Jasper raised his eyebrows. ‘Well, the Devil take me. I never thought I would see it – Bryce Cullan smitten, brought to his knees by a firebrand of a lass, and you such a slippery fish to catch.’
‘Mock me all you like, Father, but I will do this.’ Bryce took a deep breath and braced for outrage. ‘I beg forgiveness for misleading you.’
‘Aye, so you should,’ said Jasper evenly.
His father was being remarkably calm about his confession, and Bryce didn’t like it one bit.
‘Maren has a dark past, but it was not her fault. She is young and headstrong but she will be the best of wives given kindness and care, and I love the lass to distraction, Father. I know you wanted me for Clara, but I cannot ignore my heart, whatever the consequences.’
At the mention of Clara’s name, Jasper’s face darkened. ‘The very notion of your wedding Clara now fills me with horror, son,’ he cried. ‘So, you are at least joined to the lass in some way? Maren belongs to you for a year until the indenture finishes. Am I correct?’
‘Well, I wouldn’t put it that way to her, but, aye, Maren is mine until I release her, which I do not intend to do.’
‘And has she accepted your rather belated proposal? I need to know so that I can, at least, hold my head up with some semblance of pride to my friends and relations.’
‘I have yet to ask her. But I will, once I find her.’
‘Has she taken herself off in a pout over some offence beyond finding out you own her like a beast?’
‘I don’t know,’ said Bryce, guilty to his core. He had not been fair to Maren, sharing a bed with her while lying to her face. Why did he never learn to better his ways?
‘If Maren has gone off on her own accord, there is nothing you can do to hold her, and perhaps you should let her go this time,’ said Jasper.
Each word was a knife in the chest to Bryce, but he brushed them off, confident that Maren belonged to him, body and soul.
A servant came in. ‘Your horse is readied, Laird.’
‘Good. Bring him around,’ said Jasper, leaping to his feet.
‘Where are you going?’
‘Nowhere that concerns you, son,’ replied Jasper. ‘If you have your secrets, then I may have mine.’
‘But don’t you want to stay and interrogate me about my association with Maren?’
‘No, not on this occasion. The interrogation can wait.’
Bryce narrowed his eyes. ‘Why are you spruced up in your finest plaid with a Clan Cullan badge in your cap and best sword at your hip? Are you for court or battle?’
‘Battle of sorts, I suppose,’ replied Jasper. ‘But it is one I feel I must join with. Now good day, son, for I must make haste.’
‘Make haste to where, dammit?’
‘Only the McMullans,’ said Jasper, taking his leave.
‘Why would you go there?’ Bryce shouted after his father, but Jasper rushed away and did not turn around. He had been remarkably at ease with these latest revelations. A stab of unease hit Bryce’s gut. His father was being shifty, which meant he was up to no good.
Bryce had a sudden urge to bend the knee and secure Maren’s heart. But try as he might, he could find no trace of her, and no one had seen Maren since the previous night. With disappointment, frustration and murder in his heart, he determined to scour the glens until he found the lass and dragged her back.
There was no way Maren was going to leave him without a word after that passionate night they had just spent together. Patience now yielded to anger, love to humiliation, so by the time Bryce set off, his heart had hardened to stone. He was in full gallop on the road when he recognised an imposing figure heading his way on horseback. He pulled up his horse and waited impatiently.
‘This is well met, my friend,’ said Callum.
‘I am in a hurry. I cannot tarry,’ said Bryce.
‘Tara is eager to get to know your new bride and she craves company. It seems I am insufficient to entertain her. I come bearing an invitation for you and your wife to Raigmoor.’
Bryce stared down the track in turmoil. ‘Maren is not my wife. In fact, I am not quite sure what she is.’
