“Nay, I didna. I am no’.”
“Then allow me to remain and court ye. Once we get reacquainted, I hope ye will look upon me with fondness—and more. A chance to offer for ye would make me most happy.”
“My father is no’ well,” Mary told him. “He may be little disposed to hearing offers, as he depends on me.” Mary knew how stiff and formal that sounded, but she needed to slow things down. To make Dougal realize he could not simply come here and offer for her and expect to be wedded and bedded so easily.
“But I was told he recently married.”
“He did, to a much younger wife, who is slow to accept the responsibilities of her position. I fear the burden remains mine for the foreseeable future.”
Dougal took her hand. “Are ye trying to discourage me, Mary?”
Cameron’sMary-my-loveechoed from her brain to her heart and back again. But he wasn’t here, and while Dougal’s betrayal had proven him unreliable, since then,he’d married and lost a wife he cared for. Perhaps he’d grown up. If she ever hoped to have a family of her own, what choice did she have? She had thought herself in love with Dougal years ago. Despite the way he’d hurt her, could she learn to fall in love with him again? “Nay,” she said, throwing caution to the wind. “I am no’ trying to discourage ye. Ye may stay. But if I ask ye to leave, ye must agree to go without argument. If ye canna agree, ye may only stay this night and must be gone in the morning.”
“I accept yer terms.”
“Very well. I’ll take ye back to yer men, then see to having chambers made up for ye.”
“I appreciate yer offer of a chamber for myself. The men will be fine sleeping in the hall.”
His comment shouldn’t have bothered her. It was a common practice but it seemed callous. And in addition to Grant guardsmen, she’d have MacBeans in her hall. Rather, her father’s and Seona’s hall. It still seemed strange to think of it that way. Even stranger to be overrun by men of other clans.
Cameron acceptedhis father’s invitation to go riding with some trepidation. He’d listened to Cameron’s tale of Nan’s midnight visit with a frown, then suggested they leave the keep. Cameron worried the old man might try to push him into a betrothal with her. But perhaps he only wanted to spend some time together before Cameron left Sutherland again. Time they had missed in the last weeks, and, if Mary and the Rose healer had not worked their magic, time they would not have had at all.
They left the keep and headed north into the forest at an easy pace, a dozen Sutherland guards at a discreet distance behind them. The escort surprised Cameron. “Since when does the Sutherland chief need an escort on his own land?”
His father glanced around them. “Since Domnhall of the Isles started stirring up trouble. I am pleased ye have returned without harm from Rose.”
“Well and healed, thanks to them, aye.” Cameron inclined his head.
His father waved his gesture away. “I’ve given what ye learned a great deal of thought. Domnhall may be busy consolidating his hold on Ross, or he may take it into his head to use all those soldiers he gathered to overrun other territories. Like Sutherland. No one leaves the keep without an escort until we learn where Domnhall is and what he’s up to. No’ even to return to Rose.”
“Ye are that worried?” The subject surprised Cameron. He took a moment to consider, letting his gaze sweep the gaps between the trees around them. He saw nothing to concern him, but remained vigilant.
Sutherland nodded. “As ironic as it sounds, weak neighbors are dangerous to us.”
Cameron agreed. “But Domnhall is no’ the only one with an eye on someone else’s holding.”
“Aye?” Sutherland’s gaze finally cut to his son.
“I think ’tis highly likely Lady Grant intends to usurp Rose for her son before moving against the other southern Moray clans’ territories.”
“Has she become so bold?” His mount got a little ahead of Cameron’s, so he threw his question over his shoulder.
Cameron waited to reply until he caught up with hisfather. “With Albany’s backing, of course. If aught happens to James Rose, with or without a male heir, Grant may claim Rose through his new bride, Seona Grant.”
Sutherland laid the reins he held loosely over his mounts neck and regarded his son. “How likely is that?”
“’Tis hard to say.” Their horses settled into a companionable, side-by-side pace, making it easier for Cameron to continue. “James Rose had his own agenda in marrying the Grant lass. That’s true enough. He wants a male heir, even this late in life. But his real connection is with the lass’s mother. Now, Mhairi Grant doesna strike me as one to waste an opportunity. She certainly convinced James Rose to her way of thinking, and sacrificed her daughter to achieve her goals.”
Sutherland barked out a laugh. “I’m acquainted with Lady Grant. I’d say ye have described her—and her avaricious nature—verra well.”
“Then I must ask, are ye willing to stand by and let Grant take control of the south side of the firth?”
His father’s gaze shifted to Cameron. “Why should Sutherland care?”
Wasn’t it obvious? “Because the more holdings she amasses, the more wealth and power the lady will have. And potentially the more influence with Albany. She’ll strengthen Albany’s hold north of the Tay. Since Sutherland is known to ally with Domnhall, what effect do you think such an alliance will have on us?”
His father nodded and gave him a brief smile. “Ye confirm my faith in ye, in sending ye out as my eyes and ears. Ye have assessed the situation, and our danger, verra well.”
