Page 2 of To Wed a Witch
"Aye, the very one," Murphy replied.
"Get out!All of ye," Bhaltair growled as he glared at the men.
"But I haven't finished yet—" Dugald raised his hands defensively.
"I dinnae care!Be gone with yer daft schemes.Clearly no man wants her, so ye'll not be palming her off to me.I may be in dire need, but I'm not that desperate."Bhaltair pointed toward the door, his dark eyes blazing.
"But laird, what does her reputation matter if it means new life for our clan?"Dugald pulled a folded parchment from his sleeve, holding it like a shield.
"I'll not be leg-shackled to a crazy harpy!"
"Then here.Ye best read this."Dugald thrust the letter forward before Bhaltair could refuse it.
Bhaltair snatched the missive with ill grace, his scowl deepening."Who's it from?"
"Her father and some of her clansmen.They hoped ye'd consider the matter."
Bhaltair froze, the parchment halfway to his eyes.Why would anyone want him, of all people, to marry their daughter?He broke the seal and unfolded the letter, his frown deepening as he scanned the contents."What is this?"
"Apparently, as his only child, she comes with a large dowry and an estate, but only if she weds."Dugald crept closer.
"And?"Bhaltair's voice was distracted now, his attention focused on the letter.
"The thing is, her father is getting on in years, and with no suitor forthcoming because of the rumors, he's afraid that he'll die without her legally wed."
"Why does that matter?"Bhaltair looked up from the parchment, confusion marring his expression.
"Because if that were to happen, then all the land passes right out of Clan MacKay's hands and goes to their enemy, the Sutherlands."
"Who made such a daft agreement?"Bhaltair crumpled the letter slightly in his grip.
"'Twas the wish of the king.But there's more—if she dies unwed, then both the MacKay and Sutherland lands are forfeited to the Crown."
"What benefit is there in such a bargain?"
"Apparently 'twas the king's way of preventing the Sutherlands from simply murdering her for the MacKay land.If they kill her, they lose their own holdings as well."
"What's to prevent them from murdering her father before she's wed?"
"There is another clause that if he dies by suspicious means, the Sutherland land will pass to the MacKays."
"Bloody hell, what a twisted arrangement indeed."
Dugald nodded."Aye, 'twas the king's way of putting a stop to their feuding over land.The arrangement forces both clans to keep each other alive and see her wed to someone acceptable."
"Or desperate enough," Bhaltair added."So that's why he thinks I'll do it?"Bhaltair's jaw tightened as the full insult of the proposal hit him.
Murphy piped in and said, "Aye, and to be honest, laird, beggars cannot be choosers.With our current hardships, ye're not exactly a fine catch for a young lass...no offense."He shuffled away from the table when Bhaltair scowled at him.
Well, if that did not irritate the hell out of him.Bhaltair collapsed into his chair with a heavy thud.This was the lowest he'd ever have to stoop.He had heard about the MacKay witch.Myths and rumors often followed her wherever she went, but to date no one had actually seen her.But he balked at the thought of marriage and producing an heir with a woman who was quite possibly a complete shrew.
"Why has no one ever seen her?"he asked, his tone weary now.
Dugald shifted uncomfortably."Apparently 'tis because she lives in a haunted forest."
"Of course she does."Bhaltair sighed and rubbed his temples where a headache was building.Good grief, she was probably an old crone, but he would do it for his clan.
"How came ye to be speaking with the MacKay laird?"he asked.
