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S ully and Justine were corralled in Josephine’s sitting room; each one having no idea why they had been summoned.

Ola had been the summoner and she didn’t give either one of them a clue. Therefore, they sat in awkward silence, eyeing each other on occasion but not really speaking, until Josephine entered the room with Andrew in tow.

Although Sully was glad to see Josephine, he found himself wondering why Andrew was with her. He had just spent the past hour in the Knight’s Haven butting heads with other knights regarding Josephine’s situation, and he was in no mood to deal with his jealousy of Andrew.

As always, he banked it well, but it was becoming increasingly difficult, especially with Andrew now in the mix of things.

Although he appreciated the lengths Andrew went to in order to save Josephine from the gypsies, he was coming to wonder if the man wasn’t looking at Josephine as more than simply a job.

Even now, as he watched Andrew’s expression, there was something in it that suggested his attention towards Josephine was more than common politeness.

And then, there was Josephine herself– as she took a seat next to her sister, Sully read her like a book. She seemed calmer, much more herself, and he wondered why. Did Andrew have something to do with it? Confused and suspicious, he waited for what was to come.

Josephine, for her part, felt for all the world like a bowl of jelly.

She was oblivious to Sully’s suspicions, far more concerned with her own feelings at the moment.

She’d been quite calm until she saw Sully and Justine, looking at her expectantly.

Now, her insides quaked and her palms were moist. She knew that Sully and Justine were going to be angry about this; she knew it intuitively but there was nothing that could be done about it.

Clearing her throat quietly, she embarked on news of the king’s visit and her suspicions, for her sister’s benefit.

Sully already knew but, by his expression, it wasn’t any easier to hear the second time around.

Justine was quite naturally outraged, loudly voicing her opposition to her sister’s interpretation of the king’s visit. She swore vehemently that she would call forth the powers of darkness to curse the king. But as she raged, Sully sat in silence, eyeing Andrew intermittently.

There was something not quite right in all of this.

He suspected there was a reason behind The Red Fury’s presence, but he couldn’t quite put his finger on it.

He partially shut out the conversation between Josephine and Justine, and began mentally searching for various reasons as to why Andrew d’Vant was trailing Josephine like a shadow.

He needn’t have strained so hard for, in little time, the answer fell in his lap as Josephine cut to the heart of the matter.

She stood abruptly, cutting off her sister’s argument with a sharp wave of her hand. When Sully finally looked at her, he realized he’d never seen her look so determined.

“Because the king is giving me no choice in this matter, it seems that I must make drastic decisions to save Torridon, and all of us, from Colin Dalmellington,” she said in a tone that left no doubt as to who was in charge.

“Justine, I know you are angry, but shouting curses at the king is not helping the situation, so kindly shut your mouth. Since I am convinced that the king’s visit will result in a betrothal to our greatest enemy, it is apparent that the only way to avoid a marriage is to already be married.

I have, therefore, decided to marry immediately. ”

“What?” Sully asked, shocked. Now, she had his full attention. “ Marry ? Marry whom?”

Josephine could see the astonishment in his eyes, both the fear and the hope of it.

Her manner softened somewhat. “I just do not see that there is any other option,” she said.

“Justine will marry immediately, too. We must both be married so King Alexander cannot contract either of us to Dalmellington.”

Justine flew at her. “Married?” she screamed. “I will not marry, not by the king’s command or by yours!”

Josephine, surprisingly, didn’t explode. She looked at her sister with as much patience as she could muster. “I do not like this any more than you do,” she said evenly. “But I truly believe I have come to the only possible solution.”’

“It is not solution,” Justine argued. “It is a sentence for a doomed existence!”

Josephine’s anger was mounting. “What would you have me do, Justine?” she hissed. “Marry Colin? Condemn you and all of Torridon to living under his sadistic rule? Please tell me if you have any other ideas, for now is the time!”

Justine’s jaw flexed while she thought on those words.

It was as if only she and her sister existed; Sully and Andrew faded far into the shadows.

This was between the two sisters. Justine didn’t like the fact that Josephine was choosing the path of her life and she couldn’t honestly see that her sister was only trying to protect her.

