Snow Swept Moors: A Highland Winter Collection, page 18
Ambrose frowned. “Sir Tomas?”
“Aye. He’s a good man and an excellent leader. Clearly, you think so yourself, because you want him to stay as your commander.”
“Aye, I can’t dispute that.”
“Not to mention the fact that Vida is clearly fond of him and I suspect he harbors warm feelings for her as well.”
Ambrose cocked his head. “Really?”
“Aye.”
Ambrose frowned. “But he isn’t a nobleman.”
“Are you certain?”
“I…I guess I don’t really know. I just assumed so. He hasn’t claimed to be a nobleman.”
“He could be the younger son of a younger son. Actually, I suspect all three of them are of noble houses. They all read and have the manners I would expect of noblemen.”
Ambrose frowned. “Those things are true. I hadn’t thought of that possibility. But why would they be part of Laird Carr’s guard then?”
“Highlanders do that. If they have sons living and working among other clans, their alliances are stronger.”
“Then I’ll ask Tomas if he’s a nobleman.”
The priest shook his head. “I don’t advise that.”
“Why not?”
“Laird, you really only have one choice. You have not opened negotiations with anyone else, and if you begin asking now, you have no hope of keeping your plan secret. Besides, anyone in his right mind would have to wonder why the rush now and would be hesitant to agree. If your search for a husband leaves these walls, you can be certain it will get back to Lindsay. Perhaps even before the first banns are posted.”
“But if Tomas isn’t a nobleman, maybe one of the other two are?”
“Laird, forgive me, but you are losing sight of your daughter in all of this. She likes Sir Tomas. I’m certain she would not be opposed to such a union, especially if she understands the reasons for it. She is the one who must now bear the brunt of the consequences for your actions. It would seem to me ensuring she has at least a hope for happiness would be paramount.”
Ambrose sighed. “You’re right. Of course, you are.”
“So, would you like for me to inform Sir Tomas that you wish to speak to him?”
“Aye, there’s no time like the present.”
Chapter 12
Tomas had just lost another chess game to Vida. Every time he played with her, he knew the instant she was certain of winning. She grew quiet, frowned slightly, her cheeks went pink, and she chewed on her bottom lip. It would have been entirely adorable except that he knew this was her response because she was somehow ashamed of beating him. If he stayed here very long, he’d have to figure out a way to stop this.
“Would you like to play again, Tomas?” she asked hesitantly. It was as if she feared someday he would say no.
“One more game tonight, then I need to get some rest.”
Her face lit with a happy smile and she began to set up the board. Oh, the things that smile did to him.
So distracted was he that he didn’t notice Father Michael approaching them until the priest spoke. “Lady Vida, Sir Tomas, please pardon the interruption.”
“Good evening, Father,” said Tomas. “Would ye care to join us? Perhaps the two of us together could manage a victory.”
Father laughed. “Don’t count on it.”
“Perhaps the two of you would like to play and I’ll watch,” said Vida.
Father Michael smiled. “While I’m certain I’d enjoy that, your father has asked to speak with Sir Tomas. Shall I take his place?”
Tomas had no idea what the laird wanted with him, but he was fairly certain it must have something to do with the missive he received.
A frown flitted briefly across Vida’s face, but she replied, “Of course, Father. It’s been a while since we’ve had a game.”
Tomas stood up. “Thank ye, Father. Please excuse me, Lady Vida.”
Father Michael took Tomas’s seat. “You’ll find the laird in his solar. He’s expecting you.”
Tomas nodded. “Aye. Thank ye.”
He made his way to the solar and knocked on the door.
The laird called, “Enter.”
Tomas stepped in the room and closed the door behind him. Laird Ruthven paced in front of the hearth, obviously upset by something.
“Father Michael said you wished to speak with me.”
“Aye. Sit down. We need to talk.”
Tomas frowned and sat in one of the chairs by the hearth. This was a glimpse of the Ambrose Ruthven Tomas remembered.
