“She is betrothed,” Rose informed him, then took a sip.
Erik’s heart sank. Was he too late? If so, he would deeply regret not defying Donas and making this trip as soon as he left Inverness rather than waiting a year, but he would not give up. “I met the lass more than a year ago in Inverness and havena been able to get her out of my thoughts a day since.”
Erik was smitten even before she passed near him. As his gaze moved from the Rose to the cup in his hand, all he saw was her, deep in conversation with a ribbon merchant, then turning away, a satisfied smile on her lovely face after he handed her the items she wanted and pocketed fewer coins than he’d originally asked. Clever, smart, a good negotiator, and beautiful, too. She’d laughed at something she saw in the crowd. The sound of it sent fingertip sensations of pleasure gliding down his spine and tightened his core. He didn’t bother to see what amused her. Hisgaze was locked on the way the wind played with her tawny hair, as she glanced his way and gave him a nod and a smile that kept him rooted where he stood until she disappeared into the crowd.
Why hadn’t he followed her? Because he’d been unable to move, to think, to chase her. Instead, after a few breaths to steady himself, he approached the ribbon merchant and asked who she was. The man had given her name, but refused to divulge where she lived. Erik had asked others as he headed in the direction she’d gone, hoping to catch up to her, and gotten the same result. She was well liked, it seemed, and well protected. She’d disappeared, and he’d returned to Ross and being under Donas’ and Silas’ control.
“Or do ye mean never anightsince?” Rose asked, with a sly grin that pulled Erik from his recollections. “’Twillna matter. She is spoken for, and since ’tis a good match for both our clans, I see no reason to change it.”
Frustrated, Erik took his first sip, barely noticing the taste as he realized he would have to use other arguments to convince the Rose to honor his suit. “So ye value Fiona?”
“Of course.”
Erik knew immediately he’d asked the wrong question, but the Rose’s reply didn’t give away whether he considered Erik’s question an insult, so he forged ahead.
“And is it a love match?”
“What? Nay, of course no’.” This time, Rose waved a hand as if waving away a daft idea.
So, a match arranged between clans with no consideration given to the wishes of the lad and lass involved. As long as clan interests were not too tightly bound to this match, Erik knew how to make his case. “Then allow me to give ye a better reason to wed her to me.” He took a sip while he waited to see if Rose would object. When he nodded, Erik continued. “Yer allies, Brodie and Munro, support this opportunity for Ross and Roseto ally. ’Twill settle some…trouble…that was permitted by our late chief.”
Rose chuckled and nodded. “Bride stealing. Aye, lad, I ken all that. Brodie has been here already, pleading the case for the Rose-Ross alliance based on this marriage.”
Erik reared back, nearly sloshing his drink from its cup. “Ye kenned? What game are ye playing with me?”
“Does it truly disturb ye that the lairds involved would have discussed this?”
For a moment, Erik found himself speechless. Rose knew before he arrived here? And let him plead a case that was likely decided long before he left Ross. Erik barked out a laugh.
“The irony is too sweet,” he said when he caught his breath. “While I waited for a response to my request for betrothal, ye were waiting to hear from me.”
Rose nodded, his expression thoughtful instead of amused. “One might think someone didna want this alliance to succeed.”
“Or ’twas simply bad luck and bad timing,” Erik allowed, but his mind raced. Who would benefit by its failure? Sadly, the only scenario he could come up with was someone within Ross, and that made every one of Donas’ remaining supporters suspect. “At any rate, we are here now, both in possession of the facts, and I do respect Rose’s willingness to consider my suit despite the lost letter. Since Brodie raised the possibility of this alliance, has Fiona been consulted?”
Rose shook his head. “The lass only recently returned to Rose from Inverness. Ye heard about the bridge there?” At Erik’s nod, he continued. “I’ll simply say there was nay reason to mention Ross to her until ye arrived. Brodie could have been wrong about yer intentions, and I wouldna upset the arrangement with the MacBean without good cause.”
Erik leaned forward. “The alliance I propose is the very definition of a good cause—for all four clans. Perhaps even moreso since we are no’ certain who attacked Inverness and what more they intend to do. Ye ken ’tis said Domhnall was behind it.” Rose didn’t need to know Erik had heard that from a Sutherland. Involving that powerful clan in this discussion would divert his attention from what Erik wanted to accomplish.
“That seems to be the case.” Rose waved it aside. “But he’s done naught else—yet. So, tell me, what is the downside of this alliance ye propose?”
“I dinna see one.” Erik opened his free hand, palm up, empty, to emphasize the point. “Save, perhaps, for the MacBean. Perhaps there are other comely lasses at Rose who could go to MacBean in Fiona’s stead.”
“If we come to agreement, including with the lass in question, I will make that decision,” Rose insisted.
Erik nodded. That was Rose’s business, and none of his. “As to Fiona, I am eager to see her.” He set aside his cup and made ready to rise, but Rose waved him back down.
“I will agree to a meeting, but if she is dead set against the match, I willna force her into it without giving her time to consider her options, including a chance to meet the MacBean lad. Though they’ve never had that opportunity, theirs is a betrothal of long duration, since they were weans.”
Erik scowled, but hid it by looking down and picking up the cup he’d set aside. He had hoped his offer would be easily accepted. Yet the Rose was still willing to consider a prospective groom who’d shown so little interest that he’d never made the trip to meet his betrothed. “Of course, I must consent to yer wishes,” Erik said, fighting to school his features into a calm mask. He felt anything but calm. He was so close to winning the lass he’d dreamt of for a year, and yet Rose’s whim could still steal her from him.
Rose eyed him as if he could see the frustration Erik fought to hide, and didn’t appreciate it. “Indeed. Fiona is still myresponsibility. Ye must agree to my conditions or leave now, without seeing the lass.”
Chastened, Erik tightened his fist around his cup and nodded. He could not demand to see her if he wanted Rose to continue to favor the alliance, only request, and acquiesce. “But if Fiona decides in favor of the match, I ask for an immediate wedding instead of a long betrothal.”
“So, ye need a wife to help consolidate yer hold on Ross.”
Erik pursed his lips but kept his gaze on the Rose. This was no time to appear weak. “Nay. My hold is secure. I have waited overlong since being free of Donas Ross to meet and marry the lass I’ve wanted since I first saw her. If she’ll have me, I dinna wish to delay any longer.”
