"Half-sister. And mayhap she takes after her mother."
Cyrus shook his head. "Surely she kens I would never harm a woman."
"Who knows how women think?"
"She's young. Once we're married, she'll see how good-natured I am."
Fraser snorted. "So, you're going to change for her?"
"Nay. When I'm not on some sort of military campaign, I'm very amicable."
Fraser laughed. "I didn't think you even knew that word. 'Haps you are simply a wee bit less confrontational when not bombarding traitors with fire and sword."
Cyrus scowled. Damnation, he hadn't wanted Lily to fear him. He had done naught to frighten her. "I put extra effort into being friendly and agreeable while at Castle Rebbinglen. Could you not tell?"
"I didn't notice until you started dancing with Elspeth and smiling, but by then Lily had already retired for the evening."
Losing patience, Cyrus looked heavenward.
"Women are not idiots," Fraser went on. "They have a sixth sense about them. You might pretend to be even-tempered on the surface, but underneath is a current of aggressive intensity they're aware of. Truthfully, I think you would be happier with a woman who's more compatible with you."
Annoyed, Cyrus shrugged. "I'm not concerned with my own happiness." Not unless happiness equaled satisfying bedsport. Of a certainty, he'd felt intense but brief carnal attractions to females, which were easily appeased. And Elspeth… he had to force her from his thoughts. The fiercest carnal attraction he'd ever experienced was now wreaking havoc on his mind and body.
"I suppose you're so ambitious and driven that you're willing to exchange your future contentment for financial gain." Fraser eyed him speculatively.
"Aye. Our clan will benefit from money and land, and especially the alliance."
"'Tis true, but after that, then what? Think of the many years you'll have to be married to Lily. What if neither of you can stand the sight of the other?"
"I'll soon have two castles. I can have more built if necessary. Why have you suddenly turned into the authority on marriage?"
"Ha. I'm no authority, but I think I grasp a bit more about it than I used to. I've spent plenty of time around Isobel and Dirk, as well as Shamus and Maili."
Cyrus knew his siblings were blissfully in love with their spouses, but their goals were completely different from his own. Dirk had been so enamored with Isobel, he hadn't even cared about her dowry. Cyrus was still shaking his head over that one.
"When are you planning to start looking for a wife yourself?" Cyrus wondered.
"I have no need of one. But if I did, I would look for a woman I enjoy being with and talking to." He gave another devilish grin. "In addition to desiring her."
"If I'm going to marry, then I want all my brothers to find brides, too."
"You do?" Fraser quirked a brow.
"Of course. Misery loves company."
Fraser laughed. "So, even before you wed, you plan to be miserable. Does not sound promising."
Cyrus was only halfway serious. 'Twas clear that his sister and his brother were thrilled with their respective marriages. But those two matches had also led to beneficial alliances with the MacKays and the MacDonalds. If he were to marry someone like Elspeth, there would be no alliance, for she had no attachment to a clan or powerful aristocrat. Her young son was a baron and that was the extent of it.
Why the devil was he even thinking of Elspeth and marriage at the same time? Such an idea was ludicrous.
"'Haps you can also marry for an alliance," Cyrus suggested. "Which will benefit our clan, as Isobel and Shamus have done."
Fraser frowned, looking darkly unhappy for the first time.
"Aye, I should've considered that before," Cyrus went on. "All of us should have marriages that bring wealth, power, allies and land to the MacKenzie clan. 'Tis not only my responsibility but that of all of us."
"You have surely gone mad. Who do you expect Dermott to marry?"
