Fighting Back (Part Two)

"Then you had best hope that Owain convinces me he can be a worthy heir," Bors said bluntly. "Not everyone gets a happy ending, Lady Jocelynn. If you cannot love Loman and he is a better heir, then I will look elsewhere for a suitable bride for him and you can return to Blackwell County to find a future of your own. One that will not involve marriage to a son of the Lothian house." 

"But, if that happens, then your alliance with my family…" Jocelynn started. 

"This was an alliance that benefitted your family more than ours," Bors interrupted. "And we've already all but secured the cooperation of the merchant guilds from Blackwell County. That Isabell woman is cunning, but she'll be arriving along with Owain in a few days. Once she's verified and accepted the lands and titles we're offering to her and her fellow guild masters, our need for an alliance with the Blackwells will diminish greatly."