“Why no’? ’Tis an even match. If I can marry a duke,” she lowered her voice. “Which I still canna believe most days. My point is, if I can marry a duke, surely, ye, thesisterof a duke, is a proper station to marry the Duke of Argyll.”
Clarissa shook her head. “Ye shan’t say such things. My feelings are my own and they will stay that way. Please. Dinna say a word. Nicholas mustn’t ken. Or Alexander for that matter,” she pleaded. “Neither of them can know.”
Gwen sighed. “I truly think if ye explained your feelings to your brother, he would understand.” She squeezed her hands. “And let us be honest here, one would need to be blind no’ to see the affection in your eyes whenever he is near.”
“Mayhap so, but it does no’ matter. Alexander has a type of woman he chases after. I am most certainly no’ that type of woman.”
Sweeping her hand in the air, dismissing Clarissa’s statement, Gwen stood, her hands on her hips. “I think we need to make him realize that yearethat woman.”
Shocked, Clarissa looked at Gwen. “I will do no such thing.”
“Why? This is your chance.”
“But Nicholas…”
“Let me deal with your brother. I’ve some experience in that. He just needs to see the reason in it and when he does, all will be well.” Gwen clapped her hands together as if she’d just solved all the problems in the world.
If only it were that easy. But as Clarissa thought about her sister-in-law’s words, mayhap having her on her side wasn’t such a bad idea. Clearly, she couldn’t convince Alexander to marry her if she avoided him at all costs.
Nay, she only needed to enlist the right people.
Pulling the doors of the wardrobe open, Gwen peered inside. “Where is that beautiful blue gown ye brought? Ah, here it is.” She pulled it from the cupboard and laid it out over the back ofthe chair. “Alexander doesna have any ladies’ maids helping him here, why would he, since ’tis just him and his brother,” a peal of laughter escaped her lips. Her sister-in-law was positively giddy. “But he did say he hired some for the time we are to stay here to help us with whatever we need.” She snapped her fingers. “They’ll be here soon.”
Clarissa groaned. “I ken your intentions are well meaning, but what will Nicholas say when he uncovers your scheme? I dinna want to be the cause of any strife between the two of ye.”
Gwen paused as she riffled through the drawer where Clarissa had stored her jewelry. “Heavens no? Dinna ye see? This is perfect. Ye will be the bonniest lass at the ball. Your dance card will be full, and no doubt, ye will have suitors calling upon ye in the following days.”
“Right. Why would I want that? I dinna.”
Gwen rolled her eyes. “Obviously. But ye ken who else’s attention ye will catch?”
Clarissa shook her head and drew her knees up to her chest, wrapping her arms around them. “I am quite certain that Alexander sees me as naught more than Nicholas’s little sister.”
“Bollocks,” Gwen spurted.
Clarissa snapped her eyes to Gwen, her mouth open in shock. “Gwen!”
She dismissed her with a wave of her hand. “Och, ye have heard worse, I imagine.”
“Aye, but no’ from a lady.”
Gwen giggled. “Well, before I became Duchess of Huntly, which is still quite strange to say, by the way. As I was saying, before I married your brother, my living arrangements were,” she paused, a faraway look darkening her eyes. “Let us just say they werena ideal. A curse was needed here and there.”
“Nicholas would be appalled to hear ye speak in such a way.”
“He has heard,” she confided with a wicked smile. “He rather likes it, in certain situations, mind ye.”
Clarissa felt her cheeks heat and she brought her hands up to cover her ears. “Stop. I dinna want to hear about ye and my brother’s,” she couldn’t get herself to say the words. “Ye ken.”
Gwen laughed but dropped the subject. “This will be fun. Ye will be the belle of the ball.”
She doubted that very much, but let Gwen continue to ramble on. She seemed very invested in securing a husband for her.
Almost as much as her brother was. The difference being that Gwen wanted her to marry for love. Nicholas only wanted to ensure that the union was beneficial to her standing. Annoyance had her flopping back onto the bed in the most unladylike way.
Why couldn’t she choose who she marries?
Why should Nicholas have the final say? It wasn’t his life that was being planned. He got to choose his wife.
