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Gabriel shook his head. The blacksmith nodded and started the ceremony.
A few brief sentences from the blacksmith and a couple of lines of vows later, they were married. The blacksmith bound their hands with the knot over the stone, and that was it. From this moment on, they were bound for life.
“Do not untie this knot until ye consummate the marriage,” the blacksmith said with a smirk. “Bad omen.”
Gabriel raised a brow at her, and Evie shook her head with a smile. There would be no consummation of the marriage for them. They’d just have to take their chances with the old superstition.
The moment they exited the smithy, Gabriel looked down at her.
“Are you certain you’re willing to risk the bad omen? Because—”
“There they are!” Gabriel was interrupted by a loud shout. They turned to see a short man running in their direction. The same man who’d spotted them by the inn the night before, only now he had a knife in his grip. Two more men were coming toward them from either side, each of them holding pistols in their hands.
“But… we haven’t even untied the knot yet,” Evie complained.
Gabriel clutched her hand in a harsh grip and shoved her behind his back. She hit his shoulder blade with her cheek and whimpered.
“Apologies,” Gabriel whispered, “but stay back, all right?”
“But—”
“No buts, I’m your husband now, and you promised to obey me just a minute ago.”
“That—”
“Not. A. Word,” he hissed each word between his teeth and then addressed the men in his most sophisticated accent. “What can I do for you, gentlemen?”
“You can hand over the lass; that’s what you can do,” the biggest one sneered at him.
“I’m afraid I can’t do that,” Gabriel said with a shrug. “I shan’t be handing overmy wifeto anyone.”
“She’s not your wife yet,” the smallest one yelled out. “Not unless you managed to bed her right there on the wedding stone.”
All three men guffawed, and Gabriel joined in with them. Evie clutched his right arm in a vise-like grip and peeked out from behind him. Gabriel ran a thumb over her hand in soothing motions.
Evie relaxed under his ministrations, her logic returning to her. She slowly but determinedly started working on the knots. If they untied themselves, they’d be able to run easier.
“We precipitated our vows.” Gabriel shrugged. “Even if we didn’t, there is no way for you or anyone else to dissolve this marriage. Not unless you prove me incapable to consummate it. And if you know who I am, you will have no doubt I do not have this issue. So, I’d suggest you return to your master and say that the woman he’s after is another man’s property now.”
Property?Evie stopped midway through untying the knot and shoved him slightly between his shoulder blades. His hand tightened around her arm in warning.
“But we don’t know who you are,” the third man said with a shrug. “And I don’t care. Our job is to get the lass. And we’ll get her.”
Evie untied the knot at that moment and freed their hands. She rubbed her sore wrist, then fumbled in her reticule before stepping forward.
“How much?” she asked, holding her hands behind her back. “How much did he pay you? Because I can pay you more.”
The men’s eyes glinted with greed.
Gabriel quickly shoved her back behind him. “Do not move,” he whispered fiercely. “Until I tell you to.”
“Let the lady speak,” one of them shouted.
Evie couldn’t believe he wasn’t going to let her pay them with her money! Although, now that she thought about it, as of two minutes ago, all her money belonged to him. Or, to use his words, was his property. Was he really that greedy, that he’d sacrifice their lives for a few extra coins?
“Leave her out of it. Deal with me.” Gabriel threw the words at the thugs. At that moment, Evie heard the door open behind them, and a huge shadow cast over them. She turned and saw the blacksmith, the man who’d married them, step out onto the porch.
The thugs staggered back as one and looked at each other.
