Her father cleared his throat. "It was," he said gravely, "always planned that ye marry Glenkirk sometime after yer sixteenth birthday. However, wi the untimely death of the third earl last summer, and young Patrick's investiture as fourth Earl of Glenkirk, it has been decided that yer marriage will be celebrated at Twelfth Night."

Astounded, she looked at him. "Who decided, father?"

"The earl and I."

"Wi'out asking me?" Her voice was angry.

"Asking you? Why daughter, ye were betrothed eleven years ago. The marriage has always been a fact." James Hay sounded annoyed. His daughter irritated him. She always had. She was not the soft, gentle creature his wife was.

"Ye might hae told me the new circumstances, and then asked if I minded being wed a full year in advance!" she shouted at him. "I don't want to be married now, and ye've wasted yer time entirely, for I hae no intention of wedding Patrick Leslie at all!"

"Why ever not, dearest?" asked Heather. "He's such a fine young man. And ye'll be a countess!"

"He's a rutting bull, dearest mama! Since Uncle Patrick was thrown from his horse and broke his neck and the new earl came home, a day doesn't go by I dinna hear of his conquests! The countryside rings wi tales of his prowess in the bed, in the hay, under a hedge! I will nae wed wi the dirty lecher!"

The Master of Greyhaven was stunned by his daughter's furious outburst. Jemmie began to laugh, only to be silenced by a look from his mother. Heather realized, too late, that she had neglected a very important part of her daughter's education.

"Leave us," Heather commanded her husband and son. "Sit down, Catriona," she said to her daughter when the men had gone. "Do ye know anything of what goes on between a man and a woman in the marriage bed?"

"Aye," said the girl harshly. "He pushes his cock up the hole between her legs, and a couple of months later the baby comes out the same hole."