Alex started to return to his work, then saw that his adopted sister was still peering at him. “What?” he asked, a trifle irritated. “Is there somethin’ more?”
“Theyalsosay she can be a little headstrong,” Lorna added. “I tell ye this now so that ye may prepare yourself for such a trait when it manifests itself, rather than overreactin’ tae the tiniest imperfection as ye so often do.”
“I most certainly do nae overreact!” Alex shot back.
She sighed. “Very well. I will simply say this: It’s nae bad thin’ for a woman tae have a mind of her own, Alexander Oliphant. Even one who is bein’ married off out of convenience. Mind that yer expectations are nae so high they cannae possibly be met. Give this lass a chance.”
“I will do so,” he replied archly, “for the sake of the clan.”
“In that case,” she said with a nod, “I will leave ye tae write yer response tae Laird Hamish. And Alex?”
“Aye?” he thundered, wanting nothing more than to be finished with this conversation.
Lorna gave him a smirk. “Congratulations on yer impendin’ nuptials. I wish ye all the best.”
And with that, she withdrew, shutting the door behind her.
Ah, she could be infuriating. Even if Alex knew that she loved him very much, and had always had his best interests at heart. He cared for her a great deal in turn, and had always been grateful to her for acting as a sort of mother to him and the other boys—though he rarely expressed that to her directly).
Alex sat and rubbed his temples for a few moments, wondering what he was getting himself into. Then he laid out a sheet of paper, dipped his quill into the inkpot, and began to write:
Laird Hamish,
Thank you for your letter. The offer does, indeed, still stand, and so I shall stand ready to receive your charming daughter when she arrives.
I am happy that our clans shall be united soon.
Most Sincerely,
Laird Alex Oliphant
Alex felt as though the missive was too brusque, but in truth, he could not think of anything more to write that would read as genuine. He was not wholly enthused by the notion of marrying a woman he didn’t really know, but after what had happened with the MacGregors, he knew he had little choice in the matter.
He sealed the letter, then took it down to the messenger in the kitchens.
4
The carriage bucked and bumped down the stony road toward Castle Oliphant. Four MacDonell guardsmen kept tight formation around it on horseback, their eyes scanning the horizon and the surrounding woods for bandits or other potential threats.
So far, though, their journey had been uneventful. Which, unfortunately, had provided Isla with plenty of time to ruminate sadly on her prospects for the future.
Elspeth sat across from her, and so did a young woman named Lily, who had been Isla’s favorite—and most trusted—servant for years. Lily was skinny and sallow, with mousy brown hair, thick eyebrows, and large eyes that were heavy-lidded and bulged slightly. Her long and tapered fingers fidgeted in her lap nervously, and she glanced at Isla uneasily every few moments, as though silently lamenting her mistress’s distress.
“You needn’t sulk so, Isla,” Elspeth informed her primly. “Why, one might think you were aboot tae be hanged or beheaded, instead of on your way to marry a perfectly suitable groom!”
“How am I meant tae believe he’s ‘perfectly suitable’ when I ken practically nothing aboot him?” Isla protested.
“Oh, but there is a great deal which is known aboot him!” Lily piped up. “He’s said tae have grown all the more handsome since the last time you saw him all those years ago, and he’s known tae be a fair and wise laird tae his clan!”
“That is all very true,” Elspeth chimed in encouragingly. “He’s quite often praised for his leadership and strength. His people follow him without question, and he demands naught but the best from them at all times. For that reason, the Oliphant Clan’s members are renowned for their skill and discipline.”
“This is who I am tae wed, then?” Isla countered. “Some fierce disciplinarian, who will expect nothing but perfection from me at all times? Am I tae spend my every waking moment struggling to meet with his approval?”
“There are far worse things to dread when it comes tae a prospective husband!” Elspeth reprimanded her sharply. “He is neither a cruel man, nor a drunk, nor a weakling! He will give you a safe and lovely place tae live, he will protect you, and—by the grace of God—you will, in turn, give him sons! This is the way of the world for a lass of your age and station, and ‘tis time you grew up and accepted it once and for all! I’ll not have you sulking and moping aboot when you’re brought before him, not when your father and I have worked so hard to find an acceptable groom for you! The matter has been decided, and that’s all there is to it!”
Isla folded her arms over her chest, frustrated. She did not care what this man looked like, or how neatly he ran his clan. She only knew that she felt nothing for him, and that he would feel nothing for her, since they were barely acquainted. She had no doubt that Laird Alex would view her the same way her father did: As property, something convenient to barter with, nothing more.
As far as she was concerned, she had been condemned to a gray and awful existence with no emotion, no passion, nothing to live for except pleasing a husband—who, from the sound of it, was notoriously difficult to please—and producing an heir for him.
