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“The earl who brought you here?”
“Nay, the other Garrick. Of course the one who—”
“Stop.” Clara laughed. “He is quite handsome. Very . . . earl-like.”
“Earl-like?” She knew what Clara was trying to say and couldn’t resist laughing at her description.
“Alex told me of him when we learned he was to escort you here. You know Linkirk is an ally to Clan Kerr. ’Tis only one day’s ride from here.”
“Aye, I know.”
“So . . .”
“So . . .” She might as well be out with it. “He kissed me.”
“He what?” Clara scrunched up her face. “But he is to be wed to—”
“Precisely.”
Clara’s eyes widened. “Oh dear. Emma, please tell me that is all he did.”
Emma couldn’t resist a bit of teasing. “Or what? You’ll be forced to toss my sheets with virgin’s blood on them into the fire?”
They both looked toward the hall not far away from where they sat in the stone corridor. The cushioned seat overlooked Dunmure’s courtyard, the precious glass window a rare delight.
Bursting into laugher, they both spoke at once.
“I can’t believe you did that.”
“I’m glad I was there that morning.” Emma continued, “You . . . Sara . . . Catrina. Do any of the women in our family do things in the conventional way?”
“By conventional, if you mean marriage before the marriage bed, nay, I don’t believe so. Although”—Clara turned serious—“I don’t recommend as much for you. Especially if . . .”
“You’ve no worries there. As you said, he is to be married.”
“Into a family as powerful as any here along the border.”
“Aye.”
“And an alliance that will end the Baron of Inverglen’s mad claims to Clave’s earldom here in Scotland.”
She should not be surprised Clara knew of such things. Her friend, who had spent years running from possible political revenge in England, was very much involved in the politics of her clan and the happenings at the border.
“So I’ve heard,” Emma said.
Clara took her hand and squeezed it. “Then you know without it, Clave’s uncle will almost certainly gain enough support to start a clan war. One he will not likely win. But a war nonetheless.”
“I suppose I didn’t know that.”
“Emma, look at me.” If her friend was attempting to make her feel better, it wasn’t working.
“When Clave’s father died, his uncle wasted no time in attempting to take back the earldom. All know it. His mother came to Scotland to protect her son’s rights. And if there is a war, we will be forced to take sides. Clan Kerr can no longer remain neutral. Not with our alliance to Kenshire and the Waryns.”
“I understand,” Emma said.
“So if you are upset about losing the Earl of Clave to Lady Alison, then we shall find you another reason to be sad. Or, even better, one to be happy.”
Lady Alison.
