1. Prologue

"I am your brother. Since I would fight to the finish to save yer life on the battlefield, why wouldn"t I help ye out with the most important matter of yer life?" Craig MacKay sat across from his brother, Laird Robin MacKay as they shared a jug of whisky.

"Yer speaking of tying yerself to a woman ye don"t ken that well—and doona even seem to like—for the rest of yer life." Robin stared at him; his shoulders slumped in defeat. Very unlike him, who as laird for the past four years, was a strong, fair, and powerful man and clan chieftain.

Robin had been forced to sign a betrothal agreement with Lady Lorena Gordon, widowed sister of Laird David Gunn. The wedding was in five days and since the soon-to-be bride had threatened to kill herself rather than suffer what her brother had planned for her if Robin didn"t go through with the wedding, it had left him no choice.

"I"ve told ye before. Marriage means no"hing to me. I never expected to marry, and if I took yer place, I would marry the lass, bed her, and then continue on with my life just as before."

Robin took a sip of whisky. "Even though I want verra much to have ye step up, I must tell ye that yer idea of marriage will no" work. Women want attention, caring, ye need to listen to them, agree with what ye can."

"Who made ye such an expert on marriage?" Craig asked. He waved his hand at his brother. "I shall ride to Clyth Castle at first light. I will convince The Gunn that taking me in yer place is in everyone"s best interest."

His brother"s demeanor changed from crushed to hopeful. "Do ye really think Gunn would allow it?"

It had torn his heart these past couple of weeks watching his brother accept the pending marriage to Lady Lorena when he was in love with Helena Ross. Once she"d learned that Robin had signed the betrothal agreement, she left for Dornoch Castle where she had lived most of her life and before she visited them at Dun Ugadale to assist her sister with the birth of her first bairn. Robin had been unlike himself since she left, and Craig had come up with the idea of taking his place.

"Aye, The Gunn will allow it because ye ken how charming I can be. I get the impression he wants Lorena off his hands and an alliance with the MacKays. He"ll get both whether he marries her off to ye or me."

"If ye think ye can do this, I am riding in the opposite direction to Dornoch Castle the minute ye leave."

Craig stood and stretched. "Aye. "Tis the best of ideas. Once my wedding is o"er, I will drop Lorena off here and continue with the search for the brigands who have been stealing from us and harassing our people."

Robin looked for a moment as if he would say something, but then thinking better of it, walked up to him and gave him a brother"s hug. "Thank ye, Craig." With a bright smile he left the room and Craig poured himself another whisky.

So, he was to be married. He lifted a glass in a toast to himself.