Allyson sat silently for a long moment while she digested the news that the documents had already been signed. She’d suspected as much before she left Stirling, but she’d ignored it as she took time to get to know Ewan.
“Ally, are you angry that it’s taken me so long to tell you?”
“No one told me, but I assumed as much. I’m not pleased that you didn’t speak up about it, but I had opportunities to ask and chose not to.” Allyson looked over at Ewan, whose worried expression made her realize that he hadn’t withheld the truth to manipulate her. “Would you allow me time to read it before I sign? I would be familiar with what provisions Father made for me should I end up a young widow. I don’t believe what happened to Mary would happen to me with your clan, but I need to be certain.” Allyson left unsaid that she needed to be reassured of where she would live, since she doubted the Elliots would welcome her back and she wouldn’t return to court. She needed to be certain she would have a roof over her head for herself and any daughters she might bear.
“I will ensure you have the opportunity, but lass, I already made certain my clan provides for you no matter what happens once we wed. Whether or not you bear a son, you will have a home with the Gordons.”
“You can’t be sure of that. If something happened to Eoin too, and we don’t have a son, then there would be no reason to keep me.”
“Keep you? You’re not a dog or a horse. You’ll be a member of the clan as soon as the priest pronounces us married. That won’t end with my death, Ally.”
Allyson nodded, but she was far from convinced. Even if her sister hadn’t had a disastrous experience, she was aware of what happened to unwanted widows. Even in the best of circumstances, clans rarely welcomed them home with open arms. The alliance would end, and an extra mouth to feed would return to the table. She prayed a convent wasn’t in her future. She would take a croft on a plot of land before making a life at an abbey, but she suspected that the latter would be her father’s solution.
“I can’t picture my father will be patient enough to wait for me to read it.” Allyson worried her lower lip, and Ewan exercised all his restraint not to touch her mouth and free her lip. He wanted to continue their conversation, and if he touched her, the temptation to kiss her would be too much.
“Technically, we aren’t required to have your signature to complete the agreement. However, our fathers’ and my signature made it binding, which means you’re as good as my wife even before the betrothal ceremony. Your guardianship passed to me, which means I can insist we give you as much time as you want to read them. I’m afraid seeing the documents beforehand wouldn’t make any difference if there’s something you disagree with.”
“I know. I just wish to prepare.”
“I’d ask you to handfast with me now if I thought it would offer you more protection, if it meant we could begin our lives together sooner.” Ewan’s brow furrowed as he realized he was saying he would marry Allyson that very moment if he could.
“It’s Lent. Whether either of us wants to handfast doesn’t matter. Any agreement you and I come to could be overturned while it’s made during the holy season.
Ewan considered the situation before nodding his head. He believed he had a resolution. “I will send the message with one of my men and direct my father to send them to me rather than your father. Once I’m in possession of them, we can read them together. If there is a term you want changed, I can propose an amendment.”
“If you suggest aught, my father’ll realize it’s because of me. He might refuse it and refuse you.”
“He won’t. I, at least, know the bride price my clan will pay is a hundred head of sheep. I’m aware the English killed most of your flock during a raid last summer. Your clan needs the livestock too much for your father to turn me away.” Allyson swallowed the lump in her throat as she closed her eyes to keep the tears from falling. She nodded but wouldn’t look at Ewan. “Ally?”
“I’m worth a flock of sheep.” Allyson’s voice trembled as she forced out the words. Ewan pulled Allyson into his arms and tucked her head against his chest. He held her as though he had the power to shield her from the rest of the world.
“Mo aingeal, you are worth a great deal more than sheep. I would pay all the gold in the world to make you my bride.”
“It still means I’m being sold.”
“It seems that way, and I suppose you’re right. But I’d rather see it as securing the privilege of being your husband.”
Allyson offered a watery smile. “Thank you for trying to make me feel better. I appreciate it.”
They broke apart and spent the rest of the afternoon gazing at the clouds, pointing to what they saw and making up silly stories just as Allyson had done as a child. This time she wasn’t alone.
* * *
Despite passing a glorious afternoon with Allyson beside the river, he still needed to address what happened in the garden the previous night. He wasn’t able to confront his brother until after the evening meal when they returned to their chamber.
“What were ye thinking allowing that wench to kiss ye?” Ewan demanded, his burr taking over his speech. “Didna ye think aboot Ally finding ye? Or any other bluidy person? What if someone discovered ye and didna wait to investigate if it was ye or me? They could have me betrothed to that bitch right now. What then? Would ye marry Ally? Is that what ye were hoping?”
“Nay. I dinna want to marry Allyson.” Eoin abandoned the pretense of a Lowland accent too.
“Why nae? What’s wrong with her?”
“Bluidy bleeding hell, Ewan. Ye ken I dinna think aught is wrong with her. I was the one trying to get ye to see that.”
“But ye said ye’d marry her.”
“Only if ye left her with nay choices. It was the honorable thing to do. But ye stepped up, and if I didna ken better, I might think ye’re soft on her.”
Ewan shrugged, then nodded. He never lied to his brother, and he wasn’t about to begin. “Ye ken I wasna here last eve. I didna do aught that would dishonor either of us, well naught that took her innocence. We had time to talk a tad, but when I woke this morn, it was the first time I ever awoke to a woman next to me and kenned exactly where I was and who I was with. It felt right.” He shrugged again before running his hand through his hair. “We spent all afternoon together, and we talked about a great deal of things. We continued telling each other more aboot our childhoods and our interests. We watched the clouds pass by and jested as we pointed out shapes, then told tales aboot what we saw. It was the best afternoon I’ve spent since we were weans. Every time I have the chance to learn more aboot her, I like what I discover.”
