“What is it ye have against Alexander, brother? He is your best friend. Is it because I am your sister?”
Nicholas looked up to the ceiling as if what she said was preposterous. “That is no’ it at all.”
Clarissa threw her hands up in frustration. “Then, please brother, enlighten me. Because I fear I am in the dark and I dinna want to be.”
“Ye are making a spectacle, Clarissa,” he warned, his voice low.
She looked around, and even though they’ve moved from the depth of the crowd, people were still shooting glances their way.
She lowered her voice. “If ye would explain yourself so it made sense, there would be no need.”
“No need for theatrics. Really, there is no need for them anyway. I have told ye, there are plenty of eligible men heretonight that would be more than befitting of becoming your husband.”
Clarissa’s temper rose. Was smoke coming out of her ears, because she felt like there was? “And I have told ye, brother,” she said. “I am in no need of a husband.”
“Okay, ye two.” Gwen stepped in between them. “’Tis clear that no common ground will be made about this situation here.” She pierced Nicholas with a hard stare. “Mayhap we can agree to drop this subject for now and just commit to enjoying ourselves for the rest of the evening.”
Nicholas clasped her hand and brought it to his lips. “Ye are always the voice of reason, love.” He turned to Clarissa. “I will say this. Alexander is no’ the man ye think he is. His past is colorful with many a lass that has tousled in his sheets.”
Clarissa and Gwen both gasped at Nicholas’s vulgar words.
Alexander’s past was no mystery to her. She kenned well of his escapades. She didn’t need her brother to remind her.
“I am well aware of that.” She jutted out her chin defiantly, not caring that she more than likely looked like a petulant child.
“Well, are ye aware that he is on the brink of poverty?”
“What?” She asked incredulously.
“Aye. Did ye no’ notice his flock of sheep were no’ on his lands?”
She hadn’t really paid much attention to that. She kenned he owned sheep. Very expensive sheep that provided some of the best wool in all of Scotland. But she hadn’t been looking for his sheep when she arrived.
“Exactly. Because he is no longer in possession of them. Without them, his estate is in dire financial straits.”
Clarissa was aghast. She didn’t ken what to say. Not because she cared about Alexander’s money. She didn’t. She was speechless because all she could think about was Alexander’s future. What he would do.
Could she fix this somehow?
But Nicholas took her reaction the wrong way. “I told ye he was no’ good for ye. Alexander is my best friend, but I forbid ye to pursue any type of relationship with him. He canna care for ye as ye need. I willna have this conversation again.”
Nicholas stomped out of the alcove, leaving Clarissa and Gwen alone.
She swept at a tear that slipped down her cheek.
“Hey,” Gwen cooed. “Ignore your brother. He means well, but sometimes he gets his thoughts discombobulated. He only wants what is best for ye.”
“By making me marry someone I have naught interest in. That doesna sound like he wants what’s best for me. Instead, it sounds more like whatever is best for him.”
Gwen grabbed a napkin off a nearby table and dabbed at Clarissa’s eyes. “Come on now. Dinna cry. We will find a way to fix this.”
“How?”
Gwen tilted her head as she studied Clarissa. “Ye have true feelings for Alexander?”
Clarissa sniffled and wrung her hands together. “I dinna ken. Aye. No.” She shrugged. “I am so confused when he’s near. ’Tis as if he makes my mind forget how to operate.”
Gwen gave her a knowing smile. “I ken exactly what ye mean.” She dabbed at Clarissa’s tears. “Pay no heed to your brother. He will come around.”
