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“Alliance?” asked Maira. “You mean you want me to marry this man.”
“Sir Gregory Arundell of Durham holds a high position, not to mention he is rich,” said the earl, Lord Beaufort, as if that would matter to her. “You would be wise to consider the marriage, Maira.”
“Father, nay,” she protested. “If I must remind you, the king granted me permission on his deathbed to agree or disagree to any betrothal.”
“That’s right, he did,” agreed Morag. “Fia told me so.”
“I am well aware of what King Edward said. I was there,” said Rowen with a stiff upper lip. “Maira, you will leave for Durham Castle on the morrow to meet Sir Gregory. After a month of living there, you will get to know him. Then, I’m sure you’ll see that he is a good choice for you.”
“A month?” spat Maira. “You might as well put me in the dungeon right now because, to me, that is a horrible punishment. Why can’t I just come home with you, Father?”
“It’s for the best,” the earl told her. “Give yourself some time to know the man, like your father mentioned. I’m sure you will agree with us in the end.”
“Do you like this High Sheriff, Father?” asked Maira.
“I have never met the man,” Rowen admitted. “But I am taking the earl’s word for it, as I trust his judgment. He has never steered us wrong before.”
“I never met him either,” said the earl. “But I asked the Bishop of Durham about the man and he had naught but good things to say. I’ll take the holy man’s word for it.”
“I don’t want to go,” Maira said, trying one last time to change her father’s mind. “I’ll be all alone and won’t know anyone there. Father, you can’t mean to put me in such a position. You don’t want me to be lonely, do you?”
“Well, nay, I wouldn’t want that,” her father mumbled, looking at the ground.
“She can take Morag along with her,” said the earl, making Maira want to muffle the man.
Rowen’s head jerked up and he looked at the girls. “Aye, that’s a fine idea. Then you won’t feel lonely, Maira, since you’ll have your cousin along with you. I’ll tell Reed right away that his daughter will be going to Durham, too.” Rowen glanced over his shoulder. “That is, if the fool ever stops with the arm wrestling.”
“Beat ye!” cried out Reed, jumping up from the stool and slamming his empty tankard down on the table. He moved so fast that the bench toppled over, taking two men with it. Half the crowd cheered and the other half booed. “Now, someone bring me some more Mountain Magic because I’ve got some celebratin’ to do.”
“My da is drinkin’ Mountain Magic?” asked Morag with a roll of her eyes. “That’s no’ guid. When he’s well in his cups, there is no talkin’ any sense into him.” Morag flipped her long, blond braid over her shoulder and crossed her arms in front of her, letting out a deep sigh. “I guess I’m comin’ with ye, Maira. So we might as well make the best of it.”
“Father, please don’t make me do this,” begged Maira, trying once again to change her father’s decision. “You know how miserable I’ll be. Besides, I’m not going to agree to the marriage so it’s just a waste of everyone’s time.”
“I don’t know,” said her father, looking over to the earl as if he might change his mind. Maira was Rowen’s only daughter and often she could convince him to agree to what she wanted. The only trouble was that the earl held more influence over her father than she did.
“It’s a smart move, Whitehaven, so don’t make a decision you’ll regret later,” warned the earl. “You know as well as I that you could use the alliance.”
Maira’s father looked back at her, keeping his jaw tight. He took one more swig of ale, smacking his lips together before he spoke. “Two weeks instead of a month, Maira,” he answered in finality. “But you are going to Durham Castle, like it or not. And I want you to leave behind your weapons and act like a lady while you’re there. No sense scaring off the man before he gets to know you. And that is exactly what will happen when he sees the way you act.”
“Leave behind my weapons?” The thought was appalling to Maira. What was her father saying? He knew how much practicing with her sword and daggers meant to her. “I can’t do that. You are the one who gave the weapons to me in the first place. How can you order me not to use them?”
Rowen nodded and looked as if he felt bad about the deal. “All right, then. You can take them with you, but I want them locked away at all times, do you understand? You are not to be seen with your sword on your back or your daggers attached to your waist belt. No bow and arrows either.”
“This isn’t fair!” she shouted, feeling like she was being sentenced for no reason at all.
“Rowen, get over here,” called out Maira’s Uncle Rook. “Reed is cheating. We need you to be the judge.”
“I wish Mother was here, because she would listen to me,” said Maira, feeling like crying. But she wouldn’t cry because that would make her look weak. Maira was known as the strongest of all the girl cousins in her family and she liked that reputation.
“Your mother has other things taking her concern right now,” Rowen told her. “Little Michael has been ill lately, and also acting up again. So I don’t want you sending missives about this to Whitehaven because you will only worry her. Now, go get packed. You and Morag will leave for Durham in the morning.” He turned and walked away with the earl, heading toward the crowd. The conversation was over and his decision was final. There was nothing more Maira could do.
“Morag, would you really come with me to Durham?” Maira asked her cousin.
“It doesna seem as if I have a choice. But I dinna mind,” said Morag. “Since she’s married, Fia is takin’ all the attention with the new bairn so no one will even notice if I’m there or no’. I sometimes think that I’ve been forgotten.”
“Then go get Fia and Willow and meet me in the secret garden,” Maira told her. The families were still there celebrating Willow’s wedding but they would be leaving soon. Maira turned and started across the great hall.
“Do ye mean Imanie’s garden?” asked Morag, running after her.
