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"I should no' have told James what I wanted to do. That was my mistake," he gritted, begi
For a sick moment, Je
Across from her, William flinched and the other men began to look at their hands.
"Marriage," her father gritted.
"Whose?"
"Yours."
For a moment Je
"To the Spawn of Satan. To the murderer of my brother and my son. To the Black Wolf!"
Je
Her father jerked his head in a nod, but his voice and expression took on an odd note of triumph as he came to stand directly in front of her. "You are supposed to be the instrument of peace, daughter," he said, "but later, you will be the instrument of victory for the Merricks and for all Scotland!"
Very slowly Je
"What-what do you mean?" Je
"All England is laughing at him because of you. The stories of your two escapes, your wounding him with his own dagger, all of it, have been circulating from Scotland to England. His brutality has gained him enemies in his own country, and those enemies are busy spreading those same stories everywhere. You've made a laughingstock of Henry's champion, my dear. You've ruined his reputation, but his wealth remains, along with his titles-wealth and titles he accumulated by crushing Scotland beneath his heel. 'Tis up to you to see he never enjoys those gains-and you can, by denying him an heir. By denying him your favors, by-"
Shock and fear combined to send Je
" 'Tis of no consequence what we want! Rome wants reparation. Scotland wants it. Claymore is on his way here even as we speak. The betrothal contract will be signed and the wedding is to follow immediately. James has left us no alternative."
Je
Anger turned her father's face a terrible shade of red. "You do not want his forgiveness. We want his defeat in every way-large and small-that we can have it! Every Merrick, every Scot, will depend on you to deliver it. You have the courage to do it, Je
Je
"He must be deprived of an heir as he deprived me of mine!" her father's voice slashed through her thoughts. "He must! God has granted me this revenge when all other paths were closed to me. I have other heirs, but he will have none. Never. Your marriage will be my revenge."
Reeling with anguish, Je
"Nay! He would only marry another of his choice and beget his heirs on her."
"I won't do it," Je
"Would you were right, my child, but you're wrong. There is about you the same quality your mother possessed, the quality that stirs lust in a man when he looks upon you. The Wolf will want you whether he likes you or no." Suddenly he paused for emphasis, a slow smile on his face, "however, 'tis possible he'll no' be able to do much about it if I send your Aunt Elinor with you."
"Aunt Elinor," Je
"Please," she said, looking around at all of them and then at her father. "Try to understand. 'Tis not disloyalty, 'tis reason that makes me say this: I know how many of our people have died in battle with the Wolf, but such is the way of all battles. He ca
"You dare to exonerate him?" her father breathed, looking at her as if she was changing into a serpent before his eyes. "Or can it be that your loyalty is to him, not us?"
Je
" 'Tis obvious, Je