Read Online Amanda Scott - [Border Trilogy Two 02] by Border Lass - Free Book Online Page A

Isabel—then Countess of Douglas—when Fife’s men, including the two Murray brothers, had tried and failed to take the castle. But Amalie knew that trying to correct Sir Iagan’s recollections would irritate him, and thus do her no good.
    “I cannot return to Elishaw yet, sir,” she said calmly. “Isabel will need me more than ever at Sweethope Hill. It is a big house, and although they’ve done much to make it more habitable whilst we’ve been away, there will be much still to do.”
    He frowned more heavily, and she knew she had stirred his temper, but she refused to look away or back down. She did
not
want to go home.
    Grimacing, his voice clearly under tight control, he said, “I ken fine what ye’re thinking, lassie, and I’ll no say ye’re mistaken. Your mam ought no to have flung this marriage at ye yet that she and Simon have in mind for ye.”
    “I suspect it was Simon’s notion,” she said bitterly.
    “It was, aye, but Simon is heir to Elishaw and just trying to look after our interests. Moreover, I cannot deny ’tis a good notion. The man has nae estate of his own yet, but he’s a knight with connections of the highest order. Sakes, I should think ye may even have met him, because—”
    “Whether I know him or not, sir, I don’t want to marry anyone. I have said that before, and you should know that I don’t say things I do not mean.”
    “I do, lass, but when I tell ye who it is, ’tis gey likely ye’ll change your mind, for he is a fine-looking chap, as well, Simon says. And, if ye dinna ken him ye soon will, because he’ll be going into east Lothian, to Lauder wi’—”
    “I don’t care,” Amalie said fiercely. “I won’t marry anyone—ever—not to please you or my mother, and
certainly
not to please Simon. I’m sorry if I seem rude or disobedient, sir, but I do have the right to refuse, do I not?” Fearing he might erupt in fury, she added hastily, “Isabel said that I do.”
    “Aye, ye do,” he said with visible reluctance. “If I had me own priest at Elishaw, likely I could force your obedience. But for all that your mam says . . .”
    When he paused, clearly realizing it would do him no good to tell her what her mother had said, Amalie said dryly, “I can imagine what she has said, sir. But please believe me when I say that
no one
will persuade me.”
    “Then ye’ve nae need to fear paying us a visit, lassie. If ye’ll come, I’ll swear to see that nae one presses ye to wed.”
    She knew he meant well, but she also knew that after ten minutes with Lady Murray, his resolve would crumble. For that matter, despite her own determination, she was not sure she could hold out any better against her formidable mother.
    “I’m sorry, sir,” she said. “Isabel is ready to go now, so I must go as well.”
    He looked long at her, and then to her relief, he kissed her and walked away.
    Inside Abbots’ House a short time later, Simon Murray faced the Governor of the Realm in the upstairs chamber that the latter had taken for his own use.
    Tall, like nearly all the Stewarts, but darker and thinner, Fife was sharp of mind and still fit despite being nearly fifty years of age. Simon knew that he was politically astute and utterly ruthless when acquiring power for himself.
    Fife enjoyed the trappings of power, and the room they were in was small by comparison with those he customarily occupied at Stirling or Edinburgh Castle. However, the finer rooms in Abbots’ House being more appropriate for the new King of Scots, Simon knew that Fife had had no choice.
    That the Governor of the Realm should take rooms in Perth as lesser folk had, nearly two and a half miles from the King, was unthinkable with so many at hand who might try to influence his grace. Therefore, Fife had let everyone know from the first that he would also be staying at Abbots’ House.
    Fife dismissed the servant with whom he had been speaking when Simon entered. Only after the door had shut behind the man