Free The Highlander's Outlaw Bride by Cathy MacRae Page A

another if she doesnae produce an heir,” the king warned.
    “Her previous husband was young. I believe I can do better.”
    The Macrory lass dinnae hesitate to abandon yer charms . The sudden tic in Conn’s cheek told her she had voiced the words aloud, though a furtive glance assured only he had heard her.
    The king stared from Brianna to Conn and back for several nerve-wracking moments. “Lady Brianna, ye need a husband and MacLaurey needs a wife. I am certain it will all work out.” This time there was no mistaking the note of finality in King Robert’s voice.
    “Sire, I have no desire to wed!” Brianna blurted out, partly lifting her hands in desperation.
    “Ye wish to retire to a nunnery?” the king asked in surprise. Conn turned a wry, challenging look on her, silently forcing her to remember the passion she was capable of and daring her to deny it. Her cheeks burned with furious anger at both men.
    “Nae, Sire,” she muttered.
    “Then have ye another husband in mind?”
    “Nae.”
    King Robert threw his hands into the air. “Then, instead of seeing ye wed before ye leave, I give ye opportunity to enjoy each other’s company for the duration of yer visit and yer travel home. Ye will come to an understanding by then. I give ye, Brianna, a further two weeks to see yer clan’s needs are met. At that time, ye will wed without further hesitation.”
    He stood to his feet, towering over them from his position on the dais. “Connor MacLaurey, I hereby charge ye with fulfilling yer sworn duty to Lady Brianna of Wyndham. Lady Brianna, ye are charged with yer sworn duty to Connor MacLaurey of Morven. Ye find yerself in favor with the crown. Long may ye both live.”
    Smiling broadly, the king stepped down and took Brianna’s face in his hands, placing a kiss on each cheek. He stepped closer to Conn and clapped a hand to his shoulder. “’Twas not by chance she was arrested for reiving. Someone wants her out of the way. Guard her well.”
    Conn acknowledged the warning with a nod and the king favored the pair with a paternal smile. “Stay with us for a few days. We will host a banquet in honor of yer betrothal two days hence.” He waved to his advisor, who nodded at an aide, who scurried away to carry out the king’s wishes. Brianna was too stunned to move.

Chapter 10

    Numb, Brianna gathered her skirts. She had no desire to speak to this man the king had bound her to, nor did she wish to stay in his presence a moment longer. Once again she had been manipulated into marriage, and her blood boiled with resentment.
    A shudder. Could this marriage be different? She snorted in disgust at the idea. No matter how attracted she may have been to the man, ’twas all for naught in the end.
    Her step quickened and she fled the room to the stairway leading to her chamber. An iron grip on her arm yanked her to a stop and she whirled to face Conn, his expression black with fury.
    “Let go of me!” she hissed angrily.
    Conn released her arm, but did not move away. “What do ye think ye are about? Are ye dead set on being hanged?”
    “The king pardoned me.”
    “Aye, for reiving. Disobedience to the king is treason and will also get ye hanged.”
    Brianna eyed him narrowly, unable to quell her toe as it tapped the stone floor impatiently. “I dinnae want to marry.”
    “Well, there will be none to wed ye from the gallows.”
    He loomed over her, his expression darker still. “And I could have refused ye for yer lack of respect.”
    She stared at him in disbelief. “Lack of respect? I said naught that is not on any other’s tongue, m’laird.”
    “Ye know naught of me or my past year in France.”
    “Enough to know I dinnae want to be shackled to a skirt-chaser like yerself. I dinnae want such disrespect in my marriage, either!”
    Conn exhaled a long breath. “Why are ye so against this marriage?”
    “Are ye daft? What is there to recommend it?”
    “The reivers—”
    “Have stripped my clan of their