Chapter 2 #2
"Aye, and if you two marry, he will be an impressive ally. You will help elevate our clan's status immeasurably. The scandal put us at a disadvantage."
Her face burned. 'Twas her fault. She knew that, and he would never let her forget it.
"He is wealthy and has an esteemed title," Will continued. "His holdings are vast. Surely, he could provide a good life for you."
She cared nothing for vast holdings or esteemed titles. "He could marry near anyone he wants, so why would he wish to marry me?" she asked. "My dowry is nay so grand."
"It could be larger than you remember."
She frowned. "What do you mean?"
"You were Da's favorite," Will muttered. Was he jealous? Annoyed with her?
"Nay, 'tis not true." But her da did spoil her, and she would forever miss him.
Will's gaze softened. "Well, many years ago, he bid me to make certain you secured a good match if something were to happen to him. He held Brodie in high regard and was looking forward to your marriage to him."
She nodded, remembering how well they had gotten along, talking for ages or going hunting together.
"Mayhap 'tis a good thing that betrothal ended, because a marriage to Talnaroch would be even more advantageous," Will said.
She scowled. "For whom?"
"All of us."
The earl's shiny title blinded her brother, whereas their father would not have fallen for that. Da had a sense about who he could trust and who he couldn't.
"How did Talnaroch find out about my increased dowry?" she asked, curious about what Will and Da had added.
"He has nay inkling. I've told no one, not even you."
"Oh. When was it increased?"
"A few months before Da's death. He'd wanted Brodie to have more, to thank him for caring so much about you."
The two men she'd loved most in the world... the two men who'd cared most about her. Both gone. Da departed from this world, and Brodie far beyond her reach. She would see neither again in this life.
"Talnaroch said he has a fondness for you and could not get you out of his mind," Will said. "He admitted his mother is pressuring him to marry and produce an heir. He said the first lady he thought of was you."
The lies turned her stomach. The only possible reason he would've thought of her first was because he saw her as a rush mat beneath his feet. Someone to use for his purposes and discard.
"An alliance with him would give our clan more security and protection," Will said.
Her queasiness and revulsion increased at the idea of being Talnaroch's brood mare, but she said naught. She would never allow things to advance that far.
"I will think on it," she said.
"At one time, I thought you were smitten with him." Will eyed her speculatively. "After all, you ran away with him, breaking your betrothal to Brodie."
"'Twas because of the curse," she snapped.
Will nodded, aware Brodie, Gavin, and their distant cousin Torr were cursed, but not the details of why she had run away.
He disliked speaking of it, for he wanted to avoid drawing the king's attention to witchcraft, spells, or sorcery.
King Charles might suddenly become like his father, James, and bring back the witch trials.
Besides, to get close enough to the earl to learn where the selkies were being held, she would have to pretend she liked Talnaroch.
"What is your opinion of him and the match?" Will asked.
He is a bastard and a whoreson. Instead of saying that, she shrugged.
"Do you like him?"
Should she lie or tell the truth? "We will see how it goes when I talk to him. How about that?"
"Very well. I'm glad you're open to the match. You chose him over Brodie, so...."
Oh, so that's how Will was going to play it. She had not chosen the earl over Brodie. The decision had been forced upon her unless she wanted Brodie to die.
Now, she would do what she must to stop the earl and his evil. Her brother need not know of it. He certainly wouldn't go against the earl nor help the selkies.
After her outrageous behavior a year and a half ago, she had no marriage prospects other than the blackguard. But she didn't care. Aside from Brodie, she wanted to marry no other man.
From behind the desk, Will observed her for a long, speculative moment. "Most women would be ecstatic with an impending marriage proposal from an earl, especially one considered handsome, young, and wealthy."
"I'm nay most women."
"Clearly. You're far different now. When you were betrothed to Brodie, you were happy."
Aye, well, Brodie had been a far different man from Talnaroch. Was he still? Had he changed since she'd last seen him?
She hadn't been happy in such a long time, she'd forgotten how it felt. She couldn't even say she was halfway content since her breakup with Brodie. He had been her reason to smile.
Now, he was her reason for regret.
She glanced down, tears pricking at the sides of her eyes. "I was young and na?ve back then."
"And now, at one-and-twenty, you're old and jaded?"
When she glanced up, Will gave a crooked smile.
