Rory’s neck and face turned red, and he asked, “May I speak frankly?”
Iain nodded. “Of course, but nae here. Walk with me.” Rory fell into step beside Iain, and they walked through the courtyard gate to the side garden, where Iain led Rory to a bench. When Rory gave him a questioning look, Iain said, “There are ears everywhere near the castle.”
“Ah,” Rory nodded. “Lots of tongues wagging at the castle, aye.”
“Aye,” Iain said, chuckling. “Ye’d nae believe the things I learn by listening to the kitchen lasses gossip as they move about the castle.”
“Such as?” Rory asked, taking the bait Iain had purposely put out there.
“Such as the fact that ye kissed my granddaughter last night, which makes me inclined to wonder, if ye took that liberty with her person last night, why ye said, ye ‘think’ ye’ve made your choice?”
Rory’s face turned a deeper shade of red, which made Iain chuckle, but then he purposely gave Rory a look he knew well had made lesser men piss their braies. He was glad when the man held his stare, showing he was not easily scared.
“’Tis my da and my mama in truth,” Rory finally said.
Iain didn’t know what he’d been expecting the man to say, but that certainly was not it.
“Care to explain?” he asked.
“’Tis fairly simple, really. I grew up in a household of constant strife. My mama and my da were always—still are—quarrelling. ’Twas misery. Da has always told me it was because my mama was nae a biddable woman, and I’m embarrassed to admit now, that I did nae question that, and I simply believed it. I decided some time ago, when I did finally have to succumb to marriage, that—
“Ye’ve been avoiding wedding?” Iain interrupted, wanting to make certain he was understanding what Rory was telling him.
“Aye. I was content to, er—”
“Tumble with the lasses?”
“Well, aye. I was nae particularly eager to wed, given my parents’ union. My da has always hammered into me to find a biddable woman, so I’d nae be stuck with a nag like my mama—his words, nae mine.”
“I see. And that’s why ye chose Lenora at first without keening either lass at all?”
“Well,” Rory chuckled. “I did ken Lillith. I kenned she shot me.” He paused and rolled his shoulder at those words. “I keened she had a sharp tongue, and I kenned right away she was nae biddable.”
“And now?” Iain prodded, curious to see where the man’s own mind had led him regarding Lillith and marriage, before Iain revealed what he knew of Rory’s parents’ marriage, which Iain suspected the man knew nothing about.
Rory looked contemplative for a moment before he began to speak. “And now, I’m thinking my strategy to seek a biddable wife may nae have been the best one.” Rory paused and scrubbed a hand over his face, clearly contemplative. “I do nae want a strifeful marriage, but I do nae want to be ill-matched either. And Lenora, well…”
“Aye,” Iain agreed, understanding what he was trying to say. “She’d nae be the right match for ye. Ye need spirit.”
Rory’s gaze widened. “Aye, but I fear what that might bring. Lillith, well, Lillith is fire.”
“Aye,” Iain agreed with a laugh, thinking of his wild granddaughter.
Rory inhaled a long breath. “I went last night to speak to my da about his and mama’s marriage, to ask him if mayhap their strife had less to do with mama nae being biddable and more to do with them simply nae being matched, but da had already left for home. We’d agreed he’d return right before Hogmanay.”
“I ken the history of yer parents’ if ye wish another perspective,” Iain offered.
“Ye do?” Rory asked, clearly surprised. “How came ye to be by the knowledge?”
“Several reasons. I apprenticed with yer da, and my mama befriended yer mama’s sister, who told her the history.”
“I’d like to hear what ye ken.”
Iain nodded. “Yer da wanted to wed yer aunt, nae yer mama, when the king ordered a wedding between the clans.”
“What? Are ye certain?”
“Aye. Everyone at court kenned it. Yer grandmama insisted the eldest lass, yer mama, be the one to fulfill the edict. I do nae ken a woman alive who’d appreciate the knowledge that she was nae her husband’s choice to wed.”
