Amanda Forester Read Free Page A

caught her eye with a supportive nod. Marriage meant leaving all her family.
    Elyne and Effie followed David and Isabelle into the great hall, their younger sisters following them. The crowd cheered and then silenced. At the far end of the hall stood two groups of men. David Campbell strode to them with a friendly air.
    Grigor Grant was more formally attired than she had seen him earlier but appeared even more severe, if such a thing was possible. Laird Maclachlan, Effie’s intended, was a young, handsome man. In one brief moment of cowardice, Elyne considered trying to get Effie to trade with her, particularly if she did not intend to marry the man.
    It was all very respectable. Elyne and Effie were introduced to their future husbands in a rousing ceremony. Effie was dolefully well-behaved, but Elyne could tell by the set of her fake smile that Effie had no intention of marrying her intended groom. For her part, Elyne was committed to marry the man her brother had chosen for her.
    Absolutely determined.
    Even if he did ignore her for most of the meal, preferring to lavish his attention on his meat, his whisky, and his serving wench, in that order. It was of no concern to Elyne that on the rare occasion that his attention was directed her way, he glared at her like a heifer, and a sickly one at that. In contrast to his cousin, Tavish was smiling and gave the impression of a man enjoying himself immensely. He turned to Elyne a few times and gave her such a winning smile, she was forced to return it.
    The banquet itself was a success. Many clans had traveled down to the border with England to celebrate May Day and make important matches. The Campbells were there in force, along with the Douglases, Maclachlans, Grants, and others. It was the beginning of the May Day celebration, which could only be celebrated properly with roast venison, boar’s head, salmon, haddock, roast apples, and an abundance of pies, sweet and savory. As if that was not enough, the last course was sure to please all, with ginger cakes and marzipan in the shape of little animals.
    The banquet was delicious and the company indulged voraciously. The entertainment was also of considerable quality. Jugglers, troubadours, and acrobats almost made Elyne forget her fate.
    Almost.
    “Do ye have a moment to speak wi’ me?” Elyne asked Grigor as his party stood to leave the hall at the end of the feast. It was a bold move on her part, to try to have words with her intended and force him into the parlay by asking before his and her kin.
    He gave a short nod in agreement—there was little else he could do. “What do ye wish to say?”
    “I would ask for a moment in private,” said Elyne. She glanced at her brother and David nodded in assent.
    She and Grigor had gotten off on the wrong footing. It was awkward, but she was Elyne Campbell. She never backed down from a challenge. She would fix this.
    Elyne followed her brother into his private solar, followed by her intended, Grigor Grant. It was here David Campbell kept his most precious objects: his books. He had an illustrated Bible and a copy of Aristotle transcribed into Latin by the monks of St. Ambrose’s priory.
    A large engraved writing desk was in the middle of the room with a rare map of the area displayed on it. The room was richly appointed with multiple tapestries on the walls and some trophies of war—swords and helmets—hung to impress. Elyne glanced at Grigor, but if the taciturn man had any interest, he did not let his feelings show. He did not let any feeling show.
    Campbell rolled up the map and took out another scroll from a drawer in the desk. “Here is the contract.”
    Elyne peered at the document. Once signed, her fate was sealed. To sign the engagement papers was as binding as the marriage ceremony. She glanced at the contract but did not need to read it. She knew every line, since she had been involved in writing it. It was a good contract, fair to both parties, and had been