Page 106 of Her Accidental Highlander Husband

“The one where she told you she wouldn’t help raise your child so you needed to stay to do it your own self? Aye, I read it.”

“She’ll come around. She doesn’t have it in her to turn our daughter away when Lizzy needs a woman to guide her.”

Cam didn’t answer. For a moment she thought maybe he’d drifted off. When she looked up, she saw him staring at the ceiling. “What is it?”

“I’m sorry, Mari. I canna do this any longer.”

“You can’t do what?”

“Lie in bed with you and plan a future without ye.”

“But there’s so much I want you to know.” And so little time.

“Let’s run away. Tonight. We’ll be out of England before daylight.”

She sat up and winced, still tender from giving birth. She’d never manage to sit a horse, even if there was a chance.

“Cam, we can’t. The house is guarded. They’ll see us leave, and you’ll be arrested. We’ve talked about this.”

“Nay, you’ve talked about it. If I can come up with a way, will you at least hear it?”

“And spend the rest of our time arguing over false hope?” She kissed him, and he kissed her back. “I’d rather lie in your arms and know that you and Lizzy will be safe and happy.”

He let out a breath and nodded in agreement.

“Which means you’ll need to remarry,” she said.

“Marian MacKinlay, if you’ve any wish of not spending the rest of our time arguing, you’ll not suggest such a thing to me.”

“Very well. Just know that as long as the woman loves you and Lizzy, you have my blessing.”

He kissed her hard. “I need to stop your lips from moving.”

“I wish we’d been able to make love once more,” she said when he finally relented.

“Do you think you would have been happy with one more time? Wouldn’t ye just want another and another?” He took a deep breath.

“Yes. I would have.” It was the truth of it. Even if she’d lived a hundred years, she’d never have enough time with him.

Chapter Thirty-Seven

When the men arrived to take Mari to Guildhall, Cam fought them. It was beyond him to stand there peaceably and allow her to be taken. It was only by the grace of Adam Reeves that he’d not been arrested and thrown in the gaol next to his wife.

Cam had always been large, even as a lad. He’d been a formidable warrior with a strong sword arm. But in this he was completely helpless.

He managed to get himself together the next morning to attend the first day of her trial. She’d tried to prepare him for what would happen, but no amount of discussion would have readied him for the drivel these bewigged fools spewed in court.

“You claim self-defense, madam, however there is no prior claim that your husband injured you beyond his rights in the past.”

Cam’s stomach turned because as her husband the man had had the legal right to beat her. She was no better or worse than a horse to them. He’d heard of men who beat their horses to the ground without any repercussions. He could only imagine what went on in private with that type of man.

Cam had been born into a union joined by love and respect. He’d never so much as heard his father raise his voice to his mother. Yet she respected him.

“Correct, my lord, but I’m sure you understand why a woman in my position felt unsafe to file such a claim without a guarantee of protection.”

“Could you repeat that? I’m having difficulty understanding your heavy brogue.”

A number of the people in the hall laughed.