Page 9 of A Wife for the Highland Wolf
Lydia Knox…ye’re an interesting woman, nay question of that. But I wonder, will ye be a solution to my problems, or yet another tangle of thorns for me to deal with?
“Ye shouldnae have agreed to this. Ye dinnae have to.” Lydia sighed as Isobel scowled at her, arms resting awkwardly over the swell of her belly. They’d been having this discussion since Laird Lochlann’s departure, and she was growing weary of it.
“I did have to. Ye heard him. The contract demanded a bride from the Knox family, and I’m the only one whose nae yet wed. It had to be me who agreed to go with him.”
“Ye could have let me handle it. Me husband is the Laird Clyde, so tis me duty.”
Lydia took a deep breath and reminded herself to be patient. Her sisters were accustomed to looking out for her. Besides, Isobel was surely feeling more protective than usual now that her maternal impulses were strengthening as the bairn inside her grew.
She reached out and clasped Isobel’s hands. “Ye ken that the result would likely have been the same. The choice was to offer a bride or suffer a war, and I daenae think we could have changed his mind on that front.”
Isobel started to protest, but Lydia pulled her into a gentle hug. “I ken ye’re worried. For all of me life, ye and the others have been protecting me. This once I can do something in return, so please let me do it.”
Isobel made a soft, frustrated noise. “I daenae see why ye should. I’m nae afraid of going to war. As soon as Alex returns I’ll be calling the others, and we’ll find a way to get ye out of this.”
“Ye daenae need to go to such extremes.” Lydia tightened her hold. “Och, Isobel, I ken the circumstances are nae ideal, nor what we thought they would be, but ye’d kent I’d be marryin’ sooner or later. It might nae be a love match, but will bring us allies and peace, and who can ken? Perhaps a good match will come of it after all.”
“With a man with Murdoch’s reputation? I daenae believe it, and I daenae think ye do either.” Isobel pulled free of Lydia’s hands. “Ye can put a brave face on it all ye like, but I’m worried for ye, sister of mine.”
“I daenae see why. In the event that Murdoch is truly as dangerous as the reputation that comes before him, I’ve made some arrangements to safeguard meself. As for all else, I’ll have me books to keep me occupied, and Hector to keep me company and protect me.” She ruffled the big dog’s ears. “Hector’s an impressive guard, so I’ve nay thing to fear.”
“A man who may have killed his first wife isnae someone I trust with me younger sister.” Isobel scowled. “Ye're nae a fighter, what if he attacks ye? Ye wouldnae be able to stop him.”
“That’s why Hector will be me defender.” Lydia sighed. “I ken ye’re just concerned for me safety, sister, but ye and I both ken that what’s done is done. I’ve promised to go to Laird Lochlann’scastle as his betrothed, to at least give him a chance to prove whether or nae he’s as terrible as rumors have made him out.”
“Ye're nae there yet. We could send word that ye’ve taken ill. Nora could send it, as she’s a healer.” Isobel suggested.
“And then Laird Lochlann would wonder why I wasnae gettin' better, with a healer for a sister, when he already kens I’m nae particularly sickly.” Lydia responded. “Besides, the contract was for Nora, and I daenae want to bring his attention back to her, nae when he’s been successfully turned to a different course. Ye ken Leo would never accept another man claimin' her hand, and Nora doesnae need the stress of war on her doorstep. Her gift of healing demands enough of her as it is.”
Isobel scowled, then sighed, her shoulders slumping. “I daenae like this, and I daenae want ye to go.”
“Even so, I’ve given me word, and I’ll keep it. There’s naught to be done, save packin' to journey to his castle.” Lydia responded.
Isobel sighed. “Ye’re a stubborn lass, Lydia, indeed ye are. But I kent that years ago, and I ken now there’s nay stoppin' ye when ye’ve set yer mind to somethin'. Even so, daenae think ye’ll get out of explainin’ to Alex and the others what it is ye’ve gone and gotten yerself into.”
Lydia smiled softly. “I ken, but daenae think ye’re going to change me mind either.” She gave Isobel another embrace, then left the room, her mind full of the things she needed to pack, and the things she’d need to take care of before she departed.
She couldn’t deny she was nervous, perhaps even somewhat afraid of placing herself in Laird Lochlann’s control. However, her sense of excitement and accomplishment refused to be quelled by any warnings to heed what was to come.
She’d always been the bairn of the family, sheltered and safe. She’d never resented it, knowing why her sisters were the way they were, but as of late she’d begun to feel stifled and constrained.
Now, at long last, she had an opportunity to step forward and spread her wings, and she intended to make the most of it.
6
“Yer sister’s right. Ye shouldnae be doing this.” Lydia finished tying the straps of her final pack, then turned to face her brother-by-marriage.
She liked Alex, she truly did. He was a good husband to Isobel, and a good acting laird for their clan. The men he’d brought to their clan, his former pirate associates, were decent, hardworking people, if somewhat rough around their edges, and Alex was much the same. Normally, she enjoyed spending time with him and Isobel.
However, the past week had been filled with endless irritation and strained words passed between them, to the point where she was ready to be somewhere else, anywhere else. She would have already gone to the homes of Nora or Emma, save that she had to pack and she knew full well that neither of them would be any less determined than Isobel about trying to change her mind.
Lydia had done her best to avoid confrontation by immersing herself in packing. Her clothing, of course, was a necessity, but she’d also made a determined effort to spirit away as many books as she could sneak into her luggage. She didn’t think Alex or Isobel would notice, as both of them preferred more active pursuits, such as archery and fencing
Such as finding her when necessity forced her to visit a place in Clyde Castle where she couldn’t easily take her leave, and trying to once again convince her that she shouldn’t be keeping the promise she’d made to Laird Lochlann.
She scowled at Alex and at Isobel standing behind him. “I’ve said it afore, and I’ll say it again. I’ve given me word, and I’ll nae be going back on it.”
She gestured for one of the servants to take the final pack. “Me things are gathered and me plans are set. Ye willnae be changing me mind.”
