Page 8 of Bond of a Bewitched Highlander

"The earl apologized for compromising you and said he wishes to do right by you."

"Indeed?" she asked doubtfully.

"Aye, and if you two marry, he will be an impressive ally. You will help elevate our clan's status immeasurably. The scandal put us at a disadvantage."

Her face burned. 'Twas her fault. She knew that, and he would never let her forget it.

"He is wealthy and has an esteemed title," Will continued. "His holdings are vast. Surely, he could provide a good life for you."

She cared nothing for vast holdings or esteemed titles. "He could marry near anyone he wants, so why would he wish to marry me?" she asked. "My dowry is nay so grand."

"It could be larger than you remember."

She frowned. "What do you mean?"

"You were Da's favorite," Will muttered. Was he jealous? Annoyed with her?

"Nay, 'tis not true." But her da did spoil her, and she would forever miss him.

Will's gaze softened. "Well, many years ago, he bid me to make certain you secured a good match if something were to happen to him. He held Brodie in high regard and was looking forward to your marriage to him."

She nodded, remembering how well they had gotten along, talking for ages or going hunting together.

"Mayhap 'tis a good thing that betrothal ended, because a marriage to Talnaroch would be even more advantageous," Will said.

She scowled. "For whom?"

"All of us."

The earl's shiny title blinded her brother, whereas their father would not have fallen for that. Da had a sense about who he could trust and who he couldn't.

"How did Talnaroch find out about my increased dowry?" she asked, curious about what Will and Da had added.

"He has nay inkling. I've told no one, not even you."

"Oh. When was it increased?"

"A few months before Da's death. He'd wanted Brodie to have more, to thank him for caring so much about you."

The two men she'd loved most in the world... the two men who'd cared most about her. Both gone. Da departed from this world, and Brodie far beyond her reach. She would see neither again in this life.

"Talnaroch said he has a fondness for you and could not get you out of his mind," Will said. "He admitted his mother is pressuring him to marry and produce an heir. He said the first lady he thought of was you."

The lies turned her stomach. The only possible reason he would've thought of her first was because he saw her as a rush mat beneath his feet. Someone to use for his purposes and discard.

"An alliance with him would give our clan more security and protection," Will said.

Her queasiness and revulsion increased at the idea of being Talnaroch's brood mare, but she said naught. She would never allow things to advance that far.

"I will think on it," she said.

"At one time, I thought you were smitten with him." Will eyed her speculatively. "After all, you ran away with him, breaking your betrothal to Brodie."

"'Twas because of the curse," she snapped.

Will nodded, aware Brodie, Gavin, and their distant cousin Torr were cursed, but not the details of why she had run away. He disliked speaking of it, for he wanted to avoid drawing the king's attention to witchcraft, spells, or sorcery. King Charles might suddenly become like his father, James, and bring back the witch trials. Besides, to get close enough to the earl to learn where the selkies were being held, she would have to pretend she liked Talnaroch.

"What is your opinion of him and the match?" Will asked.