Page 50 of Tempted
Rob cleared his throat and wished Douglas would pour him a dram to give him courage for his next words. He looked at the dark, closed face of the younger man and blurted, “Since ma elder daughter Valentina is now unpledged, I’m askin’ ye tae take her instead of ma wee Beth.”
Ram Douglas stared at him incredulously. “Ye have a hell of a crust, Kennedy, tae ever imagine I’d take either.”
It was at this point that Angus went over to the other side. “Have a whisky, mon,” he said, clapping Kennedy on the back. Rob swallowed the fiery liquor as if it was water, and he felt hope for the first time. “Naturally, I’d be prepared tae compensate ye generously fer takin’ Valentina.”
“How generously?” asked Angus.
Ram folded his arms across his chest and leaned back in his chair while the two men thought to arrange his life.
“I’ll give her a dowry o’ five thousand.”
Angus was impressed, though his face remained passive.
An unbidden picture of Flaming Tina Kennedy rose full-blown in Ram’s mind. He saw her mounted on the Barbary, the slit in her riding habit displaying too much leg, her glorious copper hair cascading like the mane of a tawny tigress. The memory of her blazing golden eyes and full underlip gave him an immediate erection. He could not deny that she was a splendid bitch!
He wondered how many erections in how many men she had been responsible for. Patrick Hamilton, the Gypsy, his own brothers—even Angus had said the sight of her made him scorch. All had courted the honeypot, the Campbells, the Gordons, the royal Stewarts, until she had finally landed the biggest fish of all, the Admiral of Scotland’s heir and his own hated enemy.
Suddenly he realized the blow he could give to that enemy if he took the woman Patrick Hamilton was now denied. The delicious thought brought a rare smile to his lips. He’d be damned if he’d marry her, but have her he would. He looked across at the two men who were haggling over the female in question and drawled, “Double the dowry.”
Rob smelled victory. “Done!” he agreed quickly.
Ram held up a lazy hand to show him he was not nearly finished. “Property?”
As Kennedy mentally sifted through all his holdings, Angus relaxed and allowed Ramsay to conduct his own affairs. His nephew was less a fool than any man he had ever known.
Rob first thought of Dunure, then got a better idea. If he offered Ram land closer to his beloved Castle Douglas in the borders, he’d be too covetous to refuse. “I have lands in Kirkcudbright, just across the River Dee from Castle Douglas. I’ll deed them to Valentina and her heirs.”
Ram admired his canny opponent. He’d not offered to put the lands in Douglas’s name. “Nothing tempts me so far,” Ram said bluntly.
Angus opened his mouth to protest vigorously, but he shut it again when Ram spoke. “I need more ships,” he said in an offhand manner.
“Christ, ye drive a hard bargain,” flared Rob, more possessive of his fleet of trading vessels than anything else he owned. Reluctantly he offered his smallest ship, the Scotia.
Ram nodded thoughtfully. “Ye’ve a vessel ye anchor in the Solway. I have a fancy for it every time I patrol the border down that way.”
Kennedy compressed his lips in vexation. She was one of his finest vessels. The silence stretched between them. Douglas looked as if he didn’t give a damn one way or the other. Tension mounted in the chamber until Kennedy almost felt suffocated. At last he capitulated. “Ye win, blast ye—I’ll throw in the Valentina.”
Ram’s lips twitched at the aptness of the ship’s name. “I’ll think on it,” he replied casually.
“When will ye let me know?” Rob asked angrily.
“When I’ve made my decision,” Ram said enigmatically.
Rob Kennedy clapped his bonnet on his head and turned on his heel in impotent rage. Damaris followed him out. She was appalled. She could not communicate with her brother, yet she knew she must do something—anything!
“Yer more devious than myself,” Angus said with admiration.
“I doubt that,” Ram said dryly.
Angus shook his head, “Yer a shrewd young bastard tae wring ships from him on top o’ money an’ land, especially when ye have no option whatsoever but tae wed.”
“No say in my own fate?” he shouted furiously.
“The decision’s been taken. Ye’ll wed a Kennedy, whether ye like it or no,” Archibald said flatly.
“We’ll see about that,” Ram said low, suppressing his anger by sheer dint of will.
Damaris watched with dismay as her brother rode away from the castle. He must be mad to sacrifice Valentina to a hated Douglas! Knowing what had happened to his sister in this castle, how could he allow his daughter to become a bride of Douglas? Damaris felt utterly frustrated that she could communicate with no one. She felt distraught that she could do nothing to intervene. Yet there was one other soul who could see and hear her. Alexander was her only chance. Perhaps together they could devise a plan of action. Though it compromised her principles, Damaris searched until she found him. “A marriage is being arranged between my niece Valentina and Ram Douglas. My brother was here, but I couldn’t make contact with him. Damn it, Alex, we must find a way to put a stop to this!” she said desperately.
