It was still early when Vida returned to the great hall, but she felt as if it had been hours—even days—not minutes since she had left. Tomas did not enter the hall with her. She didn’t want to have to explain anything. She let go of his hand, gave him a quick kiss, and returned his plaid just before running up the steps and through the front doors. She was sharply aware of the instant loss of warmth, both from his heavy wool wrap and his mere presence. Still, she smiled and hugged herself. It wouldn’t be long before they were married. Today was the first day of December, so she only had to wait twenty-six days. 

When she reached the table, she poured herself a goblet of watered wine and sat down to nibble on a bannock and think. The things she had heard about her father distressed her. He had left the running of the clan largely to her. If he had told her about the debt as soon as it had been incurred, she could have taken steps to reduce spending then. She might have been able to ensure they had enough to live on, just in case something happened.

But her father hadn’t been able to imagine that anything would go wrong. That was one of his biggest faults. Although he might occasionally consider her too, he rarely looked beyond his needs in the moment. He didn’t want her to know what he’d done and he didn’t believe she’d ever need to, so he kept on spending as if he had no financial worries.

Until the ship actually came in bearing a profitable cargo, Vida would have assumed it might not. She didn’t expect the worst, but she certainly believed in planning for it.

The fact that her father had allowed Naughton Lindsay to think he would insure the debt with a betrothal left her dumbfounded. But again, she knew why her father had done it, even if he didn’t know it himself. She was fairly certain he believed that if he had treated the comment as anything more than a jest, Lindsay wouldn’t have loaned him the money. But because he was unable to look ahead and accept the possibility that he might lose, he didn’t think it mattered. Then when he didn’t win, the notion that something might happen to the Mermaid Queen would also never have occurred to him.

As upsetting as all of these things were, she couldn’t deny that they were consistent with what she knew to be true about her papa. However, it was the story about her cousin Katherine that made her angry. This one was a little harder for her to accept. While Vida was certain if something served his purposes he’d try to see it done, she would have never believed him capable of something so underhanded. But even that seemed to have turned out well for everyone involved. What angered her was that he had never told her about Katherine. He had hidden the fact that she ever existed by refusing to allow her to be mentioned.

If what she was feeling in this moment was anything akin to what her father felt when he lost his temper, she could understand why he lashed out. She wanted to scream at him and tell him that if the mess they were in right now didn’t prove how dangerous it was to hide the truth, he deserved every bit of it.

But she wasn’t her papa. She would maintain her self-control. Besides, for the first time in her life, she had to keep a secret from him at least for a little while. The fact was, his decision to ask Tomas to marry her and lead Clan Ruthven was perhaps one of the best he’d ever made. She loved Tomas and he loved her but more importantly, there was no single person who could do a better job leading the clan than the two of them together. Tomas respected her and would allow her to continue doing what she did best, managing the clan business. And he would continue to build their men into a formidable force and provide for the protection and safety of their people. Then, too, there was the fact that he already felt a devotion to the clan, something that someone who married her for the title he’d inherit might never have.

Somehow in the midst of what might have been a disaster, by the grace of God, her father had managed to stumble on the perfect solution to ensure the clan’s wellbeing for years to come. She wouldn’t allow his short-sightedness to ruin that.

So, when her father asked her to join him in his solar, she listened to everything he had to say, reacting appropriately with shock and horror when it was required. When she cried, an easy enough thing to do considering all that had happened, he begged her forgiveness. When she moaned, “What are we going to do? What’s to become of me?” he offered his solution.

“You’ll marry Sir Tomas MacHenry, on the Feast of Saint John the Evangelist. He’s already an excellent leader of our men and he’ll be a good husband for you. We’ll post the first banns on the twelfth of December.”

“And that will solve the problem?”

“Aye, if you’re already married by Hogmanay, there’s nothing Lindsay can do but negotiate with me for the final amount I owe.”

He didn’t mention the fact that Lindsay could possibly move to stop that wedding and force full payment of the debt. He also didn’t mention that if the marriage went ahead as planned and he couldn’t pay all he owed, Lindsay could conceivably lay siege. It disappointed her that he was not being fully honest, even now. But as a result, she didn’t feel guilty for not telling him she knew these things could happen as well as the fact that she and Tomas had discussed it and had made plans accordingly.

“Vida, my love, you will agree to marry him, won’t you?”

She nodded. “Aye, Papa, I will.” He looked so distraught it tore at her heart. She knew he’d brought it all on himself, but he was her papa and loved him. “Papa, don’t look so sad. This might be the best thing that could ever have happened. You’re right about Tomas’s abilities and the truth is, I quite like him.” She smiled. “And I’m rather certain he likes me too. It will be a good marriage.”

Her father heaved a sigh, looking relieved. Perhaps more relieved than he should. “Excellent. We’ll announce it at the evening meal.”

Her eyes narrowed and she canted her head. “I’m not certain that’s the best idea.”

He frowned. “Why not?”

“Well, it just seems to me that we don’t want to risk Lindsay hearing news of the wedding.”

“Who would tell him?”

“I don’t know, Papa. I just don’t think we should take the risk.”

