Maggie Shayne: Weddings from Hell

"It's what's always done in the Clan MacLellan," Ian told her. "I had no idea Iris had broken with that tradition."

"It's a sizable bequest, Kira," Gregory said. "Iris owned this castle and all the properties attached to it, which includes more than a thousand acres, much of it overlooking the sea. There are several houses and cottages within the tract as well. Not to mention vacation homes in Spain and Italy . Then there are the other assets. Her bank accounts, stocks, bonds, investments, savings."

Kira pursed her lips and swallowed hard. Then she shook her head slowly. "It's not fair," she said softly. "It's not fair to all the other members of her family." Lifting her gaze again she said, "What if I don't want it? Can I refuse to accept it?"

"Oh, I'm getting to that, lass. There are two stipulations in this will, and they are iron clad. The first is that should you refuse to do as your great aunt requests, in order to accept the inheritance—"

"Do as she requests? What—?"

He held up a hand, "Should you refuse to do as your great aunt requests in order to accept the inheritance, the properties will be sold, the stock liquidated, and the entire estate donated to several charities your aunt has listed within this document."

Stunned, Kira just stared at him, then looked at her aunts. "But it's their home."

"We're not poor, Kira," Esmeralda said softly. "We certainly have accumulated a great deal of wealth on our own, although the deeds and such to our ancestral homes have always remained in the name of the eldest surviving daughter. Still, we would not be destitute." She then shifted her stern gaze to Gregory again. "What is the other condition, dear friend?"

Gregory licked his lips, and tugged at his collar. "I tried to talk her out of this. I vow, I tried. But there was no give in her. Not even a bit." He glanced toward Ian. "I couldn't tell you, son, though it nearly did me in keeping this to myself." With a sigh, he lifted the documents and read on.

"In order to inherit the estate, and thus preserve it for her family, both those who came before her, and those who will come later, Kira MacLellan is required to marry Ian Stewart within one week of the reading of this will."

Ian leapt to his feet, his mouth opening as if he were going to shout something, but no words emerged. Kira felt tears burning in her eyes. No one spoke. And then Esmeralda broke the stunned silence.

"No. It canna happen."

"But Es," Rose began.

"'Twould mean her life," Esmeralda stated flatly.

"I resent that remark, Esmeralda," Ian said, speaking at long last. "You know me far better than to think so little of me."

"Aye," his father agreed. "'Twas Iris's firm belief that the MacLellan family curse could be broken, and she vowed she would be the one to set that eventuality into motion. She's been convinced, for years, that the ghosts who haunt these castle walls do not remain of their own free will, nor as a constant reminder and warning to the women of their line. But rather, that they are trapped here, unable to move on to the heaven they so richly deserve. And that they will remain so until the curse is broken."

He lifted the sheets, read further. "It was the disastrous marriage of the MacLellan witch to a Stewart man that set this curse into being," he read. "Only the successful marriage of another MacLellan to another Stewart can break it. And having set eyes on them both, I've no longer any doubt these two are the ones who can do it. I've watched Kira from afar, kept tabs on her life. She is a good woman, and in possession of the legendary MacLellan beauty. Moreover, she's a strong woman. As for Ian, I've never known a man more honest or true. Should these two wed, should they be ever faithful to one another, should he live out his life knowing only his bride, it is my belief that the curse will be broken. MacLellan women will be free to wed forever more, and the spirits of our mothers and theirs before them, will at last, be set free."

There was stunned silence, but it was followed soon by whispering and muttering that grew steadily louder.

Kira turned her head left and then right, only to see eyes on her. Some of them seemed speculative, curious, nosy. Others appeared hostile. She saw greed in several faces, pity in others. Aunt Rose was one of those who seemed to feel sorry for her. She closed a chubby hand on Kira's shoulder and gave it a gentle squeeze. Aunt Emma was speculative, looking from Kira to Ian and back again, with a tiny frown between her brows.

But it was Aunt Esmeralda who brought silence down hard on the room again with her nearly shouted declaration. "It willna be. I willna have it. And that's all there is to be said on the matter."

"But Aunt Es—" Kira began.

"Gregory, you are to begin seeing to the process of selling the holdings and liquidating the investments. First thing tomorrow, I want it underway. There'll be no more of this nonsense."

"I think that's up to Kira to say, don't you Esmeralda?" Ian asked.

His strong voice drew her eyes to his. He moved through the crowd of relatives toward Kira, and all those present parted to open a path for him.

She held onto the strength in his gaze, locking her own with it and seeing there a steady reassurance. Everything would be all right.

"Ian!" Esmeralda barked. "You canna tell me you intend—"

"This matter is now a very private one." He stood beside Kira, so close beside her that his body touched hers, and the warmth and power of it made her blood heat. "'Tis a decision that will take some time to make, and one that needs to be made in private, between Kira and myself. We'll let you know when we've decided what's to be."

Esmeralda lifted her steely brows and sent him a look that could have wilted a cactus. Rose wrung her hands, and pressed her lips tightly together. Emma, though, tipped her head to one side, looking at them both, exchanging a long glance with Gregory, and then finally, she nodded. "Ian is right. It's no longer our business."

"He didn't mean that ," Kira said quickly. "Of course it's your business, it's your home. But…yes, it really has to be up to me now."

She said me, not us, and she hoped Ian picked up on the emphasis she'd placed on the word. She had no intention of letting anyone—not her aunts, and not him—decide her life for her.

"Understood," Emma said. "Now, guests, we have enough food to feed half the township, so dig in. We feast, and then we sleep, and in the morning, things will look decidedly better."

"Things do tend to look better in the morning," Rose muttered.

"Always," Kira agreed.

Ian took her arm, and leaned in close. "I think we should talk. Don't you?"

She met his eyes and nodded once. "Yeah, I guess I do."

"So, pretty Kira, we've been placed in a hellish situation, yes?"

He'd led her into a small study on the first floor, closed the door behind them, and flipped its lock. She crossed the room, which she'd never seen before, and sank into a soft leather chair. She wished she could keep on sinking, right out of sight.

With a sigh, Ian crossed his arms where he stood, near the door. "I'm sorry this happened, lass."

"So am I," she said softly. "And I certainly don't expect you to marry me just to protect the family fortune."

"Of course you don't expect it. But are you willin' to do it?"

She lifted her head with a snap, and felt her own eyes widen as they found his. "What?"

He moved across the room until he stood just in front of her chair, and then he dropped down onto one knee in front of her. "Will ya marry me, lass?"

"Get up, Ian." She shot to her feet as she said it. "Get up and stop being ridiculous."

He rose to his feet as well, but kept trying to hold her eyes with his. And even though she kept averting her gaze, she found it drawn back to his over and over.