Rose inclined his head. “Words are easy. Deeds another matter entirely.”
“I pay my debts,” Cameron replied, rising to the challenge in Rose’s words and tone, “and I take seriously what I owe Rose.”
“So yer devotion to my daughter is simply a means to pay yer debt?”
“Nay.” Cameron shook his head. “I didna mean that at all. I love her and would be pleased to take her to Sutherland and live there in peace. But I will remain at Rose with her if that is what she must do. We ask for yer approval.”
“I must think more on this. Both her sisters weresquandered to Brodie over my objections. I must make the best possible match with Mary.”
“Sutherland is…”
“Powerful and all that, aye. I ken it. I must consider further.”
Cameron’s temper nearly got the best of him, but he held it in check, nodded and left.
Cameron stormedinto the great hall, his expression fierce. He looked ready to spit fire, and coming as he had from the laird’s solar, Mary could guess why, or at least who had put him in such a foul mood. “What’s amiss?” she asked when she reached him.
He took her hand and pulled her into an empty chamber without saying a word, then closed the door.
Her heart beat faster, wondering what he had in mind.
“This is getting us nowhere,” he told her. “Yer da may be no more serious about ever letting ye wed than he was about Dougal.”
“I ken it. Wondering what he intends to do keeps me awake at night.”
“Would ye no’ rather I kept ye awake?” Cameron’s voice turned from irritated to husky and low. “If we handfast, ’twill unite us in a way we already ken yer father will have to accept.”
“Even if he hates the idea.”
“Do ye no’ want to give Sutherland a stake in protecting Rose from whatever Lady Grant has planned?”
Mary nodded.
“So then, about our handfasting?”
“Cameron, are ye certain ’tis what ye want?”
He took her face in his hands. “Now is nay time for doubts. Ye ken what I want.Ye.Ye are what I want.”
“But no’ as consort to the laird.”
“I never looked for the responsibility that comes with being a laird—or even married to one—but if ye become Laird Rose, I will stand by ye.”
“Neither of us wants that to come to pass.” But if it did, with Cameron at her side, she could handle it.
“Nay, we dinna.”
“If we wait for Da’s approval, we could be waiting forever.” Mary knew that was likely. She also knew Cameron was not like Dougal MacBean, whose first thought was always for himself. “We must do this on our own.”
“Verra well, then.” Cameron stripped the Sutherland plaid from over his shoulder.
When he reached for her hand, Mary realized he meant to do this right now. “Should we have someone do this for us? Or be a witness?”
“Who would ye trust, lass?”
Mary considered. “The healer. Only her. Others might mean well, but they will talk.”
“Then fetch her. Meet me in the wee kirk.”