Ruthven took the chair opposite him. “I have to tell you something. I’m not proud of it, but I can’t change it now and we have to deal with it.”
Over the next three quarters of an hour, Tomas listened to a sordid tale that began with Ruthven overextending himself in a game of chance. It moved on to a missing ship, a shortfall of funds, and a misunderstanding that meant Vida would have to marry her father’s creditor if the entire debt couldn’t be paid by the last day of December.
Ambrose ended by saying, “I don’t have quite enough money to pay the debt and can’t let her marry that man. Father Michael believes it wasn’t what I intended, but he’s equally certain that if forced to go before the sheriff, the sheriff will rule that a verbal contract existed.”
Tomas wanted to rail at the man for being an idiot. How could he even have joked about Vida’s hand in marriage? How could he incur such a debt in a foolish game of chance in the first place? But all that was water under the bridge now. “Why does Father think that?”
“Because all but one of the other men there were friends or allies of Lindsay.”
“Who else was there?”
“Two of Laird Ogilvie’s sons. Ogilvie and Lindsay are close allies. Laird MacNab and Laird Rattray were there. Rattray is a close ally of Ogilvie. And Gow’s heir was there too.”
“A Gow was there? And you didn’t think it was important to tell me all of this when we learned Gow was one of the people raiding yer land?”
“You think they’re connected?”
Tomas stared at him. How had the Ruthvens managed to survive the last nineteen years under his leadership? “Aye, sir, I think they’re connected. Every man at that table knows you were way overextended. It’s likely not a coincidence that nearly every man there was connected to the Lindsay’s in some way. For that matter, I suspect MacNab is too, we just don’t know how yet. Tell me, before that night, had Naughton Lindsay ever mentioned a betrothal?”
Ruthven frowned. “Aye. Many times. I’d always turned him down. That’s why I thought it was a jest. He knew I’d never agree to a betrothal between him and Vida.”
“By all that’s good and holy,” swore Tomas. “Laird, ye were set up. I wouldn’t be surprised if they somehow managed to rig the game so ye’d lose, but there’s no way to prove that. I am absolutely certain Lindsay entered into that game intending to come out of it with ye in his debt and at least the potential to win Vida’s hand.”
“Maybe so, but if my ship had returned from Genoa, it wouldn’t have mattered. He can’t have had anything to do with that.”
“It doesn’t seem possible, but I’m not certain of anything at the moment. Is there any way at all out of this mess? Do ye have enough to pay the debt?”
“Almost.”
“So, that would be nay, ye don’t.”
Ambrose winced. “I had planned to pay the largest portion of it and renegotiate what remained.”
“There is no way he’ll do that. The money was never the issue. He ultimately wants to marry Vida so he can be Laird of Clan Ruthven.” God’s bloody bones. Fate couldn’t deal a more appropriate blow to the current man who’d weaseled his way into that title, than having it taken in the exact same way. But just like before, the person who stood to lose the most was an innocent.
“Aye, that’s what Father Michael said. All along I thought it was simply about the money.”
Tomas shook his head. “Did Father have any other suggestions?”
“He said, because there isn’t a written agreement, Vida could marry someone else before the end of December. He said the banns would have to be posted and there would be no guarantee Lindsay wouldn’t challenge the legality of it before the wedding. But if he didn’t, the marriage would be valid.”
“And if he challenges it?”
“The Lord Sheriff in Perth would hear the case and most likely rule in Lindsay’s favor. I’d have to pay the debt in full, or Vida would have to marry Naughton.”
“Christ almighty, man, how did ye let this happen?”
Ambrose just shook his head. He looked old and beaten.
The time had arrived. Tomas could deal the death blow by simply leaving. He could maybe even convince Vida to run away with him. But Moyna and Katherine came to his mind. It wasn’t the action they would take and neither of them would ever respect him again if he did.
“How much can ye afford to pay him?”
