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Of course, Fiona would have been more insulted had the man pretended to be interested in her in the romantic or physical sense.
    Raising her voice ever so slightly in order to draw Edgar’s attention away from Bridgett and to the topic at hand, Fiona expounded on her previous question. “I ask why . Why this sudden interest in me? We’ve only met twice that I can remember. Yet, here ye sit, in me gatherin’ room, askin’ fer me hand. I’d like to ken why .”
    Edgar’s eye twitched ever so slightly before answering. “’Twould be mutually beneficial to each of us.”
    She’d heard too many men of late tell her how a marriage between whatever clan was proposing and the McPhersons would be mutually beneficial. So far, no one had been able to tell Fiona how her clan would benefit, other than from the protection of the bigger clan. Unconvinced of any benefit to her or her people, she remained quiet.
    Edgar went on. “If ye marry me, ye get the protection of me clan. In return, we get all the wonders and magic of yer lands.”
    Bridgett shook her head in dismay. “Ye men are all the same.”
    Edgar smiled at Bridgett as though an angel had just descended from heaven instead of taking her words as the insult Bridgett had intended.
    “To ye, marriage is nothin’ more than a way to gain more lands, power, and coin. Do ye no’ care at all about a woman’s heart?”
    His smile faded.
    “Ye speak as though ye were barterin’ for a cow and no’ a woman’s heart,” Bridgett told him pointedly.
    “’Tis a barter. I’m no’ here to win anyone’s tender heart, lass,” Edgar said through gritted teeth that bespoke the fact he did not like to be challenged by anyone.
    “But a woman’s heart is important!” Bridgett threw her hands into the air. “But ye do no’ care about that. Only lands. Lands, lands, lands!”
    “Bridgett,” Fiona said, her gaze never leaving Edgar’s. “Ye need no’ worry over it. Me answer is the same for the MacKinnon as it was fer all the others.” Pushing herself away from the table, Fiona stood with her shoulders back and her chin up. “I’ll no’ marry ye, Edgar MacKinnon. Or anyone else fer that matter. Stay off me lands and warn yer friends to do the same.”
    Without bothering to say good day or listen to any further arguments, Fiona left the room with Bridgett following close behind.
----
    F iona had felt quite confident that Caelen McDunnah understood her warning and declaration. Even though she had to admit that she might give any proposal he made more consideration than she had the others.
    A week had passed since visiting with the McDunnah, yet the man plagued her thoughts. She stood now at her bedchamber window, staring out at the setting sun. It had been a tiresome day with training all morning, going over the larder inventory with their cook, Rob McPherson, and then meeting with Edgar MacKinnon that afternoon.
    Sleep had evaded her that first night after meeting with Caelen. Admittedly, she had much that kept her busy to the point of exhaustion. With another marriage proposal, the daily running of the keep and all her duties as chief, there was much on her mind these days.
    However, one thought, or more specifically one face, had troubled her thoughts. And the face belonged to Caelen McDunnah.
    Even though he had reeked of stale whisky and his eyes had been bloodshot, there was something about the man that she found quite attractive. Mayhap it was his well-muscled body or the way he stood so confidently when she had confronted him about the sheep. Or, mayhap, it had been the fact that he hadn’t argued with her and had allowed her men to retrieve the seventeen head of sheep without so much as a small protest.
    Or, more likely than not, it had something to do with the fact that she hadn’t been with a man in five years. Aye, her husband was dead two years now. Five years ago however, he had stopped coming to her bed altogether. After years of trying to conceive a