my commands because you will soon becoh”
He couldn’t have been any more clear or concise, and she couldn’t possibly have any ue about
“But Laird, I never agreed to become your wife”
“You are a frustrating and aggravating woman,” he snapped, “and I suspect more stubborn than all the women here combined”
His insults were e, not she, and he was totally nonplussed by her response
“You’re no prize, either, Laird But unlike you, I don’t feel it necessary to list your many faults”
She had the gall to shed, he was so stunned by her insolent behavior The wo to have to drag her back to his keep after all He took a threatening step toward her and she didn’t back away She looked hiht in the eye and waited to see what he would do
She didn’t cower, and that pleased him considerab
ly He decided he would try to gain her cooperation one last ti her back to his ho
“While I understand that not wishing tomy home, I want you to understand—”
She interrupted “That isn’t why I left”
“Then what in God’s name was your reason?”
“You ordered uards to leave, and I couldn’t allow that to happen I tried to explain why they must stay with me, but you didn’t want to listen”
“And so you left”