The Other Highland Laird

Robert recognized a rebuff, but he was persistent. His father had bid him pay court to the Lady Marion because he wanted Robert to take an English bride back with him to France, rather than marry a French woman. ‘Besides, she is of good ancestry,’ Lord Murray had said, ‘and will fit in well in French society.’

‘Come now, Lady Marion, one dance is all I ask for… and after that if you despise my company you may feel free to make your views known to me.’

Marion had no answer to give Robert as he led her away, and to add to her discomfiture and distress, she found Brice dancing with a girl of considerable beauty. Why he had not come to her, she could not fathom, because the look he had given her during the ceremony earlier seemed fraught with emotion. She dared not look in his direction, Marion thought, as they danced the Strathspey and then a reel.

‘I think I will sit down for a bit,’ Marion said, and Robert led her away from the dancers.

‘Lady Marion,’ Robert said firmly, ‘I will be asking your father for your hand in marriage, and as our parents have already discussed the matter of our betrothal, I think you will need to increase your efforts to be more than just civil with me.’

Marion looked at him in surprise. ‘Betrothal? Marriage? What do you mean? We have only just met and I do not know you at all, Lord Robert. I fear I cannot make any such commitment to you and I doubt that my parents would have done so without my consent.’

Robert laughed. ‘How little you know of the world. Consent is not yours or mine to give. We do as our parents bid us to and you must marry me.’

‘I most certainly will not,’ Marion said hotly and moved rapidly away from Robert. Lady Buchane watched her daughter from across the room and rushed to her side.

‘What is the matter?’ Lady Buchane asked.

‘Nothing that you do not know about. How could you and papa do this to me, mama? How could you promise me to Robert Murray without giving me a chance to get to know him?’

‘But my dear, we know him. Your father and I have met with him and spoken to him and of course Lord Murray is a good friend…’

‘Tell me why you’re doing this,’ Marion demanded.

‘Do not make a scene,’ Lady Buchane answered, smiling brightly at Marion so that anyone who glanced in their direction would assume the two ladies were just having the most casual of conversations.

‘Then tell me why you’re doing this,’ Marion demanded again, mutinous.

‘If you stop pouting and smile a little, I will,’ Lady Buchane replied.

Marion forced her lips into an attractive curve and tried to look at her mother with less hostility. ‘Now tell me!’

‘Your father is in debt to Lord Murray,’ Lady Buchane said.

‘And I am the payment of his dues?’ Marion asked, aghast, the false smile replaced by a look of complete indignation.

‘The Murrays wanted an English bride for Robert, and you were not spoken for,’ Lady Buchane said, ashamed at her recent revelation. ‘Besides, they are a prominent family and you will live in France!’

‘I am not interested in France!’ Marion spat out.

‘Keep your voice down, child,’ Lady Buchane cautioned her daughter.

‘Why Robert?’

‘I know you look with longing at Brice, but Robert is the one in the market for a bride.’

Marion flushed. ‘I cannot, and will not, marry Robert Murray!’ Marion said emphatically.

‘You are going to, and I will hear no argument to the contrary,’ Lady Buchane replied with equal emphasis.

Marion said nothing, but moved away from her mother, hoping to find her way out of the Great Hall where she could, in private, shed the tears that lay heavy in her eyes. She slipped out into the grounds, shivering in the cold breeze that whipped across the moors.

‘Where are you off to by yourself?’ A voice asked, and Marion jumped back in alarm.

‘It’s me, Brice.’

Marion bit her lip and swept the tears off her cheeks, though Brice saw them glistening on her ivory skin and was moved.

‘I’m sorry,’ he said, ‘You seem very distressed.’

He spoke like a true Scotsman and Marion felt her pulse racing despite her misery. ‘I just came out here for a breath of air,’ she said, still brushing the tears off her cheeks.