Page 7 of To Tempt A Highland Duke
Angus almost choked on his drink. “Two day’s time? How long have you known of this command?”
“Since the King’s visit was first muted.”
“Hell, that was almost nine months ago. Have you already won a fair maiden’s hand?”
“No. I’ve been thinking through the issue.” Angus raised an eyebrow. “And I have concluded it could be a good idea.”
Angus laughed. “I know that face of yours sees most women drop their draws for you at a smile, and the title will definitely help with gaining a wife, but still, a woman does like to be wooed. Even you might find arranging an engagement in only two days a trial.” At his silence, Angus sighed. “You have a lady in mind? Well, get on with it then man, you hardly need my help.”
“That is not exactly true.”
Angus’s eyes narrowed. “My daughters are way to young, and by the time they are of marriageable age you’ll be in your dotage. I’ll nay marry them to an old man.”
“Don’t be ridiculous, besides your eldest daughter has already told me she is marrying Connor when she is older.”
“At five years of age she should not be thinking about marriage, and I’ll be keeping boys like your Connor well away from any of my daughters.” At Dougray’s hurt look, Angus added, “It’s not his illegitimacy at issue. It’s because he’s too much like you. A man who loves all women but loves none with his heart.”
“I have loved with my heart and it cost me more than you will ever know,” Dougray admitted softly. “Twice.”
“Well, if it is a brood mare you want as a wife, I’m sure we can find a match by tomorrow morning. But if I were you, I’d look for a lass who stirs more than your cock. It’s infinitely more appealing to find a woman who engages all of you as you age. Looks don’t last forever, and cold winter nights can drag with the wrong person by your side.”
“I have someone in mind. Someone I have loved for many years.”
Angus put down his glass. “Oh, no. Don’t you dare say her name.”
Dougray took a large gulp and moved his chair out of Angus’s reach. “Flora.” He waited, ready to deflect a punch but none came. The silence was unnerving. So he said, “I have loved her for years. We have been good friends too. She’s funny, kind, she loves Connor, and she is so intelligent. I’ve known her all of my life. I’ve been thinking about her, but I wanted to talk with you to be sure. I did not want to damage our friendship again.”
Still the silence lengthened. He hated his lie. He had considered Flora a few months ago, but crossed her off his list. Knowing how much he loved her, he could not bear to think of her dying in childbirth. He’d never be able to face Angus again. But this morning, hearing her admit to Connor that she had never got with child, and was certain she was barren, that changed everything.
“My sister has been in love with you since she was a young girl. I would have welcomed a match with you, but Connie’s death changed you. Eight years ago I thought you loved her too, but you stood by and watched as my father married her to Iain. Iain was a good man, but there was no love in their marriage, and I watched her month-by-month, year-by-year, wither inside. If you cannot give her your heart, then I say no. I will not let you hurt her again.”
“There has always only been one woman who could claim my heart, and it’s her. It killed me to watch her marry another.”
They both took a drink.
“Then tell me why you let her marry Iain?”
“I,” he scrambled to find something that would make sense. “I wasn’t ready. Connie’s death gutted me, and then on top of that I had to search for Connor. I had no idea where Father had sent the babe. I thought I had buried the guilt and pain, but I hadn’t. But now I’m ready.”
Dougray’s father had gone crazy when told that Dougray, at eighteen, had got a serving girl with child. Dougray’s real crime was he wanted to marry the girl. His father had his men kidnap Dougray and send him to Ireland, where he was kept a virtual prisoner. When Connie’s time was due, the Duke had her thrown out and forbade anyone to help her. Mary somehow got word to Angus. Angus found her, but she’d been in labor for almost two days and the babe was so big the midwife could not save her and the baby.
Angus’s eyes suddenly widened, and a smile lit his face. “I think you must be in love with Flora.” At his genuinely puzzled frown Angus added, “She was married for five years and had no offspring. It could have been Iain’s problem, but it is a risk for a duke to marry a woman who has been wed for such a long time yet has failed to beget an heir. You must love her if you can overlook this.”
His gut clenched at the lie he was not denying. It was precisely this reason he could risk marrying her, and could risk giving her his heart. She likely could not give him a child. He had come to terms with what that meant years ago when he’d decided to never marry. He had a large extended family with many cousins, and he even liked some of them. And he had Connor. He did not care about the title. His father had taught him that the title meant more than a person’s life, and he could not live like that. He had plenty of time to train his cousin Derek to do his duty.
“So, you are not opposed to a betrothal between myself and Flora?”
“I already think of you as a brother. I would be honored to align our two families as it should have been many years ago.”
Relief flooded through him. Not once had Angus seemed concerned that Dougray’s first wife had died in childbirth, but then Angus was a large man and had several children. Tessa, his wife, was a largess woman. Flora was not as small as Connie, but she wasn’t as robust as Tessa. Thank goodness he’d never have to find out.
“I will treasure her and look out for her until my last breath.”
“I know you will. However, there is one wee fly in your ointment. I will not command her or force her to wed you. She would not listen to me, anyway.”
This time Dougray laughed. “Are you saying she will deny me?”
“Women don’t think like us. Flora is not a young starry-eyed girl. As a widow, she knows what she wants out of her next marriage. You spurned her once, she will be wary. She was hurt, and she has her pride.”
