Once again, he spun around and went back into the cottage. Rose was now sitting in a chair by the fire, nursing her son. Brogan did not care about the impropriety. "Ye lied to me and ye lied to Ian. 'Twas deceit and trickery ye used to get me to meet Mairghread Mactavish! Did ye think I would take one look at her and change me mind?"
Rose rolled her eyes and gave him a look that suggested he was insane. "Would ye have agreed to a meetin' with her had I asked nicely?"
Realizing he was on the precipice of losing his temper completely, he left again.
Lingering outside the door of his brother's cottage, Brogan fumed. His sister-by-law was tetched. 'Twas the only plausible explanation. "Would ye have agreed to a meetin' with her had I asked nicely?" Of course he wouldn't have! But that did not make her actions right or just.
And what of Mairghread? He could not be married to a woman who would be party to such a scheme, no matter how beautiful he found her to be. Was she in on the deception? 'Twas a good question, he supposed. So he marched back into the cottage. "Did Mairghread know about yer game?" he asked. His tone was harsh, his words clipped.
"Nay, she did no'," Rose replied. Her tone and expression were such that he had to believe her.
Some of his anger began to ease away. There was, he reckoned, no use in being so bloody angry he could bite his own sword in two. He offered Rose a curt nod before leaving. This time, he didn't slam the door behind him, nor did he thunder away only to return a moment later.
What truly has ye so angry? He asked himself as he stood in front of the cottage. Mayhap the number of things that were angering him at the moment were too long to list. He hung his head, rested his fingertips on his hips and thought long and hard about his current situation.
What of Mairghread? If she did not know about the deception of yesterday, he had to wonder if she had any knowledge at all of the plans the three she-devils had in store for them. What if he did agree to such a union only to find out Mairghread had no interest in marrying him? What then?
If he conceded – and he was not quite ready yet to do so – and she turned him down, why the ramifications would be significant. Rose would not rest until she had him well and duly wed.
He blew out a heavy breath and went back into the cottage. Rose was still sitting in her chair, still nursing her babe. 'Twas in that moment he realized this was what he wanted. A home, a wife, and bairns. The realization left him breathless and feeling as though he'd just been kicked by a horse.
"Is Mairghread for or against this union?" he asked, grinding his teeth together.
Rose looked at him for a long moment. He could not help but wonder what nefarious deed she was plotting now.
After a long moment, she blew out a breath and said, "I do no' ken. But ye may ask her this night."
He could feel the anger burning in his neck. "What do ye mean?" he asked. His words were clipped, his tone low.
"She will be here later. Ian has invited several of our neighborin' clans to sup with us."
Brogan's gut tightened. "When were ye plannin' on tellin' me?"
Rose shrugged one shoulder. "Mayhap when I introduced ye to her when we sit down to sup."
He gave a long, slow shake of his head. "Ye are tetched," he whispered incredulously.
"I did no' tell ye because I was worried ye'd hie off. Ye can no' blame me."
I can no' blame ye? "Aye, I blame ye, Rose. I blame ye—"
Rose did not give him time to finish his tirade. Waving her hand at him dismissively, she said, "Aye, ye can blame me all ye wish, Brogan. I give up. I was wrong to think ye were ready to start livin' yer life again. I was wrong to think ye'd be willin' to save a young woman's life." She looked disgusted with him.
Certain he was that she was being over dramatic, he rolled his eyes. "Save her life?" he exclaimed. "From what, pray tell?"
"From having to marry Pierre Claude Courtemanche."
His eyes widened in horrified surprise as his heart seized. "The Frenchman.”
Also by Suzan Tisdale
The Clan MacDougall Series
Laiden’s Daughter
Findley’s Lass
Wee William’s Woman
McKenna’s Honor
The Clan Graham Series
Rowan’s Lady
Frederick’s Queen
The Mackintoshes and McLarens Series
Ian’s Rose
The Bowie Bride - April 18, 2017
Brogan’s Promise - June 27, 2017
The Clan McDunnah Series
A Murmor of Providence
A Whisper of Fate
A Breath of Promise
Moirra’s Heart Series
Stealing Moirra’s Heart
Saving Moirra’s Heart
Stand Alone Novels
Isle of the Blessed
Forever Her Champion
The Edge of Forever
The Brides of the Clan MacDougall
(A Sweet Series)
Aishlinn
Maggy (arriving 2017)
Nora (arriving 2017)
Coming Soon:
The MacAllens and Randalls
About the Author
USA Today Bestselling Author, storyteller and cheeky wench, SUZAN TISDALE lives in the Midwest with her verra handsome carpenter husband. All but one of her children have left the nest. Her pets consist of dust bunnies and a dozen poodle-sized, backyard-dwelling groundhogs – all of which run as free and unrestrained as the voices in her head. And she doesn’t own a single pair of yoga pants, much to the shock and horror of her fellow authors. She prefers to write in her pajamas.
Suzan writes Scottish historical romance/fiction, with honorable and perfectly imperfect heroes and strong, feisty heroines. And bad guys she kills off in delightfully wicked ways.
She published her first novel, Laiden’s Daughter, in December, 2011, as a gift for her mother. That one book started a journey which has led to fifteen published titles, with two more being released in the spring of 2017. To date, she has sold more than 350,000 copies of her books around the world. They have been translated into four foreign languages (Italian, French, German, and Spanish.)
You will find her books in digital, paperback, and audiobook formats.
To Stay Up To Date:
www.suzantisdale.com
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The Bowie Bride: Book Two of The Mackintoshes and McLarens Page 47
