Chapter Eight #2
Rory looked thoughtful for a long moment before saying, “Aye, I think so.”
“Ye think so?” Iain prodded, curious about the hesitation that Marion had mentioned and that Rory now displayed.
Rory’s neck and face turned red, and he asked, “May I speak frankly?”
Iain nodded. “Of course, but nae here. Walk with me.” Rory fell into step beside Iain, and they walked through the courtyard gate to the side garden, where Iain led Rory to a bench. When Rory gave him a questioning look, Iain said, “There are ears everywhere near the castle.”
“Ah,” Rory nodded. “Lots of tongues wagging at the castle, aye.”
“Aye,” Iain said, chuckling. “Ye’d nae believe the things I learn by listening to the kitchen lasses gossip as they move about the castle.”
“Such as?” Rory asked, taking the bait Iain had purposely put out there.
“Such as the fact that ye kissed my granddaughter last night, which makes me inclined to wonder, if ye took that liberty with her person last night, why ye said, ye ‘think’ ye’ve made your choice?”
Rory’s face turned a deeper shade of red, which made Iain chuckle, but then he purposely gave Rory a look he knew well had made lesser men piss their braies. He was glad when the man held his stare, showing he was not easily scared.
“’Tis my da and my mama in truth,” Rory finally said.
Iain didn’t know what he’d been expecting the man to say, but that certainly was not it.
“Care to explain?” he asked.
“’Tis fairly simple, really. I grew up in a household of constant strife.
My mama and my da were always—still are—quarrelling.
’Twas misery. Da has always told me it was because my mama was nae a biddable woman, and I’m embarrassed to admit now, that I did nae question that, and I simply believed it.
I decided some time ago, when I did finally have to succumb to marriage, that—
“Ye’ve been avoiding wedding?” Iain interrupted, wanting to make certain he was understanding what Rory was telling him.
“Aye. I was content to, er—”
“Tumble with the lasses?”
“Well, aye. I was nae particularly eager to wed, given my parents’ union. My da has always hammered into me to find a biddable woman, so I’d nae be stuck with a nag like my mama—his words, nae mine.”
“I see. And that’s why ye chose Lenora at first without keening either lass at all?”
“Well,” Rory chuckled. “I did ken Lillith. I kenned she shot me.” He paused and rolled his shoulder at those words. “I keened she had a sharp tongue, and I kenned right away she was nae biddable.”
“And now?” Iain prodded, curious to see where the man’s own mind had led him regarding Lillith and marriage, before Iain revealed what he knew of Rory’s parents’ marriage, which Iain suspected the man knew nothing about.
Rory looked contemplative for a moment before he began to speak.
“And now, I’m thinking my strategy to seek a biddable wife may nae have been the best one.
” Rory paused and scrubbed a hand over his face, clearly contemplative.
“I do nae want a strifeful marriage, but I do nae want to be ill-matched either. And Lenora, well…”
“Aye,” Iain agreed, understanding what he was trying to say. “She’d nae be the right match for ye. Ye need spirit.”
Rory’s gaze widened. “Aye, but I fear what that might bring. Lillith, well, Lillith is fire.”
“Aye,” Iain agreed with a laugh, thinking of his wild granddaughter.
Rory inhaled a long breath. “I went last night to speak to my da about his and mama’s marriage, to ask him if mayhap their strife had less to do with mama nae being biddable and more to do with them simply nae being matched, but da had already left for home.
We’d agreed he’d return right before Hogmanay. ”
“I ken the history of yer parents’ if ye wish another perspective,” Iain offered.
“Ye do?” Rory asked, clearly surprised. “How came ye to be by the knowledge?”
“Several reasons. I apprenticed with yer da, and my mama befriended yer mama’s sister, who told her the history.”
“I’d like to hear what ye ken.”
Iain nodded. “Yer da wanted to wed yer aunt, nae yer mama, when the king ordered a wedding between the clans.”
“What? Are ye certain?”
“Aye. Everyone at court kenned it. Yer grandmama insisted the eldest lass, yer mama, be the one to fulfill the edict. I do nae ken a woman alive who’d appreciate the knowledge that she was nae her husband’s choice to wed.”
“Mama has nae ever said a word,” Rory muttered.
“I’d think nae. Imagine the wound to her pride. Yer da and yer Aunt Clarice were actually in love, I think. Yer Aunt Clarice was the headstrong one, nae yer mama. Believe it or nae, when I kenned yer mama at court she was meek as a mouse. Quiet. Soft spoken. Verra biddable.”
“By the gods!” Rory exclaimed. “My mama tried to make herself into a version of my Aunt Clarice, so my da would love my mama.”
“It sounds like that’s so from the little ye’ve told me,” Iain agreed.
“Nae wonder my parents bicker all the time. My mama became someone she is nae to win my da’s affections, but—”
“The heart wants what it wants,” Iain finished.
“This explains why my mama did nae ever invite my Aunt Clarice to visit. My da was the one to invite her the few times she came, and I always did think it odd that they got along so well, but my own parents did nae.”
Iain nodded. “I think ye may have yer answer about seeking out a wife just because ye think her biddable.”
“Aye.” Rory grinned. “I want Lillith.”
“Ye’ve a battle on yer hands.”
“I ken. She looked downright appalled last night at the thought that I might change my mind and choose her.”
Iain cocked his eyebrows. “That does nae wound yer pride?”
“Nay. I find it a challenge.”
“Good. Ye’ll need to keep that attitude. She’ll fight ye. Something about marriage scares her, I believe.”
“Aye,” Rory said, nodding.
“My wife and the other women will oppose the marriage if ye can nae break through Lillith’s barriers.”
“Will ye break with the king then?” Rory asked.
Iain shoved a hand through his hair. “I did nae think I would. I do nae wish to lose land and safety over this, mind ye. But if I force it, if my son forces it, I fear there will be an irreparable break in our marriages, and there is nae anything in this world that means more to me than my wife.”
“I’ll do my best to entice yer granddaughter,” Rory said.
Iain clapped the man on his shoulder as he stood. “Do ye want my advice?”
“Aye,” Rory said, standing as well.
“I suspect she’s trying to show ye just how unbiddable, how headstrong, how complicated she is. Mayhap she’s testing ye to see if ye’ll keep pursuing her.” Iain shrugged. “Women are a puzzling lot.”
“Aye,” Rory agreed. “I suspect she’s trying to make me nae want to wed her.”
Iain nodded. “Just remember that when she vexes ye, and when she’s driving ye near mad, kiss her.”
“Kiss her?” the man asked, frowning.
“Aye. When Marion is making me feel my blood is boiling in frustration, I kiss her. Then my blood is boiling for a whole other reason, and the other is forgotten.”
“I’ll keep the advice in mind,” Rory replied.
“Do that. I’ve nae been happily wed this long without learning a thing or two.”
“Do ye have more advice?”
Iain did not even have to think about it. “Do nae go to bed angry or without telling yer wife ye love her, and yer wife is yer partner, nae yer chattel.”
Rory nodded then asked, “Do ye mind keeping it between us for now that I have decided upon Lillith?”
Iain scrubbed a hand across his face. Usually, he was not one for deceiving his family or keeping secrets from them, but in this case, it seemed the wisest course of action, so he inclined his head in agreement and hoped he was making the best choice for Lillith.