Page 13 of Deception

He stared.

She waited.

“You are right,” he said. “If Laird MacKenzie lives through tomorrow and, if ye will have me, we will marry.”

“Have you gone daft? You cannae marry a servant girl.” She blew out a frustrated breath. “I dinnae believe you.”

He dropped to one knee and her heart pounded when he looked up at her and said, “As God is my witness, if we marry, ours will be a true marriage as long as we both live.”

“But why?” she whispered.

“Lyel deserves to leave this world in peace.”

Linnae shook her head. “There must be another way.”

He gave a low laugh. “Even at death’s door, Lyel is a determined man.”

“This cannae be happening,” she whispered.

Jacob rose. “Say nothing tonight. There is time.”

She frowned. “Time to hope that an old man dies?”

“Everyone dies. He has lived a good life.”

She started to reply, then nodded.

“I imagine today has been the strangest day of your life,” he said.

She’d seen some strange days, but today was the strangest. “Aye.”

“Perhaps you should rest,” he said.

Linnae nodded gratefully. “I will think more clearly after I rest a bit.”

“Come.” He stepped to her and pulled her hand into the crook of his arm, then started back toward the keep.

Jacob held her close to his side as they walked the path. Linnae thanked God for the dark, for she knew her cheeks must be flaming. She was also thankful that he didn’t engage her in conversation. Her head whirled. If not for the warmth of the muscled arm beneath her fingers, she might have dreamt this day.

They reached the courtyard, which was mostly deserted and lit with torches. They were halfway across the courtyard when half a dozen warriors rode through the gate. The riders halted and the three men in the center of their ranks came into view.

Linnae gasped.

Jacob looked sharply at her. “Lass?”

“I know that man—the one in the center of the three who are bound. He was our driver.”