He definitely looked distinguished today, his charm even more overpowering
“Are ye sure about this?” he asked quietly, the tenderness in his voice at odds with the heat of his gaze.
“I am willing,” she replied, her voice trembling.
He squeezed her hand, offering her comfort in this moment, even when his ability to trust her had been bruised.
The murmuring died down as the priest stepped forward with a piece of cloth in his hands dyed in the muted green and yellow of the clan.
“Give me yer hands,” he said.
Clasping their hands together, he tied the cloth tightly.
“Say yer vows,” he added, before stepping back and gesturing towards Ruaridh.
“I, Ruaridh Sinclair of Clan McLeod, in front of me clansmen, take ye Violet Wilkinson to be me wife. To share me life with ye and to stand with ye in everything life brings.”
His vows were simple but were made powerful in the conviction with which he stared into her eyes. She recognized that he was determined to keep this promise, even if he could not fully trust her in this moment.
The priest cleared his throat, reminding her that she had to say her vows as well.
“I, Violet,” she began.
Her next words were stolen from her mouth because in the next moment, chaos erupted in the crowd, and a group of armed men dressed in red coats came forward.
It was suspicious because she knew her father had not had the time to invite people from England. Now, she threw a glance in his direction, and he looked just as confused as she felt.
Her question was answered when the crowd parted to reveal a man she would have preferred never to set eyes on.
Lord Westall.
“Unhand her at once,” Lord Westall barked when he stopped in front of them. “I have come to take my bride back.”
Looking at the red-coat-armed shoulders he had come with, it was easy to understand his audacity. Under normal circumstances, he would never have had the guts to challenge Ruaridh, at least not on his turf.
“Well, anyone would agree that she is me bride, seeing as she freely agreed to marry me.”
“That is because you kidnapped her. I was sent here with the authority of the Queen to return the good lady to her people. The ton eagerly awaits her safe return, and the Crown seeks to bear the expenses of our marriage.”
So he was to be a hero retelling the story while painting himself to be the aggrieved groom who had to watch his bride be kidnapped. Somehow, he had even dragged the case all the way to the Crown, even though Violet suspected that the red coats were not genuine.
“I cannae give ye me wife,” Ruaridh declared stiffly.
What ensued was chaos.
Pushing the priest away, the Englishmen surrounded them. Ruaridh tried to keep her by his side, for which he received blow after blow.
In no time, every man present was exchanging blows with the Englishmen.
Violet stepped back to protect herself. Suddenly, cold fingers curled around her hand, and when she looked up, it was to find Lord Westall looking down at her with a sly smile. His smile turned cold as he tightened his grip and dragged her away.
Screaming, she fought while casting wild eyes around in the hope of catching someone’s eye, but her father and Ruaridh were locked in fierce battle and could not spare her a glance.
She understood now what Lord Westall’s plan was: divide and conquer. But she had no intention to make it easy for him.
29
“Where is the lady?” Ruaridh heard Logan ask over the din.
