Part 35 (1/2)
She frowned, her eyes narrowing suspiciously. ”You like Caroline?”
”Why wouldn't I?”
She looked away, gaze fixed on the tower. ”Well... she's a Graham-”
”No, she's a Maxwell, remember? She married my brother.”
She seemed slightly put out by his interruption and continued as if he hadn't spoken. ”And she's so very perfect. She never does or says anything wrong. She never gets upset. Many men find it... unconscionable that a woman be so... well, so like a man.”
”Luckily Robert doesn't. Me either, though I confess, she took some getting used to. I dinna think Patrick would mind, either.”
She fell silent. As he watched her, he began contemplating things he shouldn't. She was to marry another man. Even if she wasn't, she would never marry him. And Alex didn't go about debauching virgins he had no intention of honoring, a fact that led to his having little experience beyond a few friendly widows. And Diana Carlisle. But then, he'd meant to marry her, not simply debauch her, though he suspected he'd not been the first to plow those fields.
He reminded himself that, at one time, he had meant to ravish Fayth as punishment. The idea still had merit. d.a.m.n it all! He must stop thinking about her. She had no idea how he seduced her in his mind, constantly. He gritted his teeth and forced himself to think of other things.
He cleared his throat. ”Uh... Ridley, you were telling me his plans.”
”Oh... as far as King Henry is concerned, war with Scotland is inevitable. But Ridley is taking no chances. He's doing all he can to provoke the Scots. If there's a war, he means to distinguish himself in battle and take many prestigious prisoners. He's counting on these prisoners turning themselves over to him, because he is ally or kin. When King Henry annexes Scotland, he will be awarded their lands.”
”If the English win, perhaps the lords will swear fealty to Henry. Then they keep their lands.”
”The Scots can't possibly win a war against England,” she said, a note of condescension in her voice. ”You haven't the men, the resources, or the discipline.”
”Scots are the fiercest of fighters-”
”When protecting their stolen goods, but fighting for a common cause? An idea?” She snorted. ”Never.”
”We'll fight to keep out the English.”
”Really? I happen to know of several Scots clans that would welcome the English with open arms. Besides, you haven't won a battle against the English since Bannockburn.”
”What about Hadden Rigg? That was but a month ago and we routed the English, taking many prisoners.”
”A failed raid. Nothing more.”
”Oh, I can see now why you thought you could best me, la.s.s, as the Scots are gutless simpletons. I'm amazed we manage to feed and clothe ourselves.”
She laughed, the tension draining from the set of her shoulders. ”I didn't mean that. I'm sure if the Scots army was made up of naught but Annan Maxwells, you couldn't lose. But it's not. It's made up of Armstrongs and Carlisles-”
”Aye, and Johnstones. I see what you mean. It's unlikely the Armstrongs will even fight, mind ye. They're like carrion. They'll pick over the battlefield when it's over, never lifting their sword arm.”
”That's what Ridley is counting on.”
Alex sighed. ”Aye, and many borderers will switch loyalties if it's advantageous to do so.”
”Well... as Ridley's prisoners, it won't be. If they swear fealty, the king will likely restore their lands and t.i.tles. I think Ridley means to kill those who agree to swear fealty so that won't happen. Then he will control the entire firth and the western road into Scotland, as well as the traffic between Scotland and northern Ireland.”
”An ambitious plan.”
”Ridley is nothing if not ambitious.”