Ransom

He sighed. 'Leah's jealous of her daughter,' he explained, shaking his head over such a sin.

'Did she say as much?'

'No, but it was very apparent that's the root of her trouble. Leah is newly married, and she doesn't like the way her husband looks at Bridgid. She thinks he lusts after her daughter, and she wants Bridgid out of her house.'

'Maybe she's thinking to protect Bridgid,' Brodick suggested.

Ramsey shook his head again. 'No, her daughter's welfare is the last of her concerns. She went on and on about how old she looks when she's standing near Bridgid.'

'For God's sake,' Brodick muttered. 'Why must you deal with such petty matters?'

'Like you, I, too, must look out for all my clan, and Bridgid is part of my family. Stay and meet her,' he urged. 'Then you'll understand why I'm so sickened by her mother's behavior.'

'Does Bridgid know her mother wants her to leave her home?'

'I don't know,' he answered. 'Leah sent her to her sister to stay for a spell, using the excuse that Bridgid's aunt needed help with the new baby.'

'Then maybe she can return to the aunt's house.'

'It was only a temporary solution,' Ramsey explained. 'The aunt has five children and lives in a small cottage. There simply isn't room for Bridgid.'

'Then marriage is the only answer.'

'That's the problem,' Ramsey said, and then quickly explained about the promise given to Bridgid's father.

'Do you mean to tell me that Bridgid decides who she marries?'

'Unless I break that promise.'

'I know you well,' Brodick said. 'You won't do any such thing.'

'So what's the answer to this problem?' he asked. 'Got any ideas?'

Brodick thought about it for a moment, then said, 'Iain could find a place for her.'

'She belongs here. This is her home,' he argued. 'She would think she was being banished.'

'She would adjust.'

'I will not hurt her tender feelings. She's done nothing wrong.'

Brodick studied Ramsey for several seconds and then said, 'You care for this woman, don't you?'

'Of course I care. She's part of my clan.'

Brodick smiled. 'Then why don't you marry her?'

Ramsey stood up and began to pace in front of the hearth. 'Because she's in the Sinclair clan,' he explained. 'I know my duty. If I am to make this union work between the MacPhersons and the Sinclairs, then I should marry Meggan MacPherson. It makes perfect sense, doesn't it? I get what I want out of the bargain. The MacPherson land is a dowry I cannot turn down.'

'You've always been a practical man,' Brodick remarked.

'And so were you,' he countered, 'until Gillian entered your life.'

Brodick agreed with a nod. 'I never saw it coming.'

Because Brodick sounded disgusted with himself, Ramsey laughed. 'When exactly did you know…'

Brodick shrugged to cover his discomfort. 'When Annie Drummond poured liquid fire on Gillian's open cuts. I held her hand down so that she couldn't move during the atrocious treatment. She never made a sound.'

'Ah, so it was her bravery that captivated you.'

'No, it was the way she glared at me,' he admitted with a laugh. 'Honest to God, she looked like she wanted to kill me for making her suffer such an indignity. How could I not become infatuated with such a strong, stubborn woman?'

Anthony put an end to the discussion when he announced that Bridgid KirkConnell was waiting to speak to her laird.

A moment later, Bridgid came inside. The sight of her smile lifted Ramsey's spirits, though he was amazed that she would have anything to smile about.

'Good day, Laird,' she called out as she walked forward and curtsied. 'And good day to you, Laird Buchanan.'

She couldn't quite look Brodick in the eye when she greeted him, as she, too, had heard all the rumors about him and was therefore wary.

Brodick could see that he scared her, but he was impressed that, even so, she moved close to him and curtsied once again.

'Isn't it a fine day?' she asked in an effort to ward off the topic she knew Ramsey wanted to discuss.

'And what's so fine about it?' Ramsey asked.

'Oh, everything, Laird. The sun is bright and the breeze is warm. It's a very fine day.'

'Bridgid, I just spoke to your mother…'

She lowered her eyes and clasped her hands behind her back. 'Is that so?'

'Yes,' he agreed.

'And has she convinced you to break the sacred promise made to my father?'

She deliberately used the word 'sacred,' Ramsey knew, to make him feel guilty if he had indeed done such a thing.

'No, she has not convinced me to break the promise given to your father.'

Bridgid was once again smiling. 'Thank you, Laird, but I have taken up too much of your time. With your permission, I'll leave you now,' she added.

She was halfway out of the hall before Ramsey stopped her. 'You don't have my permission, Bridgid. Come back here. There is an important matter to talk about.'

Brodick heard her sigh before she turned around. She obviously knew what the topic was and had hoped to avoid it.

She took her time returning to her laird. And then she simply stood in front of him, looked him in the eye, and waited for him to speak.

'There has been a request for your hand in marriage.'

'I graciously decline.'

'You don't even know the name of the man who wants to marry you. You cannot decline yet.'

'I'm sorry,' she said, though she didn't sound the least contrite. 'Who is this man?'

'His name is Matthias,' Ramsey said. 'He's a MacPherson, and I'll admit I don't know much about him. However, I'm certain that if you agree, he will treat you kindly.'

He waited a full minute for her to respond, but Bridgid remained stubbornly silent.

'Well?' he demanded. 'What say you?'

'May I decline now?'

'For the love of… Do you know this man?'

'Yes, I've met him, Laird.'

'Can you not find anything acceptable about him?'

'Oh, I'm sure he has many wonderful qualities.'

'Well then?'

'I won't have him.'

'Why not?'

'Laird, are you aware you're shouting at me?'

Brodick coughed to cover his laughter. Ramsey shot him a dark look before turning to Bridgid again. He watched her brush an errant lock of hair over her shoulder in a dainty feminine gesture, and for a second he lost his train of thought.

'You try my patience.'

'I apologize, Laird. I don't mean to try your patience. May I be excused now? I've just heard that there is a lady here from England, and I must make her acquaintance.'

'Why must you?' Brodick asked.

She jumped at the bark in his voice but quickly recovered. 'Because I've never been to England,' she explained. 'And I have a thousand questions to ask her. I'm curious to know what life is like in England, and she is