So, it was true. That arrogant, blood-smeared Matheson hadn’t been spouting nonsense after all. She thought back to his smug expression when he’d asked about her sister. “Da would nae break his promise!” Lillith whispered, fury building in her chest. She grabbed her sister’s wrist and pulled her toward the staircase that led to their da’s private solar with Masie following. Lillith’s heart pounded against her ribs as she took the steps two at a time, practically dragging Lenora behind her.
“Lillith, wait!” Lenora pleaded, stumbling on the worn stone steps. “Ye’re moving too fast!”
“The men of our family are up there deciding yer fate,” Lillith shot back, not slowing her pace. She did not believe for one breath that her mama, aunts, and grandmama would agree to this atrocity! Suddenly, Lenora was beside her and then in front of her, tugging Lillith up the stairs. Lillith grinned at her sister. “That’s the spirit, Lenora! Fight for yer future, and yer right to wed for love, though honestly, I kinnae understand why ye wish to wed at all.”
“And I do nae understand why ye do nae wish for a husband.”
“Because I do nae want to be ruled by any man for the rest of my life, thank ye verra much,” Lillith responded as they reached the corridor leading to their da’s solar. Lillith caught up to Lenora’s stride and pressed a finger to her lips to indicate that they needed to be quiet. The heavy oak door stood imposingly at the end of the hallway, its iron hinges gleaming dully in the torchlight. Even from this distance, the raised voices from within drifted to her. Lillith released Lenora’s hand as she moved toward the door.
“We should nae be here,” Lenora whispered, wringing her hands. “I should nae have listened at the door in the first place. If Da catches us…”
Lillith swiveled toward her sister. “If we do nae ken exactly what’s occurring and why, and where everyone stands, we kinnae fight what they might try to make ye do!”
Lenora nodded, and they continued toward the door. When they reached it, Lillith pressed her ear against the rough wood while Lenora stood beside her, once again worrying her lip. Inside, the voices had risen to near shouts. They were muffled but sharp enough to make Lillith flinch.
“I absolutely will not stand for this!” That was their Grandmama Marion’s voice. Her English accent always became more pronounced when she was vexed. “These girls were promised they could choose their own husbands!”
“The king has spoken, Marion,” came Granda Iain’s deeper tones, weary but resolute. “I’ll ask ye, yet again—would ye have us lose MacLeod lands over this?”
“I would have Royce not break his word to our granddaughters!” rebutted Grandmama Marion.
“I am in total agreement with your mother!” came the enthusiastic reply of their stepmama, Eve. Lillith grinned at theprotective fury she heard in Eve’s voice. Her English accent also got heavier when she was vexed.
A male voice—Uncle Brus, Lillith thought—said something too low to hear clearly, followed by what sounded like a scoffing laugh from possibly Aunt Sebille.
“The Mathesons have been our enemies for generations,” their da said. Lillith was glad he sounded frustrated. That boded well for his not agreeing to the king’s demands. “Do ye think I want this?” Lillith didn’t know who he was asking, but she didn’t like where this seemed to be leading. “Da is right.”
Lillith bit down hard on her lip at her da’s words.
“The king has decreed—”
“The king’s decree be damned!” Aunt Elena’s fiery temper was unmistakable. “Ye promised them, Royce. Ye swore they could wed for love, brother, nae political advantage!”
Uncle Rolland’s voice followed, though Lillith couldn’t make out his words. A chorus of female voices rose in objection.
“Enough!” Their da’s voice suddenly thundered above the rest, silencing the room. “I’m laird of this clan, and what I say goes,” he bellowed. “Either Lillith or Lenora will wed Rory Matheson by order of the king by Winter Solstice, and if either of the girls refuses, then it is off to the nunnery for them.”
Lillith pulled away from the door, shaking in fury and shock. Da had said either her or Lenora, so it had not been decided who Rory Matheson was to wed when she met him—except, well, except apparentlyhehad concluded upon meeting her that he had no wish to wed her. She felt strangely offended and relieved. But poor Lenora!
Lillith’s mind raced. Winter Solstice would be upon them before they knew it. She understood her da had been given an impossible choice, but he had promised them they could choose their husbands if they so wished. She felt as if all their talk of choice and freedom had been nothing but empty words toplacate them until they were old enough to be useful in political alliances. She didn’t care if she wasn’t being fair. Da was not being fair. The king was not fair. Life was not fair.
Inside the solar, the argument had resumed, though at a lower volume.
“You’re allowing the king to use our girls as pawns, Royce,” Eve said. Lillith found herself nodding in agreement. Yes, Da’s choice was impossible, but he had a choice, and he’d made it, apparently.
“I’m protecting our clan,” he insisted. “If we refuse, the king will seize MacLeod lands. Would ye have our people homeless? Our clan scattered?”
Lillith bit her lip. She would not wish that, and she knew Lenora would not either, but there must be another way.
“There must be another way,” Grandmama Marion stated, as if she’d read Lillith’s mind.
Suddenly, the latch on the door clicked, and before Lillith or Lenora could retreat, the heavy door swung inward. Grandmama Marion halted in the doorway, her petite figure framed by the other women of the family lined up behind her—Eve, Aunt Elena, and Aunt Sebille.
Grandmama Marion’s eyes widened momentarily as she took Lillith in and then Lenora, and she offered a look of assurance to them, which Lillith found immensely comforting. The women had clearly departed the solar as one, leaving the men behind to stew in their righteous indignation.
“I know you two heard us arguing,” Grandmama Marion said. “Don’t fret. We’ll come up with a plan.”
Lillith glanced past her grandmama to where her stepmama stood, eyes red-rimmed but resolute. Eve gave Lillith and Lenora a slight nod, as if to confirm Grandmama Marion’s words.
