Of course, the
important thing comes at the end of the chapter, so meanwhile, let's
enjoy the ride. So, later that same morning, Tim finds Heather alone
at the breakfast table and continues his same line of persuasion: we
should get married because Society says so. We see into Heather's
mind that she really really wants to marry Tim, but she can't because
unless he loves her too, he'll only break her heart. So, he tries to
persuade her and she refuses and takes shots at him. Also, she tries
to get him to leave. Then we jump into Tim's mind and get this
terrifying emotion: “As he met her widening eyes, he continued to
battle, as he had throughout their exchange, to subdue his inner
self, the primitive male who knew she was his, irrevocably his, and
had no reservations about making that plain.” Now, because she
loves him back, this will all work out well, but think about if she
truly didn't love him. Kind of chilling.
So, we find out
Heather's true plan for her life: taking care of orphans, which is
kind of awesome. Tim tries to use this plan to further his plan by
telling Heather that with his money, she could do a lot more good.
Oi vey. Heather refuses this reason as well and says that if he
can't figure out why she won't marry him, then it's just further
proof they shouldn't. Then she storms away and we get this thought
from Tim: “The test, it seemed-the challenge before him-was to
weave a net of social compulsions and seduction, then use it to
capture her, tie her up, and drag her to the altar...his primitive
self liked the thought.” OK, but really. This is so not okay.
The heart of this need is love, but he's trying to use the creepiest
and most underhanded methods to get there, so it's no good. Good on
Heather for not agreeing to his demands.
Then Heather
goes to see Catriona and I finally have a favorite character in this
book. Heather starts the conversation by declaring that Tim is
pressuring her to marry him. Catriona touches on the Society aspect
of it, and after Heather says she doesn't care, Catriona talks about
how she could see how it might be too much for Heather to handle a
man like that. Maybe it would be better for Heather to find a more
spineless man who would be willing to marry her despite her
adventures and that this would save her reputation. This speech
alone makes me like Catriona. She's challenging Heather as well as
making Heather compare Tim to other men and, hopefully, making
Heather see who she prefers.
After Heather
explains that no, there is no one else, she elaborates that she
doesn't want to get married. Here we come to a theme that I do find
troubling in this book: everyone assumes that Heather has to get
married. Reputation-ruining kidnapping or no, everyone thinks she
needs to find a man. Obviously, I have a problem with this
world-view. To be fair, Heather's reason is because she hasn't
found the right man and not a problem with marriage entirely. Also
there is a man she totes wants to marry if they can sort out their
lives, so I suppose the “solution” of her marrying Tim isn't that
bad, I just don't like the assumptions at work here.
Right. Anyway,
Heather says that because she can't find this mystery man, she wants
to devote her life to running an orphanage. Catriona challenges
Heather by saying that this is a great goal to have, but it's not a
mainstay of life. It's a secondary job that Catriona has and somehow
it's right that it be a secondary job of Heather's. Hm. Yes and no.
Then again, we all know how Ms. Hannigan treated that red-headed
orphan with the curly hair and an orphanage was the only thing Ms.
Hannigan did with her life... Oh, also, Catriona uses some of her
magic to give Heather advice, which really threw me off guard.
Apparently, Heather's destiny is tied to that of a man much like Tim.
Heather wants to go with her original plan first and then find her
hero, but Catriona's magic says that Heather has that backwards.
Then we get to why I like Catriona.
Heather argues
that Tim doesn't love her and Catriona asks, “Are you sure?”
Apparently, the kind of man that Tim is will not admit anything about
his emotions easily, especially nothing that makes him so dependent
as love. So, Catriona realizes that Tim is trying to use the
situation to marry Heather without ever having to say those three
little words that carry so much weight. Heather agrees to take
another look at Tim. She wants some assurance that her love will be
returned, but Catriona says that's a lot to ask for and that Heather
will have to declare herself, scary as it is, before there's even a
chance of Tim declaring himself. It's like Catriona has read a
romance novel before and understands how people work. Also, she
points out that because Tim is a hedonist, he will only pursue things
that he really wants. You know, like how he's trying really hard to
get engaged to Heather.
