Amanda Scott - [Border Trilogy 2] by Border Wedding Page A

his parents as his wife made him wince.
    His mother would accept his decision more easily than his father would. Buccleuch had definite notions of what sort of marriage he expected for his son. Having heard them all, Wat knew that marrying the daughter of a man his father disliked to avoid hanging would not figure among them.
    There was nothing else for it, though. He would have to take the lass to Scott’s Hall, his parents’ primary residence, in Rankilburn Glen. Not only was his tower not presentable—not to a gently bred noblewoman, at all events—but in his absence, it would not be as safe for a woman as Scott’s Hall.
    And he would soon be absent, certainly. With Douglas determined to stop the English in England and the English more determined than ever to conquer Scotland, Douglas would need Wat and as many men as he could take with him.
    Buccleuch would also follow where the Douglas led, making it even more important that the lady Margaret reside safely at the Hall with Lady Scott.
    As these thoughts flitted through Wat’s mind, he became aware that the two lassies by the postern door had disappeared. Footsteps crunched behind him, and turning, he saw Murray striding toward him, his left hand on his sword hilt.
    Although tempted to ask him if he feared attack from an unarmed man in his own bailey, Wat resisted and waited politely for his host to address him.
    With a jolt, he realized that the man would soon be his father-in-law.
    Murray tossed him a hairbrush. “I thought ye’d want to brush some o’ the tangles out o’ your hair,” he said.
    Wat caught the brush easily, but his mind was not on his hair, because Murray held a roll of foolscap in his other hand.
    The older man met his gaze. “I see ye’ve noted me documents, lad. Whilst ye were bathing I had yon mendicant friar draw up an agreement betwixt us two. I trow ye’ll ken your letters well enough to understand it.”
    “Aye, I can read,” Wat said. “What sort of agreement is it?”
    “Och, nobbut the usual sort to say ye agree to protect our Meggie and treat her well. Ye’ll likewise see she’s protected financially in the event o’ your death, and ye’ll recognize any bairns she may produce as your own.”
    “Let me see it,” Wat said, more to give himself time to think than because he doubted the documents were other than Murray had described.
    The friar’s writing was clear, and the words fairly leaped off the page.
    He glanced at Murray.
    The older man’s eyes gleamed with expectation.
    “It says here,” Wat said steadily, “that I also agree and give bond and promise that I will never again take up arms against any Murray of Elishaw.”
    “Aye, sure. ’Tis customary in such unions, where families may end up on opposing sides of important issues. Also, I’ll want your promise that ye’ll ride to my aid if ever I ha’ need o’ you.”
    “I don’t imagine I’d be likely to take up arms against my wife’s family,” Wat said. “And I’ll agree to ride to your aid unless Douglas himself is attacking you or the attack is by his order. But if you can accept my word as bond and promise to do those things, why must you force us into this marriage and bedding today?”
    “I told ye, because that road, I’ll no ha’ Buccleuch or the Douglas interfering. But if ye read on,” he added with a smirk, “ye’ll see that ’tis no just your word I’ll have as bond for these matters o’ taking up arms or riding to me aid.”
    “I have nowt else to offer you.”
    “I have those cattle, horses, and hounds that came from your pasture to my own, aye? But for insurance, ye’ll see just below that line there that if ye break either promise, ye’ll pay me a hundred merks as well.”
    Keeping his temper with difficulty, and only because he knew it would do him no good to lose it, Wat said, “I do not accept that those beasts are yours to keep, sir. But I’ll give you my word on the other. Do you mean to keep my dogs and my