“You do?”
“I’ve had a request for your hand that I have been led to believe will be agreeable to you.”
Surprise—shock—stole her breath. Her already pounding heart started to hammer with anticipation as the realization surged through her in a giddy wave. She knew it wasn’t just her! Randolph had seen what she had and changed his mind. He’d chosen her.
“I am,” she said, unable to contain the eagerness in her voice.
The enthusiasm of her reaction seemed to take Walter aback. “I’m thrilled to hear that, Izzie. It’s a fine match—an excellent one. Your brother can’t speak highly enough of him. He said in his missive that you’d gotten to know one another recently and seemed to enjoy one another’s company.” Missive? Izzie’s heart plummeted before her head caught up. “I know he’s a bit older than you and has been married before, but maturity and patience can be great benefits in a bridegroom, I’ve been told.”
His face reddened, and she would have wondered what he’d been told if her heart wasn’t shattering all over the floor.
Not Randolph then. Had she really thought it might be? She felt… God, she felt like such a fool.
“With the lands in your tocher abutting his, you will have the largest baronies in Berwickshire.”
“Sir William de Vipont,” she said, understanding. “The Lord of Langton has asked for my hand.”
“Did you think it was someone else?” Walter asked with more perceptiveness than she would have wished. “If there is someone else who interests you, I can—”
“Nay,” Izzie cut him off, barely hiding her horror at the idea of him finding out the truth. Her foolishness was bad enough without anyone else discovering the level of her stupidity. “There is no one.”
Walter beamed. “Good. Shall I write him back and tell him you accept?”
She had no reason not to. It was indeed a good match. Sir William was a highly respected baron of vast lands in the Borders. He had been closely aligned to the Earl of March—and thus the English—until about a year ago. But Izzie’s eldest brother, Alexander, had fought with Sir William when he’d made his peace with Bruce and had come to look at him as something of a mentor.
The last time Alexander had been home—before the most recent time with Sir Stephen, that is—he’d introduced them. She’d liked the older warrior, who was probably in his midthirties, very much. He had the refined manners that came from spending so many years in England with the sturdy, no-nonsense battle-hard look of a Scot.
Her heart had immediately gone out to him when he’d spoken of the loss of his young wife the year before in childbirth. A son who hadn’t survived. The unapologetic emotion in his voice had moved her greatly.
It hadn’t been difficult to guess what her brother was hoping for, and she might have been amendable to the idea had Sir Stephen not arrived in the interim and swept her off her feet.
And now there was Randolph. Or was there? Was it all in her head?
Seeing her hesitate, Walter added, “He can protect you, Izzie.”
From Sir Stephen and men of his ilk. Walter didn’t need to say it; she understood. And she didn’t doubt it. Sir William was the kind of man built to make women feel safe. Formidable in size and strength, he would hold fast to what was his with a ferocity that few men would dare challenge.
She nodded. “I know. It is an excellent offer, and one I’m sure I would be hard-pressed to refuse.”
“But,” Walter said with a frown, anticipating her next word. “You are refusing him?”
Izzie shook her head. Her heart wanted to, but her heart had already been proven a fool once—maybe twice. She didn’t know why she was hesitating, but she couldn’t believe she’d been so wrong. “Nay, I would just ask for a few days to consider it.”
Walter grinned, obviously relieved. “Of course. Take all the time you need. I know lasses do not to like to appear too eager. It won’t hurt to keep him guessing for a few days,” he added with a wink.
She wished she could return it, but it was taking all her effort to hold back the tears that suddenly seemed to be prickling behind her eyes. Instead she nodded.
“It’s better to let the excitement die down anyway. You don’t want your news to get lost.”
Izzie paused, everything inside her having suddenly grown very still and very cold. “What excitement?”
“I’ve just heard from Jamie that Randolph is asking Ella to marry him. The king has ordered a feast for the midday meal today with an even bigger one tomorrow after the betrothal ceremony.”
The blood slid from her face, and her eyes widened with shock. “The what?”
Walter laughed at her reaction, not seeing the pain that had provoked it. “Aye, I know it’s fast, but Jamie doesn’t want to waste any time with the English preparing to march in a few months. With everyone of import already here, he said there was no reason to wait.” Walter leaned down. “Between us, I think they are planning something with the castle. Knowing Randolph, it will be dramatic.”
But Izzie wasn’t listening. All she could think of was that it couldn’t be true.
