Chapter 24

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

A lana started when the door suddenly opened, even though she was expecting Blaine to come. He strode in with a big smile on his face and went right up to her.

"Alana, I'm glad tae see ye outside the council chamber. Mayhap we can have a proper conversation away from pryin' ears, eh?"

She was shocked when he bent down and lightly kissed her cheek. The nerve of the man! Praying Tadhg was not about to come charging in challenging him to a duel to defend her honor again—mercifully, he did not—she literally had to turn the other cheek and plaster on a false smile of greeting.

"Blaine, thank ye so much fer comin'. I hope I'm nae keepin' ye from yer work," she said.

"Nay, nae at all. Actually, I was delighted tae get yer invitation. I've wanted tae talk tae ye alone fer a while. We've nae been able tae have a heart-tae-heart yet, have we?"

"Erm, nay, I suppose we havenae." She stood smiling stupidly at him, wondering what to say next.

"Ach, I'm parched. How about I get us both a drink, eh?" he suggested.

"Aye, that would be nice."

"Wine? Whisky? English brandy? 'Tis imported all the way from London. I'm very partial tae it, but ye cannae beat a dram of good Scottish whisky, of course."

"I'll have some wine, please," she answered, not wishing to seem churlish by refusing yet reminding herself to be careful not to drink too much.

"Wine it is. I think I'll treat mesel' to a wee snifter of the brandy." He soon returned from pouring the drinks and handed her a goblet of wine.

"Thank ye," she said taking it from him, feeling very uncomfortable when his fingers brushed hers, though she could not have sworn it was anything more than an accident.

"Shall we sit down?" he asked, gesturing to a large settle nearby.

"Aye." She sat at the far end. She expected him to choose another seat, but he came and sat just a few feet from her on the settle. He turned his body towards her, crossed his legs, and rested his arm along the cushions at the back. A short move would have had him with his arm practically around her.

Alana could not help but shrink back a little, though she tried to disguise it. As he beamed at her, she started to wonder if her plan was as sensible as she had originally thought was.

Ye're here fer a reason , she told herself sternly. So, get on with it.

"So, how are ye bearin' up after yer ordeal?" Blaine asked, his eyes full of concern over the rim of his brandy glass as he sipped at the contents.

"Och, nae too bad. I was more shaken than hurt," she explained. "It was a terrible experience. Naethin' like that has ever happened tae me before."

"And I pray it never will again," he said, all sincerity. "It was very unfortunate. I feel responsible, as yer host." He suddenly leaned towards her, and she narrowly avoided spilling wine on her dress. "As a man, I feel awful fer failin' tae protect ye."

"Och, ye cannae be blamed," she lied brightly. "After all, ye came tae the rescue." She sipped her wine, feeling awkward.

"I'm glad ye feel that way. I would nae like ye tae think ill of me."

"Of course, I dinnae think ill of ye!" she assured him, lying through her teeth again. "Ye've been naethin' but kind and hospitable since we arrived."

"'Tis good tae hear ye say so. Now, what is it ye invited me here fer? Did ye wish tae speak about something specific?"

"Well, one of the things I'm most curious about is what ye and the council were thinking when ye asked me tae come here. 'Tis obvious ye didnae expect me tae be a married woman. Did ye have plans fer me?"

He seemed taken aback by her question but quickly covered it with his usual smiling fa?ade. He gave a small laugh. "Well, if ye want the truth, we certainly didnae expect ye tae be with a husband. We were hopin' ye were still unwed."

"And why was that exactly?" she asked.

"We didnae have plans set in stone as such, rather ideas of how ye could help the clan. Ye see, if ye were single, as Lady Alana MacIver, we sort of hoped we might be able tae arrange a match fer ye with one of the local lairds. He's a powerful man, with many connections we currently lack." He paused to sip his brandy, his dark eyes never leaving her face.

"The idea was that if ye had considered wedding him, the alliance of our two clans would have ensured his help in getting the laird back. Of course, none of this would happen without yer agreement. We wouldnae have tried tae force ye."

"I'm sure ye wouldnae," she said, certain the opposite was true. "I suppose if I'd been brought up as the laird's daughter, I would have met a similar fate. Being used as a gaming piece in a political alliance, I mean."

