WolfeStrike (De Wolfe Pack Generations #2) - Kathryn Le Veque Page 0,61
Often times, he liked to sit in front of this window, watching the sunlight through the leaves.
At the moment, however, he wasn’t thinking of leaves or sunlight.
He was thinking on something far more serious.
“I was thinking that if I could marry my daughter into a great house, like the House of de Wolfe, it might be the very best thing for her,” he said. “Great houses like that would not tolerate a foolish young woman. They would mold her, shape her, and make something respectable out of her. I would not be ashamed of her.”
Fraser’s brow furrowed. “Are you ashamed of her?”
Gilbert shrugged. “She is unruly and unconventional,” he said. “How else am I supposed to feel? Everyone who meets her probably thinks my daughter is a wild animal.”
Fraser could see his point somewhat. “Sir Tor did not seem to think she was a wild animal,” he said. “At least, that is not the impression I got from the man. In fact, I heard him invite you and Lady Isalyn to feast with him before she returned to London. He made her promise to come soon.”
Gilbert looked at him, astonishment on his face. “He did?”
“I heard him myself.”
Something in Gilbert’s eyes seemed to light up at the very thought. “Perfect,” he said. “We can go to Blackpool and sup with him. De Wolfe is the greatest house in the north. Mayhap he has a nephew or a brother who would be a viable marital prospect for Isalyn.”
“Mayhap he himself would be.”
“Is he married?”
“I did not ask him, so I do not know. But if he is not married, he seemed to be attracted to Isalyn.”
That was what Gilbert wanted to hear. “Then that is what we shall do,” he said decisively. “We shall take him up on his invitation immediately and I will discover if he has a brother or nephew or cousin who would be a viable prospect… or if he is one himself.”
“He is a de Wolfe,” Fraser reminded him. “They are in great demand, my lord. I doubt there isn’t one male or female in that family already taken.”
Fraser pointed a finger at him. “But they owe me,” he said. “Steffan may have jilted a de Wolfe bride, but the de Wolfe pack killed him. They did not have to do it, but they did. Therefore, they owe me. They took away one de Wolfe marriage. They shall provide me with another – to Isalyn.”
Fraser could see that Gilbert was going to work the guilt angle. Already, he wasn’t entirely sure that was a good idea. When he had mentioned Tor de Wolfe’s invitation to sup, he hadn’t expected this turn in Gilbert’s perspective of the situation.
“I would be careful in how you negotiate that, my lord,” he said. “After all, Steffan was running from a de Wolfe bride. Mayhap you should simply try to negotiate a betrothal without trying to guilt them into agreeing. You may want to leave Steffan out of it entirely.”
Perhaps deep down, Gilbert knew that Fraser was right, but he wasn’t going to admit it. Not yet. He was still willing to use Steffan’s death as leverage.
“No promises,” he said, waving Fraser off. “Go and tell my daughter that we are departing for Blackpool tomorrow at dawn. Make sure that she, and the escort, are prepared.”
“Aye, my lord.”
“And bring a wagon packed with gifts,” Gilbert said thoughtfully. “Capes, furs, anything a prospective de Wolfe husband might want. Isalyn comes with an enormous dowry. Let us give him a taste of it.”
“Aye, my lord.”
“And, Fraser?”
“My lord?”
“You will not speak of this plan to Isalyn. Not a word.”
“Nay, my lord.”
Gilbert flicked a wrist at him, sending him off. As Fraser went to carry out his orders, Gilbert stood by the window, watching the activity in the bailey, wondering if he’d just found the solution to rid himself of the burden of his disobedient, willful daughter.
He was about to set a de Wolfe trap.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Blackpool Castle
Isalyn wondered if her father realized just how eager she was to come to Blackpool.
Strangely enough, he seemed quite eager as well. When Fraser came to tell her that they would be accepting Tor’s invitation to visit immediately, she had been thrilled to hear it. She had retreated to her chamber when they had returned from Haltwhistle, fully anticipating her father to verbally lash her for running off yet again, so Fraser’s good news from her father had been unexpected.