to see? Or did MacIain have some other reason for delay?
"The battle for Trotternish will come soon," Connor said, reiterating his key demand. "I must know that you will support me with your warriors and galleys."
"That is the tricky part, isn't it?" the MacIain said, folding his hands.
"What are ye saying?" Connor kept his voice even, but he was so furious he felt as if his head would explode.
"Now that the MacLeod has left the rebellion, ye won't find another chieftain here who is willing to take on the MacLeods with ye."
"Several expressed an interest in a marriage alliance." Even as he said it, Connor recalled how the other chieftains' enthusiasm seemed to wane each time he brought up the coming battle for Trotternish. Several had even suggested he should be content with the lands he had.
"Everyone can see that if ye survive your present troubles, you'll be a powerful force in the isles, the kind of chieftain anyone would want for an ally," MacIain said, spreading out his hands. "But right now, they're no willing to help ye fight the MacLeods."
And Connor was supposed to feel flattered by this?
"I am, however, in a stronger position than most to take the risk," the MacIain continued. "I'll need some time to grease the pig, so to speak, and discuss it with the Campbell chieftain, who may be upset by my attacking one of the Crown's new supporters."
Time was running out. While MacIain professed to be greasing the pig, Connor could not enter into serious negotiations for a marriage with another clan. He certainly could not do it while in MacIain's home. And yet, without a signed marriage contract - or a bride - there was nothing certain about his arrangement with the MacIain.
"Three weeks is all I can wait." Connor stood. "Bring your warriors and your granddaughter to Trotternish Castle before Beltane or there will be no marriage alliance between us."
Chapter 21
Alastair MacLeod insisted on escorting Ilysa back to the keep himself. At the entrance to the hall, he fixed his piercing eyes on her for a long moment, then gave her a stiff nod and left her. No sooner had he gone than Ilysa felt another set of eyes burning into her. She turned to see Connor striding toward her from across the room. He looked ready to do battle.
"I didn't expect to find Alastair MacLeod among your admirers," Connor said in his hard, chieftain's voice. "Why were ye talking to our enemy?"
"He doesn't seem like such a bad man to me," Ilysa said. "Alliances change all the time. Perhaps the two of ye could settle your differences."
"The only way the MacLeods and the MacDonalds will resolve our differences is by sword and blood."
"I liked him," she said, which made Connor's eyes flare.
"He's dangerous," Connor hissed. "Stay away from him."
Ilysa refrained from saying she had no plans to visit Dunvegan Castle, the famed MacLeod stronghold, since Connor did not appear to be in the mood for a jest.
"As your chieftain, 'tis my duty to give ye another warning," he said. "Ye must be careful of some of the men you're meeting here."
"None of the clans will raise trouble at the gathering," Ilysa said.
"That's no what I mean." Connor leaned closer. "Ye don't have experience with these sorts of men."
"And what sort is that?" Ilysa asked, though she thought she knew.
"Men of power and wealth."
"Ye mean chieftains?" Ilysa kept her voice pleasant, but she was not accustomed to being lectured about her behavior, which had always been so far above reproach as to be lamentably dull. She especially did not appreciate being lectured on this particular point by Connor.
"I'll speak plainly," he said. "If ye want a man and a home to yourself, don't look to any of these chieftains or their sons."
As if she did not know this. Connor's very being reminded her of it every day.
"Your brother could rise to be keeper of a castle through his skills as a warrior," he continued, apparently assuming her silence showed a feeble lack of comprehension. "You are highborn, but for a lass to be a chieftain's wife, she must bring power and property to the marriage."
"I appreciate your explaining my unworthiness so clearly." It was on the tip of her tongue to tell him about her marriage offer, but it was wiser to keep that to herself until she decided what she wanted to do.
"I did not say ye were unworthy." Connor spoke in a measured tone, as if she were