Justine only knew what she wanted from life, and marriage wasn’t a part of it.

“And just who are we to marry?” she finally sneered.

“You will marry Sully,” Josephine said quietly. “And I shall marry Andrew.”

Justine looked at her sister as if she had not heard correctly. Her eyes bulged and her mouth popped open, but strangely, she didn’t argue. Then, with painful confusion, she looked at Sully.

He still sat by the window, his blue eyes riveted to Josephine. He didn’t move or speak, but his eyes screamed with disbelief. He honestly could not believe what had just come forth from Josephine’s lips, and the air in the room seemed to stand still while Justine and Sully digested the news.

Finally, he rose to his feet. His motion was slow, which was unlike Sully at all.

“How did you decide on this… match, my lady?” he asked hoarsely.

Josephine needed him to understand. “Andrew’s father was the Earl of Annan and Blackbank, and he would be more of a suitable match for me,” she said.

“You are born of a good family, Sully, and you are a very suitable match for Justine. In fact, you are almost like family as it is, so the marriage would be a mere formality.”

Sully’s gaze lingered on her a moment longer before glancing at Andrew. “And he has agreed to it?”

“It was his idea.”

Sully wasn’t surprised by that; he really wasn’t.

All of his suspicions about Andrew’s behavior towards Josephine came to a head; the man has wanted her all along.

With her, comes Torridon. Did he even realize that the woman was more valuable than the fortress?

Perhaps; perhaps not. Either way, Sully would now have a mercenary for a liege.

But it was better than the alternative.

With a sigh of resignation, he turned away. Josephine went to him, praying the man wasn’t deciding on just how much he hated her at the moment.

“Please tell me your feelings, Sully,” she said softly. “I must know.”

He shrugged, unable to look at her. “It would seem that you have already made your decision.”

“I have,” she said. “But I truly feel there is no other alternative if we are to keep Colin Dalmellington out of Torridon. What would you rather do, Sully– serve him? Or marry my sister to keep him away?”

Sully didn’t know which he would rather do. Both seemed like hellish futures to him. He looked to Andrew, standing silently by the chamber door, and he felt a stab of both jealousy and anger.

As much as Sully’s mind raced to discover an evil streak to Andrew d’Vant, his good sense could not believe that there was anything nefarious to Andrew’s suggestion of marriage.

It was, in fact, a very logical solution.

And although Sully didn’t know Andrew well, he simply didn’t seem like a man with an ulterior motive.

His reputation, even as a mercenary, was an honorable one.

But the price to keep Colin Dalmellington away for good was that not only would Josephine marry Andrew, but Sully would marry Justine.

Never in his wildest nightmares did Sully ever imagine himself being married to the crazy younger sister he seriously disliked.

But Josephine wished it.

His beautiful, sweet mistress, the woman he deeply loved, wanted him to marry her sister.

God, he knew his hopes to marry Josephine had been foolish.

He knew he wasn’t of her station, so there was no possibility for a match.

It hurt his heart to realize that, once and for all.

If there was a silver lining in all of this, a marriage to Justine would forever tie him to Josephine, even if he wasn’t married to her.

He would become part of the de Carron Clan, and Hugh’s son.

It wasn’t how he’d always hoped it would be, but it was something he would have to be satisfied with. Taking a deep breath, he turned to look at Justine.

The woman was dressed all in black, looking as strange as she usually did. He’d known her most of his life and although she was an odd one, she did have redeeming qualities. And she was young enough so that a husband could mold her.

At least, he hoped so.

“If Lady Justine will have me,” he said softly, “then I would be honored.”

Josephine smiled with great relief and turned to her sister. “Justine?” she said encouragingly.

Justine’s mind was reeling. While Sully was watching a dream die, she was watching one realized; her most far-fetched dream was to come true.

“If she would have him?” Sully was the only man in the world Justine would consider having, as much as she vehemently denied any and all marital aspirations.

But he would never, ever know. To let her guard down and admit she had feelings would be admitting weakness, and she had none.

At least, that’s what she wanted everyone to think.

She was proud and perfect. Taking on a rather arrogant stance, she looked at Sully.