Page 50 of Heather and the Highlander
“Ten thousand a year!” his father shouted.
“Approximately,” Wiggins added.
“No, that can’t be right. Heather told me she expected to receive only about a thousand each year.”
“She lied to you.”
Niall frowned. Why would she lie about that? One answer suggested itself immediately—she concealed the extent of her wealth so that Niall wouldn’t try to marry her for her money. But if that were the case, why would she agree to marry himat all? If Heather wanted to protect her wealth, remaining a spinster was the way to do it.
True, there’d been mitigating circumstances, in the form of Brom snapping at their heels on the road to Scotland. But even now, Niall had to admit that the hasty marriage was a stupidly romantic notion. He could have easily just had Tavish keep driving and bribed the blacksmith to hide them while Brom continued to follow the coach.
Huh, Niall thought.That plan would have been much simpler.
“Boy, are you listening?” MacNair growled.
“No, Father. Were you saying anything worth hearing?”
“Don’t be smart, boy. If you care for the MacNair name, you’ll shut your mouth and hear what I tell you next.”
Niall spread his hands in a gesture to indicate that he wouldn’t interrupt.
“This man, Cyril Hayes. I’ve sent a man into town to talk to him. He’s got it in his head that the marriage hasn’t been consummated, and thus might be annulled.”
Yes, that had been exactly the plan.
“Now it’s nonsense, of course. That girl must have been on her back the first chance she got with you. Nevertheless, you cannot let that English gowk take what’s ours. Heather must remain a MacNair. And you’ll do that by getting her with child, so that no one can dissolve the union.”
“What.”
“You heard me, boy. What could be simpler? Or is she swelling already?”
“If she is, it would be an actual, Biblical miracle.”
MacNair gaped at him, uncomprehending. “My God, is it true? You’venotbedded her?”
“We only went through the wedding ceremony to convince her uncle that she was out of his reach. We hoped to annul the marriage ourselves once Heather attained her majority.” Ah, how long ago and innocent that seemed.
His father began to cough violently into his handkerchief. “Damn fool boy. That sassenach’s money is the key to saving this family! You have a duty!”
“I made a promise to Heather. And it involves not doing that…duty, as you say. We entered into the marriage knowing that it was meant to last no more than six weeks. I’m not going to violate Heather’s faith in me.”
“Damn. Fool. Boy. Go find her and end this charade. You married her, you claimed her, now fuck her.”
Niall stood up, towering over the other two. “Father, I’ll only say this once. I hate you, and even if shebeggedme, I wouldn’t do it. Just to annoy you.”
He left, his father screaming and coughing behind him.
* * * *
Niall rushed to the upper room where Maeve and Heather were taking tea. The two women were both lounging in front of the fireplace, drinking strong tea and eating scones slathered with jam.
Heather looked over her shoulder when Niall walked in, smiling at him. “That didn’t take long! Won’t you join us? There’s a bread and beef sandwich for you on the tray.”
“Your favorite,” Maeve added.
“We have a problem,” Niall announced.
“What is it?”
