Amanda Scott - [Border Trilogy 2] Read Free Page B

Have ye interest in his ancestry, as well, madam?”
    She persisted. “You also said that he is Buccleuch’s
eldest
son, and so he must therefore be his heir.”
    “Aye, and what of it? Ye’ll no tell me I shouldna hang the thieving rascal!”
    “I hope you know well enough by now that I would not put myself forward so improperly. It does occur to me, though, that when Providence offers up a single young man who will inherit vast properties, one should not rashly destroy the gift.”
    “And how, prithee, is the man’s trying to make off with my herd an act of Providence?” Sir Iagan demanded. “If ye’re suggesting that I demand ransom—”
    “Nay, for as you must have realized yourself—with Buccleuch being one of Douglas’s fiercest allies and Douglas organizing raids into England to judge their readiness for another invasion of Scotland—’twould take much too long to negotiate a ransom. It would also be too dangerous. Whatever you do, you must do quickly.”
    He nodded, but Meg wondered if he had thought the matter through as swiftly and thoroughly as her mother had.
    Lady Murray said matter-of-factly, “We have three daughters, sir. I need not remind you of your duty to find them all suitable husbands. And whilst you may easily find a husband for one, finding three will not be easy. Therefore, to hang such an excellent prospect . . .” She paused, meeting his gaze.
    He glowered, saying in a near growl, “Ye believe that scoundrel would make one o’ them a suitable husband? Are ye daft, woman?”
    “Nay, only practical. With two sons, as well, establishing all our offspring will require loosening your purse strings to a sad degree, I fear. But with an opportunity such as this, with care and your customary astuteness . . .”
    “I’ve wealth enough,” he muttered when she paused. But Meg saw that her mother’s words had jolted him. Wealth or none, no man complained more often of penury than Sir Iagan Murray did.
    “There is also the fact that England may soon reestablish control of this area as they have before,” Lady Murray went on. “You have taken care over the years to create powerful ties on both sides of the line, and your English ties, along with an air of compliance, did enable us to escape harm when they came here three years ago. But we can be sure that Douglas took note of your lack of involvement then, and—”
    “Sakes, madam, I could scarcely take sides without offending one or another o’ those connections ye speak of.”
    “I understand that,” she said. “But Douglas has proven himself as great a warrior for Scotland as my cousin Sir Harry Percy is for England. And Douglas is more powerful in Scotland than even the royal family is. So if he prevails in the coming conflict, our Simon’s service with the Earl of Fife, albeit an excellent connection for Simon, will do less to protect us here in the Borders than would a connection to Douglas himself. And I’m thinking, sir, that this incident may allow you to establish just such a connection, for not only is Buccleuch close to Douglas, but his wife
is
a Douglas, and therefore young Sir Walter is blood kin to the earl.”
    “Your cousin Harry is not called Hotspur for nowt, madam,” Sir Iagan said testily. “His forces and those of the English king will prevail in the coming conflict, Douglas or no Douglas. Indeed, it surprises me that you should encourage kinship with yet another of the men you so often call ‘my heathenish Scots.’”
    “Young Scott may be a heathen, but he is no coward,” Lady Murray said. “He has won his knighthood, I believe, and is properly Sir Walter Scott. If he is the young man I do recall, he is rather handsome, although too dark for my taste. He also has a stubborn, implacable look about him. Still, I warrant he would make a suitable enough husband for a sensible young woman like our Meg.”
    Startled, Meg barely managed to remain silent, but she dared not speak lest her irritated father