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marriage, ye’d be giving Buccleuch and the Douglas good cause to demand an annulment. I won’t have that. The marriage will take place here in this yard, and straightaway. Ye’ll bed the lass directly afterward.”
    “Nay, then,” Meg said, shocked into freeing her tongue at last. “I won’t do it!”
    Sir Iagan turned a wrathful face toward her, but she had come to realize that she wielded some power of her own in the dreadful business.
    Forcing determination into her voice, she said, “I won’t lie with a man who has not washed in God knows how many months, Father. Nor will I marry without having a bath myself and changing out of this old kirtle into a dress more suitable for riding. I shall also require time to pack my clothing and other things unless you mean for me to ride into my new life with only the clothes on my back.”
    “Dinna be impertinent,” Sir Iagan growled. “Ye’ll do as I bid ye.” But when he glanced warily at his lady, Meg felt a surge of relief.
    Lady Murray said, “To be sure, my lord, you will agree that she must have things of her own to take with her. The servants can pack them whilst she has her bath. That young man should also bathe before he beds her, although he can do so here in the yard as well as anywhere, and someone can brush his clothes whilst he does. Meg should also enjoy a proper wedding feast,” she added. “How fortunate that it is still early in the day. If I give the orders at once, we should be able to dine only an hour later than usual. That will give Meg and her new husband plenty of time to reach Rankilburn before darkness falls.”
    “Ye seem to have it all thought out,” Sir Iagan said sourly. Fixing another glowering look on Meg, he added, “Be there aught else ye’ll require?”
    “Forgive me, my lord,” her ladyship said. “I do think we ought to go inside if we are to discuss these matters further. You will not want to be making a gift of our further discussion to your men and these other persons.”
    He nodded curtly but said to Meg, “Doubtless that will give ye time to think up a long list o’ your needs, lass. Just do not try me too far.”
    “No, sir,” she said, wondering what else she might request, since he had already declared that he would give her no proper dowry, nor agree to return the kine that he had surprisingly called the reiver’s own.
    Once back in the now nearly deserted hall, taking her courage in hand again, she said, “I would like to take at least one maidservant with me, Father. I would feel most uncomfortable as the sole female in such a party of men. But I own, the real reason is that I’d like to have at least one familiar face with me in my new home.”
    “And just who d’ye think would agree to go wi’ ye?” he demanded.
    Feeling heat flood her cheeks, she said, “I do not know, sir. I doubt that any of our maidservants will want to go so far from home. But if you or my lady mother could induce one of them to accompany me even for a few weeks—”
    “I’ll go with you,” Amalie said. “Faith, but I’d like to go!”

Chapter 3
    “I swear, then, this hour shall my daughter be married t’ ye . . . Or else the next minute submit to your fate.”
    I n the courtyard, Wat stood silently as Murray’s men-at-arms untied first his hands and then those of each of his lads.
    “Begging your pardon, sir,” one of Murray’s gillies said. “But if ye’re wanting to bathe out here, nae doot ye’d like us to set the tub yonder in the sunlight, where ye’ll keep warm.”
    “Thank you,” Wat said. “Do as you think best, but I would speak privately with my men before I bathe.”
    The gillie glanced around as if seeking guidance but, finding none, turned back and said, “As ye will, sir. I’ll just speak to the lads fetching out your tub.”
    As soon as he had walked away, Tammy strode across the yard to say urgently to Wat, “Ye’ll never be takin’ them lassies back to Rankilburn wi’ ye, Master Wat.