have thought you’d be laird of anything. And you’re to wed too? Have you seen her? Is she comely with good-sized bosoms? I suppose you threw it back and said nay like a fool?” James guffawed and couldn’t seem to stop.
Sean rubbed his forehead, exasperated at the telling. And now he’d have to consider it. “He’s my uncle and it’s his dying wish. If I say nay who knows what will happen to his fortune.”
James grew serious. “So you’re wanting the fortune then?”
“Aye, why shouldn’t I have it? I am no fool, James. My mother would want me to take his offer in repayment for her heartache.” The mention of his mother instilled deep sadness inside him. He could barely remember her face for he’d been so young when she died.
James followed him as he paced the high grasses of the field. “What of the woman? Will you wed her?”
Sean shrugged his shoulder and kept walking, now in circles. “ Cosh, he asks much. I don’t wish to wed and like my life the way it is. Free of commitments. If I don’t wed her then I lose out on the fortune. I must accept both she and his lands.”
“I cannot believe I’m hearing this, Sean. This is inconceivable. Aye, I wish I had an uncle willing to gift me with lands and love.”
Sean laughed derisively. “James, if you wish to trade places with me …”
“Hell, I’d do so in a minute. Think on it, Sean. You’ll be a laird, and will be able to influence laws in the region. You’ll be married and won’t have to go looking for a woman during the cold winter months.”
“I’ve never had to go looking for a woman, James, no matter what the season.” With that quip, Sean found his first smile since he arrived.
James laughed boisterously. “True, true, but you’ll have a woman who will take care of you and you won’t have to see to your own comforts. Aye, I say you’re blessed with the most damnable luck.”
“Aye, I’m lucky all right. I liked my life the way it was. No responsibilities or difficulties, and no complications …”
James kept up with him as he walked around. “I’ve known you a long time, my friend, and never thought you would shirk responsibilities. If it’s a boring existence you wish for then deny the claim and be done with it.” He swiped his hands together as if wiping the problem away.
“I never thought my life was boring, James. What if I am not capable of running such a large manor, and seeing to laws and the protection of such a vast amount of property?”
“What you don’t know, you can learn. You’re a learned man, Sean, and I’ve seen you reading the treaties Grey left in the hall. You more than any of us understood what they alluded to. Grey never discussed their meaning with anyone but you.”
Sean stopped pacing when the supper bell tolled. He’d made his decision. Now he’d meet the lass and tell the old lord what he’d decided. “You’re free to leave, if you wish, James. You can relay the news to Grey and explain what happened. Tell him I will send word.”
“I’m not leaving. I wouldn’t miss this for anything. Let us on to your wedding.” James laughed, and clapped him on the back. “Never thought I’d say that either.”
“I could use a drink.” Sean walked swiftly toward the castle again and didn’t bother to knock when he reached the keep’s door.
“My lord, ye returned. Aye, supper will be served in a few minutes. Lord William will be attending. He’s being brought down, he is.” The old man, Davy, shuffled toward him.
“Is he not too ill to come down?” Sean grew concerned for the old lord and didn’t want to impose.
“He’s an old dog, my lord is. Won’t let the devil take him until he’s good and ready. You can enter the hall, there,” Davy said, pointing at a wall where there was no door.
He and James shared a quick grin before they entered the hall to the left. The old man was not only irritable, but he was also blind. Inside the large room, weapons of all sorts
Sean rubbed his forehead, exasperated at the telling. And now he’d have to consider it. “He’s my uncle and it’s his dying wish. If I say nay who knows what will happen to his fortune.”
James grew serious. “So you’re wanting the fortune then?”
“Aye, why shouldn’t I have it? I am no fool, James. My mother would want me to take his offer in repayment for her heartache.” The mention of his mother instilled deep sadness inside him. He could barely remember her face for he’d been so young when she died.
James followed him as he paced the high grasses of the field. “What of the woman? Will you wed her?”
Sean shrugged his shoulder and kept walking, now in circles. “ Cosh, he asks much. I don’t wish to wed and like my life the way it is. Free of commitments. If I don’t wed her then I lose out on the fortune. I must accept both she and his lands.”
“I cannot believe I’m hearing this, Sean. This is inconceivable. Aye, I wish I had an uncle willing to gift me with lands and love.”
Sean laughed derisively. “James, if you wish to trade places with me …”
“Hell, I’d do so in a minute. Think on it, Sean. You’ll be a laird, and will be able to influence laws in the region. You’ll be married and won’t have to go looking for a woman during the cold winter months.”
“I’ve never had to go looking for a woman, James, no matter what the season.” With that quip, Sean found his first smile since he arrived.
James laughed boisterously. “True, true, but you’ll have a woman who will take care of you and you won’t have to see to your own comforts. Aye, I say you’re blessed with the most damnable luck.”
“Aye, I’m lucky all right. I liked my life the way it was. No responsibilities or difficulties, and no complications …”
James kept up with him as he walked around. “I’ve known you a long time, my friend, and never thought you would shirk responsibilities. If it’s a boring existence you wish for then deny the claim and be done with it.” He swiped his hands together as if wiping the problem away.
“I never thought my life was boring, James. What if I am not capable of running such a large manor, and seeing to laws and the protection of such a vast amount of property?”
“What you don’t know, you can learn. You’re a learned man, Sean, and I’ve seen you reading the treaties Grey left in the hall. You more than any of us understood what they alluded to. Grey never discussed their meaning with anyone but you.”
Sean stopped pacing when the supper bell tolled. He’d made his decision. Now he’d meet the lass and tell the old lord what he’d decided. “You’re free to leave, if you wish, James. You can relay the news to Grey and explain what happened. Tell him I will send word.”
“I’m not leaving. I wouldn’t miss this for anything. Let us on to your wedding.” James laughed, and clapped him on the back. “Never thought I’d say that either.”
“I could use a drink.” Sean walked swiftly toward the castle again and didn’t bother to knock when he reached the keep’s door.
“My lord, ye returned. Aye, supper will be served in a few minutes. Lord William will be attending. He’s being brought down, he is.” The old man, Davy, shuffled toward him.
“Is he not too ill to come down?” Sean grew concerned for the old lord and didn’t want to impose.
“He’s an old dog, my lord is. Won’t let the devil take him until he’s good and ready. You can enter the hall, there,” Davy said, pointing at a wall where there was no door.
He and James shared a quick grin before they entered the hall to the left. The old man was not only irritable, but he was also blind. Inside the large room, weapons of all sorts
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