Her fists clenched in her lap. She hated Robert Bruce! “I have no appetite, Your Grace.”
He studied her. “Surely you expect Iain to marry one day.”
She flushed. “I have not thought about it.”
“Do you know where your father is now, mistress?”
Alana had been rigid, but now, she was impossibly so. “No, Your Grace.” How adeptly and swiftly he had changed the subject! Was his talk of a wife for Iain a trap, to lure her into a state of dismay, so she could not think clearly? Because she was dismayed, whether rightly or wrongly so!
He glanced at Iain. “It is ironic, actually, but Mistress Alana’s sister is an heiress—one I have thought about for a long time.”
Alana froze.
“Do you not have a sister, Mistress Alana? A half sister?” Bruce asked.
Iain turned to her.
She could barely speak. “I have two half sisters....”
“I am speaking of Buchan’s heir, Lady Alice Comyn,” Bruce said.
Alana choked and shot a glance at Iain. My God, what was this?
“You do know that Buchan has no other direct heirs. If he is to die, Lady Alice inherits the earldom.”
Alana realized she was clawing the wood table with her short, chipped fingernails. She glanced from Bruce to Iain wildly. She had not realized that Alice was next in line to inherit Buchan’s earldom!
“I have plans for the earldom when I defeat Buchan,” Bruce said. His tone had hardened, and his eyes were dark with lust now—bloodlust. “I will carve it up and give away the pieces to my best, most loyal men.”
Iain was staring at her. He turned to Bruce slowly, his eyes as dark, as wide, as before. “Whoever marries Alice will have a legitimate claim to her lands.”
“Yes,” Bruce said. He suddenly drained his wine and stared at Alana. “So tell me, mistress, where do you think your father is?”
“I last heard of him when he was at Elgin, defending it from you.”
“That is no answer. You have appeared to care about Sir Alexander, even if you do not know him because he abandoned you. Do you not ask after him?”
She managed to nod, aware that he wished to inflict even more pain on her. He had succeeded. “All of the time!”
“Good, then continue to do so. I wish to know where he is, and soon. I may approach him with an offer for Alice.”
Alana was suddenly sick to her stomach, violently so.
“Buchan, however, remains at Elgin. I have spies there.” Bruce stood. “He is seeking more allies, mistress. He needs more friends to fight against me if he even thinks to win. He knows it and he has summoned the Earl of Ross and Sir Reginald Cheyne, amongst others. You will tell me who his new friends are.”
“How will I do that?” Alana gasped. She was still trying to comprehend what Bruce had been saying. Had he suggested he might marry her sister to Iain? Did he mean to contact her father about such an alliance?
“I am certain a clever woman like yourself will find many ways to prove her devotion to her lover,” Bruce said.
Alana stared, aghast. She realized all the men had risen to their feet, out of respect for their king. She alone remained seated. Slowly, she got up.
“I look forward to your answers, mistress. And, Alana? Once you become my friend, you will be well rewarded, too.” With that, he turned and strode from the hall.
Alana held on to the table, her knees buckling. Iain seized her elbow.
At first, she thought he meant to offer her his support. But when she looked at him, his face was hard, and he averted his eyes.
Alana looked away.
