Chapter 25
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
T here were a few times in James’ life when he had encountered the same oppressive, almost suffocating atmosphere in his father’s study—once when he and Edward had locked Morgana in a closet as children, once when he had been caught sneaking out of the castle to visit the town taverns, and once when he had had too much to drink at a feast and made a fool of himself in front of the clan.
This was the fourth time, and he couldn’t help but feel like a chastised child all over again, withering under his parents’ scrutiny.
But he was no child and he would not let them dictate his future. He would not simply stand there, head bowed, as they scolded him.
“Ye have embarrassed our entire family,” his mother said, hissing through her teeth. “How dare ye walk in here and act like this in front of our guests? Dae ye have any idea who they are?”
“Aye,” said James, crossing his arms over his chest. “The Campbells. Ye didnae even ask how I was, what happened tae me, where I have been all this time. Ye didnae give me the time tae explain anythin’! Ye dinnae seem tae care at all, all ye want tae discuss is this alliance!”
His mother shot him a scathing look, one that he supposed he deserved. “Dinnae act clever with me. This alliance is everything. If by some miracle we can have Laird Campbell tae overlook yer foolish behavior, then ye’ll wed the lass as soon as possible. Within the week, even.”
“I told ye that I willnae wed her!” James said, not for the first time that day. It was as though no one was even listening to him. “I was the only survivor of a shipwreck. I was lost at sea fer days and Freya and her townspeople found me more dead than alive on a beach. I was unconscious, dehydrated, wounded and frozen She is a healer and she nursed me back tae life. I slept fer two weeks. When I awoke, I had lost me memory and kenned nae who I was. She helped me travel back to the mainland. I just regained me memory two days ago. She didnae ken who I was until we got here, and she is still here, despite how ye treated her. I love her, and now that I have seen death in the face, all I wish is tae wed Freya…”
“Are ye listening tae yer son?” his mother asked his father, recovering her demeanor after hearing his heartfelt story, pointing an accusatory finger at James.
“Faither,” James said before the man could answer his mother. “Please understand… I cannae wed Evelyn. I dinnae love her and I never will. Me heart belongs tae Freya.”
His father had listened to his tale with a look of shock and sadness. With a weary sigh, he pinched the bridge of his nose, crooked after a lifetime of battles. “Love has naething tae dae with marriage. Nae one says ye must love Evelyn, James. Heavens, if ye must have that lass, then have her, but wed Evelyn.”
James could hardly believe his own ears. His father, who had never even so much as glanced at another woman than his mother, suggesting such a thing! He stared at him in utter disbelief, his mouth opening and closing uselessly, unable to make a single sound.
“Aye, yer faither is right,” his mother said, perhaps more malleable after hearing what her son had been through. “As long as ye dinnae put a bairn in her, there is naething tae stop ye.”
“Ye have all lost yer minds,” James said. For a brief moment, he turned to look at his brother, who shook his head in disapproval at their parents, but otherwise remained impartial. This was a battle James would have to fight for himself, he realized. It was something he would have to do on his own. “I will never dae that tae Freya. In fact, I wouldnae even dae it tae Evelyn and I dinnae ken the lass! How can ye tell me tae betray them both like this? Nae that either would accept it in the first place, at least nae Freya.”
“It is far more common than ye think,”his mother scoffed with a roll of her eyes.
“Maither—” said Edward in a warning tone.
“Enough!” Said James before his brother could finish. “I’ve heard enough from ye both. Maither. It is best tae put an end tae all this now, afore any promises are made. Continuing with this will only hurt both our clans.”
“The promise has already been made,” his mother pointed out. “Everything has been arranged fer the two of ye, whether ye like it or nae. Ye are fully betrothed tae her, James. Ye will act accordingly.”
“Nay betrothal can happen without me receiving Saint Cuthbert’s blessing,” James insisted. “And I havenae received it. I never managed tae see the relic, so how can ye speak of a betrothal? Ye were the one who sent me to Rùm in the first place!”
“Yer pilgrimage has already taken place,” his father said from behind his desk. His hand reached for his cup of wine and he drained it in one big gulp, slamming the cup back down onto the desk. “Considering the circumstances, I think it is safe tae say ye can wed without seeing the relic.”
