“It seems we have our strategy then,” Grandmama Marion said softly. “Lenora will bore him to tears, and Lillith will wound his pride beyond recovery. The king’s decree specifically states that Rory Matheson must wed one of Royce’s daughters,” Grandmama Marion continued, leaning forward and lowering her voice to little more than a whisper. “But if Rory himself refuses both matches…”
“Then only the Matheson Clan would bear the king’s displeasure,” Aunt Elena finished, her eyes widening with understanding.
“Exactly,” Grandmama Marion nodded. “The MacLeods could claim they were willing, but ’twas the Mathesons who broke the agreement.”
Lillith found herself drawn back to the table where her family was sitting, the excitement of the plan overcoming her restlessness. “It will work,” she whispered, taking the empty seat between Lenora and her mama. “But we need to ensure that Rory rejects us both firmly and publicly, so there is nae any doubt where the blame lies.”
“And meanwhile, Lenora,” Eve added, “I will speak to your da about Caleb. Perhaps there’s a way to help him pass the warrior test.”
Lenora’s face lit up with hope. “Truly?”
“I make no promises,” Eve cautioned, “but I’ll try. In the meantime, we must focus on our plan.”
The chamber door swung open without warning, making Lillith jump. She whirled toward the intrusion, her heart leaping into her throat, to find her da, granda, Uncle Brus, and Uncle Rolland filling the doorway. Their faces wore varying expressions of determination and self-satisfaction that made Lillith’s stomach clench with foreboding.
“Do nae any of ye ken how to knock?” Aunt Elena demanded, rising to her feet with the other women quickly following.Lillith’s gaze found Lenora’s, and as Lillith had expected, Lenora had gone pale at the sight of their da. Lillith hoped Lenora could accomplish her part of their plan. Masie lifted her head from the bed, a low growl rumbling in her throat until Lillith hushed her with a sharp gesture.
Granda Iain stepped forward, his weathered face creased with a smile that looked entirely too pleased with himself. “We’ve come with good news,” he announced, while sweeping his gaze over Lillith and Lenora before settling it on Grandmama Marion. Lillith vowed his eyes gleamed with hopefulness, and the thought that he wanted to smooth things with their grandmama made her heart swell.
“Indeed?” Grandmama Marion’s voice could have frozen the loch in summer. “And you felt the need to burst in unannounced to deliver it?”
“’Tis our own home, is it nae?” Uncle Brus countered, though Lillith noticed he shifted uncomfortably under Aunt Sebille’s withering stare.
“What news?” Eve asked, her tone forcibly neutral as she met da’s gaze.
Granda Iain clasped his hands before him, looking every inch the diplomat. “Rory has decided—at my suggestion—that he would like to take time to get to know both Lillith and Lenora before making his final choice of bride.”
Lillith felt as though the floor had dropped away beneath her feet. She honestly did not think this would happen, though she had sat here moments ago and come up with a plan just in case of a twist of events like this. “He has agreed to this even after I shot him, and he said he’d decided on Lenora?” she heard herself ask, her voice sounding distant to her own ears.
“Aye,” her da confirmed, his expression softening somewhat as he looked at her. “Now, both of ye will have time to get to ken the man one of ye will wed.”
Their granda nodded his agreement, looking pleased with himself.
Lillith took a long breath. “And ye consider this good news?” She wanted to scream when her granda, her da, and her uncles nodded.
“Of course,” Granda Iain replied, apparently oblivious to the fact that neither Lillith nor any of the other women looked pleased. “Ye’ll both have the opportunity to show him yer true natures before he decides. ’Tis a brilliant compromise, if I do say so myself.”
“Brilliant?” Grandmama Marion stepped forward, her silver hair catching the light as she faced her husband with steely determination. Her small frame seemed to grow taller with indignation. “The suggestion you thought was brilliant,” she said, poking his chest, “is still the men deciding the women’s futures. Therefore, the quarrel is still on.”
A muscle ticked in Granda Iain’s jaw. “God’s blood, Marion, I was trying to give the lasses more time—more choice in the matter!”
“More choice?” Grandmama Marion scoffed. “They still have no choice at all! One of them must wed him—the only ‘choice’ is which one he prefers after inspecting them like prized mares at market!”
The tension between husbands and wives filled the room like a physical presence. Uncle Rolland exchanged a glance with Uncle Brus that spoke volumes about their reluctance to be caught in this particular battle. Lillith’s da looked torn between frustration with his mama and sympathy for Lillith and Lenora.
“’Tis better than it was before,” Da finally said, his tone placating. “At least this way they’ll have time to—”
“Time to what, Royce?” Eve interrupted, her English accent growing more pronounced with her agitation. “Time to resign themselves to their fate?”
The men exchanged frustrated glances. Granda Iain’s face darkened with stubborn pride, which was an expression Lillith recognized from her own reflection when she was set upon a course and would not be swayed.
“I see this discussion is pointless,” he said, rubbing at his neck and then rolling his shoulders. She imagined his fight with Grandmama Marion was giving him knots. “Perhaps when ye have all had time to consider the advantages of my arrangement, ye’ll all see its wisdom.”
“Do not hold your breath waiting for that day,” Grandmama Marion replied sweetly, though her eyes remained hard as Highland flint.
With a curt nod that did little to mask his frustration, Granda Iain turned and strode from the room. The other men followed, Da pausing briefly in the doorway to cast an apologetic glance toward Lenora and Lillith before pulling the door firmly shut behind him.
The room fell silent for several heartbeats after their departure. Lillith felt numb with shock. She could hardly believe Rory Matheson had agreed to get to know her after she had shot him and how he had acted. Now, they would be thrust together, and she would have to endure his presence, judgment, and insufferable arrogance. Thank the gods she had a plan!
