Highlander of My Heart (Mcardle Sisters of Courage 1)

Upon entering the solar, she took the seat James offered concerned her trembling legs would give way with worry. She was also glad she sat near the hearth, its warmth chasing the chill that had suddenly washed over her. She knew what James wished to discuss with her. He had eluded to it time and again to all three sisters.

Arranged marriages.

Not so much for Snow, thankfully. Her blindness protected her from that, no man wanting such a burdensome wife. But both Sorrell and Willow had hopes of choosing their own husbands, something her mum had agreed with. Unfortunately, her parents’ death had changed everything, and it seemed now that she and Sorrell might not have a choice.

James remained standing as he spoke. “I am sure you are already aware that our father’s illness took a toll on the clan. We have had a poor harvest and hunting has not gone well. The food sheds are near empty. Several cottages are in desperate need of repair as is the keep.” He steeled himself to deliver the dire news. “Unfortunately, the coffers are empty. If we do not get help before winter sets in, I fear that many in the clan, particularly the old and young, will not survive the winter.”

Sorrell held her tongue, though it wasn’t easy. Instead of duty, he was using guilt to get her to agree to an arranged marriage. How could she possibly let her clan starve or let the old and young die when she could save them? But she was just as good at playing the guilt game.

“I heard you give Father your word, with my own ears, that you would keep us safe,” Sorrell accused.

James was not surprised to see her soft green eyes flare with a fiery spark. He had learned over the last few months that it was a sure sign that her temper was on the rise. Even her flaming abundance of red curls that a strip of plaid had trouble keeping contained seemed to blaze in fiery anger. She was definitely ready to argue.

James attempted to explain. “Aye, I did promise our father I would see the three of you safe and I am doing just that by arranging good marriages for you and Willow.”

“You have no right to arrange anything. Father was not in his right mind when he made you heir to the Clan Macardle. That should have gone to Willow, his first born daughter as my da once promised, not his bastard son.”

She was right about one thing. Their father, Angus Macardle, had not been in his right mind, but that had been going on for months, perhaps even longer, before James had been summoned by Sorrell’s mother, Lady Belle. She had been aware that her husband’s mind was not what it once had been and that it had been growing worse. And during Angus’s lucid moments, he had realized it as well. In one of those coherent moments, Angus had asked for James’ word to keep Willow, Sorrell, and Snow safe and he had gladly promised his father.

He did not know if the riding accident that had taken Angus’s life had truly been an accident or if he, in a lucid moment, had decided he could no longer continue on, no longer let his daughters watch as his mind deteriorated more and more each day. In the end, it had been a blessing, but still a heartache.

“Perhaps, Sorrell, but our father made a decision and it is done and cannot be undone. I do what is necessary for family, for the clan. You and your sisters have suffered enough and—”

“So you make us suffer even more by wedding me and Willow to strangers, separating us, sending us away from the only home we have ever known, away from Snow who needs us now more than ever and at a time the three of us need each other the most?”

“You will not be far from each other and I do wish I could give you more time. I wish even more that the choice could be yours as your mother wished. Unfortunately, I have no options left to me to see the clan safe.”

“So what you are saying is that I am to be sacrificed for the benefit of the clan.”

James held his tongue, since he could not deny her words. In a way, she truly was being sacrificed.

“What if I do not care for the man you choose to be my husband?”

“I pray you will find him acceptable,” James said. “You will have a few weeks to get to know him and be wed in two months’ time.”

Her worry had slowly turned to anger as she imagined her life being taken out of her hands, decisions made for her without regard to her own wants.

“Why such a hasty marriage? Is there something besides the dire circumstances you outlined for me that you are not telling me?”