‘Well, you seem to have set yourself up as her champion, so you can do it, Cullen.Then we will have a Strachan in our family. Hah! I want Peyton Strachan to choke on the thought of it.’
It was like falling down a deep, dark hole. His father had set a trap for him, and Cullen had run straight into it. ‘I won’t do it,’ he said. ‘I’ve no need of a wife, and I’ll not force a lass into marriage.’
‘If you do not, she and her companions will suffer a terrible fate, and a feud will ensue. Clan Macaulay blood will be on your hands, Cullen.’
‘This is your mistake, so you can pay for it.’
Griffin turned to Lowri. ‘Do you agree to marry my son, lass? Once you are wed and the marriage is consummated, your friends will be released. I don’t care which man you wed. I just want a union. So choose.’
Lowri seemed stunned into silence.
‘Alright,’ said Griffin. ‘Fetch those lads and a rope, Allard. We’ll spare the magistrate the trouble.’
‘Aye. I will do it. I agree,’ she cried, with an agonised glance in Cullen’s direction.
‘Which one do you want, eh? Allard is my eldest and has the greatest claim to Scarcross, but Cullen is prettier, is he not?’
Lowri’s face twisted in horror, her wide-eyed brown gaze flicking between him and Allard. She swallowed hard and pointed his way. ‘I choose him,’ she said with a sob.
Griffin turned to Cullen. ‘So, you are the chosen one, on account of your pretty face.’
‘Go to hell, Father,’ he snarled.
‘Why the sour face, Cullen? She’s comely enough,’ said Griffin. ‘Tis no chore to bed her, surely.’
‘And you’ve not been fussy before,’ said Allard, grinning and smug now that he was off the hook.
Cullen looked at Lowri Strachan trembling before him, with no protector, no chance of escape. He saw the horror in her big brown eyes and wanted to rage against her foolishness, pride, reiving and all the Strachans. Most of all, he raged against his damned conscience that could not let her suffer at his family’s hands.
Cullen glowered at Griffn. ‘You would turn me into a monster, like you.’
‘No, I would turn you into a Macaulay heir.’
‘But, Father, I am your heir,’ protested Allard.
‘The son who serves Clan Macaulay well is my heir, and don’t you forget it. Just because your worthless mother squirted you out first doesn’t make you worthy of the title of Laird. It has to be earned.’ Griffin turned on Cullen. ‘This union will be no sham. I want this marriage consummated, or her friends hangtomorrow. And don’t look so outraged. If only my leathered old cow of a wife would die, I would take this bitch for myself and be thankful for a bonnie lass warming my bed.’
‘You are the foulest creature I ever beheld. I could not bear to share your bed,’ spat the lass.
Griffin licked his lips. ‘That would make it all the sweeter. But no. You need a stallion of a man who will tup you into obedience, and I’ve neither the time nor the stamina for it. But Cullen here, well, there’s not a lass in the West March he’s not had. He may be sullen and coarse, but the lasses like him well enough, and so will you, in time.
Cullen tried one last time to reason with his hateful father. ‘It’s clear the lass does not want me, nor I her.’
‘He’s right,’ said Lowri.
Griffin ignored her and barked at Cullen, ‘Marriage is about duty, not wanting. Put such foolish notions aside. You know your way around a woman. I’ve yet to see one you couldn’t seduce, if you put your mind to it.’ He rounded on Lowri. ‘Who cares what you want, insolent little bitch. And this one here may pretend he is too honourable for the rest of us, but mark me, you’ll get no gentleness from Cullen. He does not have it in him. I hope you get the rough handling you deserve.’
Griffin took hold of Lowri and dragged her away.
Cullen stepped in front of him. ‘Where are you taking her?’ he cried.
‘If she is to be a Macaulay bride, we must make her presentable before the priest arrives.’
‘Father sent for him at first light,’ said Allard with a smirk. ‘This is to be your wedding night, Cullen, and I hope your bride slits your throat in your sleep.’
Cullen drew back his arm and felled Allard with one punch, sending him crashing to the floor. Then he turned on his heel and walked away.
Chapter Six
