Page 18 of Deception

“You hesitate,” Lyel rasped. “Our clans must be bound together.”

But marrying a servant girl wouldn’t bind the two clans. He’d told Linnae that if Lyel lived long enough to see them wed, that the marriage would be valid. How could he satisfy both promises? By holding true to the marriage vows and being a friend to the MacKenzies for life.

“Aye, Lyel, I swear.”

Lyle slumped back against his pillows. “Good.” His faded blue eyes shifted onto the priest. “Get on with it, Father.”

“I have told ye, Laird, this is highly irregular.”

Jacob frowned. Highly irregular? Their betrothal had been signed and the bans had been read in church.

“The marriage willnae be sanctioned by the church,” the priest said.

Jacob started to reply, but Lyel said, “This is how a man took a wife before priests like you told us we couldnae do so without the church’s permission.” His eyes blazed with some of the old fire.

Jacob hid a smile, then sorrow surfaced. He was going to miss his wise old friend.

Lyel motioned the priest forward. The priest’s mouth thinned, but he hurried around the bed to Jacob’s side. “Are you ready, my lady?” he asked.

Jacob could see she wasn’t. She’d gone pale. He grasped her arm and gently pulled her to her feet, then slid an arm around her waist and pulled her against his side.

The priest looked at Jacob and said, “Jacob Robert MacKinnon, art thou here this day in pledged troth of thy own free will and choice?”

“Aye, Father,” he replied.

He looked at Linnae, and said, “Linnae Donald, art thou here this day in pledged troth of thy own free will and choice?”

Linnae gasped.

“By all that is holy.” Jacob snapped his gaze onto Lyel. “Ye knew?”

“You think my men dinnae tell me when we have prisoners?” Lyel replied in a low voice.

Jacob snorted. “I think you enjoy playing with me.”

Lyel’s eyes hardened. “Ye know she isnae my granddaughter?”

Jacob nodded. “Aye. Do what you will with me. The lass isnae to blame. I made her lie to you.”

“And you would have married her to keep me from knowing?”

Jacob nodded.

Lyel’s expression relaxed. “Then ye deserve the judgement I mete out. Ye will marry her.”

Jacob started. “What? But she isnae your granddaughter.”

“Ye just swore you would marry her,” Lyel said.

Linnae pushed at Jacob and he realized he still held her against his side.

“Release me, you brute,” she demanded.

He blinked.

The room went silent--except for Lyel’s raspy laugh. “I believe she will keep ye in line, Jacob.”

Linnae broke free of him and faced Lyle. “I do not understand. You know who I am. Ye cannae marry me to the laird.”