He stared at her for a moment, seeming surprised that she should make such an observation. "That's a very harsh way of putting it, if ye dinnae mind me sayin' so. But yes, I suppose ye're right. Lairds' daughters tend tae be wed fer such reasons. But many of them end up bein' very happy."

"Dae they? How can ye ken that? Have ye met many?" she asked, secretly bristling at his assumption.

He laughed and looked a little sheepish. "I've met a few laird's ladies, aye, and they've seemed happy enough. But I must admit that I mostly met them at parties, and everyone looks happy at a party, eh? I've never actually asked them if they are happy. I'd probably get me face slapped fer bein' too forward." He gave a small laugh, and Alana followed suit, wanting to keep him talking.

He sipped his drink and eyed her in what she thought was a speculative manner. "Maybe we men prefer tae believe such women are happy because it suits our selfish purposes. Let me amend me opening statement and say some of them are happy with their allotted husbands."

"Aye, I think that's likely more accurate. Marryin' a stranger can be nay easy thing."

"That counts fer both the men and the women in our class. Anyway, in such alliances, the couple often kens each other beforehand and are betrothed as children. They ken fer years in advance what's in store fer them and make the best of it."

"I suppose."

"In any case, that's out of the question now since ye already have a husband."

"Aye, I have. Anyway, ye said the clan had a few ideas about what purpose I might serve fer the good of the clan. What were the others?" she asked.

She knew she was not mistaken when she thought he inched closer to her then. She did not like it one bit but thought she might be getting somewhere, so she let it go.

"Well, it was only one other idea really, and I hesitate tae tell ye what it was. In truth, it makes me blush just tae think if it."

"Are ye capable of blushin'?" she said jestingly, determined to keep going.

"I may be a man and a laird's son, but I can blush with the best of them when the situation calls fer it."

Oh Lord, he's moving closer! "I think ye're teasin' me, Blaine. Come on, dinnae be so coy. What does it matter now if ye tell me? As ye say, I already have a husband. Tell me, please."

"Ach, ye're twistin' me arm now, Alana," he replied, swallowing the last of his brandy and putting the glass down on the low table in front of the sofa. His eyes were animated, she noticed, as if he was getting excited. He leaned towards her. "All right, I'll tell ye. The idea was that ye'd marry me."

"Marry ye?" She feigned surprise.

"Aye, did ye nae consider the possibility? It would make sense. Ye're the daughter of the laird, illegitimate, aye, but that would nae matter in this instance. 'Tis blood that counts. If ye and I were wed, it would give the clan the strength it needs. Fer I am the legitimate adopted son but lack our faither's blood. It would be the perfect solution tae carry on the true MacIver line."

"I've been raised tae take over as laird here. I ken everythin' there is tae ken about governin' this clan. With ye by me side, well…" He let the unfinished sentence hang in the air and raised his eyebrows.

"I notice ye're talkin' in then present tense," she said, taking a big swallow of wine to mask her discomfiture.

"I'm speakin' hypothetically, that's all. Ye're married tae Tadhg. I told ye it was embarrassin', but ye forced me tae tell ye the truth."

She frowned as though she was genuinely thinking it over. Then she said, "But if me faither adopted ye as his son, does that nae make us family?"

In a sudden swift movement she did not anticipate, he was by her side, looking intently into her eyes. "Legally, but we're nae related by blood. There's nae reason why we should nae be married."

He's flirting with me! But is that nae what I intended? I must persevere. And Tadhg can hear every word. He must be going crazy! Please, Lord, dinnae let him dae anythin' rash.

"Dae ye think that's what me faither would have wanted? Would he have approved?"

"I ken it was what he wanted. That was one of the reasons he searched fer ye and yer maither fer so long. And I can prove it too. I have an old document dating back around the time of me adoption. He writes about it in there."

"Really?" she replied, inwardly stunned by the revelation though she tried her best to hide the fact.

"Aye. Would ye like tae see it? 'Tis with some of his other old papers in a locked cupboard in the other room. I've been studyin' them fer clues as tae who might have abducted him. Come on, I'll show it tae ye." He went to rise.

She put her hand on his arm to stop him. "'Tis all right, ye neednae go tae any bother. I believe what ye say. There's nae need fer me tae see the document."

"But 'tis only in the room over there. 'Tis nay bother, and I'd like ye tae see

it," he replied, getting up.

Alana stood up too, secretly staring to panic, knowing that somehow, she had to prevent him from going into the neighboring room. Because if he did, he would discover Tadhg was there, listening to their entire conversation. And whatever happened then, she knew it would not be good.

