WolfeStrike (De Wolfe Pack Generations #2) - Kathryn Le Veque Page 0,82

seen what we all saw – a man running from a commitment. Therefore, what you suggest is not so and I will not be coerced into marriage. However… I do find a betrothal between your daughter and me… intriguing.”

Gilbert, who had been gearing up for a battle, was suddenly slapped in the face with Tor’s interest to his betrothal demand. He had thought for certain that Tor was going to tell him to go jump off a bridge to permanently shut his foolish mouth, but that’s not what Tor said.

The man was actually interested.

… interested?

“She comes with a very large dowry,” Gilbert said eagerly. “She will make you a very rich man. After my death, my merchant business will go to you. It is quite profitable.”

Tor shook his head. “I have wealth,” he said. “Making more of it is of no particular interest to me. But a marriage to her would ensure an alliance with you.”

Gilbert looked somewhat baffled. “But I have no great army.”

Tor nodded. “I know,” he said. “But you have a great manse at Featherstone and I have heard of an even bigger one in Carlisle. If I wanted to keep men at either place…”

“You could. I would pay for their keep.”

“And if I needed more funds to increase my troops…”

Gilbert cut him off. “I would happily provide you with funds for your army.”

Tor passed a glance at Blayth to see how he was reacting to all of this. The de Wolfe uncle seemed to be as intrigued as Tor was with the idea of a wealthy ally, and family member, with funds to funnel into armies and more men. That would be most beneficial to the de Wolfe war machine.

Gilbert de Featherstone was one of the richer merchants in the north, so even if the marriage wasn’t one that provided military support, it would provide excellent financial support. Blayth began to see what his nephew was driving at and it was quite cunning.

He nodded faintly.

That was what Tor wanted to see – approval from someone he trusted. He wanted the man to think he was only in this for the gains and not for the fact that Tor found Isalyn attractive. Nay, more than attractive.

She had sparked a fire within him that he thought was long dead.

“Then speak with your daughter,” Tor said. “If she is agreeable, then I am as well. I will give you twenty minutes with her before I join you to speak to her myself.”

Gilbert nearly tripped in his haste to leave the hall with Fraser on his heels, leaving Tor behind with Blayth, Christian, and Ronan. When the men had cleared the hall, Blayth turned to his nephew.

“An excellent bargain, Tor,” he said. “De Featherstone has nearly unlimited wealth. With it, he could help you expand your empire. Exceptional thinking on your part.”

Tor sighed heavily and perched his bottom on the edge of the feasting table. “Henry is always looking for money for his wars,” he said. “I would prefer that he didn’t know I was married to a gold mine, but I suppose he would find out soon enough.”

“Did you do it because of Steffan?” Ronan wanted to know. “Because of what he did to Bella? Did you do it to appease him?”

Tor could see that Ronan was concerned that perhaps Tor was paying the price for a broken betrothal. But Tor smiled faintly at his cousin.

“I do not do anything I don’t want to do,” he said. “You needn’t worry, Ronan. I am not sacrificing myself for the common good.”

“It is not a bad bargain,” Christian spoke up. He’d been watching the entire situation unfold but, more than that, he’d seen the way Tor looked at Isalyn. There was interest in the man’s heart. “It’s not simply the wealth, but Lady Isalyn is a beautiful woman. She is quite a prize. But are you sure about this?”

Tor remained neutral as talk of Isalyn’s beauty was introduced. “I am,” he said. “But if she is not, then I will not pursue it. The woman lives in London and I have no intention of living there, so she may very well be opposed to a union that will keep her in Northumberland. This may be all for naught.”

Even as he said it, he genuinely hoped not. Surely he couldn’t have imagined the warm smiles and glimmer in Isalyn’s eyes that told him she had interest in him, too. But he was a good deal older than she was – she had