A Promise Given by Samantha James Page B

a gallant bow. "I shall keep that in mind, kind lady."
    Just then a door off the hall was flung wide. Startled, Sabrina glanced over
to see her father standing in the doorway of the counting room. He was glaring
at her.
    Hurriedly she dropped her hand from Alasdair's grasp and hid it in her
skirts. "Was there something you wished, Papa?"
    "Aye." His eyes were snapping. "A word with you, Sabrina."
    He did not wait for her but stalked back into the counting room. Sabrina
followed him. He strode to the chair behind the long wide table where he
sometimes worked during the day. But Sabrina stopped short as she realized they
were not alone.
    Ian sat in the low-backed chair across from Papa.
    Papa indicated the seat next to Ian. "Sit," he commanded.
    Sabrina did as she was bid, but she sat on the edge of the chair, her feet
poised as if to flee. Her stomach began to churn. Ian—drat his soul!—appeared
totally at ease. He even looked rather pleased… All at once she felt distinctly
like a lamb being led to slaughter.
    Papa wasted no time. "Ian and I have been discussing future plans," he said
gruffly.
    Plans? Somehow she wasn't quite sure she liked the sound of that. But she
nodded politely, tucking her feet beneath her chair.
    "As you well know, Ian's father David and I wished to continue the bond
between our clans. That is why Ian was betrothed to Margaret."
    "I know, Papa." In all truth, he told her nothing she did not already know.
She was uneasy, for it was not like him to share such things with her.
    Papa 's tone was gruff. "Margaret is dead. But as Ian has suggested, there is
no reason why David's wishes—and mine—should be put aside. Our clans can still
be united." His eyes bore into her. “Do ye understand what I'm tryin' to say,
girl?"
    Sabrina's heart had begun to hammer. "Nay," she said faintly. Unbidden, her
gaze slid to Ian. He was watching her, a slight smile curling his lips—oh, a
devil's smile, that!
    "What your father is trying to say is this, Sabrina." His tone was as easy as
his smile. "I returned to Dunlevy to take a bride… and so I shall."
    She blinked and stated the obvious. "But—Margaret is dead."
    He said nothing. His smile merely widened.
    An awful feeling had wedged in her chest. Nervously she moistened her lips.
"Who then?" she whispered, knowing the dreaded answer.
    There was a screaming rush of silence. "You," he said softly. "You will be my
bride."

Chapter 7
    « ^ »
    Had she been standing, she would surely have fallen to her knees. Her fingers
curled around the carved arm of her chair in a death grip. Her ears roared with
the pounding of her heart. She could scarcely believe she'd heard aright!
    Ian had yet to deliver her of his regard. Oh, but he looked so smug, so sure
of himself!
    Her lips compressed. Her mind rebelled. "You cannot mean that.'”
    “Oh, but I do," he returned promptly. "And indeed, I will."
    Those silver eyes were all agleam. Blast his hide, he was enjoying this!
    "You're mad if you think I'll marry you!" she cried.
    Her father surged to his feet. "By God, you
will
wed him, Sabrina!
You'll do as you're told for once!"
    Sabrina turned pleading eyes to him. "Have I no say in this?"
    Papa's jaw thrust out. "The matter is already decided!"
    This could not be happening. She gave a slight shake of her head, as if to
clear it. "Dear God," she numbly.
    "What! Now you pray?" Rage propelled him around the table. He stood directly
before her. "I've done my best to put the fear of the Lord into you, all to no
avail! Well, now you know you should have prayed when you were a child! Mayhap
then you'd not be so disobedient and willful!"
    His censure stung, but Sabrina was determined not to show it. Valiantly she
raised her chin. "I cannot marry Ian. I am already betrothed to Jamie
MacDougall.”
    “I’ll kill him before I'll let you wed that blackguard! Do ye hear me, girl?
By God, I'll kill you."
    And looking at him now, she well believed it. Though