Amanda Scott Read Online Free PDF Page A

surrounded by kinsmen and—”
    “But not real people,” she said. “Not people of our own class, Michael, and if you think for one minute that having rejected Sir Renfrew Campbell I am going to marry one of our tenants, when you are forever telling me that they cannot even pay to rent the lands they work, like other people’s tenants do nowadays—”
    “I do not mean for you to marry any of them,” he said. “When the time does come for you to marry, there is no reason that you should not marry well.”
    “Well, I don’t see why I shouldn’t if you would just buy me some proper clothing and let me go to Edinburgh,” she said, reverting to her original objective. “This is the best dress I own, sir, and just look at it!”
    “I cannot send you to Edinburgh now. Perhaps someday, but—”
    “You could if you’d sell one of your stupid dogs.”
    Michael sighed. “I keep telling you that I cannot get enough money to repay the debt by selling the dogs. I have explained the law of exclusive proprietorship to you, have I not?”
    She glared at him. “That is the stupid law which says that no one of lower rank than an earl or a clan chief may own a deerhound, is it not?”
    “Yes. So you see—”
    “I quite see that it is a stupid law, and I do not see why anyone should have to obey laws that are stupid. Surely, someone would buy one and not tell.”
    “Some of us are working to change the law, but I do not intend to break it, and that is not the point just now, in any case. Presently, I know of only one man who wants to buy a dog from me. Unfortunately, the one he wants is Cailean, and I am not willing to sell him merely to frank your expenses in Edinburgh.”
    “But—”
    “No, Bridget. I don’t deny that among the many ways I have considered to repay the debt, I’ve included the possibility of arranging a marriage for you, but—”
    “I will not marry that horrid man.”
    “Despite your obvious assumption that I have seriously considered such a course, my dear, you are still much too young to marry anyone.”
    “That is preposterous, Michael. Our mother was no older than I am when Papa married her.”
    “That is quite true,” he said, regarding her thoughtfully. There was a notion that had occurred to him, more than once, but before now he had dismissed it out of hand, believing that she was too young for marriage.
    “I know what you should do,” she exclaimed. “You should marry an heiress yourself, Michael! That would solve all our problems, would it not?”
    “It would,” he agreed. “Unfortunately, I do not know of any heiress whose family would welcome a penniless earl with lands mortgaged to the last dirt clod, who will lose all he owns if she does not instantly pay his debts for him.”
    “Nonsense, there must be at least one who would marry you for your title alone,” Bridget said. “I don’t say she would be well born, necessarily, but that need not count with you, after all. There are tradesmen’s daughters, surely—”
    His voice cold again, Michael said, “Even if I could find such a person before Campbell takes all I own, I would not bring her into this family. I owe more to our ancient line than to taint it with unsuitable blood, Bridget. You refuse to count even our kinsmen as persons to whom you will condescend to speak. How would it be if you could not bring yourself to speak to my wife?”
    “Well, it would be very hard,” she agreed, “but if she were rich you would have plenty of money to send me to Edinburgh, and I could just stay with Aunt Marsali until I find a proper husband. So you see, Michael—”
    “What I see is that you are making it easier for me to consider a possibility I had until now dismissed as unconscionable,” he said grimly. “However, if you truly think yourself old enough to marry, I will look into that possibility. Indeed, I’ll tell you to your head, Bridget, that right now, if I thought sending you to Edinburgh would result in a