Chapter Two
"MacRoth searches hard for a husband for his daughter,” the king observed dryly. “Has he aproached you yet, MacLagan?"
"Aye. He did.” Iain suddenly wished himself elsewhere for there was a gleam in the king's eye that unsettled him.
"And ye said no, I presume.” MacLagan nodded somewhat curtly. “Might we inquire why? Dowry's quite impressive."
"I have had my turn at marriage, your majesty. Let some other fellow have a chance. Tavis has secured our line weel enough."
"True, and there is Sholto left to wed. Howbeit, the Bible tells us to go forth and multiply. A man cannot do that upon his own."
"That too I have tried but ‘tis not to be."
"We think you have given up too easily. Have you met the lass? She watches you, if you have not noticed as yet."
Iain looked to where Islaen talked with her twin brothers, Calum and Donald. They were one and twenty, tall, lean and handsome with fiery red hair and brown eyes. Although she appeared to be totally attentive to her brothers, Iain could see that she was indeed watching him. He scowled but noticed that it did nothing to deter her. Absently, he also noticed that with her tall, broad-shouldered brothers flanking her, she looked even smaller than ever. Remembering the king, Iain shrugged nonchalantly.
"Mayhaps she does. ‘Tis hard to be sure, but it matters not.” Iain said the last three words with as much firmness as he dared.
The king caught Islaen's eye and beckoned her. To his amusement she looked around, looked back at him and pointed to herself mouthing the word ‘me.’ The king nodded just as her brothers nudged her in his direction. His amusement grew when she somehow managed to trod on each brothers’ foot before she approached. He noted that, although she curtsied and said all that was required, most of her attention was on the tall, solemn man at his side.
Islaen felt tight with nerves, yet it was not because she met with the king, a man who held the power of life and death over them all. It was because of the man who sat at the king's side. She only wished that there was the barest hint of warmth in the gaze Iain fixed upon her. With an effort she forced her attention to the king so that, even if she could stir no interest in Sir Iain, she would at least do nothing to make herself look the fool before him. There would be no way she could stay in court if that happened.
"You have much the look of your mother, child. We knew her when your father was courting her. A lovely woman. Your father has not brought all your brothers, has he?” He smiled. “How many are there? ‘Tis hard to keep accounts."
"Eleven. He only brought seven. The eldest four stayed at home, your majesty. Their wives are with child and cannae travel."
"Imagine that, MacLagan. Eleven strong sons. MacRoth needs no army. He breeds his own. Grandsons?"
"Aye, sire. Six of them at last count. Only twa lasses. Angus, the next to the eldest, has one as does Colin, one of the twins."
They talked a while longer about her prolific family. Islaen was slightly confused but decided it was simply a matter of curiosity on the king's part. Iain was not so naive. He had the sinking feeling he knew exactly what his sovereign was about, why he had had the girl talk about her prolific family. A sense of helpless rage grew in him as he saw what was coming. But he saw no way to stop it. One did not go against the king's wishes, nor even his gentle suggestions.
He had taken up the place near the king not only because the king wished it and for the prestige it gave. It kept him out of the tangle of flirtations that ran rampant in court, away from the machinations of women. He had been without a woman so long that a pretty, willing one could well be too much temptation. Now, seeing the danger headed his way, he wished he had not sought a somewhat cowardly way to avoid it. He was caught in the trap about to close tightly about him.
It was ironic in a way, almost funny, although he felt no urge to laugh. He had fled Caraidland for the court to avoid the temptation of a woman. Each day had drawn him nearer to succumbing to her lures, but he had seen clearly that she sought no brief pleasurable interlude, but marriage. Now the very thing he had fled to court to avoid was about to be pushed down his throat.
"A lovely girl. Well mannered yet not reticent. A man could do worse, or so think my godson and Lord Donald Fraser."
No matter how he tried, Iain could not completely repress a look of distaste. Lord Donald Fraser was two and forty. He had buried two wives already. Wine, wenches and gaming dominated his life. Iain did not want to picture what would happen to the girl.
"Do not think poorly of MacRoth. The man is little at court and does not know Fraser as we do. Nor does he know our godson. We cannot refuse a match there but we would prefer it not be made.” The king sipped his wine. “The MacRoths are as loyal to the crown as the MacLagans. A bond between two such families would be viewed with great favour."
"I have no need of a wife,” Iain said as pleasantly as possible.
"Or a woman. Or so you would have all believe. It is not right to bury yourself with your wife. A man needs a woman's softening touch ere he grows too hard, for a hard man cares for naught and his loyalties thin."
"Does his majesty feel I can no longer be trusted?"
"Do not get stiff, MacLagan. We merely make an observation. The land she holds is in a line with MacLagan land."
"I hadnae realized that, sire."
"To have it in MacLagan hands, with MacRoths bound to its defense through marriage would strengthen that length of the border. To have it go to Fraser or my godson could well mean keep fighting with little eye kept upon the English. There are enough feuds along there as it is. We would like to have one less area to fret over. Our mind would be greatly eased to know it is held firm and peaceful by the bonding of two loyal clans. To wed a man's only daughter, one he cares for,” the king nodded to where Alaistair stood with Islaen, his affection clear to see, “is a bond as strong as any. You have proof of that in Tavis's marriage."
Iain nodded, his jaw clenched. His marriage to Catalina had assuaged the MacBroths’ ill feelings over Tavis's not wedding another of their daughters, although he had had her as a mistress. Due to the girl's lack of chastity it had not broken the alliance, but it had strained it for hopes had been disappointed. Tavis's marriage to Storm Eldon meant that at least one point along the border the English were anxious to keep the peace, for to raise sword against a MacLagan meant endangering the only daughter of an English marcher lord.
Short of a direct order the king could not have made his wishes any clearer. A look into his sire's eyes told Iain that the direct order would come if it was necessary. The border was a source of aggravation to the kings on both sides of it, quite often a law unto itself. Two loyal clans bound by blood standing shoulder to shoulder at one point along that area of unrest was a temptation the king could not resist. It would mean that at one point the king's orders would be obeyed and he could be assured of support in the troubled area.
