Chapter Eighteen
Madeline finally learns to have faith in Alex and to stand up for herself.
Alex caught movement out of the corner of his eye.
He turned and gaped when he realized how close Madeline was to him.
She took another step toward him, her eyes locked directly onto his, fear radiating from every ounce of her being.
Toward him? She was finally moving toward him?
He immediately felt a little tug in his chest, but he fought the urge to let a smile steal over his face.
By the saints, he would banish that fear from her eyes forever.
He knew what he had to do. He pointed to Madeline, and in an instant, his brothers and three of his soldiers had circled around her.
He then turned to Niles Comming, raised his sword, and shouted, “The lass marries me!”
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Madeline jump in surprise.
Kenneth hopped up and down as if possessed and shouted, “She’ll never agree, Grant. She is a dead woman if she marries you.”
He lurched toward Madeline but was restrained by several soldiers.
“I will kill her with my bare hands if she agrees. Madeline, do you hear me? I will kill you, but not until I beat you near to death first! If you think the last time was bad, wait until you see what happens this time. You will never be able to walk again.”
The angry roar of the crowd practically masked the conversation.
“I have not heard it from her, Grant!” Niles bellowed. “She would not dare to marry you when she knows she is mine.”
“She will agree to marry me. Will you not, my lady?” He turned to Madeline, who was still surrounded by his men.
Madeline blanched and said, “May I have a word with you, Laird?”
Lowering his voice, he said, “Just say ‘aye’ Maddie and your troubles are over.”
“But could I please have a word first?” she asked beseechingly.
“Are you jesting with me, Maddie?”
The Comming chuckled. “She’s daft, Grant. Have you not learned that yet?”
Alex waited patiently for a moment. What was the lass thinking? He knew she was upset by the presence of her two tormentors. But were not lasses supposed to be thrilled by proposals of marriage?
“She does not sound so agreeable to me, Grant!” Niles taunted.
“Please!” she cried.
Alex gazed into her big blue eyes and recognized the fear in them. He sighed, sheathed his sword, and stepped inside the protective circle his warriors had formed around Madeline. They had to step apart to make room for his broad shoulders.
“What is it, Maddie?”
“I think it should be in private, Alex.”
Close to losing his patience, Alex ground out, “Niles and Kenneth cannot hear you. We do no’ have time, Maddie, you must ask me in front of my men.”
Madeline leaned toward him and whispered, “All right. If you give me your word that you will not tie me to the marriage bed, I will agree to marry you.”
The guardsmen shuffled their feet and stared off into the distance.
Alex’s brow furrowed, “What did you say?”
“If you promise not to tie me to the marriage bed, I will agree to marry you,” she said as she gazed into his eyes. “Please, Alex, I need your word on this.” He noticed her wringing her hands as she spoke. He raised his eyes to hers but could not bring himself to say a word.
That bastard had tied her to the bed? Raping her had not been enough for him?
No wonder the lass was afraid of him. He studied her in amazement.
In telling him this, she had confirmed two things.
One, this woman would give him the strongest lads in the land.
Two, Niles would never make it to the dungeon.
Alex squeezed her hand, then stepped out of the group of warriors surrounding Madeline. He heard Brodie whisper to Robbie. “This will not be good.”
Then Madeline’s sweet voice said, “I do not understand.”
“Oh, you will understand in a minute, my lady!”
Alex did the only thing he was capable of doing at that moment. Roaring, he unsheathed his sword, swung it over his head in a circle, and rushed toward Niles Comming. In his mind, all he could see was his Maddie tied to a bed as Niles Comming grinned and grunted over her.
“Untie him and get him a weapon! This is between you and me, Comming. I fight you for my betrothed’s honor. We fight to the death!”
“Gladly, Grant. I have waited for the moment to use a sword on you. But know that I will be the last man standing!” Niles snickered. “First, you die, Grant, then I will have my fun with the lass again.”
Madeline grabbed Brodie’s shoulder to keep from swooning.