Not Mine to Give by Laura Landon

Author:Laura Landon [Landon, Laura]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Prairie Muse Publishing
Published: 2012-04-17T07:00:00+00:00

Chapter 11

“Do you have all the salves and potions you’ll need, Angus?”

Katherine looked into the early morning sky and tucked her hands into the folds of the heavy woolen shawl around her shoulders. Duncan was leaving to get Brenna. She looked at the huge army gathered around him and a shiver ran down her spine.

“Aye,” Angus answered. “See here?” He opened his sack and showed Katherine the various containers. “Stonecrop, to take care of the wounds. Sorrel for bruises and a fever. Lady’s mantle for bleeding.”

Angus patted his sack and recited the names of a dozen more powders and salves he had with him. The names were more familiar to her now, but she was so nervous she doubted she would remember much today.

“Keep him safe, Angus,” she whispered. She watched Duncan give last minute instructions to Gregor, then check his horse and armor a final time.

“I will, milady. With Malcolm watching his back and me at his side, nothing will happen.”

“Kate.”

Duncan’s voice echoed in the crisp, pre-dawn air and Katherine walked over to where he stood. He tipped her head up with his finger and stared into her eyes. “I want your word that you will na try to leave the keep for anything.”

She nodded.

“Answer me, lass.”

“Yes, Duncan.”

“And you’ll do whatever Gregor tells you without question. Understand?”

“Yes.”

“Are you sure you are well?”

“Yes. I stayed abed all day yesterday and now I’m fine.”

Katherine looked into Duncan’s face. He’d taken her again last night. She loved the feel of his muscled flesh against her own. She loved the feel of his naked body atop her. Her cheeks warmed as she remembered the hours they’d spent in each others’ arms.

“I’ll be home before long with Brenna.” Duncan studied her face as if he wanted to memorize her features before he left.

“And Bolton will be dead?”

“Aye. Bolton will be dead, and there will be nothing for you to fear.”

“Except my father and my king.”

“He is na longer your king.”

“And my father?”

“Aye, lass. He will always be your father, but you are now my wife. Your first allegiance is to me.”

“I’ve given you my loyalty as well as my allegiance, husband.”

“But you have na given me the crown.”

He could not have hurt her more if he’d slapped her face. “It’s not mine to give.”

“It is na yours to keep.”

Katherine closed her eyes and turned her face from him. It was always the crown. The crown always came first.

“I will have it when I come back. You can na keep it from me or from Scotland.” He gave her a look that demanded her compliance, then mounted his horse.

She couldn’t let him leave like this. Not when he may never come back to her. Katherine ran to his side and touched his leg. “Stay well, my laird.”

“I will return leading my men as you have ordered. You have my promise.” He turned his steed toward the drawbridge and crossed the inner bailey with his men behind him.

Katherine ran up to the battlement and watched after him until the huge army was no bigger than a tiny dot on the horizon.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.