Heather thinks
for awhile and gets up to go, but Catriona gives her a necklace
first. There are two stones in it, a rose quartz pendant which
resonates with love, and little amethyst beads which work with
intelligence. Why hello, deus ex machina. Then Catriona gives a
whole line of succession for this necklace, Heather's two sisters,
Henrietta and Mary (whoever they are), and then to Lucilla. Heather
is slightly uncomfortable taking something so valuable both
financially and because it belonged to Catriona's grandma, but
Catriona insists, so Heather does. Before Heather really leaves the
scene, Catriona gives us one more saw, “a man who declares his
heart too easily will leave you wondering whether he truly meant
it-and the converse is even more true.”
So, at about the
same time, Tim and Richard are out riding horses to see what they can
learn about the man who tried to stare down Tim. They stop by the
only tavern the guy was near and find out pretty much the same
description that Heather and Tim already had: highlander, tall,
broad, dark hair, and scary eyes. Oh, and also that tavern has
amazing ale, apparently.
On the way back
to the manor, the two men talk about Heather. Tim admits that he's
gotten physical with Heather and Richard doesn't care at all.
Interesting. Maybe he doesn't mind because he believes that the two
are going to marry. Tim asks what Richard did to get Catriona to
agree to marry him, “The same thing we've all had to do-prostrate
ourselves at their dainty feet, swear undying love, and mean it.”
Looks like he gives good advice too. Then we find out that Richard
is a bastard, like Tim, but they were both raised like they weren't.
Still, Tim has this sense of questioning whether he really belongs
and he thinks Richard probably does too. Or did until he married
Catriona. Tim has a place set for himself: being the Earl of
Brunswick after his father dies, but he's intimidated by the role and
wonders if he can fill it. ...unless he's got Heather by his side.
Then he knows he can. Anyway, Tim leaves the conversation still
determined not to admit his feelings, but thinking he can kind of
show a little bit and make Heather curious enough about them to marry
him. Idiot.
At lunch,
everybody is waiting for an engagement announcement from Tim and
Heather, but there isn't one forthcoming, so they just have to keep
waiting. After lunch, Tim and Heather go somewhere private to talk.
No, really. Just downhill from the house, there's an alcove near the
stream that's got some warm, rock benches in it and this is where
they go. And they really just talk.
Tim still does
it the wrong way, by the way. He uses Heather's impending parental
visit (yes, they're still going to make sure you're all right even
though you told them not to come, Heather) to put a time limit on
when they need to make a decision. It's only because of Catriona's
advice that Heather decides to talk about this more with Tim. So,
his arguments this time: they got along well these past eleven days
when they had a common goal, so they'll probably get along well when
they run the estate he'll inherit; and as his sisters have been
telling him, he needs to produce an heir so the king doesn't get
their estate (which, as Heather points out is a really convoluted way
of saying he wants kids. She wants kids too.). Then he looks at why
she's refusing. The first thing he asks about is whether she cares
that he's a bastard. Oh. Poor thing. She doesn't give a rat's ass
about that, but it's something that's been hanging over him his
entire life and he actually had the balls to bring it up. Now if
only he could find that courage to bring up other things.... So, Tim
sums up that she's not intimidated by him in several different
dimensions and asks what it will take for her to marry him. It's the
same answer it's always been, but Heather spells it out a bit more
this time. Oh, and she uses the word “affection” instead of
“love” to avoid spooking Tim. Essentially, she wants to be
valued as she is, be a true partner, and have love.
And here is
where we finally learn something new: Tim told a woman that he loved
her before and she broke his heart and he's not fully recovered.
That's why he can't bring himself to tell Heather that he loves her,
because he doesn't trust her enough not to shatter his heart under
her heel. I kind of wish that had come up earlier. So, they stare
each other down, and Tim fights not to say that he loves Heather.
Eventually, she gives up and says that is what she needs to marry.
Seeing no other way, Tim tries to turn “affection” into “lust”
and puts a challenge before Heather saying that she can teach him
what she wants and that it will be difficult to mold him to that, but
not impossible. Of course, he blows this as well by saying that
Heather will be able to claim some kind of achievement for getting
him to the altar. So, that doesn't work either.
Then they both
get entrenched in what they want and are willing to say and it turns
into a fight. Tim calls her naïve and she is almost positive that
he loves her and can't understand why he won't just say it instead of
using every other thing he can think of instead. So, they both get
mad and storm away, but neither of them is willing to let the other
go, so I guess that's progress.
Oh, and then we
get Catriona and Algria's commentary on what just happened. They
come to the same, obvious, conclusions I did, and the chapter ends.
For the next
chapter, I predict more of the same. This book started out with an
adventure central to the plot, but the plot has become a lover's
spat. Maybe the Highlander will come back and give us something else
to focus on.
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