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“I claim her,�� Albert said. “I will marry the lass.��
Josephine and Laurin gasped in wide-eyed astonishment.
Josephine reached out and grabbed Laurin’s hand to keep her from either falling off her mount, or jumping down in order to run away.
Helmert threw his head back and laughed. Darvord and Clarence joined in.
From her vantage point, Josephine could see the murderous glare in Albert’s eyes. She could also see that he was quite serious.
After several long moments of guttural laughter, Helmert looked up at Albert. “Ye cannae be serious? Ye want to marry Laurin? She has no dowry or name to offer ye.��
“She does no�� need a dowry or a name,�� Albert told him firmly. “I have a bride price.�� He reached into his sporran and removed a leather bag filled with coins and tossed it to Helmert. “One hundred and eight merks,�� he said before turning away to head toward the horses.
Not one MacAulay brother or man moved, for they were frozen in place by what they’d just seen. Tightfisted Albert, the man who rarely parted with his money, had just paid an unbelievable amount of coin for Laurin’s freedom. ’Twas a shocking moment no one would soon forget.
Helmert was also surprised, but for different reasons. He tested the weight of the pouch and looked up at Albert. “Be ye certain ye want her?��
Albert answered with a stone-cold glare.
“She be no�� pure, ye ken?�� Helmert said. “She’s been used more times than a —��
Albert did not give him time to finish the taunt. He drew back and slammed a large fist into Helmert MacAdam’s nose. Helmert fell back and landed with a thud . Rivulets of blood ran from his nose and trailed down his cheek. Neither of his friends bothered to step forward to offer any assistance. Albert stood over him. “I be no�� as kind as me brother. I do no�� give any man the opportunity to insult me betrothed.”
― Suzan Tisdale, Isle of the Blessed