“I know! Isn’t it wonderful?”
Isobel smiled. She was glad one of them would marry a man of her choosing. “I do remember Jamie now. He was a very nice lad—his father, too. Da has done well for you.”
“He’s no earl,” Rose teased, but it was clear she much preferred her Jamie. She would marry the man she loved. A twinge of jealousy stabbed Isobel. It seemed childish to whine that it wasn’t fair, but inside, she couldn’t help it.
Gillian sighed. “You are both so fortunate. I remember Jamie. He was a kind and comely lad, and his lands are not far. And you, Isobel—Earl Kincreag is dark and mysterious and so beautiful I vow you will swoon when you see him. Even if he is sour as an old goat—he’s disgustingly rich and has a dozen castles. You’ll never have to see him if you don’t want to. And you also will not be far from Lochlaire or Rose.”
“Where will you be?” Isobel asked, disturbed by the wistfulness in her sister’s tone.
“I am to marry an old man in France.”
Rose frowned indignantly. “Father is marrying you to an old man?”
Gillian lifted one shoulder. “Well, he’s notancient.Nearly fifty. Still that seems very old to me—like marrying my father.”
They all made faces of disgust.
“Maybe he will be kind,” Isobel said hopefully.
“Or maybe he will die quickly and leave you a rich widow,” Rose added.
Gillian’s mouth turned down at the corners. “I wouldn’t care if he was eighty so long as he lived in Scotland.” She gripped Isobel and Rose’s hands. “I’ve missed you both desperately, and now our time together is so short. What if I never see you again?”
“Don’t say that!” Isobel cried.
Rose just frowned, deeply disturbed.
“Have you told Father how you feel?” Isobel asked.
Gillian shook her head. “Oh no! He mustn’t know. He’s dying, and these marriages are so important to him. My Frenchman is an old friend of Father’s. I cannot protest—not now, when it’s his dying wish. That is why he brought us here now—to see us married to these men so he can die in peace.”
Isobel understood just how trapped Gillian felt and she squeezed her sister’s hand reassuringly. She knew what it was to be torn between duty and desire—but there was no help for it—for either of them.
Rose raised a speculative brow. “You still have time. Has a man caught yer fancy here? Encourage him. Better to lose your maidenhead to a lad of your choosing than to some old stranger.”
Gillian shrugged. “I couldn’t do such a thing.”
Rose nodded across the hall to where Stephen stood, stuffing his face and talking animatedly with Davie MacLeod—who looked as if he wanted to escape. Stephen noticed that they were all looking at him and winked.
Rose wiggled her fingers and smiled flirtatiously. “What about him? He’s uncommonly handsome.”
Gillian moved in front of Rose before she enticed Stephen to approach them. “Stop it! I don’t even know him!”
Rose laughed. “What matter? You’ll hardly know your Frenchman when he mounts you on your wedding night. Should your first coupling be with a stinking old carcass, or someone young and beautiful that might bring you pleasure?”
Gillian shook her head. “My betrothed expects a virgin. I cannot soil myself and dishonor Father.”
Rose rolled her eyes and made a rude noise. “Honestly, Gilly! Do you really believe that every lady goes to her marriage bed a virgin?” Her fine auburn brows arched knowingly. “Virginity, my wee innocents, is so very easy to fake.”
Isobel and Gillian looked at their sister curiously. She seemed to know of what she spoke, which intrigued them both.
“What if she were to get pregnant?” Isobel asked.
Rose dismissed this with a wave of her hand. “There are ways to prevent unwanted pregnancies—but in our case it doesn’t matter overmuch. Father is rushing us all to the altar, so anything you do in the next fortnight or so can easily be attributed to your husband so long as he beds you immediately.”
“Really?” Gillian breathed, fascinated.
“Aye. Ye should grab what ye can, while ye can,” Rose continued. “Ye never know what the future holds. And by the look of that young buck yonder, methinks it might be worth your while.” She winked conspiratorially and looked around the hall. “Later I’ll give you something—”