“The banns have to be posted anyway.”

“I know, but you plan to post them on the twelfth. After that there are only fifteen days for news to reach his ears. If we announce it today, there are twenty-six days.”

Her father shrugged. “I don’t think we need to worry, but if you want to wait until the twelfth we’ll wait.”

“Thank you, I think it is safest.”

“It won’t leave us much time to plan a great wedding feast.”

“Papa, you owe a huge debt that you can’t pay. I don’t think now is the time to make extravagant expenditures.”

“But the ship from Venice…”

“Will arrive when and if it does. If ye wish to have a celebration then, we can. But it’s irresponsible to spend money we don’t have.” She looked pointedly at him and could not hold back the next comment. “We wouldn’t be in this mess if you’d remembered that in August.”

He hung his head. “I’m sorry, Vida.”

She smiled and ducked her head down, so she could meet his eyes. “Just don’t do it again…ever.”

Her father remained subdued for the rest of the day. He was surprised to learn that Tomas had sent Ethan and Drew home.

“They’ll come back as soon as they can.” Then Tomas added in a low voice so as not to be overheard, “I really should have sought my laird’s permission to marry before I agreed to it. I have to at least tell him before the wedding occurs.”

~ * ~

Keeping the secret for eleven days had been harder than Vida imagined. Once she knew she’d be marrying the man she adored, she wanted to tell everyone. She wanted to be able to hold Tomas’s hand in public or to not worry about someone discovering them in the midst of a stolen kiss. So, it was a huge relief when on Sunday the twelfth, her father announced the betrothal during morning Mass.

She had argued with him all week about how much to tell the clan. Vida wanted him to tell them about the debt, their current financial distress, and why the sudden marriage was necessary.

He insisted that they didn’t need to know all the details. It would only worry them.

On Saturday evening, she had wielded her final weapon. “Papa, by not telling them you are tying my hands. It leaves me unable to ask what I need to of them in order to make what funds we have last. They must know. They must understand why economies are necessary.”

“They’re necessary because I say they are,” he roared.

She stood her ground. “You will not take that tone with me. I have never been one to lay blame. It usually serves no purpose. Problems are often caused by a combination of things and creating a scapegoat doesn’t solve anything. But in this case, there is one source and one source only for where we find ourselves and that is you, Papa. You did this. The clan will pull together and help us save funds if they know why we must.”

“Maybe it won’t be necessary, the Merry Mistress might—”

She slammed her fist on the arm of her chair, cutting him off. “Nay! You made a foolish wager with money you didn’t have. You didn’t ensure that a betrothal to me was absolutely not an option. You didn’t tell me about the risk until it was too late for me to make certain we had adequate funds. No one else is to blame.”

“Vida, pet, I know it’s my fault, but why do we have to tell the clan.”

“Because they deserve to know. They have a price to pay, just like I do.”

“I thought you wanted to marry Tomas.”

“That’s not the point. Papa, it will be much better for our people to hear this from you and to hear your remorse. But I swear to you, if you do not tell them why all of this is happening, I will.”

His posture stiffened. “I forbid you.”

“Forbid me, will you? Then I’ll tell you the consequence you haven’t even given a thought to. What is the reason for most hurriedly arranged weddings?”

His mouth was set in a stubborn line and he didn’t answer.

“The answer is pregnancy. And when a nobleman marries his daughter suddenly to one of his guardsman, everyone will assume it’s because I’m not a pure bride. They’ll think I’m already carrying a child. And I mean everyone. All of our people, all of your peers, even the king.”

“But you’re not expecting. Everyone will know that soon enough.”

“Are you honestly that blind? Of course, I’m not with child now, but I could become so on our wedding night. Then tongues will be wagging and people will be counting on their fingers. Are you willing to put me through that? Do you care for me so little?”

“Nay, Vida, my precious lass, you are everything to me.”

“Then don’t make me bear the brunt of ridicule for your mistakes.”

And that was the weapon that felled him.

He gave a long, defeated sigh. “Fine. I will make it all public.”

So, when he stood before the people during Mass, he confessed everything that happened, he asked for the clan’s help over the next few weeks and months, he thanked Tomas for his assistance, and to her utter amazement, he asked for forgiveness. But having faced his transgressions so publicly, he didn’t wish to speak to anyone after Mass. When Father Michael gave the final blessing, her papa practically ran from the chapel and sequestered himself in his solar for the rest of the day.

She guessed she couldn’t blame him. That he had admitted everything was enough for now. In his absence, she and Tomas greeted people after Mass and accepted their congratulations and their pledges to do what they could to help.

After the last person left, Vida turned to read the banns posted on the door. She could scarcely believe it was really happening and it gave her a thrill to see it in writing. She scanned the document until she reached their names, and then laughed.

“What is it?” asked Tomas, who had been reading over her shoulder but evidently hadn’t gotten that far yet.

“The names. Look closely at your name.”

He leaned in and examined the parchment carefully.

Then he started laughing too. “I wondered how he was going to do that.”

