***
THEY HAD REACHED HISparents when his mother said, "It seems the king has accepted yer marriage.This is a good thing.Perhaps now the Ruthvens will drop their petition about yer betrothal to Annag."
Cormac and Nessa both turned on her."Mother!"
Una froze."What betrothal?"Her voice was unsteady."Cormac, are ye betrothed to another?"
She tried to keep the panic from her voice, but after everything she had just learned, it seemed there was one more thing he had not told her.She tried to pull away but Cormac tightened his hold.
"Una, love, I can explain.I was going to tell ye when we returned to our chambers."
His mother paled when she realized Una had not known.
His father shook his head."Ye've done it now, Lorna."
The tension had not yet broken when a woman's voice cut through from beside them."Well, I see ye could not wait for the petition to be finalized.Ye went ahead and got married anyway."
Cormac turned.Annag Ruthven stood with her father, both of them glaring.He was caught off guard; the king had told him they would not be in attendance tonight.
Una turned her head.The woman who had spoken was a beauty.Regal bearing, jewels at her throat, a gown of the finest cloth.Beside her stood an elderly gentleman with the bearing of a powerful laird.She noted Cormac looking at the woman, and Una knew with certainty that this was the woman he should have married.Someone so far above her own station it was not even a question.She felt very small.
Then the words fully registered.Cormac was betrothed to her.A petition was before the king.That meant Una could be cast aside.She was a nobody.A seamstress.Her breathing became shallow and she held back tears.
Cormac stiffened beside her and pulled her close.He whispered in her ear but she heard none of it over the ringing in her ears.Her heart was pounding.She knew, without a doubt, that everything they had was about to come apart.She would return to her cottage and spend her life sewing for noblewomen.She would be alone again.
Her only thought was to run.
Una pulled away and turned, pushing through the crowd.She heard Cormac calling her name.Nessa too.She kept moving.She had reached the outer corridor and was mentally planning her route to Boyd MacKinnon's keep when she was hoisted straight over Cormac's shoulder.
"Oh, no ye don't.Ye stubborn woman!"he growled.
"Put me down!"she yelled.
He swatted her backside."Haud yer wheesht!Do ye want the king to send his guards?"
She went quiet.Then she tried to bite his back.
He swatted her again."What did I tell ye about waiting until we're naked before biting me?"
"Ye infuriating, lying cur!"she snapped.
***
THEY BICKERED AND ARGUEDthe entire way back to their rooms.Cormac marched her into their bedchamber, closed the door, and tossed her unceremoniously onto the bed.He followed her down, caging her within his arms.
"Now listen here, wife.And listen well.The next time ye try to run away from me, I will bend ye over my knee and give ye a good spanking.Then I'll tie ye to our bed for a week and make love to ye until ye stop thinking of leaving me every time something happens that ye dinnae like!"
He moved off her and stood, pacing, running his fingers through his hair.
She sat up.Her dress was crumpled, her hair askew, and she did not care.
"Ye better explain yerself, husband.Are ye as good as wed to another?"
"No.I was betrothed against my will and unknowingly.I left before the full brunt of the news reached me."
"So the king will decree that ye must wed her because she is the daughter of a nobleman and I am just—"
"Dinnae finish that sentence!"He scowled."Ye are my wife and I will murder anyone who says otherwise."
