She silently admonished herself. She was under no obligation to accept whatever proposal Lord Polwarth offered, but James, on the other hand, could not deny granting such a powerful man his request.

“I will hear your offer,” Snow said, her worry beginning to ease. James was leaving this up to her. Unlike before with Sorrell when he’d been forced to arrange a marriage for her that would benefit the Clan Macardle. Luckily, Lord Ruddock had saved Sorrell from that. And who had been the person to force James into arranging the marriage?

Tarass.

Her heart fluttered in her chest at the thought of him and she rested her hand against it.

“Are you unwell?” James asked, worried.

“No, I am good. It’s the suspense that patters my heart,” Snow said with a smile, though it was the thought of Tarass and how he had been a menacing savior to the Clan Macardle before Lord Ruddock had stepped in. How could she even think she loved a man who had irritated her far too many times and had demanded from her clan far too much.

But then life demanded far too much of far too many. Why should she or her clan be any different?

“I am an old man, something I cannot deny,” Lord Polwarth began. “But I still have much vigor left in me. I have loved two women and buried both with heavy sadness. Unfortunately, neither gave me any children. I have wealth and respect.”

Snow didn’t reject his hand when he took hold of hers.

“I ask that you consider becoming my wife. I will treat you well and see that you want for nothing, and—”

Snow didn’t let him finish. “Why me, Lord Polwarth? I am blind and would be a burden to you. There must be many a young woman who would make a more suitable wife.”

“Perhaps, but on my last visit here your father spoke to me about how worried he was that you would never wed, never find a husband who would treat you well, never know the joy of having bairns of your own, and that it was his fault. He told me his last wish would be for you to find a husband who would be good to you and keep you safe.”

His words brought tears to her eyes. She never blamed her da for the accident that blinded her. It had been the illness that did it, not her da.