“I did not mention anyone specifically, as you very well know. I have a lady in mind who I believe will prove worthy of your family and your clan. She comes with a very large dowry and lands in the north.”
As Angus watched the greed in the Douglas’s eyes grow, he searched his own thoughts for the name of a lady to match the king’s description. There were many clans in the north and several chiefs with available daughters, but very few who could boast a large dowry. Or who would agree to marry a lowlander.
“She has only recently come into her title, but her brother rules much of the north and has been interested in forging a stronger alliance with me of late.”
Sutherland. Angus would bet his life the king spoke false, but wanted to gain as much information as possible. If Ronan Sutherland was indeed forging a stronger connection to the crown, then there would be much upheaval among the northern clans.
MacKay and Sutherland had feuded for decades, and had only recently allied. Angus could not imagine Fergus MacKay ever bending to this king. Did that mean their allegiance was in trouble? And what of MacKenzie? With old Kenneth gone, where did Rorie’s loyalties lie? Angus did not particularly care for banding together with anyone, but keeping the peace with the king meant keeping his people safe, which was his priority. That and the fact that he would never be able to watch Annabella marry anyone else.
He was now more anxious than ever to return to Finlaggan.
“Sutherland holds much power in the north, and he has recently entitled his sister, Lady Muren Grey of Dunrobin. She is worth fifteen thousand merks, Douglas. Would not an alliance in the north and that heavy purse sway your determination away from my wife’s cousin?”
The Douglas’s eyes narrowed. He appeared to consider the proposal with great care. Finally, he nodded. “Very well. Just be sure this time you are sincere in your offering. If she is not brought to Bothwell Castle within a fortnight, I will return.”
With that, he left, taking his men with him. Angus let the air slowly release from his body. So much could still go wrong. There would no doubt be retaliation from the Douglas over Annabella. It was practically tradition, after all. Angus would welcome it, and he would be ready. But the big question now was, exactly what was happening in the north? He was not willing to wait until the morning to leave; he wanted to be away from this mess immediately.
* * *
“Will you stop and listen for one moment?” Joan asked.
Annabella was in no mood to listen to anyone, much less her cousin who would only tell her that she had no choice or say in this matter. While she loved Angus, she was infuriated by her the manner in which the men below bartered for her hand. She despised being treated as property. Well, no more. She was leaving, and had told Joan exactly that.
She tossed two more gowns onto the bed.
“Annabella, where will you go? You know it is not safe out there.”
“I shall return to my home and—”
Hard pounding on the door interrupted her. As Joan reached for the latch, Annabella stopped her. “You don’t know who that is!”
Joan shook her head. “Surely you do not think anyone would be foolish enough to try to harm us here.” She opened the door, then turned to Annabella with a smile. “Good eve, MacDonald. What brings you to Lady Annabella’s chamber?”
Angus bowed to Joan, and moved swiftly into the chamber, taking in the scene of clothes strewn about.
“I am pleased to see you making ready,” he told Annabella.
She placed her hands on her hips and lifted her chin. “I am going nowhere with you, MacDonald.”
His gaze locked with hers. Nodding slowly, he said, “Oh aye, we leave here within the hour with whatever essentials you must take. I am certain we can retrieve anything else you wish in time, but we must leave here at once.”
“What has happened?” Joan asked.
“The Douglas has been offered Sutherland’s sister. I do not know if Sutherland is yet aware of it, and there are also rumblings about a MacKenzie uprising. Either way, I intend to return to Finlaggan to assess our position for potential attack.”
“Attack?” Annabella asked. She was still furious over the dealings in the hall, but this news was disturbing, to say the least. “From whom?”
“The list is long, lass,” he said, and stepped closer. “I see that you are upset, and I want to know why. But you must understand that the longer we are away from the castle, the more my people are in danger.”
Annabella wanted to stand her ground and defy his demands. Truth be told, she loved this man more than her own life, but she would not be treated as chattel and he needed to understand that. She was not foolish or selfish enough to expect him to choose her needs over everyone else’s, but enough was enough.
“I am not going with you, MacDonald.” His eyes narrowed. “Why is that?”
“I am not a piece of property to be bartered. And yes, I am as angry with the king and my father as I am with you.”
He shook his head and stared at her, wide-eyed. “Annabella, I wish there was more time to do this in a nicer way. I wish we could walk together and I could use nicer words in asking you to marry me, but I am afraid there simply is no time. You must come with me now.”
Annabella could not believe her ears. He was giving her no choice but to defy him. Was this what she could expect when married to him? Told when and what to do all the time? Well, by God, no way. Annabella turned toward her chest and threw in two more gowns. She then closed the lid and snapped the latches shut.
