‘That is not the only thing stimulated, is it?’
‘Bryce, that comment is beneath you, and I would warn you not to talk of my future wife in that manner.’
Bryce met his father’s eye. ‘And what of my mother?’
Jasper sighed and raked his fingers through his still-thick grey hair. ‘I do not love Clara with the youthful passion I had for your mother, and I doubt I ever shall. I would have died for your mother a thousand times over, and I never looked at another woman during our marriage. But she is gone, and I don’t want to die alone, son. So Clara and I have come to an understanding, a mutually beneficial arrangement if you like.’
‘I don’t like.’
‘Why? What is it to you who I wed? You are off, living your life, while I am left in a lonely castle with nothing to look forward to. I doubt Clara loves me in the truest sense, but she wants children and a home that is not her father’s. Clara makes me happy, son, for she is bonnie and diverting and will make an excellent companion. And I will be a kind, generous, and dare I say, overly-indulgent husband, so everyone will be content.’
‘You mean to make Clara mistress of Penhallion?’
‘No. You are my heir and always will be. Now that you are wed, I will leave the running of this pile of old stone to you and Maren. I fear Clara is a gentle soul and not up to the task of bringing surly clansmen into line. Whereas Maren is…well… perfectly suitable for the task, as are you.’
‘Are you sure you want to give up the reins to me? You never trusted me before.’
‘Aye, but now you have the love of a strong woman, as I did when I became Laird. And ‘tis the way of it. The old give way to the young. Clara and I will be very happy to have a life of comfort and leisure, and I hope that soon, I will have some new sons to bounce on my knee, just as I did with you.’
Bryce gave a shudder. ‘The very notion!’
Jasper sighed. ‘You have been determined to see everything Clara says and does through a prism of my trying to foist her onto you as a bride. You judge her ill because of me. I have accepted your wife, who, though a fine and spirited young woman, is hardly ideal. So you must accept my choice and try to be a little kinder. If Maren is prepared to do it, so can you.’
‘Well, as to that, I am not entirely sure she is,’ said Bryce. ‘They could be out there now, tearing at each other like two alley cats, for all we know.’
***
Maren plucked a dead leaf off a tree and started pulling it apart as they strolled through the walled garden. Clara had not said a word since Maren had taken her outside to escape Bryce and Jasper bellowing at each other.
‘It seems I must speak first and with frankness,’ said Maren. ‘Clara, how can you marry Jasper when it is his son you were after?’
Clara’s blue eyes widened, and then she laughed. ‘You are quite mistaken, and why on earth would I want Bryce?’
‘Well, he is a fine-looking man for a start,’ said Maren, bridling.
‘Oh, I am sure he has stolen many a lass’s heart with his fine eyes and cocksure manner, but not mine. Bryce is not steady or honourable. He can give me no surety. No, as far as husbands go, Jasper is the better man. He can give me a family, and a higher position in society, and he has promised to rescue my father from debt.’
‘Debt?’
‘Aye. We have fallen on hard times of late. My father has engaged in some speculative dealings, which did not turn out well. So I need to make a good marriage to redeem us.’
Well, this was certainly a new and altogether darker side to Clara McMullan. Maren put aside her shock and pressed on. ‘So you are being sold into a marriage you do not want, Clara?’
‘Sold. Oh, what an awful way to put it. No. On the contrary, I am most eager to wed Jasper. He told me it was my decision completely and that he would not tell my father about it if I refused him. Jasper did not want me pressured into a distasteful union. It was very noble of him, and I never had a choice in anything before. All my life, I have been told what to do and how to behave. With Jasper, I can do as I please.’
‘But you are young, and he is so much older.’
‘Which means he has made something of himself. Jasper is a man in his prime and an attractive one, don’t you think?’
‘Aye. There is no argument there. I will own that he is a most impressive-looking man.’
‘Indeed. Jasper is not goaty and lecherous as many of my father’s suggested suitors have been, and trust me, there has been a lengthy and tiresome parade of them. He is not an arrogant, thoughtless young booby who will stray with the first woman who takes his fancy.’
This last felt like a barb, and Maren narrowed her eyes at Clara, but the lass was not cowed. She squared her shoulders and looked Maren in the eye.
‘I will not be humiliated by Jasper nor mistreated, so I am content with my lot. Can you say the same, Maren?’
‘What do you mean?
