“I,myself, would verra much prefer to stay.”
“Thatcomes as no surprise. Sorcha Hay willnae allow it. She needs the ransom ye willbring her.”
“Doye believe that she really needs it now?” Beatham helped himself to some ciderwhen Ruari returned to the small window to glare out toward the road winding upto the heavy gates of Dunweare.
“Ibelievesheis convinced that she does. Howbeit, I dinnae think it isright that my pockets should be emptied to bring Dougal Hay back to his keep.He doesnae sound a verra good laird anyway.”
“Goodor not, he is their laird. Our people didnae hesitate to buy ye back, andSorcha cannae hesitate to buy her brother back. Duty demands she do all in herpower to try.”
“‘Tisnae her trying that galls me, but her success,” Ruari admitted with blatantreluctance. “Weel, I will see that she pays dearly for this.”
“Doye forget that Margaret and Sorcha also saved our lives?”
“Nay,so that will indeed temper the means of revenge I use, but it willnae stop mefrom seeking some form of vengeance.”
“Areye sure ye havenae already extracted your revenge? By taking her into your bedand using her for three nights then casting her aside, ye have sadly blackenedher good name.”
“Itold you. What passed between Sorcha and me in that bed has naught to do withall else that has gone between us. Mayhap ye can forget we were held forransom, but I cannae. The coin she will use to buy her foolish brother back ismine, and I intend to get it back.”
Beathamshook his head and sat down on the bed. “I still dinnae understand why yecannae be more forgiving. Sorcha only does what she must, she and Margaretsaved our lives, and ye willnae be left poor and starving after this ransom ispaid.”
“Nay,I willnae be left poor and starving, but I cannae forgive being bartered by awee lass of but twenty years and I cannae abide my hard-wrung coin being spenton that idiot of a brother of hers.”
Ruarimoved to stand in front of a sullen-faced Beatham and continued, “I ken why yetake it upon yourself to argue with me. Ye wish to soften my heart so that Iwill bless a union between ye and Margaret.”
“Welove each other and wish to be married. What wrong is there in that?”
“Nowrong, I suspect, but ‘tis remarkably stupid and ill thought out. And I am notthe only one ye need to pull to your side. In truth, I am the easiest one toturn. Your family will stand firm against such a marriage, and so they should.Ye have no money or lands nor does Margaret. What would ye live upon—the air?Hope? Love?” he concluded with a sneer. “Such things willnae fill your belliesor those of your bairns. Try to think for once in your blessed life, lad. Castaside all else that has recently passed between the Hays and the Kerrs, and ‘twouldstill be a verra unsuitable match.”
“Iwillhave Margaret.”
“Haveher, then, just dinnae marry her.” Ruari shook his head. “I wash my hands ofthe matter. I dinnae wish to hear any more about it. Marry your preciousMargaret, but dinnae come crawling to me when ye and your wee poor family areleft crouching in some hovel, dressed inadequately in naught but rags, andhavenae eaten for so long ye have forgotten what food e’en looks like.”
Heshook his head when he saw that Beatham’s expression had only grown sulkier.Not wishing to discuss the matter any further, he refilled his tankard andreturned to staring out of the window. To his relief, Beatham did not utter aword.
Itwould be pleasant to be able to choose a mate freely, but it was not somethingmen of their birth could afford. One had to consider alliances, lands, andmoney. A laird had far too many responsibilities, too many mouths to feed andmen to arm. Beatham’s father’s holding was tiny and poor, barely more than acrumbling towerhouse on a rocky knoll. It needed a good marriage if it was tosurvive. In all honesty, Ruari also wanted the lad to marry well so that he nolonger needed to support Beatham and his family.
Beatham’stalk of marrying for love or simply by choice also grated on an already exposednerve. Ruari had forestalled his own marriage and the begetting of heirs forfar longer than he should have. He knew the dull, unemotional business of sucha matter was what held him back. He would dearly like to marry where and when hechose, but duty dictated otherwise.
Whenthe thought of marriage filled his mind with a strong image and the heatedmemory of Sorcha, he cursed. He met the sight of his men approaching a momentlater with relief. His stay in Dunweare had clearly disordered his mind, andthe sooner he fled it the better.
Sorchastared up at the huge man on the mottled gray stallion. He appeared to be avast assortment of reds—his brilliant hair a shade lighter than his full beard,and the freckles liberally sprinkled over his wide face a shade darker than hisbeard. His jupon and hose were a dull brownish red, and she idly mused that heneeded someone to choose a different color for him. She breathed an inward sighof relief when he dismounted. Although he was still big, a head or more tallerthan Ruari, at least he did not cause her to tilt her head back quite so far.
“Iam Rosse, nearest cousin to Ruari Kerr and the mon who guards his back,” heannounced in a deep rich voice as he bowed slightly before her.
“SirRuari’s back wasnae guarded when I found him.” She decided that something elseRosse should not do was blush.
“Iwas still recovering from a wound when my laird rode to Otterburn and had tosend an underling. He was unhorsed in battle and, although he didnae flee, hedid forget his laird in the heat of victory.”
“Weel,I hope he has the sense to hide for a wee while when his laird returns, as SirKerr is verra displeased with all of this.” She was sure she caught the flashof a smile beneath his large beard as she curtsied slightly. “I am Lady SorchaHay.”
“Ihave heard great tales of you, m’lady. It takes a mighty foe to fell the lairdof Gartmhor.”
Sorchadid not need to hear the snickers of Rosse’s men or see the way Rosse kept hisgaze fixed on a point behind her to know that Ruari and Beatham were there. Shehad sensed Ruari’s presence the moment he had stepped out of the keep. The waythe hairs on the nape of her neck stood on end told her he was staring at her,and instinct told her it was not a kindly look. When he stepped up beside her,it did not surprise her to see by his expression that all his anger hadreturned. She felt the cold touch of shattered hopes freeze her heart, butstruggled to hide the pain. There would be no forgiveness from Ruari Kerr.
“Isthe business done, then?” he demanded of Rosse.
“Ihavenae given your mighty captor the ransom yet, m’laird,” Rosse replied as heheld a heavy sack out to Sorcha.
