Beatrice took Eloise by the wrist and led her past them towards the courtyard. As she moved past Leo, she let her hand pressagainst his chest, a small intimate touch he had not been expecting.
What is she doing to me? And in front of them all.
Once Beatrice and Eloise were gone, Iola went to her chambers, and the men were alone. It was then that Patrick stepped forward.
He cleared his throat and released a strangled sigh. “Laird MacSween, I daenae ken if Beatrice told ye this, but we daenae support this betrothal.”
“And I daenae ken if Beatrice told ye this, but what ye support doesnae matter to me.”
“Are ye offerin’ enough to marry our beloved daughter, I wonder?” Patrick continued, somewhat drunk and very unwise.
From the sound and smell of him, Leo suspected that the man had been drinking for hours to get enough courage to ask such an outrageous question from such a weak bargaining position.
“I have frozen yer debts and can forgive the ones promised to me. If that isnae enough for ye, it isnae me concern.”
Patrick shook his head. “We need more than just a little help and forgiveness, me Laird. If we were to marry Beatrice off to some of the other creditors, it seems we could receive some coin forher hand too.” He clasped his hands in front of him. “All debts cleared. Money as we need it.”
“Surely, ye can do better for this lovely couple,” Allistair interjected with earnest goodwill that Leo didn’t believe for a moment.
“This has nothin' to do with ye, Cousin,” Leo hit out.
He ordered everyone but Patrick to go to the solar and help themselves to his whisky, his tone brooking no argument.
After everyone was gone, he turned towards Patrick again. “I have made me offer clear. Beatrice has accepted me terms, and she is under me protection as me future wife.”
“I willnae let this union go through,” Patrick stated with drunken insistence. “I cannae let meself be beggared for it. Ye must see that, Laird MacSween. It’s only a matter of a little money for ye, surely.”
“Are ye saying ye will oppose me will in this? That ye will actively oppose me marriage to yer daughter?” Leo’s tone was low and implacable, and perhaps drunken Patrick Whitmore could not hear the danger in it.
“As it stands, I will do everythin' I can to prevent it,” he slurred.
Leo stepped forward, looming over him. “Then ye’re nae welcome in me home and can find yer own way out of debt.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
“Do ye ken what is happenin’ here, Eloise?” Beatrice asked as they sat close to each other in the courtyard, watching a handful of children run in wild circles. “Did ye ken that I have been decreed to marry and came to Laird MacSween to ask his hand in marriage and his protection?”
“Nay, I didnae, but I was suspicious when I heard the news.” Eloise cocked her head and gave her the same look she used to give her when they were young girls. If Beatrice ever tried to hide anything from her, Eloise could find it out.
“I didnae ken what else to do,” Beatrice sighed.
“Ye did what ye could.” Eloise laced her fingers through Beatrice's and lifted their joined hands to the side of her face. “Love didnae come safely for me either. I found me way to it. I chose it against all odds.”
“Aye, and to many, it didnae make a good reason.”
Eloise raised an eyebrow, dropping their hands back between them. “It isnae for others to decide, but let me warn ye of this: nae makin’ a choice is a form of surrender, Bea. Daenae fall into that trap willingly.”
“Do I look like I already surrendered?” Beatrice tapped a shaking hand to her chest. “Ye can tell me the truth.”
The tender smile that followed was all the answer she needed.
“Nay,” Eloise said, touching her shoulder. “Ye look like ye’re standin' on the edge of becomin'.”
A well-dressed woman swanned into the courtyard, then stopped for a beat when she spotted Bea.
Oh, it’s Violet. I hardly recognized her, all fancy like that.
Violet crossed to them and stood with her hands on her hips and a practiced grin on her face. She inclined her head to Eloise and said, “I’m Violet,” in a manner that suggested they might have met already.