“If I give him every last farthing, I can cover about ninety percent of the debt, but I’d have nothing left for the clan and winter is coming. If I only had to pay eighty percent of it, with economies, I think the clan could get along until one of my other ships arrives. If I can manage to have her married without Lindsay finding out, he’ll have no choice but to negotiate.”
“Or throw ye into debtors’ prison until the loan is paid off.” It nearly killed Tomas to ask this next question. “Do ye have an appropriate husband for her in mind?”
“I do. At least, I know the man who I’d like for her to marry. Obviously, I haven’t approached him yet.”
“Then see it done. Your clan’s financial affairs are none of my business.” Tomas stood and started walking toward the door.
“Sir Tomas, you’re the man I’d like for her to marry.”
Had he heard that correctly? Tomas turned back around. “Excuse me?”
“You have every skill needed to lead this clan. Skills that I confess, I’ve never had. You will make a fine laird someday and I have reason to believe she’s fond of you.”
By all that was holy, Tomas was more than fond of her, but that didn’t change who her father was. “I can’t marry yer daughter. Ye don’t know who I am.”
“Please, don’t say no without thinking about it. Think about what you’ll gain. You will be a nobleman, eventually the laird of this clan. If managed well, Cotharach can be profitable. It was when my brother was in charge of it. You are a good man. You would be a gentle husband for my daughter. I can want nothing more for her.”
“You want me to marry your daughter and become Laird Ruthven?”
“Yes.”
“Ye’re absolutely certain about that?”
“Yes. Please, Sir Tomas. You are my only hope.”
Tomas gave a mirthless chuckle. “Well, Laird Ruthven, this is a surprise.”
Tomas could marry her, then as her husband, take her with him to the Highlands. There would be nothing Ruthven could do. “I’ll think about it.”
Chapter 13
Tomas’s head was spinning. He could hardly believe tonight’s turn of events and he needed to discuss it with Drew and Ethan. It was late and he assumed they’d gone to bed, but this couldn’t wait.
He first knocked on Ethan’s door.
Ethan answered it within seconds, pulling his clothes on, his sword belt in hand. “What’s happened?”
“Nothing. I mean nothing that ye need yer weapons for, but something has happened that I need to discuss with ye and Drew immediately.”
“Give me just a minute. I’ll finish dressing.”
Then Tomas knocked on Drew’s door and was met with a response so similar to that of Ethan’s he couldn’t help laughing.
“Finish dressing, put yer weapons away, and come to my chamber. We need to talk.”
By the time he had candles lit, they were both present. “Sit down. This will take a while.”
He told them the story Ruthven had. Only he was able to interject his personal opinions of how colossally stupid Ambrose had been. When he told them about Ruthven’s desire for him to marry Vida, both men broke into spasms of laughter.
Ethan was the first one to regain enough control to speak. “God’s teeth, Tomas, this is the most perfect possible revenge. The stable hand who was his whipping boy has now become his savior and will be the Laird of this clan.”
Tomas shook his head. “Part of me wants to finish him completely and take the heart of his heart to Duncurra.”
“Ye can’t do that,” admonished Drew.
“I know,” said Tomas. “Taking Vida away from her father and her people would be every bit as bad as it was for Ambrose to send Lady Katherine away.”
“What are ye going to do then?” asked Drew.
“I’ve been thinking. The amount Ruthven owes Lindsay is huge, but he has most of it. The problem with simply marrying Vida is that if Lindsay catches wind of it, he could block it legally and if Ambrose can’t pay the full amount, the sheriff could force Vida to marry Lindsay.”
“Then we have to figure out a way to get the money before that happens,” said Ethan.
“Aye, that is exactly what I was thinking.”
“I’m sure Laird MacLennan would help,” said Drew.
“I expect he would. Between him and my parents, it shouldn’t pose a problem. But I need to send a message to them immediately so they can have time to gather it and get here.”
A grin split Ethan’s face. “Besides, yer mother would be furious if she weren’t here for yer wedding.”
