Page 107 of Hold Fast

He was right about most of the clan having no affection for his late brother. It was a common subject of conversation in the village. He would not be missed. Perhaps Blair was onto something. Una turned the possibility over in her mind.

“You only want to marry me for revenge,” Joan said, her arms crossed over her chest as she looked up at Blair. “That isnae a good enough reason for me to marry.”

“’Tis better than half the other reasons people marry,” he snapped. But he leaned in close, whispering something in Joan’s ear so quietly that Una couldn’t make it out. In the moonlight, she saw Joan’s mouth go slack, her eyes softening.

“And if I refuse to marry you?” Joan whispered.

Blair stepped away from her, the previously warm expression on his face replaced with a detached coolness as he took a step towards Ewan, unsheathing his sword.

“Nay!” Una shrieked. Ewan growled, shoving Una behind him and raising his own sword.

“Oh, for the love of all that is good and holy in this world, stop!” Joan shouted, darting in front of Blair and pushing against his chest with both hands. He stopped, arrested. “You big brutes are so keen to kill each other. Maybe I should let you.”

Una pressed her own palms hard into Ewan’s chest, willing him to calm down, to be reasonable.

Behind her, Blair said, “I need your answer, Joan.”

Joan sighed. “Saints alive. I will marry ye, Blair Cameron. If for nae other reason than to calm your goddamned bloodlust.”

Something that might have been a smile briefly moved Blair’s beard. “Maddie,” he said without looking behind him, “please escort Joan to a chamber.”

Maddie. In all the commotion, Una had forgotten about her entirely. She was exhausted, the energy and fear of the past hour having drained her as it wore off.

“You willnae cast Maddie out for helping me,” Una pleaded.

“I dinnae ken what you’re talking about. I found her alone in the tunnel with a torch. Perhaps she got lost on her way to find me.”

Una had the energy to smile at him. Her eyes filled with tears.

“Thank ye, Bl—m’laird,” Una said, knowing that she had more to say, that this might be her only chance. “And I am sorry. The plan. I… I meant to send for you. I tried, but it—”

Blair shook his head. “Everything happened the way it was meant, Una. I am happy for you.”

“I am happy for you too, Blair,” she said with a trembling voice.

He nodded and slid his sword back into his scabbard.

Joan looked up at Blair. “I’ll be saying my goodbyes first.”

It all felt so final.Saying goodbye to Blair. Saying goodbye to Joan. Who knew when she would see her again? It wasn’t as if either of them knew how to write. And she didn’t imagine that Ewan would oft be willing to take her to visit the bride of his enemy. Although perhaps they wouldn’t be enemies any longer.

Joan rushed toward her and hugged her. Una squeezed her back as tightly as she could with her rounded belly between them.

In her ear, Una whispered, “If you dinnae truly want this, we will find a way to save you. I swear it.”

Joan pulled back, looking up at her. “All will be well. You’ll see, Una. I would have to marry sooner or later, and I could do far worse than marrying a laird, now couldn’t I?”

Una smiled in spite of herself.

“Besides,” Joan said, winking, “he’s got all his teeth, and beneath all that hair, I’m sure he’s still pleasing to look at.”

Una grinned and hugged her friend once more. Joan curtsied to Ewan before walking toward Blair and Maddie.

“Have ye a torch, m’laird, or are we expected to grope our way back into the keep?” Joan asked.

Blair rolled his eyes and huffed something that might have been a chuckle. “There’s a man with a torch just inside.” With that, he turned to follow Joan and Maddie.

“Just one man?” Ewan called out.