"There's nae need tae go in the other room, Blaine," she said in a voice she knew sounded unnaturally loud, but she could think of no other way to warn Tadhg to hide. "I told ye, dinnae fash yersel' over it. I can see the document another time. Why d'ye nae get us another drink and come and sit down? I was enjoyin' our talk."

Blaine was already halfway to the door, but he stopped and turned around, giving her a quizzical look. "Aye, and I'm still enjoyin' it. I'm only goin' next door, Alana." He jerked his thumb at the adjoining room, "It'll nae take me a minute tae fetch the paper. I'm sure ye'll find it interestin'."

Alana scrambled frantically for some reason to keep him out of the room. She had an idea and quickly tipped the contents of her wine glass into a nearby vase of flowers. "But what about another drink first before ye go in there tae fetch it? I'm thirsty," she said loudly, holding up the empty glass and silently praying she had given Tadhg enough time to conceal himself somewhere. If I keep on like this, Blaine's gonnae get suspicious!

Blaine laughed and shook his head, seeming genuinely bemused. "Ye're a funny lass, Alana. I've wanted tae get tae ken ye better, and now I've learned how much ye like a tipple. That's fine with me. I'll get ye another drink in a moment. Just hang on a wee minute, and I'll be right back."

He disappeared into the other room. Alana stood rigidly, her knuckles white as she clenched her hands, expecting an outraged shout to come any second. But it did not, and in a few moments, Blaine returned with a parchment in his hand. She let out the breath she had been holding, relief flooding through her. Tadhg must have found a hiding place. Thank God!

Blaine put the parchment down on the table by the sofa and picked up their

glasses. "If ye'll wait a moment longer, I'll get us a refill, and then I'll show ye the paper. 'Tis written in yer faither's own hand. Ye'll find it as fascinatin' as I dae, I dinnae doubt."

"Och, aye, of course, fascinatin'. I ken next tae naethin' about him, and I've never seen his handwriting," she said, sitting back down on the sofa, wondering where a musclebound man of six-feet-two could have secreted himself within the elegant parlor.

"Aye, well, this is a nice opportunity fer me tae tell ye all about him," Blaine said, bringing back the drinks. Her skin began to prickle when he sat down right next to her, his thigh mere inches from hers.

But this is what ye need tae dae… get close tae him, lull him intae a false sense of security, so he gives somethin' away.

"Now, have a look at this," he said, shifting infinitesimally closer and handing her the parchment. "This is a record of a council meeting held years ago when I was still a young boy, written by the laird." He pointed to a section inscribed in black ink in angular cursive. Already suspicious of him, she had no idea if it was her father's hand or not, but for the moment, she acted as though she accepted what Blaine told her.

"Here's the part that refers to his discussion with the council members about his thoughts fer his succession. Read it," he said.

"Very well," she replied, trying to ignore his uncomfortable proximity. She looked down at the words on the parchment and began reading what was written there.

"Blaine will take over the lairdship following me death, pending the council's endorsement. It is me hope that, in time, he will make a good marriage that will bring further prestige, wealth, and might tae our clan. However, as discussed in the meeting, there exists another option that appears tae me tae offer the best basis fer the clan's future as well as being me greatest desire.

"The search fer me lost daughter and her maither continues but has so far failed tae produce me sole offspring—and remaining family member by blood—albeit being born out of wedlock, by a woman who was nae me wife. I have vowed that the search fer me daughter should continue as long as I live, with the express purpose of bringing her home and elevating her tae her proper place within the family and the clan.

"Me greatest wish is that when she is found and restored tae her rightful position, she will be wed tae me adoptive son Blaine. The bairns they produce will provide the best possible foundation fer all of us fer generations tae come. I cannae think of a better way tae strengthen the clan's good reputation while at the same time ensuring the survival of the true blood of the MacIver line."

She sat in silence for a few moments, contemplating the words Blaine attributed to her father. Then she handed the parchment back to him. "Ye were right, it is fascinatin' indeed. I'm touched by what he writes." If he wrote it, which I doubt. "It's good tae ken he's been looking fer me and Maither fer a long time." She remained silent for a second and then she continued. "But at the end of the day, it makes nay difference. It is a shame fer him that his wish will never come true, fer I'm already married."