The Laird looked at her as if she was mad. “My wife does not go about mixing with peasants!” he cried indignantly. “She stays here and runs the household. The church looks after that kind of thing, but rest assured that there are no hungry people on this estate. I pride myself on it.”
“Really?” Grace countered. “I fed and clothed a hungry child in Inverleck yesterday. He had lost both his parents to smallpox, and the church did not have enough resources to help him. So I have decided that I will help him and anyone else who needs it. I spoke with the minister, and he agreed that we should put some effort into building an orphanage. Surely your mother does some work with the needy? I think I must go and speak to her.”
She caught Robert’s glare and returned it with one of her own. Grace had always had the ability to stare other people down, and she did so now, as Robert dropped his gaze to the table and grumbled, “do as you please, then.”
“Thank you, M’Laird,” she said politely. It would have been so easy to gloat, but Grace would not sink so low. It was her first victory. If she had to stay in this place, Grace was determined to do it on her own terms, not on the orders of her husband.
* * *
On the way out of the dining room, William caught Grace’s arm.
“I wanted to discuss something with you,” he said urgently.
Crissy excused herself, leaving Grace and William to sit down in a small parlor not far away from the main gate. William closed and locked the door from the inside, and Grace frowned.
“What is going on?” she asked, frowning.
“I saw you watching us today,” William said heavily. “Grace, your future husband is planning a war. He has not said anything yet, but everyone can feel it. Training has become more intensive, new recruits have been drafted into the guard, and new weapons are being crafted by the smith in Inverleck. Swords are expensive items to make, and no Laird will have them made unless he has serious intentions of using them.”
“But why would he do such a thing?” Grace was puzzled. “This is a fertile estate, and there is more than enough land to go around. Does he want more?”
“This is something that happens to men of a certain ilk,” William replied, sighing. “He is new and wants to prove himself. Many men do that, but not with violence and blood. It just so happens that Robert MacAndrew is a greedy, vain, and bloodthirsty man, who needs to have his own way all the time.”
“Father and Mother have heard the news of my new marriage plans by now,” Grace said angrily. “Why are they not putting a stop to it?”
William sighed and passed a hand over his eyes. “Because the Gibson Clan is weakening and we need allies.” He spread his hands out in a gesture of appeal. “You have always been promised to Fergus, but our position has changed drastically, Grace. We each have our responsibilities. Mine is to fight, and yours is to marry, even if it is not to the man you love.”
“But once the fighting is over, you will be free,” Grace pointed out. “Whereas I will be bound in chains to a man I don't even like!”
“Or I could be dead.” William was not angry, but his face was so sad that Grace felt the urge to go and hug him tightly. “You are right, Will,” she murmured, “I am sorry, that was very cruel of me.”
William kissed her cheek. “I must get back to archery practice,” he said, with something that tried to resemble a smile. “The Laird will be very angry with me!” He pretended to shudder in fear, and Grace laughed.
“Have you ever seen him wielding a sword or firing a bow?” she asked curiously. “Or even riding a horse?”
“I have seen him prancing about the courtyard with a sword, playing at being a soldier,” William answered with a smile. “But I have never seen him use one in anger.” He patted Grace on the back, then took his leave.
When he was gone, she trudged up to her room and lay down for some much-needed sleep. She dreamt of Fergus, and when she woke up a little while later, she felt deeply disappointed to find that she was not lying in his arms.
8
When Grace was summoned to Robert’s study later that afternoon, she went with a heavy heart. She racked her brain to find an excuse to avoid him that would not sound contrived, but could come up with nothing.
Crissy patted her on the shoulder when a maidservant came to make the request. “Best tae go, hen,” she said gently. “Ye never know, maybe ye can find a bit o’ good in him.”
Grace sighed. She seemed to have been doing a lot of that lately. “I hope you’re right, Crissy,” she said grimly. “But god knows, I haven’t seen much so far.”
“Give him a chance.” Crissy’s voice was gentle. “He might surprise ye.”
Grace gave a cynical laugh. “Somehow I doubt it.”
* * *
When she arrived at the door, she took a deep breath, squared her shoulders and knocked on it‘It’s only for a wee while,’she reminded herself as Robert opened the door. He smiled at her and put his arms around her briefly, then kissed her on both cheeks, in the way she had heard French people do. It was an affectation she hated; could she find anything she actually liked about this man? No, not so far.
“Would you like to accompany me on a stroll around the castle?” he asked pleasantly. “At this time of day, I usually go out for a turn around the castle and to look at my horses.”
At least that was true, she thought. She had often seen Robert taking a walk in the afternoon. “That sounds very pleasant, M’Laird,” she answered, smiling, but grimacing inside.