Free Not Mine to Give by Laura Landon Page A

Katherine understood that. Even after all the hours he’d spent at her bedside, his dark, brooding dominance still affected her.
    “Will you, Duncan Ferguson, laird of clan Ferguson, take the Lady Katherine Downing for your wife?”
    “I will.”
    The priest breathed an audible sigh and rushed to his next question. “Will you, Lady Katherine Downing, take Duncan Ferguson, laird of clan Ferguson, for your husband?”
    She could not answer. There was one more matter.
    The silence seemed endless and uncomfortable. One or two of the Ferguson warriors cleared their throats. Elizabeth, turned to her, waiting for her answer. Ian turned to her.
    Duncan turned to her.
    She looked up and faced him. “The laird of clan Ferguson has not yet asked me if I would consent to be his wife.”
    A loud gasp came from Elizabeth. The priest wiped again at the perspiration on his forehead. Ian smiled.
    Katherine looked again. Maybe she was mistaken and it wasn’t a smile on Ian’s face. Maybe it was only a reaction to the pleasant wish that he could wrap his hands around her neck and choke the air from her.
    It was the same look she saw on Duncan’s face when she looked up at him.
    The incredulous expression on his face did not hide his mounting frustration. “You are sorely testing me, woman,” he said through clenched teeth.
    “I need to be asked, my lord. It’s important to me.”
    For a long time, he said nothing.
    She must be asked. When her father came for her, he needed to know that she had not been forced, but had given herself willingly. It might save the Scot’s life in the end.
    No one in the great hall moved while they waited for the Ferguson to react. She could hear the murmurs behind her as they anticipated his response.
    “I would ask you, Lady Katherine Downing. Will you consent to become my wife?”
    Katherine closed her eyes and swallowed hard. “I will.”
    The priest quickly pronounced them man and wife, then wiped at his forehead again.
    Katherine turned around with her husband at her side. The Ferguson men Duncan had not sent back to Lochmore stood before their laird, the warrior Angus in the front. There was not a happy face amongst them. Not one.
    Even Angus, the Scot who had cared for her, wore a mask of resigned acceptance. Katherine read the sadness in his eyes. The regret.
    Angus stepped forward and placed a fist over his heart. “We pledge to you our loyalty, Lady Ferguson. Know that we will protect you with our lives from this day on.”
    Every Ferguson there placed his clenched fist over his heart, and Katherine bowed her head as she accepted their oath of protection. For that was what it was. All it would ever be. No welcome; no congratulations; no wishes for a long life filled with happiness and the blessing of many Ferguson heirs.
    They had promised to protect her, but nothing more. She would be given nothing else. She would never ask for more.
    …
    Duncan checked the saddles on their horses again and waited for his wife to come. She was such a confusion to him. What did she think she would do if he didn’t marry her? Fight Bolton on her own and defend the crown from all of Scotland?
    He leaned his arm on the saddle and paused for a moment. It was the first time he’d allowed himself to think about his decision to marry her. Damn her willful stubbornness. Her accusations refused to go away. Her vow that she would give him neither the crown or her heart echoed in his head.
    No matter how hard he tried, he could not deny he was using her as revenge, but…
    In time he would win her trust. He had to. Her trust was the key to gaining the crown.
    The fact that she understood exactly why he had taken her as his bride did not give him comfort. He wasn’t sure he was pleased his new wife possessed such keen perception. But he’d be damned if he’d let Bolton touch her ever again. How could he let her go after she’d sacrificed so much to give him back the Ferguson medallion? How could he let her go,