Page 28 of The Eagle

He imagined the three women, not that he had any idea what Lila Maclean looked like. The only one that held any appeal was Cait.

“Ye will keep yer word to my daughter.”

“It was not I who broke the betrothal, but ye,” Stuart rebutted.

“Do not contradict me,” the laird replied. “Ye remain without a wife, therefore ye can marry Flora.”

Stuart looked to the other men in the room and then to two maids who stood frozen with trays of food. Obviously, they were unsure if to serve or wait.

One of them gave him a worried look.

Like a maiden, he’d been kidnapped and would be forced to marry.

“Will my virtue also be taken by force?” Stuart asked while staring at the laird. Once again it was hard not to laugh.

A chuckle escaped. “Ye should be aware that I am not a virgin.”

The Uisdein, Ethan, and the others exchanged annoyed looks, as he began laughing so hard, he was doubled over.

“Not another word. And stop laughing,” Laird Uisdein growled. “Ye must marry Flora.”

Stuart could barely speak between each eruption of laughter. “Mar-ry. I… must marry…” He laughed so hard his sides ached and unable to stand, he lowered to the floor. “My predicament is to choose between three women… ha ha ha…”

“What is the matter with him?” the Uisdein asked.

“He was laughing and throwing up on the bìrlinn,” Ethan replied. “I have never seen a man in hysterics, but I do believe that is what happens.”

“They are here,” someone announced, which for some reason made him laugh even harder. It was to the point that he too wondered if he’d gone absolutely mad. Stuart pulled himself up to a chair breathing hard in an effort to regain some semblance of composure.

“Ye either marry or die.” The Uisdein warned him and then turned away and shouted, “Where in the devil is Flora?”

“She and yer wife have barricaded themselves in her bedchamber, my laird,” someone said.

If not for the fact he was in pain from laughing so hard, Stuart would have erupted into more. Instead, he shook his head and said, “I’m going home.” He straightened and stumbled through the great room and out the door.

No one stopped him.

Upon reaching the gates, guards blocked him from leaving and without a weapon he was at their mercy. In that moment, he considered the fact that if he died today, it didn’t matter.

He walked up to one of the guards and punched him in the stomach as hard as he could. Caught by surprise, the man doubled over.

When he was grabbed from behind, Stuart swung and with great satisfaction felt his fist sink into someone’s face. He fought with all his might, not caring about the consequences. Unfortunately, after laughing so hard, he was weak. It didn’t matter. He reached deep into his last resources of strength and managed to hold his own for a few minutes.

Obviously, the guards had been instructed to contain him, not kill him, because they did not draw their swords. Four against one, Stuart was aware he would lose the fight, but it did not stop him from doing as much damage as he could.

When a strike sunk into his gut, he doubled over letting out a loud whoosh of breath. He tried to lift his arms to defend against the next blow, but it was impossible he’d used up his last bit of strength.

Just as he fell to the ground, war cries sounded, and arrows flew overhead impaling the ground all around him.

What was his brother thinking? He could be struck as well.

Then again, fury made little sense.

Realizing his brother would not stop until he got his revenge, Stuart took advantage of the guard’s distraction and raced over to the wall and stood next to the gates where the arrows would not strike.

Thundering hooves were quickly followed by the gates hit by battering rams and flying open. The guards had been slow to close them, so the Ross warriors were able to breach moments later.

Darach’s blond mane flew around his head as he swung his sword from atop his horse.