Grace was absolutely seething inside, but she could see that it would not help her cause to make a fuss, so she gave him a tight smile and a nod.
“And of course, there are my horses,” Robert went on. “I breed some of the best horses in this area, and I cannot see their equal anywhere else in Scotland. Some of them have even been bought by the king himself! Is that not right, Fergus?”
Fergus looked up and nodded in a disinterested fashion. Like Grace, he wanted nothing more than to run out of the dining room and be at peace in his own chamber.
“Fergus!” Robert said suddenly. “Do you remember the time I beat you in a duel when we were competing in a contest at Laird Mackintosh’s estate? I had you on the floor, remember?”
“No, I do not,” Fergus replied flatly. “I do remember, however, that you were against the wall, with the point of my sword at your throat. Luckily, it was only a wooden one, and we were only boys.” He laughed bitterly and took a gulp of his wine.
Robert’s expression did not change, but Grace could see that his body had tensed and his hands were clenched. He was angry, and she felt a surge of triumph.‘Good for you, Fergus’,she thought.
“Let us settle this once and for all,” Robert announced suddenly, clasping his hands together as he looked around at the assembly. “Since all our guests are staying with us overnight, I invite you all to witness a duel between me and my brother tomorrow.” He raised a questioning eyebrow at his brother and grinned.
Fergus shrugged. “If you like, Robert,” he said indifferently. “I have no objections.” He looked completely disinterested in the idea.
“Then shall we say noon in the courtyard in front of the stables?” Robert proposed gleefully.
“I will agree to whatever terms suit you,” Fergus answered. He could work up no passion for the contest; this was just another one of Robert’s efforts to prove how great he was. Then he felt guilty; he loved his brother in spite of his pomposity, even though he knew he should be furious with him.
As he rose from the table his heart lurched as his gaze once more locked with Grace’s. She was so good, so beautiful, and for the rest of his life, he would be forced into living a few yards away from her, knowing she was within reach, but unable to touch her. He looked away, unable to bear the reproach in her eyes.
4
Grace had selected one of her plainest, dowdiest dresses to attend the duel. Crissy, however, thought that she looked dreadful, and didn’t hesitate to say so.
“That outfit doesnae dae ye justice, hen,” she observed, frowning.
“I am not wearing a ballgown to go to a silly fight between two overgrown boys pretending to be men!” Grace said irritably. “The whole thing is a farce.” She threw herself onto her bed and punched her pillows in frustration.
Crissy pulled Grace to her feet and looked deeply into her eyes. “I know you are unhappy about what has happened, but you willnae help yourself by makin’ yourself an’ everybody else miserable.” She cupped Grace’s face in her hands. “Be cheerful an’ give Fergus somethin’ tae think about. Make him regret his decision no’ tae marry ye, Grace. Dinnae give him the satisfaction of showin’ him you are hurt.”
Crissy said nothing more, knowing that at times like these, being silent was usually the best course of action. Her heart ached for Grace, knowing how long she had loved and longed for Fergus, and she was furious with him for his heartlessness. How could he do such a horrible thing?
He and Grace had written to each other over the years, and there had been no hint that his love for her had lessened, or that he had fallen for someone else. Either he had been pretending all these years, or his love for her had fizzled out, without the poor girl’s knowledge.
Crissy stuck the last pin into Grace’s hair and stood back to look at her. “Are you sure ye wouldnae rather wear another dress?” she asked doubtfully. She looked down at the dull grayish-brown woolen garment and frowned.
“No.” Grace frowned as she looked down at herself. “I want to attract as little attention as possible, especially Fergus’s. I want to stand at the back and not be seen at all.”
“That is ridiculous,” Crissy said sternly. “You could never fade intae the background, hen. Ye are far too beautiful.”
Grace smiled at her. “And you are far too loyal, my friend.”
* * *
Fergus could really have done without the whole business of a phony duel that morning. It would have been much easier for him to go out and visit some of the tenants, and help them with whatever they needed done on their crofts. At least he would be of some use to someone then.
Mixing with ordinary working people gave him genuine pleasure, especially the children. He loved their chubby cheeks, sparkling eyes, their playfulness and their innocence, and they loved him in return. On most of the crofts he visited, one or more of the children would come racing out to meet him as soon as he arrived. Then they would either jump into his arms, or hold their own arms out, asking to be picked up. He would always oblige, except when they grew too old.
He often had to fend off advances from some of the farmers’ daughters too, because becoming romantically entangled with one of his brother’s tenants was not a good idea. As well as that, he had no wish to get on the wrong side of an irate father!
These thoughts were passing through his mind vaguely as he descended the stairs and walked into the courtyard. Immediately he was greeted warmly by some of his best friends whom he had known since childhood, most of whom still stayed nearby.
Fergus wondered why there were so many people there, considering that there had only been a score of guests at dinner the previous evening. Looking around them, he could even see a few of his cousins, all of whom lived at least a two days’ ride away. He was puzzled in the extreme. How could they all have managed to arrive so quickly? He decided to find out.
“Fergus! How are you?” Alec, one of his cousins on his mother’s side of the family, came up to greet him, grinning. He was very typical of them, red-headed, brown-eyed and rather short. He held his hand out and Fergus gripped it tightly.
“I am well, Alec,” he answered, smiling widely. He was always glad to see his cousin, of whom he was extremely fond. “Were you invited to our dinner last night? I didn’t see you there.”