Minetta nodded and poured herself a glass of wine, but her eyes were dangerously hostile as she looked at her brother.
Clyde took a deep breath, knowing what was about to come. “Cora and I are betrothed,” he said firmly. “But—”
“What?” Minetta almost screamed. “You hardly know each other! You only met a week ago. Cora, how can you—oh, I know! It was love at first sight, was it not?” She rushed around the table and threw her arms around Cora’s neck, almost strangling her in the process.
“Will you let me finish?” Clyde demanded, but he was grinning from ear to ear. Minetta nodded, but she was bouncing on the balls of her feet with excitement.
“We thought that it was a good idea because Cora needs a protector, and I need a wife to give me heirs, and this way we can kill two birds with one stone. Loraine is my past, Minetta, but Cora is my future, and I think it will be a happy one. Do you not think so too?”
“I do indeed,” Minetta said happily, clapping her hands. “Now, this is what I think we should do. I will send out missives to all our friends and allies in the area informing them of our betrothal, and we will plan the wedding in...a month from now?” She looked at Cora for approval.
“That sounds perfect,” she agreed, smiling.
Clyde nodded. “That should give you two ladies enough time to order a couple of tons of food and a loch full of ale and wine for the guests. Oh, and do not let me forget the dress! We will have to call in the silk merchant and a seamstress. What do you think?”
By this time, the two women were almost dancing with joy.
“You sound as though you have planned a wedding before!” Cora observed. “Is there something you are not telling me?”
Clyde sighed and drained his wine glass, looking into the fire. “Yes,” he replied sadly. “I planned my own.”
Cora put her hand in front of her mouth in shame. “Oh, God, Clyde,” she said sorrowfully. “I am so sorry.”
“It was not your fault.” Clyde gave a sad smile.
Minetta stood up and poured them all a glass of wine, then she grinned. “To your betrothal and your wedding!” she announced. “Sláinte Mhath to Cora and Clyde!”
“Sláinte Mhath to us!” Clyde said, laughing. All trace of his former sadness had gone, and his eyes were twinkling merrily. “And to think I wanted to marry Loraine. I must have been mad!”
“I think you are both completely mad,” Minetta giggled, “but I love the idea of planning a wedding. Oh! Why do we not have a ceilidh too?” She clapped her hands. “Think of it, Cora! Two dresses each!”
“Is that all you two can think about?” Clyde asked incredulously.
“No,” Minetta replied. “I am thinking about how happy my brother and my best friend are going to be!”
“Thank you, Minetta,” Clyde breathed. “You are the best sister a man could ask for!”
“I know,” she replied, sighing. “But remember, I am not wed yet! However, I have my eye on Laird Malcolm Stuart the Younger. Tall and as fair as a Norseman, with muscles on his muscles!”
“First things first, Minetta,” Clyde laughed. “One wedding at a time.”
Minetta’s eyes were rapturous. “Oh, Cora, I cannot wait to be standing by your side at the altar while the priest makes you my sister!”
Cora and Clyde exchanged glances before he left. He hated the thought of hurting his sister, but it could not be helped. He only hoped she would forgive him.
7
Clyde had to admit that he found Cora very likable, but when he compared her to Loraine, he felt an ache in his heart. He missed her in every way possible, but he missed her supple, pliant body most. He had wanted them to wait for their wedding night before taking her maidenhead, but she had seduced him with her tempting ways until he had found it impossible to resist her any more. Clyde had kissed many women, but never one like Loraine, whose soft mouth received him as though he was something delicious she had never tasted before.
The first time she had lain with him, she had been a virgin, tight and terrified, but after that, she began to enjoy lovemaking as much as he did. He had taught her all she now knew about pleasing a man, and had also allowed him to teach her what a woman liked.No doubt she is using those skills on the baron at this moment,he thought bitterly.
He was restless that night. He had gone to bed just before midnight, and the last daylight had faded from the sky only a short while before; dawn would be upon them in only a few hours. The Highlands in late spring and summer were almost in the land of the midnight sun, but they paid the price in winter, when the days began in the middle of the morning and ended in the middle of the afternoon. That was when the earth went to sleep and rested before spring reawakened it.
At times like this, he thought of his mother. In autumn and winter, he would help her to pickle vegetables for the winter and hang up herbs in the storeroom just outside the kitchen. They would make up stories and sing songs, and sometimes the kitchen staff would join in.
The servants in the castle had always loved her, just as she had loved them, because she had never seen any harm in keeping company with them and learning about their lives and families. To her, they were like her own brothers, sisters, and cousins, because she shared a home with them. Moreover, her tender nature meant that they brought their troubles to her, and she listened, sometimes offering advice, sometimes only sympathy, but always comfort. Clyde missed her, even after all these years.
He was staring down from the battlements, wondering if he should have gone along with Cora’s plan. Now that he thought of it, it seemed like complete madness, and he was beginning to regret his part in it, but he could not change his mind without upsetting Minetta; she adored Cora. Clyde sighed. Was Loraine worth it? Should he not just marry Cora and be done with it? Then suddenly, Loraine’s face appeared in front of him, with her wide blue eyes, Cupid’s bow lips, all framed by her soft blonde hair. He saw her full breasts too, which he had kissed and caressed so many times, and he heard again the soft moans and sighs of her arousal. No, Cora was second-best, and second-best simply would not do. It was Loraine, or it was nobody.
