Page 68 of Highlander’s Protector

“Nae.”

Silence lay over the church like a blanket. No one breathed or moved. The fat in the tallow candles crackled softly. And only one face bore relief…and love.

David’s.

Sir Philip stared at her in astonishment, blinking. “Lady Anna…” he said. “If I gave ye any indication I wilna be a worthy husband to ye—”

“Sir Philip, I assure ye, it isna anything ye did.”

A shape moved in her side vision. “Then why?” her father demanded, approaching her and Philip in a couple of wide strides.

“If I dinna give my permission, I canna be wed,” she said. “Ye canna force me.”

“Do ye realize the shame ye’re bringing to me, to yer clan? The grievance to Sir Philip? The consequences to this war?”

“I am sorry to inconvenience anyone,” Anna said, “but I am sure there are other arrangements that can be made. And I wilna do something I dinna want to. Ye, Father, ye took the throne of Scotland and ye refused to yield to England. Ye’re still fighting for yer right to make yer own decisions. Well, ’tis what I want, too. Ye abandoned my mother—had ye nae done that, I wouldna have been a bastart. Ye never came to see me or wanted to ken me, until ye needed me for yer politics. And I canna pretend nae more that ye want anything else from me than what my marriage brings. Ye’re forcing me into a life I dinna want. How is it different than what the English are doing?”

He was silent, guilt coming through his rough, handsome face. “Anna, I assure ye, had it nae been for the war, I’d have been by yer side…”

“But ’tis nae why she’s refusing Sir Philip,” said Laoghaire, coming closer to the altar.

Everyone turned their heads to her, and she was beautiful with her proud, stern features. Her hair was done in smooth locks that fell over her shoulders. Her dress was lilac and gold.

“What is the reason, child?” said the Bruce.

“Laoghaire!” her uncle Aulay came forward from the crowd. “Dinna say anything ye will regret.”

“The reason why Anna canna marry Sir Philip is because she is nae a virgin. And she may be with another man’s child.”

A gasp and a growl ran through the crowd. Philip’s face reddened. Bruce’s nostrils flared. Mortification and anger hit Anna simultaneously, cold and heat, stillness and the need to move. Laoghaire had just embarrassed the king and completely destroyed Anna’s worth to him and to Sir Philip.

But at the same time, Anna had reclaimed her worth in her own eyes.

“Who?” boomed Sir Philip.

“The man who spent the last two sennights with her,” said Laoghaire and looked at David. “’Tis nae a malicious rumor. I saw them in each other’s arms last night.”

A hundred pairs of eyes shot to him. But David didn’t look embarrassed or afraid. His eyes never left Anna’s and there were questions in them.

Was she really with child?

And if so, how could he leave her now and return to his time?

“I will kill ye!” the Bruce roared and unsheathed his sword, launching into the crowd. “Ye dishonored my daughter!”

“If anyone will kill him, ’tis me!” roared Sir Philip, unsheathing his sword, as well. “The deal is off, Bruce! Men! Everyone! To battle!”

Anna’s legs weakened as a hundred men drew a hundred swords and a fight began.

CHAPTER 28

He may be having a child.

As David drew his claymore and blocked the first enemy’s thrust, he didn’t feel the usual clash of his sword against another. He didn’t hear the yells and roars of warriors around him, the war cry “Clann Domnhnaill!” echoing off the walls of the church.

All he heard was Laoghaire’s voice saying, “She may be with child.” All he saw was Anna’s fear. Not surprise. Not outrage at a lie.

Fear that she’d been discovered. Fear of the truth that had been revealed.