“I swore to the queen that a union with Scotland would bring her wealth and power. That every bloody man in that godforsaken land would be her loyal subject,” her father said sharply, pointing north. He sounded like the vicar now, preaching from a pulpit. “I believed it so wholeheartedly that I gave my consent to the marriage of my only daughter to a Scottish chieftain. Do you know that it was my word that helped tip the balance to uniting Scotland and England? I made your match to make this nation strong and invincible. I was indispensable to the agreement. Now your husband seeks to make me quite dispensable!”

But that was not at all how it had gone. Her father was speaking as if Margot were completely ignorant of what had happened before. “You told me the match was meant to increase our holdings and provide for our future heirs. You said it was imperative that I do it for our family, Pappa. You never said anything about England and Scotland.”

“There were many advantages to your marriage, which is why I agreed to it. That’s why you agreed to it, if you’ve forgotten. It was your duty to this family.”

“But I didn’t agree to it! You forced me. You said, ‘A woman’s place is to bear sons to whomever her family decrees, and nothing else,’ as I recall!”

“That is a woman’s place! But then you disobeyed me and came home,” he said. “I was too lenient with you. I could hardly blame you, I suppose, knowing how the Scots are. But it has caused quite a lot of trouble for us all, and now you must repair it.”

Margot began to feel ill. “What trouble?”

“What trouble, what trouble,” Bryce mimicked her. “Men who have been made a fool will take their revenge, Margot. The husband you have left is in bed with the French. They are plotting to invade England and put James Stuart on the throne. Do you understand, Margot? They mean to take the throne from Queen Anne and install a Catholic with the help of England’s mortal enemy.”

That made no sense. Why would Arran involve himself in that? “But...he trains soldiers for the queen,” she said uncertainly. “What proof is there?”

“You’re a fool,” Bryce snapped.

“Bryce,” Knox said. “Be gentle.”

Bryce turned away from Margot.

Her father took Margot’s hand, much like he’d done the night he had introduced her to Arran, his plan already in place. “There is quite a lot you can’t possibly understand, darling,” he said, gentle once more. “When you left, you relieved him of any loyalty to our agreement. An Englishman would not go back on his word, but a Scot?” He shrugged. “Now, who do you think will be made to pay for the sins of your husband?”

Margot’s head was spinning. “Me?”