Page 92 of The Guardian's Bride

“I do not travel well on water.”

“Wish I had known that,” he snapped.

“So do I. You would have left me in Dunfermline.”

“You would have come with us if we had to drag you over land. Boats are faster. We will reach Carlisle tonight and you will face the king.”

“What will he do?”

“He will not be interested in your troubles.” He sat beside her. “Listen. Edward wants you brought to him. Aye, there is a charge against you, but if you agree to certain things, I can still help you.”

She did not answer. The boat was skimming fast, and she felt the sickness begin again. She gulped fresh air to delay it.

“Give me your promise, and all this will be gone.”

“I am not a fool.” She slid him a glance.

“You are foolish to refuse a marriage that would solve your problems.” He lifted her hand to examine the gold band and letgo. “You escaped with MacDuff because there has always been something between you.”

“That is not your concern.” She turned a shoulder to him.

“He puts you in jeopardy with the king. Pledge to me instead so I can help you. Otherwise, you take unnecessary risks.”

“I do not take risks.” But she had done so with Aedan, and would never regret it.

“Once Edward learns the name of your betrothed, you will have signed MacDuff’s death warrant. And there is the other matter.”

She did not look at him. “What other matter?”

“Have you gathered the Rhymer’s things to relinquish to Edward, as ordered?”

Feeling an urge to touch the silver chain at her neck, she kept still. “I have not been to Kincraig since Edward made that petulant demand.”

“Soldiers will be sent there to take those things. It will not go well for your kin.”

“You want those things as badly as Edward does. But they will not benefit you.”

“A king’s writ is a serious thing.”

“Edward’s writs can be ignored on Scottish soil. They are not legal.”

“Are you a legal mind now, not just an herb-wife and silly female?”

“One of my sisters recently married a justiciar. Ask him what is legal in your actions here.”

“Well then. A legal marriage would benefit both of us. Brother Hugo can take care of that on this very boat. That would cancel your promise to MacDuff.”

“You are persistent, I credit you that.” She swept her hair back in the breeze.

He stood. “We will be on this river for a while, then we will ride the rest of the way. You have a little time to think it over.”

“I have done enough thinking.” The words brought Aedan to mind so keenly that tears pooled in her eyes. She blinked them away, and rested her head back, feeling again a heavy, unnatural urge to sleep.

When she woke, she heard Malise and Abernethy talking nearby. Straining to hear, she kept her eyes closed.

“Still following us? Good! But they cannot be allowed to sail too close. Not yet.”

“How do we prevent that?” Abernethy asked. “They have been behind us all the way, and now they are sailing the river too. They could be on us if we do not hurry.”