Page 63 of To Wed a Wild Scot
“Clan Murray territory?”
Fitz nodded. “My guess is this earl of mine is thinking of clearing it. He won’t hesitate to turn the people off if he thinks he can squeeze an extra penny out of it.” Fitz’s mouth pulled tight. “If he does want to clear it and the people resist, it’ll be a massacre. Worse than Strathnaver, even. He’s not a merciful man, Logan. To make matters worse, he bears me a grudge.”
“Who is he? What’s his name?” Suspicion was gathering in Logan’s chest, cold and heavy. But no, surely it couldn’t behim—
“It’s Lord Cowden, Logan.”
Ice filled Logan’s veins. Somehow, he’d suspected it was Cowden. “The blackguard who manipulated Lord Graystone into giving him custody of Grace when Juliana refused to marry him? Why would he agree to sell you his land? He despises you, doesn’t he?”
“He does. Always has. But he needs the funds—gaming debts, you know—and I’ll give him an exorbitant amount of money for it.”
Christ. Logan would be far happier bloodying Cowden’s nose than offering to buy his land, but if Fitz owned that piece of Perth it would prevent another round of devastating clearances.
Save another clan from destruction…
“You’ll have to approach him carefully, Logan. Cowden’s not your average scoundrel. He’s smart, and dangerous. Terrible snob, too.” Fitz smirked. “Like all Englishmen.”
Logan shot Fitz a guilty look. “I never said you were a snob.”
Not aloud, that is.
Fitz laughed. “Of course not. Why would you? I’m no more an Englishman than you are, brother. Speaking of Scots, that little red-headed lad Duncan Munro was here today, looking for you. He wanted to remind you of your promise to take him fishing next week.”
“Damn.” In all the upheaval, Logan had forgotten his promise to Duncan. He hated to break it, but he’d be halfway to England by next week. “I’ll find him this afternoon and explain why I can’t—”
“No, never mind. I’ll take him, if he’ll have me in your place.”
“You will?” Logan asked, surprised.
Fitz shrugged. “Why not? I like fishing, and Duncan’s a good little lad. Don’t want to disappoint him.”
Logan studied his brother, a grin on his lips. “Spoken like a true laird, brother. Maybe there’s hope for you, after all.”
Chapter Sixteen
“No, Emilia. You’re wonderfully kind, but I can’t take it.”
Juliana stood in the middle of her bedchamber, staring at the lovely cream-colored gown draped over Emilia’s arm. Even as she refused it, she couldn’t keep her fingers from reaching out to stroke the delicate skirt. The gown was simple but elegant, made of a very fine, thin muslin, with dainty puffed sleeves.
“Of course, you’ll take it. There’s no sense in arguing with me, Juliana. I insist on your having it.”
A lump rose in Juliana’s throat. “But it’s your wedding gown.”
“Yes, but today isyourwedding day, and we can’t have you wearing your riding habit, can we? My wedding isn’t for several weeks. There’s plenty of time for me to make up another gown for myself.”
Juliana tried to return Emilia’s cheerful smile, but between Lord Arthur’s letter, her worry over her father, and now Emilia’s heartbreaking kindness, the best she could manage was a dejected twist of her lips.
“Oh, dear. That smile won’t do for a bride on her wedding day.” Emilia laid the gown carefully across a chair, then took Juliana’s hand and led her to the bed. “I daresay this isn’t how you imagined your wedding day, but I promise you, Juliana, you can trust Logan with your life. He’s a good man, and he’ll take care of you.”
Juliana shook her head. “It’s not just Logan.”
No, it was everything. Her father, Grace, the suddenness of her wedding, Alison McLaren—
Alison McLaren? For pity’s sake, how had that thought managed to sneak in? She wasn’t thinking about Alison McLaren. Of course, she wasn’t. Why, it was utter nonsense.
Except…
Wasn’t it possible Logan was in love with the beautiful dark-haired girl? Juliana couldn’t think of a single reason why he wouldn’t be. He’d known her all his life, and he’d been delighted to see her today. No man looked at a woman the way Logan had looked at Alison unless he was in love with her.
