Chapter 5

5

M urdoch departed Clyde Castle not long after the negotiations concluded. He'd agreed to give Lydia a week to pack and prepare before coming to his castle to formalize their betrothal.

He rode back to his castle in something of a daze, his mind mulling over the events that had transpired, as he tried to sort out his feelings regarding them.

Murdoch experienced a grim sense of satisfaction. He'd secured a bride, and there would be no one who could now say he wasn't fulfilling his duties as laird. Better still, no one could force him into intimacy with her, when part of the terms she'd set was that she, not he, would determine the course of their physical relationship.

They could force him to wed, but thanks to Lydia Knox, they couldn't force him into anything beyond that.

That was yet another source of satisfaction and amusement to him. He wasn't sure how many of the council knew of the initial terms of the contract, or the name of the bride he'd been intended to wed. Even so, there was something darkly hilarious about being able to both honor the contract and ignore it at the same time.

Then, of course, there was Lydia Knox herself. Murdock hadn't expected her to be so…well, different. Straightforward, plain-spoken and quite willful. She was refreshingly different from his first wife, despite also being strong-willed and unwilling to wed him.

His first wife had been a harridan who'd nearly been forced to the altar at sword-point. She had never let a day pass without reminding him that she'd rather spit in his face than grace his bed. As with Clan Clyde, the wedding had been a contracted affair to create an alliance, though in that case, it had also been intended to end a long-standing feud.

They'd ended the feud between their clans, but he'd been in a constant state of war with his wife until their son was born. It was only after Finn's birth that she'd softened towards him and they'd developed a tolerable relationship.

Lydia clearly didn't trust him, and certainly disliked the threats he'd offered her family, but her responses to him were unusual. She'd challenged him, but not in a way that felt like a blow to the gut or a slap to the face.

Arguing with Lydia Knox felt more like a particularly interesting and productive sparring match than a war. It made him ponder what working with her would feel like.

He rode into Lochlann Castle courtyard still mulling over the events of the day. Laughter drew his attention to the gardens, and he followed it to find Wilma playing with Finn, while her father and brother watched with amusement. All three adults turned to him as he approached.

"Ye returned quickly." His uncle was the first to speak after they'd exchanged greetings. "Did ye secure a lass to become yer bride and fulfill the contract?"

The image of Lydia's defiant expression and flashing eyes danced in Murdoch's memory. "Aye. That I did. She'll be comin' in a week to stay with us until the weddin'."

Wilma laughed. "Och, well, I may nae ken the lass's name, but I can see she's a good match for ye, cousin. Congratulations on finding a lass that suits ye."

Murdoch blinked at his cousin. "Why would ye say that?"

Wilma smirked at him from her seat on the ground. "Why would I nae? The look in yer eyes when ye answered…ye looked the way our hounds look when they see the kennel master comin' with beef bones. Excited and hungry all at once, near to the point of salivatin' all over the ground. If she can make ye look like that after one meetin', she'll surely make ye happy in other ways."

The arch of her brow made her meaning clear, and Murdoch scowled. He was drawing breath to chastise her when her father spoke, his voice disapproving. "Wilma! Tis nae seemly for a lass to say such things."

"Aye. Tis inappropriate to speak so to the laird, even if he is our cousin." Gordon nodded.

"I speak of what I see." Wilma shrugged nonchalantly.

"Be that as it may, I'd ask ye to exercise some restraint over yer tongue when me betrothed arrives, cousin." Murdoch kept his tone stern. The last thing he needed was Wilma's frankness scaring Lydia away, or further encouraging her boldness.

Wilma responded with an enigmatic glance, then rose from the grass and gathered Finn into her arms. "This bonny lad needs a clean nappie, and mayhap some time to rest before supper."

With that, she walked away, leaving the three men standing in the garden. Murdoch watched her leave, a slight sense of trepidation settling into his stomach. Wilma was a willful lass, as was Lydia. Once Lydia arrived at his castle there would be no keeping the two apart, but he wondered what the result of their meeting would be.

Gordon broke the silence that followed Wilma's departure. "Well, I'm relieved ye've found a lass to wed, and a way to maintain the alliance contract." His cousin's eyes were full of concern as he addressed Murdoch. "Even so…do ye think weddin' the lass will let ye retain hold of the lairdship?"

"Tis what the council demanded, thus it will have to suffice." Murdoch scowled. "They've nay right to ask more of me."

"But ye ken they can. Ye've an heir in Finn, lad, but ye ken that the council is concerned for his health, and their need for a second heir. Aye, and mayhap a third, if yer wife's line holds heirship to the lairdship of Clyde Clan."

"The coming of a bairn for the lairdship is in the hands of God, nae me own, or with any lass I might wed. If that's their true concern, then best to take it up with Him, nae me. I've sired an heir, so they cannae say I deserve to be dismissed for failure on that front." Murdoch growled out the words.

Still, he couldn't help feeling some concern. His uncle was right that Finn's status as his heir was somewhat in contention. His former wife's family also needed an heir for their clan. If the council wanted a second heir to avoid further strife, then Lydia's second condition to their marriage might cause him some difficulty.

At least he had no fears that their children would be in contention for Clan Clyde. The contract stated that all children were part of Lochlann Clan, without argument. Besides, Lydia had an older sister, married to the current Laird Clyde, who was already with child. The bairn from that union would likely be the one to inherit.

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's castle 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.