"Nay, but I ken how the world works. I have no illusions about life being perfect and dreamy. Sisters of chiefs are expected to marry chiefs or nobility."
"Aye, all the other young ladies will be envious that you snagged an earl."
Ugh. She had no interest in making other ladies jealous. They could have Talnaroch.
"Da would've been incredibly proud of you for improving our clan alliances so much."
She wished he would not bring Da into this.
"Better clan alliances mean more safety and security for the clan," he reminded her again, obviously obsessed with the prospect. "I ken you wished to marry Brodie, but since that is nay possible now, Talnaroch is a good choice."
"I had no notion you were so ambitious."
"All chiefs are, whether they admit it or not. Not just for myself, but for the clan as a whole. He's a powerful ally. Since he's the one you ran away with, 'twould certainly smooth over the scandal if you marry him," Will said.
Did he have to keep bringing that up? Clearly, he was urging her toward the marriage.
Her disgraceful behavior was no doubt a blight upon the clan. "I'm willing to help the clan's reputation." Although that was far down the list of things she worried about. Most importantly, she needed to stop the selkie kidnappings immediately.
"'Tis very responsible of you. Are you willing to sign the betrothal contract this eve?"
"I want to consider it for a while... a month, perhaps."
"A month? He may find a more willing young lady before then. 'Tis only the betrothal, nay the marriage. I will suggest the wedding take place in June and see what he says."
That was around seven months away. Surely, she would finish her mission before then.
"You're nay arguing, so does that mean you agree?" Will asked.
"I want to talk with him before I decide."
"Very well. I'll have the steward draw up the betrothal contract this eve, and you can sign when you're ready."
She winced. Sign her life away. She could not fail in her objective.
***
WILL ESCORTED ELSEA into the crowded, noisy great hall where the clan and some of Talnaroch's men were gathering for supper. Her stomach tightened, and the sour, sharp scent of ale in the air didn't help. She clenched her jittery hand into a fist at her brother's elbow.
Where was the kidnapping brute? She glanced around briefly until she spotted the Earl of Talnaroch, wearing Lowland breeches and standing near the enormous fireplace with Quinn, her second eldest brother. Talnaroch's calculating, lustful gaze fastened upon her.
Elsea's queasiness increased. Bastard. She would like naught better than to slap that smug grin off his face.
Forcing in a deep breath and pretending calmness, she glanced aside as he drew closer. She could've avoided his unnerving gaze at such close range if she'd lowered hers submissively, but 'twas not her habit. She wouldn't give him the satisfaction, nor would she be cowed by him.
His grin widened. "Lady Elsea, I'm delighted to see you again." He bowed.
She curtsied. "Laird Talnaroch."
"You look stunning, m'lady." He grabbed her free hand and kissed the back of it.
She cringed but tried to hide it behind a tight smile.
"I thank you." She refused to return the compliment, even though most people considered him handsome, with his short, blondish hair styled to perfection, his classic bone structure, and square jaw sporting a hint of gold stubble.
The murky depths of his steely gray eyes affirmed that his ugliness burrowed soul deep.
"Would you do me the honor of sitting beside me at supper?" he asked.
She wanted to yell nay and return upstairs, but that was not an option. "Aye," she forced herself to say. Will released her, and Talnaroch led her to the high table on the dais.
As she sat down beside him, her silent clansmen stared. Catching her eye, they glanced away and took their seats. One of her great-uncles said grace, and the servants strolled out with pitchers of wine and baskets of bread.
Elsea focused on keeping her sweating hands steady and fisted in her lap. Considering how her stomach churned, she was unsure whether she could eat a bite.
"It has been a long time," Talnaroch said, pasting a faux smile on his chiseled lips.
"Indeed." Though not long enough.
The next dishes were fish and roasted vegetables.
"How have you been keeping yourself busy?" He sipped from his pewter goblet.
She almost snorted but controlled the urge just in time. "I'm sure 'twould be of nay interest to you." She buttered a bite of bread and ate it.
"You'd be surprised." His indulgent smile was a mockery. "I'm interested in a great many things."
They had naught to talk about. She certainly couldn't say riding like a hellion across the moor was her favorite pastime. Giving in, she said the blandest thing she could think of. "Needlework and embroidery."
"I would love to see it sometime." He took a bite of the fish.