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William frowned and put his hand over hers. “Grace, I know you have been unhappy since you came here, but never quite as badly as this.” His hazel eyes, so much like her own, looked into hers. “Tell me what is wrong.”
“William, I can’t marry Robert,” Grace let out another great sigh. “Now and again I see a glimpse of a good man in there, but more often than not it’s a self-important idiot. I don’t want to be stuck with a man like that for the rest of my life. Besides, you know I was supposed to marry Fergus, and there’s no comparison between the two of them. They’re like day and night. I love Fergus, I always have.”
William stared at her for a long while, letting his breakfast go cold on the table. Then he said slowly, “Grace, I know you care for Fergus deeply. But we can’t walk abandon our commitment to the MacAndrews. We need that alliance, and we can’t insult the Laird directly. Feelings don’t always matter.”
Grace sat up in her chair, her eyes blazing with anger. “You are telling me I must live in misery for the rest of my life! Well, I thought I could do it, but I find that I can’t. There must be some other way of strengthening the clan. I am not a sacrificial lamb! He is terrible Will, you know he is. You said it yourself, he is trying to start a war. A man who treats me like property, who cares nothing for the lives of his own clansmen,his own brother, would you condemn me to such a fate?” She thumped her fist hard on the table, making the dishes rattle.
William took both her hands in his and nodded slowly. “I understand. But Grace, are you sure about this?”
“I have never been more sure of anything in my life,” she replied firmly. “That man is only in love with one person—himself.”
“Then I will help you,” he told her. “I agree we are expecting too much of you, Grace, and if you think you will be unhappy for the rest of your life—well, I don’t think Da and Mammy would like it either. And neither would I. You are my only sister, Grace, and I love you. If I thought Robert MacAndrew would lay a hand on you in anger, I would kill him myself. Maybe there is another way we can mend the situation.”
“I really want to help my family,” Grace lamented. “But I don’t think Robert is the way to do this.”
“I have no interest in fighting a war that Robert MacAndrew starts, and I don’t think Father does either. If he rides out to wage war on another clan, then I will go home, and I will take you with me. Such action would make him completely unworthy of my respect. Even his own men would not follow him in such madness,” William said firmly.
William had been worried about his sister ever since he heard the news about the change of bridegrooms. He had always known about Grace’s fondness for Fergus and knew that they had written to each other often. He had always thought her feelings for him were a girlish crush, but now, looking at her distress, he realized that they were much stronger and deeper. The more he thought about it, the more he realized that he had to get her out of the clutches of this self-absorbed man. She would not be bought and sold like a piece of meat in a marketplace. He’d be damned if he let that happen.
“Let me see what I can do, Grace,” he said, standing up and kissing the top of her head. Then he took her hands again and looked earnestly into her eyes. “You are my wee sister Grace. I will do whatever I can to ensure your happiness.”
“I know.” She smiled at him. “I feel much better now. Thank you, Will. You’re a good brother.”
“And you are the best sister a man could ask for,” he answered affectionately. “Now, I must go to see Fergus, and find out how he really feels about all of this.”
He gave her one last fond smile before leaving and kissed her forehead. Grace stood up and walked to the window, smiling. Suddenly her heart felt much, much lighter. A burden shared really was a burden halved.
* * *
Angus had been listening with a great deal of interest outside the door of the dining room, but he scampered away when he heard William approaching. He nursed the secret all day, before making his way to Robert’s study at the end of the afternoon. He rapped on the door for a long time but heard no answer. Fortunately, a maidservant stopped to speak to him.
“He is no’ in there,” she told him, smiling at him slyly.
Angus frowned. “Why not?” he was suspicious, knowing how the servants disliked him.
“Because he smashed the place up yesterday,” she answered, with a wicked smile and a hint of satisfaction. “Two o’ us had tae go an’ clean it. Full o’ glass, ornaments, bits o’ paper… I have never seen anythin’ like it. When the Laird gets angry, he doesnae half make a proper job of it!”
Angus grinned. “That is true,” he agreed. “So where is he now?”
“His bedchamber.” She gave him directions and he followed them upstairs all the way to the Laird’s room. He was nervous, and knocked timidly, since he was forbidden from being in that part of the castle at all. Still, he was admitted eventually, and stood fidgeting while Robert finished his work.
At last, he looked up and favored Angus with an expectant smile. Angus was not deceived, however. There was always malice lurking behind that benign expression. “Do you have any news for me?” Robert asked tensely. “Has any of my family been misbehaving?”
“Aye, M’Laird,” Angus told him, nodding. “They have.”
At once Robert’s whole demeanor changed as he shot to his feet and advanced toward his spy. “Which one of them?” he demanded, advancing towards Angus.
“M-Mistress Grace,” he stuttered.
Angus was so terrified that he backed right up to the wall, and stood there trembling while Robert closed in on him. Eventually, he screwed his eyes shut and cried: “M’Laird, I am only bringin’ ye a message, please dinnae hurt me.”
Robert suddenly came down to earth and realized what he was doing. He had pinned Angus to the wall by his shoulders and was about to move his hands to the other man’s throat. He stepped back, terrified of what he had been about to do.
“What were you about to tell me?” he asked abruptly, as he turned away and went back to sit down behind his desk, which had been moved to his bedroom. It was the only piece of furniture that had survived his murderous spree the day before. He poured himself a tumbler of whisky and drank it all down in one gulp, then gave Angus his full attention. He despised the man as much as he needed him.
Angus stood against the wall and edged closer to the door, his body still shuddering with terror. He had never been so frightened in his life. Bit by bit, in a stuttering voice, he told Robert everything he had heard, and saw his face tighten and flush deep red with rage. He steeled himself for the angry roar, but it never came. Robert took out a few shillings from his drawer and slapped them on the surface of the desk. “Your payment,” he said sharply. “Now get out of my sight.”
Angus darted forward, snatched the coins, and left as fast as he possibly could, taking the stairs two at a time and breaking into a run as he saw the courtyard in front of him. He had not expected a reward for his services, so he was happy to receive one.
