Her words propelled him back to reality. ‘No Marion, you cannot and must not let this go further!’
She was silent as he let go of her; picking up the basket of berries and walking away, and the reality of her situation suddenly broke through the clouds of passion and desire.
‘You are right, Brice,’ Marion said, over her shoulder, ‘I am still your brother’s wife. I’m sorry for forgetting that while your lips and hands were telling me otherwise.’
Brice raked his fingers through his hair, catching up with her in a few short strides. ‘I see that I have upset you!’
‘I am vexed with you, yes,’ Marion said, fuming. ‘You tie my emotions up in knots, you do, Brice Murray!’
‘I do not mean to, Marion. I am just being cautious and …and…you are a virtuous girl and I don’t want to ruin your life.’
‘I see. Then you shall not kiss me again. Because I am virtuous and intend to keep it that way.’
‘You’re weeping,’ Brice remarked, looking in alarm at the tears pooling in her eyes and sliding rapidly down her cheeks. ‘What are these tears for? Don’t you see that I have done you a favor – leaving your virtue intact?’
Marion stopped and turned to him, dragging the back of one hand across her face. She looked like an angry child and Brice’s heart melted. ‘How can you call me moral, Brice? Or a woman of virtue? I am married to one man and being kissed by another. I desire you and not my husband. I have allowed myself to be abducted by the man I love, and live in a cottage in the middle of nowhere with this man. No, I am not moral. I would be, had I resisted your charms and tried to make my way back to Robert, or at least to my family.’
Her tears spilled down faster at the mention of her family, as a great wave of homesickness engulfed her. ‘Take me back to my family, Brice. This is wrong. All of it. It felt right and adventurous for a little while, but this is not what I want.’
Brice stood there looking helplessly at her. ‘Marion,’ he said, taking her hand. ‘Please listen to me. Only wait while I fight my war with my father and take over Bothwell and the Murray lands. Only wait until Robert is ready to dissolve his marriage to you, and then we can have our time together. I want to have you honestly – not like this.’
‘And is kidnapping me part of having me honestly?’
‘You speak in anger, Marion. You know I had to kidnap you or you would be well on the way to France by now, and married to a man who was only going to use you as a screen for who he really is. Think of what you have escaped – a life of loneliness and childlessness.’
Marion sniffled, dragging her sleeve across her face; the action only serving to further touch Brice’s heart. She was truly like a little child, he thought. He pulled her into his arms again. ‘I am sorry my little one,’ Brice said, ‘I will take you back to your parents if that is what you wish, and then come for you once my war is won.’
‘Will you, Brice?’ Marion asked, grateful for his consideration. Brice nodded and stroked her cheek.
‘So much has happened in so short a while,’ Marion said as they walked back, ‘And I am overwhelmed by all of it.’ She was walking into the clearing by the cottage as she spoke and Brice started and pulled her back into the thicket.
‘Wha..?’ Marion said, before Brice clamped his hand over her mouth and pulled her against him.
There were men by the cottage door talking with Wallace and Lainie. Brice and Marion couldn’t hear what they were saying, but by their expressions it seemed very serious.
‘Marion looked at Brice enquiringly.
‘We will have to wait until they are gone,’ Brice whispered.
‘Can you recognize them?’ she asked.
‘No. So I am not sure if they are foes or allies.’
They stood in the thicket looking at the men until they were forced to change location rapidly as the men moved away from the cottage and seemed to be walking in their direction. Brice pushed Marion back and reached for his sword, but they avoided the thicket altogether, and took a different route, going along the beaten path and not the way Brice and Marion had just come.