Page 36 of The Black Wolf's Captive

Duncan regarded her with pity written all over his face. ‘I hope that in time she will regain her wits and live on to honour your father’s memory. In the meantime you make an excellent mistress of Cailleach,’ he said giving her a very direct look.

Ailsa looked away in order to conceal the pleasure his compliment gave her.

‘And you have no need to thank me,’ he continued. ‘Your mother was a most gracious host to me on my last, er, happier visit to Cailleach, on the occasion of your sister’s wedding. As her son-in-law, it is my duty to take care of Lady MacLeod.’

This last comment felt awkward between them. ‘Forgive me Ailsa. I know this marriage was forced on you and if your mother were in good health she would doubtless not have approved of me.’

‘On the contrary, she would have been pleased just to see me married off even if it was to a Campbell for she was not choosy.’

‘What do you mean?’ asked Duncan, side-stepping the insult.

‘I mean that I love my mother dearly and no doubt she has my best interests at heart but she always assumed I would be bereft if I was to turn eighteen without a husband. I did not share that view of marriage or her enthusiasm for the many suitors paraded before me.’

‘Why not? Don’t all girls want to be wed?’

‘No,’ she said simply, looking down and plucking at the grass. ‘I wanted the freedom that my brother had, to hunt and ride and educate myself. I wanted to go out into the world and change it. I wanted to make my own decisions and not constantly hide my intelligence and my accomplishments so as not to embarrass my husband.’ Duncan stayed silent. ‘In short, I didn’t want to belong to a man, to be his little, painted doll to delight and amuse him while all the time screaming inside at the sheer boredom of it all.’

‘Surely marriage is not like that for all women. Some, I am sure, have been fortunate in their choice of husband and I am not all bad surely.’

‘I suppose you have a few good qualities,’

‘And what might they be,’ he smiled wickedly.

‘Do you really think I would own them to you and have your head swell even more than it already has? You may tease me all you like but I will not tell,’ she said throwing grass at him.

‘I’m tall,’ he said.

‘I’ve seen many men taller.’

‘Many women have found me handsome.’

‘Then they must have come upon you in the dark for I cannot see it.’

He laughed. ‘Aye many of them did come upon me in the dark.’

Ailsa understood his meaning perfectly and she could not meet his eye.

‘Ah, I’ve shocked you, well worth it, for you look uncommonly pretty when you blush.’

‘You should not tease me by talking so.’

Duncan fell back on the blanket; hand over his eyes to shield them from the sun. ‘Tell me truthfully, am I such a terrible prospect for a husband? Is marriage so very bad?

‘It easy for you to say marriage is a good thing, you have all the power, you men. Here we are, wed because it suited you to be so. It did not suit me, you were not my choice of husband though I suppose it was always my fate to be sold to the highest bidder and to become some man’s possession,’ she said bitterly.

‘I’m sorry you feel that way Ailsa and I will own there is truth in your words.’

‘So you agree that I am now your possession like a …well a cow or a castle or a horse.’

‘You sting me with those words Ailsa but yes, you are right. From the moment I laid eyes on you sitting in the mud, I wanted you so when I had the chance I took you. And don’t ask me to say I regret it Ailsa, because I don’t, not one bit, not while I sit here gazing at you, burning for you.’

Ailsa gasped and looked down at the grass, plucking it with trembling fingers. Was he going to reach for her now and take what was his? Would she have the strength to stop him if he did?

‘Ailsa,’ he said gently, ‘I promised you that I would never harm you and I meant it so stop looking so fearful. I won’t touch you, on that, you have my word.’

Some of her tension eased and her shoulders sagged with relief or was it disappointment?

‘Now tell me true Ailsa, was there never a suitor put before you that you liked?’ Duncan’s question was uncharacteristically hesitant.

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