Page 18 of Bride of the Merciless Laird
The breath hitched in her throat as he turned to her.
“Me braither and I have been discussing yer situation. Ye revealed tae me ye were reluctant tae continue tae the Priory. Ye also informed me that yer braither was seeking a suitable betrothal fer ye.” He paused and their eyes met for a long moment, sending a strange, fluttering sensation into her chest.
She nodded, clasping her hands in her lap. “’Tis true.”
“I have a suggestion.”
Tilting her head, and catching her breath, she nodded. “Please continue.”
“I am in need of a wife. Me Council members have been pressuring me tae wed fer some time now, and I wish tae silence them. It seems ye are in need of a husband. Common sense has it that we should be wed.”
Her head whirled, the breath stilling in her throat. Tyra stiffened and clutched at the arms of her chair.
“Did I hear ye right, Laird Mackenzie? Are ye making an offer of marriage?”
He turned to her with a wry smile. “Would ye hear more clearly if I went on one knee before ye and asked fer yer hand?”
She found a tiny smile. “Aye. That might be more convincing.”
With that, he rose to his feet, placed his goblet on the mantel, swiveled and went down on one knee in a graceful movement.
“Me Lady Tyra, will ye dae me the honor of consenting tae be me wife?”
She couldn’t help a soft chuckle. “Please sit down, me Laird. Yer proposal has taken me quite by surprise and me thoughts are quite befuddled. Forgive me if I am unable tae provide ye wi’ an answer without further discussion.”
He took up his goblet and sat, swilling another mouthful.
“I realize me proposal is sudden and may seem tae have come out of nothing but thin air, but I assure ye it will be of great benefit fer the two of us tae wed.”
Thoughts reeling, she raised a questioning brow. “How so?”
He outlined the way in which a marriage between them would strengthen the smaller MacNeacail Clan by its allegiance to the larger, more powerful Mackenzie Clan. He also roamed over the advantages there would be for the Mackenzies in having greater access to trade with the islands.
Listening to Ewan extolling the gains for both their clans in the alliance, she was momentarily overwhelmed with sadness. Was it her lot to serve as nothing more than an asset to her clan and a tool to further a man’s ambition? She’d had far more than enough of that with her betrothal to Harris MacDonald.
It was the thought of Harris that suddenly made her realize that the threats to her life were all too real. A marriage with Laird Ewan Mackenzie would serve to protect her.
“Yet,” she found herself saying despondently, “we hardly ken each other at all. ‘Tis a mere two days since we first laid eyes on each other. How can we become husband and wife wi’ nay sense of who we are tae each other?”
Ewan shook his head. “I admit I have nay love to offer ye, Lady Tyra, but I will be yer friend and offer me protection I will keep ye safe from whatever danger might befall ye. It will be a marriage in name only, so ye dinnae have tae worry about nae kenning each other.”
She nodded, aware of a pitching in her belly when he confirmed this was no love match. “I ken already ye are a man who would protect me.”
“So, if ye agree to our marriage, I will send word at once tae yer braither, Laird MacNeacail, seeking his permission and requesting arèiteachbe negotiated. Once the formal betrothal is in place, the banns will be published.”
He looked deep into her eyes and, for a moment, she imagined something danced between them that went beyond the coldness of the words they were exchanging.
She tried to gather the thoughts clamoring for attention inside her head but it was all a jumble, quite beyond her ability to bring sense and order to what she might make of the proposal.
“I dinnae wish tae say ‘nae’, Laird Mackenzie yet ‘aye’ is still at some distance. I beg ye tae grant me until tomorrow tae give ye an answer. There is much I need tae think on.”
He got to his feet and bowed from the waist.
“Of course. I didnae expect ye’d answer me without thought. I shall look forward to speaking further wi’ ye on the morrow.” He glanced around the chamber. “I trust ye are comfortable here.”
“Oh, yes.” She slanted him a smile, taken aback at his polite, formal manner.
“Then I shall take me leave, Lady Tyra. Shall we arrange a time tae meet again?”
