1
“Stop whispering and simply say it to me face.”
Ariella stepped fully into the solar as she spoke, skirts swishing about her ankles, chin tipped high. Her mother and older brother broke apart like guilty children caught at mischief.
Caitlin Milligan flinched first. “Ariella, love, ye should have knocked.”
“If ye did nae wish me to hear,” Ariella replied, shutting the door firmly behind her, “ye should nae have used me name.”
Her heart beat too quickly. The room smelled of peat smoke and lavender, familiar and safe, yet the air felt sharp, strained, as if the walls themselves were listening.
Her mother wrung her hands, twisting her kerchief so tightly the linen creaked. Frederick only watched Ariella with that guarded look he wore when he thought she might break.
“As it happens,” he said at last, “we were about to send for ye.”
“I am here now,” she answered. “So tell it to me plain.”
Frederick cleared his throat. He looked every inch the laird, tall and broad, dark hair tied back, plaid settled over his shoulder, yet there was something boyish in the way his gaze flicked to their mother, as though seeking permission.
Caitlin stepped toward Ariella, smoothing her already neat sleeve. “Yer betrothed is near, mo chridhe,” she said softly. “He will arrive before nightfall.”
The word struck like a stone.Betrothed.
Ariella kept her expression carefully composed, though her fingers curled into her skirts. “So it is settled, then. I am to be married without so much as a proper conversation. How efficient of ye both.”
Her mother’s mouth trembled. “We spoke of it, lass. When ye were ill, Frederick and I, we agreed that if a good match came, we would consider it.”
“When I was feverish and half senseless,” Ariella said, heat rising in her chest. “That was the time ye chose to discuss me future. Very considerate.”
Her mother reached for her hand. “We only wanted to protect ye. Ye ken how fragile ye were, all those years, and then last winter, when ye took sick again. We feared losing ye.”
“I did nae die,” Ariella said, voice low. “And I am growing quite tired of being treated as though I might at any moment, though.”
Frederick stepped forward, placing himself between the women, as if he could shield them from each other’s hurt. “Ariella, listen to me. This is a strong alliance. With it, we secure our people’s safety.”
Silence fell. Her pulse roared in her ears, yet her voice emerged cool. “SoIam the coin ye paid.”
“Ariella,” Frederick said quietly, “our father left more debt than we expected. We need this.”
“Then why will ye nae even tell me his name,” she demanded. “Why will ye nae tell me what manner of man he is, this stranger who will be me husband?”
Her mother made a faint sound. “We did nae wish to frighten ye.”
“Frightenme, maither?” Ariella’s eyebrows lifted with a newfound horror.
Frederick scrubbed a hand over his face. “We should have told ye sooner. His is Hunter Murdoch. Younger brother to the Lairdof McNeill. He is said to be clever, light of manner, quick with words. I met him when we sealed the agreement. He did nae seem ill disposed.”
Her jaw hit the floor. “The Brute of McNeill’s younger braither? Ye must be in jest. Ye can nae be serious.”
“Ariella,” her mother chided, but the edge had gone out of her voice, replaced by weariness.
“Sister, do see reason. It is our duty to secure our clan in any way we can.”
Duty.
Ariella held her inhale for a moment longer than normal before she let out a shaky exhale, her hands fisting at her sides.
“If ye wish me to do me duty, nay… If I am to marry for the good of McIntosh, then tell me clearlywhywe need this.”
