"I ken it well. You're the worthiest husband for her."
Torr was overjoyed to hear this. He grinned. "I appreciate your trust in me."
Brodie nodded. "This is the betrothal agreement, backdated to five years ago. It only requires your signature..." He stood, allowing Torr to take a seat at the tilted writing desk.
"Clever." Amused, Torr read over it, took the quill, and scribed his name. He was glad to see Brodie had already signed it earlier.
"'Twas the best inducement to keep MacPeter away," Brodie said.
"Agreed."
"Drury will age this a wee bit in case anyone asks to see it." His friend placed the paper aside, picked up another one, the marriage contract, and began reading silently.
Torr could not wait to see it, for 'twould secure Cat as his bride.
After a few moments, Brodie placed the marriage contract in front of Torr. "Cat will also need to sign it."
Torr nodded, then quickly read it. He dipped the quill into the ink, and signed his name, eager happiness flowing through him. He stood, allowing Brodie to reclaim his chair at the desk.
"I can see you care for my sister." Brodie's freshly inked quill scratched over the document as he signed his name.
"Of course. I love her. Did you doubt it?"
After laying the documents on a flat surface, Brodie sprinkled sand onto their signatures to dry the ink. "Nay. I simply never expected you would be the one to wed her. But I'm glad 'tis so."
Torr gave a brief nod, suddenly feeling far too sentimental for a warrior, and resumed his seat on the opposite side of the desk. "'Twill be wonderful calling you a brother."
"Likewise."
"This Margaret who lives in the cave with you," Gavin piped up. "Is she human or selkie?"
Torr was glad he'd waited until the contracts were signed, for he suspected Brodie might grow surly again.
"She's only there temporarily," Brodie muttered without answering the question.
"Is she a selkie?" Gavin persisted.
"What does it matter?"
She must be, Torr decided. Otherwise, wouldn't Brodie have said?
"Or is she a witch?" Gavin asked.
"She is not Wilona MacRae if that's what you're implying," Brodie snapped.
"Are you certain? If she can shapeshift into any animal, might she also shapeshift into a different-looking woman?" Gavin challenged.
Brodie frowned. "Margaret is but mayhap twenty or twenty-five summers—half Lady MacRae's age. And her eyes are brown instead of green."
"Is she Scottish?" Gavin asked.
"Aye."
"How long has she been with you?" Torr asked, curious because if she had been staying in Brodie's cave before Wilona MacRae disappeared from the wood, then 'twas not her.
Brodie shrugged. "Mankind is far more obsessed with clocks and calendars than selkies are."
Was that another hint that the woman was a selkie?
