Page 27 of The Lone Wolf's Bride

Morag appeared at her side. ‘Now is your chance. You must do this, Ilene.’

‘I can’t and it won’t work anyway. Please aunt, there must be another way.’

‘No there is not. If there was, do you not think I would attempt it? Listen to me girl, we agreed on this plan. This violence here is merely a drop of what you will unleash, should your father find out what you have done. Better to cheat one arrogant young fool than that your clansmen die for nought.’

‘There must be someone other than Murray. He does not deserve this.’

‘He is the only one and as to deserving it, he was fond of you once and has much to thank this family for, so he owes you all a debt. He is leaving soon to take the land your father has gifted him and you can leave with him. It will be far easier to conceal your secret away from Cailleach. I know he is not ideal, but you must take this chance, Ilene.’

Ilene looked over at Murray, so tall, so confident in his strength and beauty. ‘How can I make him want me? I cannot just click my fingers and have him fall in love with me’.

‘Love is not what men want girl, as you already know, to your cost. He merely needs to desire you while you stay just out of reach. Loyalty to your family will force him to propose marriage rather than attempt mere seduction. Forget your foolish thoughts of love; that is not part of this bargain.’

‘This is awful. I wish I was dead.’

‘Well you are not, you are very much alive and so is your child, so think not of his feelings or your own, but of the child’s. Make this sacrifice Ilene, however distasteful. You will bitterly regret it if you don’t.’

‘I could tell him the truth, he may still help me.’

‘No, you cannot! He will reject you and your secret will come out. There is only this one chance to redeem yourself, and that brute won’t know the child isn’t his. He is getting a beautiful bride, marriage into a powerful family, land your father has bestowed on him so the bargain is not one-sided.’

‘He’s not a brute aunt. He has goodness in him, he always did and…’

‘Never mind that now, go and talk to him, flatter him with your attention. He’s always watching you, indeed his eyes are on you now. He desires you, that is plain to see. He thinks he hides it from others, but I see it. So go and do what you have to do, and quickly, for all our sakes.’

Morag pinched Ilene’s cheeks hard to bring a blush of pink to them, hoping the girl had enough wits about her to arouse Murray’s interest. She was infinitely more attractive in her clean, soft beauty than the filthy whores and camp followers he was probably used to.

She looked on Murray with distaste. Her late husband, William Strathairn, had been a kind, steady sort of man, and she had loved him dearly. This creature was entirely different, and she blamed men like Murray, with their careless violence, for stealing her future from her. Now her son, scarcely old enough to grow a beard, had been forced to take his father’s place at the head of Clan Strathairn, before he was ready. She could already see that burden lay heavily upon him. And if there was a conflict with the Grants then he and Clan Strathairn may be dragged into it. She couldn’t have that.

If Duncan found out about Ilene’s predicament then the cause of it would be soon dead and, with it, hope for peace amongst the clans. In the coming months, the Grants may remain allies, and there may not be a war, so why start one for the sake of a foolish infatuation? By hiding it, there was a chance it would all blow over and things would get settled peaceably. So if she had to throw Ilene onto the mercy of a thug to buy peace, then so be it.

In spite of her resolve, Morag had severe misgivings. She had little acquaintance with Murray, but in spite of his good looks and powerful presence, his wealth and his easy confidence, she judged him to be in essence a brutal man with something lurking just below the surface that sent a shiver up her spine. She could not name her fear exactly, but Morag sensed in him something reckless and angry, an implacable nature and a kind of base cunning.

There was no choice, but she knew deep in her heart that pretty, refined, lovely Ilene was throwing herself away on such a man. But this course was the lesser of two evils. She needed to protect Ilene from the shame of bearing a bastard, but once that was done and her niece was tied to Murray, then Morag could not protect her from whatever darkness lay within him. She hoped that one day, if her sister were ever to find out, then Ailsa would not condemn her for her actions. But if it turned out badly, there was every chance she would. Morag and Ilene had both made their bed and now had to lie in it.

***

‘Have you not had more than enough ale already Murray?’

Murray didn’t need to turn around to know that soft voice was hers. Over the last few weeks, he had studied every beautiful part of Ilene, watching her, fuelling the longing which ate him up inside.

At Ilene’s approach, the other men moved away.

‘There’s never enough ale to be had, and that is a fact,’ he said grinning. ‘And don’t scold me, I’ve had a very long night and I am sore all over.’

‘No more than you deserve. My mother is very angry with you and my father for all your brawling and carrying on.’

Murray downed the last of the ale and slammed his cup down, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand. ‘She’ll calm down, there’s no harm done.’

‘But you’re covered in blood.’

‘Not mine.’

‘So it’s Sinclair blood. Isn’t it dangerous to antagonise them?’

‘They’ve been beat dogs these many years so don’t fret so.’

‘Sit before the fire and I will help you.’

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