"Not so fast, young Wesley."
Wesley did as he was bid, though he sat straight with tension. He wanted to be gone, to confront Ridley and kill him if he didn"t like what his brother had to say.
The earl stood and paced the room thoughtfully. "It saddens me that this union is not to be, but I love all my children and cannot bear to see them unhappy."
Wesley nodded, pleased to hear that the earl would at least ensure Lady Anne"s happiness in any endeavor.
"I have tried to coax Anne into accepting Lord Graham-this is an important alliance. This strife between our families has gone on for much too long and we both know a truce without a marriage is flimsier than the parchment it is written on."
The earl kept looking at a huge set of antlers mounted on the wall. Every time he did this, Wesley"s gaze was also drawn to the antlers, wondering what was so fascinating about them.
"Anne, the simple child, reminded me of our purpose. She said to me, "Father, if the union is that important, what does it matter who weds, so long as it is an Irvine and a Graham of gentle birth?" "
Wesley c.o.c.ked a cautious brow. What did he mean? Had he another daughter to offer Ridley? Wesley knew Dornock had many children, both legitimate and of b.a.s.t.a.r.d birth, but he"d thought they were all either married or betrothed or far too young to consider. Perhaps one of the children? The idea of Ridley married to a little girl would be amusing if it weren"t so alarming for other reasons.
"And what did Lady Anne propose?" Wesley asked when the earl was not immediately forthcoming.
"Well," the earl said, rubbing his hands together and turning toward the antlers, as if addressing them. "Lady Anne has expressed a preference for you, lad."
The words were so unexpected they did not register. Wesley turned hesitantly to look behind him. Perhaps Lord Dornock spoke to another occupant in the room Wesley had not been aware of. But they were quite alone.
The earl turned back to Wesley, watching him expectantly.
Wesley pointed to himself. "Me?"
A smile began to grow on the earl"s red face. "Aye-you, lad!"
Wesley could form no coherent words. "But... but... I have nothing." Not even Gealach now, it seemed, as Ridley was handing out promises of the tower like indulgences.
The earl nodded and began pacing again. "Aye-I know this and pointed it out to Anne. Once again, she reminded me that the alliance was paramount. She comes richly dowered, boy. You"ll be a laird in your own right."
"Wed to Lady Anne, I"d be a king." Wesley didn"t realize he"d spoken aloud until he heard a crash that seemed to originate from the wall behind the antlers. The earl looked sharply at the antlers and cleared his throat.
Wesley stood. "Shall I investigate?"
The earl shook his head, his jowls wagging merrily. "Och, no, lad. "Tis nothing."
"Perhaps someone has been hurt? It sounded like a fall."
"Aye, well, "tis no more than she deserves."
"What?"
"Nothing!" The earl crossed the room to slap Wesley"s back jovially. "Very well! Then it"s settled. So long as Lord Graham agrees."
The disbelieving happiness that had been slowly blooming in Wesley"s chest deflated. Ridley would never agree. But Wesley couldn"t bring himself to tell Lord Dornock this. Another thought occurred to him. Who cares if Ridley agrees? Had he ever intended to bestow the tower on Wesley? Or anyone else for that matter? Crumbs, thrown to keep Wesley loyal, only to be s.n.a.t.c.hed away when his usefulness ran out.
Wesley needed time to sort this out, to decide how to proceed, so he said, "My lord, I will return to Lord Graham and present this proposal to him." He started for the door, his mind whirling with confused plots to convince Ridley to agree. There must be some way to frame the request that would make it sound reasonable. Or perhaps he wouldn"t even return to Ridley. If Ridley could forge letters, so could Wesley.
Wesley"s mind was churning with possible deceptions when a soft, feminine cough echoed nearby. He turned.
Lord Dornock coughed loudly and boisterously. "Don"t leave just yet, Wesley. Would you not like to speak with Anne?"
Speak with Anne? Wesley"s face burned with embarra.s.sment, but he nodded.
The earl glanced surrept.i.tiously at the antlers again before walking to the door. "I"ll send her along," he yelled.
When the earl was gone, Wesley approached the antlers. They were mounted several feet above him, but up close he could see the small holes in the wood between the antlers.
The door opened and Wesley turned.
The sight of her robbed him of speech, or thought. Her dress was yellow satin and she glowed like the sun. A smudge of dust marred the creamy skin of her cheek and her gloves were dirty and torn. She wore her deep brown hair loose, with ribboned braids at the front. She was so very beautiful and kind and she wanted him. At that moment, he knew he was going nowhere. He would not leave Dornock without a wife. A forgery was definitely in order. Once the deed was done, it couldn"t be undone.
Anne looked from him to the antlers and back.
They stood staring at each other for some time, until Wesley glanced up at the antlers and asked, "Did you hurt yourself? When you fell?"
She blushed prettily and shook her head.
Ridley circled the girl Gilford had brought him. He"d found her in a nearby village. She was as different from Mona as fine Merlot from vinegar. Her hair was long and white blond. She was perhaps sixteen or seventeen-far younger than he preferred them. However, her skin was unmarked and her teeth very nice.
"What"s your name?"
"Alice, my lord." She was properly respectful, keeping her eyes downcast.
Ridley stopped in front of her. The plaid wrapped around her shoulders hid her bosom from him, so he grasped the edge of it and pulled. She gasped, making a move as if to stop him, then halted, hands balled at her sides. When the plaid lay in a mound on the floor, Ridley inspected the woman"s form and found it pleasing.
They were alone in his tent and he could do with her as he pleased. He approached her and touched her chin, raising her head so she looked at him. Eyes blue as the sky. He caught the scent of lavender, his favorite. She had been bathed and garbed especially for his pleasure.
"Do you know why you"re here?" he asked.
She nodded.
"You"re no wh.o.r.e."
She shook her head.
"Were you kidnapped?"
She shook her head again.
He took a step back, frowning at her. "Then why did you come?"
She licked her lips, swallowing hard. "Because... my da is verra ill. He said-the man who brought me-he said if I pleased you there would be a great reward in it for me, that perhaps he could even cure me da."
"Gilford is a liar."
The girl began babbling so it all ran together in a flood of gibberish. Ridley closed his eyes, rubbing his temples to ward off the headache forming. The depths Gilford was willing to sink, just to find Ridley a suitable woman, repulsed him.