‘It will. And be assured, Lady, that I will treat my wife well. I will not force myself upon her person, nor will I raise a handto her in anger. Maeve’s disgrace is hers to own, not mine, but I am willing to save her from the worst of it. And in return for my name, I will expect obedience and loyalty from my wife. I think that is a fair trade, don’t you? And as for being cold, I will not simper and gush over Maeve before her family just to salve your romantic sensibilities. I will get to know my wife in my own way, not yours.’
‘That is fair, and forgive me if I am not choosing my words well. I mean only to say that this union may start as a cold, hard arrangement, but if you give it a chance, it may turn into something more. Maeve is kind and gentle, but she is easily led, and you should know that her life here at Kransmuir has sometimes been harsh. Had she been shown more affection than discipline, maybe…’
‘The lass is not my choice,’ he interrupted. ‘My uncle came to me and said, ‘You are to be married to a Glendenning. She carries some fool’s bastard in her belly, but we can profit from this, so you must hold your nose and do it.’ He shrugged. ‘It is not as if I have given my heart to any other, so I said I would marry her. And Maeve is bonnie, which helps. If she was not, I would still have taken her because my clan needs this, and my loyalty lies with the Macaulays.’
‘I did not mean to offend you, Seamus.’
‘Tis of no matter if you did. I am glad we understand each other, Lady. Now, you must excuse me. I have to attend to my bride.’
With that, he returned to Maeve and held out his arm for her take. She did so with a nervous smile back at Rowenna.
There, she had done it, uncomfortable though it may be. Rowenna could not get Maeve out of her unwanted marriage, for there was no other way to save her reputation and future. Shehad to take Seamus as a husband. But Rowenna had promised the lass that she would speak with the groom and plead for kindness on Maeve’s behalf. Had she succeeded? Rowenna was unsure, but she had been the lass’s champion, and now it was up to Jasper’s sister to find her own way in marriage, just as she had with Jasper.
Chapter Thirty-Three
Jasper left the gloom of the tavern and squinted in the bright sunshine. Spring gave a sweet warmth to the Marches, and Threave’s bustling market day smelled of fresh bannocks mingled with the stench of livestock and a fresh green perfume of ripe grass and budding trees sweeping off the glens.
He went in search of Rowenna. Surely, she had run out of coin by now, though he was inclined to give her more, for he loved spoiling her. He moved through the market crowd easily. His bulk and reputation tended to make folk step away from him. He was drawn to a group of well-dressed folk mounted on fine horses near the Market Cross. One was a woman – petite yet voluptuous. The sun caught the sheen of her brown hair and the bloom to her cheeks before her horse turned, and he was left staring at her back. He frowned. There was something familiar there – a feeling, a memory. He moved through the crowd towards the woman, but then the riders trotted away, leaving him with a sense of unease as if the past was reaching out a hand to him.
A flash of bright hair nearby had him smiling. He had found Rowenna. He rushed to her and tapped her shoulder, but when she turned, he found himself staring down at Brenna Bannerman.
‘Forgive me,’ he mumbled.
‘Jasper?’ she gasped.
Her eyes were wide and fearful. Hadn’t they always looked that way around him?
‘I thought you were someone else,’ he said, like a fool.
Brenna had not changed. She was still achingly lovely. Her gaze darted around in search of Seaton.
‘Is he here?’ said Jasper.
‘Seaton, no. I came with Grimm,’ she said with a nervous smile.
Ah, Seaton’s manservant was with her. She had not been sent out unprotected. ‘You look very well,’ said Jasper with all sincerity.
‘I am well. I thank you.’
‘Seeing you is unexpected.’ The sun was uncomfortably warm on the back of his neck. He reached up a hand to rub it. He was suddenly gripped with an urge to put the past to rest and to make amends for the man he had been. ‘I am glad to have met you this day, for there are words I would say, Brenna.’
Her smile faded. ‘Jasper, please don’t.’
He shook his head and laughed, feeling light and unmoored. ‘Do not think I stand here to repeat my past distasteful sentiments. I mean only to say that…what I mean is…I loved you. I can say it without shame because I love you no more. ‘
She frowned.
‘I do not mean to insult you by saying that, lass, but it is time to release you from your burden.’
‘What burden?’ said Brenna.
‘That of pitying me,’ he said.
‘Jasper, I do not pity you.’
‘Aye, you do. It was always there, for you have a soft heart. Far too soft for the Marches, I’ve always thought. But my burden and yours is over. You should not feel guilty for jilting me. It saved us both from terrible misery.’
‘I never meant to hurt you, Jasper. I know you cared for me in your way.’
