Page 56 of Hold Fast

“Nay, I think she shouldnae be claimed by the people who raised her because they threw her to the wolves,” Ewan said, his voice a sharp bark.

Fergus assessed him with water, bloodshot eyes before leaning back in his chair. “Ah, I see what is going on here. You want her for yourself.”

“You’re aff your heid,” Ewan spat.

“You willnae make my daughter a whore,” Fergus sneered. “So if you think I’ll be leaving my unwed daughter here to live among enemies, you’re daft. ’Tis unseemly. Laird or nae.” Fergus took a deep drink from his flagon of ale. “Unless, of course…”

Fergus trailed off, tenting his fingers in front of his mouth. Ewan felt the muscles of his arms, still crossed, tense underneath his own hands.

“Speak,” Ewan said.

Fergus broke his hands apart and stroked down the length of his bard. Taking another sup of ale, he looked into Ewan’s eyes. “I suppose I could be persuaded to sign for another handfasting.”

Shock and outrage boiled through Ewan’s body. Had this man no conscience? Ewan dropped his arms to his sides, squinting his eyes and furrowing his brow as he searched for words.

“You would handfast Una toyet anotherman?”

Fergus sat preening, looking utterly satisfied with himself. “Nay. But I would handfast Una to yet anotherlaird.”

Ewan wanted to tackle him. He could throw Fergus out into the night, tell his men never to let him near the keep again. Hell, he could throw him in the dungeons and let him rot. But he wouldn’t do that, not the dungeons at least. He didn’t know if Una harbored any love for her father, and he would do whatever was in his power to spare her pain.

But if he let him go, Fergus could just as easily go to Cameron and tell the bastard that Ewan had kidnapped Una. Cameron could declare war. Blood would be shed. Una would once again be a pawn that could fall into Laird Cameron’s clutches. He couldn’t risk it.

He could send Una to the Stewarts. It was where she’d been headed in the first place, before this all began. She would be safe there. Yet the thought of her leaving made his chest ache.

But Una deserved more than a handfast. She deserved more than to be traded about like a herd of goats or a chicken. She deserved everything. But chief among the things she deserved was safety. And for that, he was responsible. He had made her a promise. Several of them, in fact.

Slowly, all of the sediment that normally roiled around in the waters of his brain settled to the bottom so he could see clearly. He had to protect Una, and he knew just how to do it. Yes, that was the best course of action.

“I willnae handfast Una.”

Fergus pushed on his thighs to stand. “Well, then, I’ll be taking her with me. Tonight.”

“You will do nae such thing.”

“M’laird, I’ve been clear. If you dinnae mean to handfast her—”

“I mean to marry her.” That feeling of rightness grew stronger.

Fergus squinted at him, as if questioning his sincerity. After a moment, his face lit up and he rubbed his pals together greedily.

“This is a happy turn of events indeed, m’laird,” he crowed. “Have you a priest? You could say vows tonight, and I’ll be gone with the bride price by morning.”

“Una deserves more than hasty views in an empty hall after dark.”

Fergus rolled his eyes so hard it was a wonder he didn’t topple over. Ewan couldn’t remember ever wanting to hit someone so badly.

“She deserves flowers and a feast and a gown and anything else her heart desires,” he said, his heart pounding in his chest, the excitement rising. It was the perfect solution. She would stay. She would besafe.

“If you say so, m’laird. I’ve never been one for sentiment. But you can afford it, ken. When will you wed?”

“I’ll send for Father Brian in the morning.”

Fergus smiled his rotten, gapped smile, and Ewan nearly joined him when the doors to the Great Hall were thrown open behind him. He wheeled around and saw Una striding toward him, looking more furious than he’d ever seen her.

CHAPTER22

Una gave Ewan the benefit of a five-minute head start before creeping down the stairs and walking straight past Kenneth and David to press her ear to the door.