Tomas frowned. “About that…”
“What about it?” Asked Drew. “Don’t deny that ye adore Vida. And now her papa has practically begged ye to marry her.”
Tomas nodded. “I know. And I would love to marry her. But not like this. Not as my mother had to do.”
“I thought there was no other option,” said Ethan.
“There wouldn’t be, if her father couldn’t pay the full debt. But we know, with a little help from the MacIans and the MacLennans, he can. If she marries me, I want it to be her choice. I’m going to talk to her first thing in the morning and tell her everything.”
Drew frowned. “It will kill her to find out what her father’s done.”
Ethan nodded. “He’s right, it will. Maybe it’s better to try to spare her a little of the pain.”
He understood why his friends thought that, and their hearts were in the right place, but they were wrong. “I know it might hurt her. In fact, it most assuredly will hurt her. But I’ve gotten to know Vida over the last few weeks. She is extraordinarily smart. I have yet to win a game of chess.”
“Ye’re jesting,” said Ethan. “I can almost never beat ye.”
“I can’t either,” said Drew.
“So ye understand what I mean. But the first night we played, she was three moves from checkmate and she threw the game. I made her go back and make the correct move. Even now, she seems unsure and embarrassed every time she wins. She is probably the only reason Cotharach has remained afloat for the last few years—even Ambrose admits that. But she always acts in her father’s name and gives him the credit. For the love of all that’s holy, she was the one who felt guilty that the men-at-arms lacked skills.”
“How could she be responsible for that?” asked Drew.
“Because she has spent most of her life managing her father. Helping him control his anger, not to mention his bouts of stupidity, while not injuring his pride. Learning all of this is going to shatter her. But she deserves to know so that she can be the one to consider all of the options and then make the choice for herself. If it is her choice, I would like nothing more than to marry her. But if it isn’t, she doesn’t need to be forced. We can give her another option.”
Both of his friends agreed. It was for the best.
“So, I need the two of ye to get home as soon as ye can.”
“Both of us don’t need to go,” said Drew. “Ethan can deliver the message to Laird MacLennan on his way to Duncurra.”
Tomas shook his head. “Nay. One of ye traveling alone is too much of a risk. It’s possible Lindsay has men watching to stop anything Ambrose might have planned. I doubt it. I suspect he thinks Ambrose is too stupid to find a way out, but we can’t risk it. In fact, once ye reach Laird Carr, I’d prefer if he’d allow several men to go the rest of the way with ye.”
“Very well,” said Drew. “We’ll leave at first light. With any luck, we’ll be back with a few coins and yer parents before Christmas. But ye know, it will give away yer identity.”
“I know. I’m going to tell Vida anyway. We’ll figure out what to tell her father.”
Ethan clasped his hands together in supplication. “Oh please, please, don’t tell him until we get back. I want to see the look on his face when he realizes who is actually saving his arse.”
Tomas chuckled. “We’ll see.”
~ * ~
Tomas was up before first light to bid farewell to his friends. He’d figure out something to tell Laird Ruthven about their sudden departure. Then he went to the great hall. If the day went as it usually did, Vida would be up soon, well before her father. Tomas would take her to the chapel, so they could have privacy.
He didn’t have to wait long.
She entered the hall and her face lit with a smile when she saw him. “Good morning, Tomas. You didn’t come back last night.”
“I’m sorry. I would have liked to, but yer father and I had a great deal to discuss. It was late when we finished.”
Her brows drew together. “That sounds serious.”
“We did talk about some serious matters and I would like to discuss them with ye.”
“Why didn’t Papa just ask me to come too? He could have told us both at the same time.”
“Aye that would have been nice, but to be perfectly honest, there are some things he doesn’t wish ye to know. However, I think you must be informed. Ye are truly the one who runs this clan, not him.”
“Nay, ye’re wrong. He’s Laird Ruthven.”
“I know.” He gave her a sad smile. “And ye just threw a chess game.”
She tilted her head to one side. A look of confusion on her face. “I don’t understand.”