For all the fuss he and his mother had made about him following tradition, emphasizing the importance of his pilgrimage and instilling in him a sense of awe regarding his purpose, they were certainly quick to diminish its importance when it suited them.
“I willnae be asking fer her hand,” James insisted. “Ye can say or dae as ye please, but ken that I will always love Freya and I willnae wed another willingly. If ye wish tae see me wed, then ken it will be tae Freya.”
“Ye were never such a stubborn lad, ye always put yer duty tae the clan first” his mother lamented, shaking her head. “What is it with this lass that has enchanted ye so? She’s a peasant! She has naething tae offer ye! Sure, she is bonnie, but what about the clan? Yer future? Yer heirs? Will ye leave yer duties tae yer braither? Will Edward have tae be the one tae provide a good alliance fer the clan? Suitable heirs?”
“Freya is perfectly capable of bearing heirs fer me,” James pointed out.
“Over me dead body,” his mother said, slamming her hand onto the desk and sending his father’s cup rattling on it.
As James and his mother glared at each other, there was a knock on the door and the guard outside opened it to reveal Alastair there, announcing the man’s presence. At once, James’ mother and father straightened, bowing in greeting as Alastair did the same.
With him there, James could hardly say everything that was on his mind. No matter how against this marriage he was, Alastair and Evelyn were still their guests and Clan Campbell was not one they wanted to anger. For a long time, they had been tentative allies, their collaboration hinging on common interest. A wedding between the two clans would only solidify the bond, and so it was no wonder his parents had allowed things to proceed so fast in his absence.
“James,” Alastair said, turning to face him. James looked at him, surprised to be addressed directly like this, especially when the man sounded anything but furious. “I am glad tae hear that ye have changed yer mind and I’d like tae personally welcome ye tae the family.”
James’ eyes narrowed as he regarded the man curiously, wondering how he could have possibly reached the conclusion that he had changed his mind. But then, his gaze fell on his mother and the guarded look on her face, and he knew.
“I dinnae ken what it is me maither told ye,” he said. “But with all due respect, I havenae changed me mind, Laird Campbell. This is simply… a big misunderstanding. Please believe me when I say that I never meant tae be rude tae ye or yer niece and I apologize fer all this.”
There it was, the flash of fury that James had been expecting in the first place. Alastair’s face reddened, the blood rushing to his head, and his gaze hardened as he stared at James, as though that would be enough to intimidate him into changing his mind.
“What is the meaning of this?” Alastair demanded. “Kathryn, ye told me yer son had seen reason. Ye told me ye spoke tae him.”
“When would she have had the chance tae speak tae me?” James asked, throwing up his hands in exasperation. “I am trying tae explain tae ye all that?—”
“I think it would be best if we took some time to rest,” Edward said before James could finish his sentence. “Especially me braither. He has been through a lot, more than ye ken, and he is very tired, Laird Campbell. I’m sure ye’d rather talk tae him when he has his wits about him.”
“I am neither a fool nor a bairn and I shall nae be treated like one,” said James through gritted teeth. “I ken what I’m saying and I’m telling ye all, I had already made a promise tae Freya, before I even kenned about the engagement. She is the woman I will marry.”
Alastair took a few steps closer to James until he was staring right up at him, lips twisted into a snarl. “I willnae be disrespected like this,” he said. “Dae ye ken how many other suitors me niece has? She could choose any she wishes!”
“Then so she should,” said James calmly, trying to keep his anger in check. “I am certain she can find a man who can love her and give her everything I cannae. It is only fair fer her. I am very sorry, me laird, but I didnae ken me parents’ plans, nor did they ken mine.”
Alastair’s face twisted in fury, as if James’ words had only served to offend him even more. His finger pointed accusatorially at him as he said, “Dae ye ken what this means, lad?”
“I cannae be blamed fer something I kenned naething of, I meant no offence” said James, his own anger threatening to bubble over once more.
“James,” Edward said, his voice sterner than James had ever heard it before. Perhaps for the first time in his life, Edward didn’t sound like his little brother, but rather like a man. “It is time tae rest. We can discuss this later.”
James didn’t move and neither did Alastair, the two of them glaring at each other, neither willing to back down first. It wasn’t until Edward placed a hand on James’ shoulder and pulled him away that he moved, reluctantly dragging his gaze off the other man and following Edward out of the room.
As he walked away, he knew it was far from over.