Hector hoped the lass was not a Campbell or a Munro—and for God’s sake, not a Gordon. He should have forced Rory to wed an inconsequential lass from a weak clan years ago.
“He’s wedding a Lowlander,” Duncan said.
“A Lowlander?” That caught Hector by surprise. “Who is she?”
“A Douglas, I hear.”
“A Douglas?” Hector laughed so hard he choked on his whisky. “I thought Rory was brighter than that. Ach, I’ll crush him in no time. How in God’s name did he come to wed a Douglas?”
“’Tis a mystery,” the Axe said. “But they say she’s a rare beauty and that Rory has lost his heart to her.”
“He must have, for the lass is useless, with no clan alliance, no property, and no connections.” Finally some good news. “He’s like his father, losing all sense over a woman.”
And it would be the end of him.
“As the poor lass comes with nothing, I’ll send her a wedding surprise.”
Hector threw his head back and laughed again. He just wished he could be there to see it.
CHAPTER 26
Time had run out for her. The wedding wastoday.
Sybil twisted her braid, a bad habit from childhood, as she paced the floor of the bedchamber. All night long, she had debated with herself over what to do.
If she refused to go through with the marriage ceremony, after Rory had made it his first decision as chieftain, she would make him look an utter fool before his clan. Hurting his pride would be the least of it. Humiliating him when he was just establishing himself as chieftain and fending off his uncle could do irrevocable damage.
On the other hand, once she said her vows, she would be good and truly wed. The false contract would be irrelevant. These Highland chieftains may tell themselves they could disregard both the church and the king’s law regarding marriage, but she had no such illusions. There could be no escape from marriage for her but death. For the rest of her life, she would live here on MacKenzie lands.
Miles of rugged mountains and wilderness separated her from her former life. Though she had already suffered the loss of her brothers and friends when they deserted her in her time of need, the prospect of that great physical divide permanently separating her from the rest of her family was painful.
Oh, what a mess she was in! The only way to avoid the marriage was to tell Rory about the false contract. He would hate her for not telling him earlier. She clenched her fists and squeezed her eyes shut. Why had she not told him sooner?
She thought she would have more time to explain about the false contract, if his advisors did not persuade him to change his mind about the marriage first. She never expected Rory to outmaneuver his advisors by making an immediate announcement of their marriage celebration. She would have admired the cleverness of his move, except that he had outmaneuvered her as well.
Sybil dropped onto the wooden chest at the foot of the bed. What should she do? Her hand went to the pendant her mother gave her, as it often did in times of stress. As she rubbed her thumb over the smooth, shiny surface, she imagined what her mother would say to her. She could almost hear her mother’s voice…
You’re making this far too difficult, when the question is a simple one. Do ye want this Highlander for your husband or not?
“Mother, ye know I never wanted to marry and give a man that much control over me,” Sybil said. “I’m tired of serving as a pawn in the games of men.”
But darling, how is your Highlander using you? What does he hope to gain?
The bare truth was that Rory had nothing to gain from the marriage now. But eight years ago it would have been advantageous to him—in truth, her wealth and position was high above what he could have expected in a wife.
“And he won me and such bright prospects in a damn card game!” It was insulting, really.
But he did not come to claim you until after you lost your wealth and position.
That was true. Rory was marrying her with no ulterior motive that she could discern. He could have deserted her when her fortunes fell, as everyone else had. When she was in trouble, he did not run. He came for her. When times were hard, he held fast.
Has this man changed your mind about marriage?
Sybil stamped her foot, as she often did when she was a willful child. “I don’t know!”
When it’s safe to return home to Tantallon Castle, will ye want to leave him?
Tears stung her eyes at the thought of never seeing Rory again. “Nay, I couldn’t leave him.”
