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CHAPTERSEVEN
Jonan awoke to the unsettling realization that he was married again.
It didn't matter that his bride was in the room next to him rather than in his sheets. He was a married man once more, and it felt strange. His first marriage had also been prearranged.
They'd grown up together, and he'd always known he'd marry her. There had been a wedding reception and there had been love. Jonan had decided that this time, he did not want a feast and would not take a chance on love.
His marriage to Lady Amelia had happened unexpectedly, and the transition had been difficult. She was a beautifulwoman with the most stunning green eyes he had ever seen. Worse, she was a wiry thing, and he felt too big next to her.
She would have made a happy husband out of any man, but Jonan didn't want a wife. Meanwhile, theclan was disintegrating, and he needed to act quickly, and a wife would only distract him.
When he married Magda, he took great pride in providing her with everything she could desire.
He couldn't do thatfor Amelia.
Jonan tried to forget about her. He had no doubt that another man would have asked Amelia to share his bed. But Jonan couldn't do it. His new wife had been taken from her family and thrust into all this. He would give hertime.
He sighed. He'd been with women since his wife died, but they'd been cold and soulless. He had eventually decided to sleep alone, but now, at some point, he had the responsibility to bed Amelia.
He instead concentrated on his bride's father. He didn't know much about his father-in-law, but he disliked him. To send your own child off without any clothes was cruel.
Jonan went to Leah'schambers, where her nurse watched overher. It was unusual for him to intrude on them so early, and he hoped she had awoken.
He knocked twice, and on the third knock, the door opened, revealing Susan, thenursemaid.
“Milaird,” she said in surprise, “’Tis a pleasure and a wonderful surprise to have ye here.” She turned around. “Leah, yer father has paid ye a surprise visit."
Susan led Leah out of the room and excused herself.
Her joyful laughter warmed his heart, and even though he knew his daughter deserved more than his occasional visits, he wasn't sure he could be with her without feeling the agony of losing her mother all over again.
“Leah, my little lass,” he knelt on one knee before her.
“Da!” She embraced him in a warm hug. “Yer back! I heard the maids saying ye were on a trip. Ye never tell me such things…” Her face fell into a frown.
“Ye would prefer if I did?”
“Aye,” she nodded shyly. “I should like to ken where ye are, Da.”
“I will endeavor to inform you, little one. There is a matter I must discuss with ye.”
Leah looked up to her father, her little ears attentive.
“Ye ken that I am laird of our clan. Our people depend on me.” Jonan did not find it easy to speak, but he had avoided the conversation long enough.
“When yer ma passed, our people lost their queen. I have not been the best king, Leah. Since I lost yer ma.”
“Yer the best clan chief, Da. Our people love you so much!”
He was encouraged by his daughter's confidence, and it only strengthened his resolve to make amends to his people.
“Our people need a new queen, Leah.”
“Aye, Da.”
“When yer ma passed, it left me without a wife. I have missed yer ma and I ken that ye miss her too.” Jonan realized that he was beating about the bush, but he couldn’t bring himself to tell Leah the truth.
It was the first time in a long time that he had spoken to her about her mother. It wasn’t something he was proud of.