Father Michael had written their names in such fancy script that they were barely legible. He’d even added some extra swirls after Tomas’s surname to make it appear longer, but Lady Davida Ruthven would be marrying Sir Tomas MacIan not Tomas MacHenry.

It wasn’t obvious unless one looked closely, but clearly the priest didn’t expect anyone to do that. Now that she thought about it, Vida realized when he’d read the banns aloud, before posting them, he had simply said Lady Davida and Sir Tomas.

When they returned to the keep to break their fast, a loud cheer went up from everyone in the great hall. She had been a little worried that the people who knew Tomas’s real identity would disapprove. Yet many of them were in present and appeared as happy as everyone else. Still, none of them knew that she knew who Tomas really was.

For the rest of the week, she floated on the wave of collective joy. Everywhere she turned, everyone she spoke to was nothing short of thrilled over the news and that fed Vida’s own giddiness. Of course, the fact that Tomas could touch her, hold her hand, and even steal a kiss in public—all of which he did as often as possible—might have contributed to her giddiness as well.

Then on Monday after the banns were read the second time, her world came crashing in. A messenger arrived mid-morning. Just as they had feared, word of the pending wedding reached Naughton Lindsay. She wasn’t sure how. She hoped there wasn’t a spy in their midst. The fact was, her wedding was the talk of the village. The story might simply have been spread by a passing tinker or merchant who had over-heard a bit of juicy gossip.

Vida’s father took the message to his solar alone, but within a quarter of an hour, he’d sent a servant to find her, Manus, Gregor, and Tomas.

She and Manus were the first to arrive. He bade them sit then said no more, staring morosely into the fire in the hearth. When Gregor and Tomas arrived, clearly fresh from the training field, Ambrose turned to address them.

He waved the paper in his hand. “I have just received a missive from the Lord Sheriff in Perth. I have been summoned to appear before him tomorrow, to answer charges filed by Laird Lindsay on behalf of his brother Naughton.” He looked down at the paper. “Naughton believes that we entered into a verbal agreement promising Vida’s hand to him should I be unable to pay the debt I owe him by the end of December. He has reason to believe that I cannot pay said debt, and yet I have announced my daughter’s pending nuptials to someone else. He is demanding that I repay the loan immediately or that the sheriff uphold the previously agreed betrothal.”

The room was silent. Vida stood and wrapped her arms around her father.

He returned her embrace, trembling. “I’m sorry, Vida. I’m so sorry.”

“Everything will be all right, Papa.”

“I don’t see how. The only way for you to avoid marriage to Naughton Lindsay is to enter a convent.”

She wished she could tell him that he would be able to pay the debt. But she wasn’t absolutely certain of that now. The MacIans hadn’t arrived yet. Tomas believed they would, but Vida certainly understood why they might not.

“Laird, I will gather everything of value we have and bring it to Perth on your command. We almost have enough,” said Manus. “Perhaps if you’re only short a small amount, he’ll give you a bit more time to pay the rest.”

Her father shook his head, a tear slipping down his cheek. “I didn’t realize it at first, but this has never been about the money. He wants to marry Vida and become the laird eventually. If I am short a farthing, he’ll force the betrothal.”

Vida made eye contact with Tomas. She couldn’t stand to see her father defeated.

Tomas clearly understood her plea and stepped in. “Laird, all is not lost yet. When Ethan and Drew returned to the Highlands, I asked them to ask my family if they might be able to loan ye the shortfall. Clearly, no one has arrived yet with any coin, but they may still. Keep hope and I’ll do what I can.”

“Tomas, you have been my savior, Vida’s savior, over and over. Fate seems to have turned against me, so I will not rest all my faith in a loan from your family, but I will cling to that hope. That said, Tomas, I’m putting you in charge here with the authority to act in my stead. Gregor, I’d like you to accompany me with a contingent of men. I will send messages to keep you informed. If things look like they will not go my way, Tomas, take Vida to the Highlands. I don’t care where you go. Don’t even tell me. I don’t want Lindsay ever to find out.”

“Papa, I will not desert you and my clan.”

Her father gripped her by the shoulders, becoming sterner than she had ever seen him. “You will do as you are told. I will not allow you to marry Lindsay under any circumstances. If it becomes necessary, you will either go to the Highlands with Tomas or if you truly don’t wish to do that, enter a convent. Those are your choices. Do you understand me?”

“Aye, Papa.”

~ * ~

Within the hour, Tomas stood beside Vida with his arm around her as Ambrose Ruthven rode out of Cotharach accompanied by eight men. The irony of the situation was not lost on Tomas. He should have been savoring the sweet twist of fate that had forced Ambrose into a trap so like the one of his own making nineteen years earlier. But there was nothing sweet about this. The woman he loved was hurting and he would do whatever it took to fix this.

A tear slipped down her cheek. “I know he brought this on himself. I should be furious, but he’s my papa.”

Tomas kissed her head. “I know he is, sweetling. Hopefully, my family will arrive soon and we’ll sort it out.”

She turned toward him, wrapped both arms around him burying her face in his chest, and burst into sobs.

“Wheesht, my sweet lass. Wheesht now. Don’t cry. I’ll take care of things, I swear it to ye.”