“As a matter of fact, she has refused to marry me.”“So when's the wedding?” Ramsey asked.”

“Are you going to keep her?""Yes.""Does she know it?""Not yet."Ramsey overheard the conversation and laughed heartily. "I assume you've considered all the problems, Brodick.""I have.""It won't be an easy life for her living with—" Ramsey began. Brodick finished his sentence for him."Living with the Buchanan clan. I know, and I worry about her adjustment."Ramsey grinned. "That's not what I was going to say. It won't be easy for her living with you. Rumor has it, you're a difficult man to be around."Brodick didn't take offense. "Gillian's aware of my flaws.""And she'll still have you?" Winslow asked."As a matter of fact, she has refused to marry me."Knowing Brodick as well as they did, both Ramsey and Winslow began to laugh again."So when's the wedding?" Ramsey asked.”

“Only after the words were spoken did she realize what she had said. "My sins are all your fault, Brodick, and if I have to go to purgatory, then by God, you're going with me. Ramsey, if you do not stop laughing,I swear I shall toss you over this cliff.""Do you love him, lass?" Father asked."I do not," she answered emphatically."It isn't a requirement," Laggan pointed out."I should hope not," she cried."But it would make your life easier," he countered."Gillian, you will tell the truth," Brodick demanded.He grabbed hold of her hand. She tried to pull back, but he wouldn't let go."I have told the truth. I don't love Ramsey, and if he doesn't stop laughing at me, the Sinclairs will soon be looking for a new laird.""Not Ramsey," Laggan shouted so he could be heard over Ramsey's laughter. "I'm asking you if you love Brodick.""Did you tell Father I love you? Who else did you tell?”

“Children," Johanna drawled out. "They're such a joy. When you get married and have a family of your own, you'll understand what I'm saying. You are going to get married someday, aren't you, Keith?""Aye, m'lady," he answered. "Next summer as a matter of fact. Bridgid MacCoy has agreed to become my wife.""Oh."She couldn't quite hide her disappointment. She turned her gaze down the table and settled on Michael as a possibility.He caught her staring at him. He smiled. She nodded. "Children," she began again. "They're wonderful, aren't they, Michael?""If you say so, m'lady.""Oh, I do say," she replied. "When you get married, you'll understand. You do plan to marry someday, don't you, Michael?""Eventually," he answered with a shrug."Have you anyone in mind?""Are you matchmaking, m'lady?" Keith asked."Why would you think that?""I'll marry Helen when I'm ready," Michael interjected. "I've told her I will, and she agreed to wait."Johanna frowned. The possibilities were becoming a bit limited. She turned to Niall."Children…" she began."She is matchmaking," Keith announced.It was as though he'd just shouted the alarm that they were under siege. The soldiers literally jumped from their stools. They bowed to Johanna and left the room in the space of a single minute. She didn't even have enough time to order them back into their seats.”

“Whatare they doing?"Brodick glanced at the women. "Chasing Ramsey," he answered very matter-of-factly before returning to his task of scanning the field."Why? "Why what?" he asked as he continued to search.She sighed. "Why are the ladies chasing him?"The question startled him, for what should have been obvious to Gillian appeared not to be obvious at all. With a shrug, he said, "It's what they all do.""All the ladies chase him?" she asked, still not understanding.He finally gave her his full attention. "Yes, they do," he said quietly."But why?""You don't know?""I wouldn't ask if I knew, Brodick," she said, thoroughly perplexed."They find him… handsome," he finally said for lack of a better word. "That's what I've been told anyway.”

“Madelyne, we're married now. 'Tis a usual occurrence to bed one's wife on the wedding night.”

“Then it stands to reason that love doesn't make a man less than what he already is.""It makes him vulnerable.""Perhaps it does," Ramsey agreed."And if his mind is constantly consumed with thoughts of her, then he becomes weak. Is that not so?"Ramsey smiled. "I'll tell you what is so. You love her, Brodick, and that scares the hell out of you.""I should have broken your nose.”