“Tell me what it is like then,” Alex insisted curiously, “because I want to know why you are in such haste.”
“We told you why!” Donna cried.
“Have you asked any other laird?” he went on relentlessly.
“No!” Bearnard’s voice was becoming more and more enraged.
“Is she with child?” he asked silkily.
“Of course not!” they cried in unison.
He waited for a moment. “I will have to meet her before I make up my mind,” he stated. “She may not like me. I am not to every lady’s taste, but we shall have to see. You know that I have been married before?”
“Yes,” Donna replied. “I believe she died.”
“Yes,” Alexander said grimly. “And she betrayed me. After I found out about her infidelity I had decided to go to fight against the English. Then she caught whooping cough and died, and I felt I had nothing to live for, because I still loved her in spite of everything. I fought for my country, and I survived.” He stood up and walked to the window. “The reason I am telling you this is because I want you to know exactly what kind of man your daughter is marrying. I will come and see Robina tomorrow,” he stated. “Then we can both make up our minds, if that is suitable for you.”
They were both surprised that he wanted to come so soon, but they agreed with his suggestion. Alex Lindsay did not look like a man to be trifled with, but Bearnard needed to clear something up before they could go any further.
“M'laird, I beg your pardon for asking this,” Bearnard said, troubled. “We need to know, for Robina’s sake. If your wife had not died, would you have cast her out?”
Alex stood thinking for a moment. “The truth is, I do not know,” he said at last. “I loved her very much and the thought of her bedding another man hurt me deeply, but her parents were cruel, unfeeling people, so I would probably have let her stay here out of pity. However, there would have been no real marriage left.”
“When did you go to war?” Donna asked.
“Five years ago,” he replied. “I have been back for two years. And I hope I did my duty to Scotland well, but the whole experience of war has sickened me. I want no more of it.” He turned back to them and bowed. “Please excuse me. I must go and visit some of my tenants now.”
Bearnard frowned. “Do you not have an estate manager?” he asked.
“I do. We visit together,” Alex replied. “I try to see each one as often as I can.”
Donna and Bearnard stared at him. “But you are a laird!” Donna said, scandalized. “You cannot mix with the common people!”
“Milady,” Alex said in a dangerously quiet voice, “this is my land, and I will do as I please. I need not ask your or anyone else’s permission.”
Donna had to tilt her head back to look at him, he was so tall. “I beg your pardon, M'laird,” she said meekly. “You are right.”
Alex kissed her hand again and they went out and rode away, not waving or looking back. He stood watching them for a while, then went to get ready to go out. It was going to be a long day.
“What did you think of him, Father?” Robina asked eagerly as soon as she saw them entering the castle.
“Strange man,” Bearnard answered. “He seems to be very humorless.”
“And rather arrogant,” Donna said acidly.
“Do you have nothing good to say about him?” Robina asked, alarmed.
Donna shrugged. “He is very handsome,” she replied, “if that matters to you.”
Robina sighed. “Do you think he is kind?”
Donna and Bearnard looked at each other.
“You will have to make up your own mind,” Bearnard replied. “He is coming to see you tomorrow morning.”
Robina sat down on a chair, stunned. “So soon?” she asked. “I had hoped for a little more time.”
Donna shook her head. “We should have the wedding next week,” she said.She is already scheming, Robina thought. She was just her mother’s latest project, and Robina hoped that this one did not go disastrously wrong, since her mother tended to act first and think later.
