Read Amanda Scott - [Border Trilogy 2] for Free Online Page A

she wasn’t certain herself what they were.
    She turned back to watch the reiver as Sir Iagan said, “Madam, we are scarcely the only people in these borderlands to have kinsmen on the other side o’ the line. Fixed as we are, less than three miles from the crossing into England at Carter Bar, it would be odd if we had no such ties. Douglas certainly understands how necessary it is for me to tread carefully.”
    “To be sure, he must, my lord.”
    “I ken fine that ye believe the wisest course would be for Scotland to yield to England, so that all of us may live in peace. I’ve said before and I’ll say again that ye may ha’ the right of it, but few other Scots would agree wi’ ye. Douglas would not, certainly. Nor would Buccleuch.”
    “You are right, as always, sir,” she said. “Your detailed knowledge of such things constantly reassures me of your wisdom.”
    He nodded. “Then ye must see by now that if this young rascal does agree to wed our daughter and I agree to set his men free, they must all promise to protect her and to treat her with the respect her noble birth demands.”
    “As she will be Sir Walter’s wife, we can be sure he will agree to that.”
    “Aye, then it’s settled,” Murray said. To Sir Walter, he said in a stern, clear voice, “I shall allow ye to wed my eldest daughter then, and ye’ll agree to protect the lass henceforward. If I spare your men as well, they must swear to serve her loyally and protect her until death excuses them from her service.”
    Instead of replying at once, Sir Walter exchanged looks with each of his men in turn, including the youngster. Only after receiving a nod from each one did he say in a tone as firm and clear as Sir Iagan’s, “We agree to your terms.”
    “’Tis wise o’ ye,” Sir Iagan said. “As I’m giving ye your men, though, in their stead ye’ll forfeit the lass’s portion as well as yon kine I offered ye earlier.”
    Meg saw Sir Walter’s jaw tighten again, but he nodded.
    “If that’s settled, we’ve the good fortune just now to have a mendicant friar staying with us,” Sir Iagan said. “I warrant he can perform the wedding as well as any priest, so we’ll attend to it straightaway.”
    “Sakes, Murray,” Sir Walter said indignantly, “I’ve given my word that I’ll marry the lass, and whether you believe it or not, my word is good. There can be no need for such unseemly haste.”
    “Ye may be a man o’ your word,” Sir Iagan said. “But ye canna speak for your father or the Douglas, and I doubt I can trust either one o’ them no to forbid this marriage if they get the chance. Ha’ ye no sworn obedience to them? Will ye swear to keep your word to me if it means disobeying them?”
    Without replying directly to either question, Sir Walter said, “Would you deny my mother and father a presence at their eldest son’s wedding, sir? At least delay long enough to allow them to attend.”
    “Aye, sure, and give your father and the Douglas time to mount a raid against Elishaw,” Sir Iagan said derisively. “I’m no so stupid. Ye’ll marry as soon as one o’ me lads can fetch the friar. I’m no the one who denied Buccleuch and his lady the chance to see ye wed, either, lad. Ye’ve only yourself to blame for that. I’m thinking now, though, that we’d best ha’ the bedding afore ye leave, too.”
    Meg gasped when Amalie caught hold of her arm, squeezing it tight.
    Sir Walter said, “Surely, you would not be so cruel to your daughter as to force her to lie with a man she had not even seen until today. We must both do her the courtesy of giving her time to accustom herself to me.”
    “My Meg will cope as well as any newly wedded lass does,” Sir Iagan retorted. “Few maidens ken what to expect on their wedding night, but all o’ them ken fine that they must obey their fathers and then their husbands.”
    “But—”
    “Enough, lad! I warrant ye ken as well as I do that if ye fail to consummate your