‘No, and that is beneath you, Father. But Maren soon will be if I have anything to do with it, and then your hopes of an heir will be fulfilled, with many more to follow.’
‘Alright, son, but I am concerned that you have made a hasty union because of a bonnie face. It seems you barely know Maren.’
‘I know her well enough to be certain that I want her.’ No lie there, for Bryce did desire Maren McEwen with every pound of blood in his veins and surge of lust in his loins each time he locked eyes on her. Though, should they ever succumb to their attraction, they might tear each other apart in their passion.
‘Well, ‘tis done now, and she is a bonnie lass with a pleasing demeanour.’ Jasper shrugged. ‘I suppose I should embrace this news and make the best of it, but I pity poor Clara for her disappointed hopes.’
Bryce was eager to be away from his father’s penetrating gaze. ‘Aye, and as to Clara and Fergal, I am sure you can soothe their ruffled feathers. I doubt Clara will be too crushed to lose me as a husband.’ Bryce smiled and rubbed his hands together. ‘Now, it has been a long day, and I am keen to get abed with my lovely bride in the hopes she will give me a warmer reception than I have thus far received from you. So I will bid you goodnight, Father.’
‘Can the lass ride?’ said Jasper out of the blue.
‘Aye, she can ride well enough.’
‘Good. Bring Maren on the hunt tomorrow and introduce her to the society of Inverness. It is high time I had a daughter-in-law to show off to my friends, and a comely one at that. Unless the lass is too tired from her journey and from meeting your endless needs.’
Throwing Maren into the cream of society was the last thing he needed, but he couldn’t raise his father’s suspicions. Stifling a sigh of frustration, Bryce replied, ‘Oh no. She will be happy to do anything that makes me happy. I chose well, Father, for Maren is as biddable as a sheep, the very picture of dutiful obedience.’
***
‘I will not do it. I cannot have all your friends thrust upon me so soon.’ Maren marched up to Bryce and put her face in his, hands on hips. ‘Tis too much, and you know it.’
Maren’s face had darkened when he had told her she was to go on the hunt. Though judging by the look on her face, she might enjoy slaughtering something in the near future.
‘They are not all friends, lass, which you will find out soon enough, and you have to meet them sometime.’
‘No, I do not.’
‘Aye, you do. Now I did not take you for a coward, lass. And you cannot hide away here forever. If I was indeed newly married, I would want to show off my bride, especially one so bonnie.’
Maren sneered at that, so flattery wasn’t going to work. Perhaps firmness would.
‘We made a bargain, and part of that bargain is you playing Lady Cullan to the hilt,’ said Bryce. ‘And you will be refined and deferential to me when you do so.’
‘Go to hell,’ snarled Maren.
Bryce rolled his eyes. ‘Do try to do as you are told, lass, or this will get very tiresome for both of us. And I would warn you against vexing me, for I have shown much forbearance where you are concerned.’
‘Have you now?’
‘Aye. Were it not for my taking pity on you, then you would be on a ship bound for servitude.’
‘Tis I, who pity you, Bryce,’ said Maren.
‘How so?’
‘You are a loveless, thankless wretch who is more content to play games with his family than treasure it, who spends his life in ease and indulgence, and brings a so-called ‘whore’ home to pass off as a wife.’
‘Ease and indulgence? You could not be more wrong, woman. Last year I had to go out and defend Clan Cullan’s interests with my life against a band of cattle thieves and murderers wreaking havoc on our land. I had to protect women and children daily from a villain called the Baron, and I would have gladly given my life to do so.’
‘The Baron?’ she said, her mouth hanging open.
‘Aye. You might have heard of him. He is the scourge of Inverness, and his gang took root hereabouts and stole, burnt, raped and murdered for months. They were responsible for kidnapping my best friend’s wife and the murder of his clansmen.’
Maren looked chastened. ‘Bryce, I…did not…I do not know this Baron and….’
‘Nor do you ever want to. He has been driven out for now, but I fear the monster will return and resume his evil. So, no, I do not spend my life in ease and indolence. I bear the responsibility for my clan, these lands and all who live on them, and it is a heavy burden, made worse by my father’s insistence that I was to wed a woman I did not want.’
She frowned and shook her head. ‘Then why not take a wife, a real one, to help you bear it all?’
