Kinnon just laughed and grabbed his arm, dragging him toward the festivities that were building to uproarious levels near the fireplace. By the time Duncan reached Aileana, a selection of nuts had been laid out across the hearthstones. “It appears as though we’ll have to partake of this ancient and noble custom,” he murmured to her.
“Aye, so it seems.”
Duncan felt another warm jolt go through him when she looked at him. Her eyes sparkled. She was enjoying every moment of this revelry, he realized with delight. A far cry from her demeanor the last time they’d had a large celebration in the hall, when the Mackenzies had been visiting. Duncan grinned and soaked in the sight of her. He never thought he’d be able to feel this way about any woman again. He loved everything about her—her spirit, her fire, her beauty, her tenderness. The passion she was capable of feeling. She’d stolen his heart, and he realized that he never wanted to be free.
Clasping her hand in his, he said, “Shall we choose, then?”
Smiling, she nodded, and they knelt down at the hearth. His clan folk gathered in a huge semicircle around them, leaning in and pressing closer, calling out advice on the best nut to pick. Duncan made a great show of choosing and discarding one after another, until he finally settled on a small, firm-looking acorn with a tight brown cap. Aileana picked a fine hazelnut, and a cheer went up as they held their choices aloft for all to see.
A hush came over the group, and many of the women murmured blessings behind their hands. Then, at the signal, the gathering began to count the way to the casting of the nuts. Only Nora hung back, sour-faced and unwilling to participate. When they reached the lucky number seven, Aileana and Duncan both rolled their nuts into the coals of the fire, then leaned away to watch if they would burn slow and steady or if they would crack and explode too quickly.
The moments ticked past, and with each second, the excitement in the hall built higher. “It’s a good omen! They’re burning together in the light o’ love!” some of the women began to whisper.
“Aye, they’re burning in love, all right,” one of the men called out loud with a laugh. “And a good marriage it’ll be, if that burning love lasts every night for the rest o’ their lives!”
The gathering erupted into shouts and cheers, and Duncan helped Aileana to her feet, laughing with the rest and delighting in the blush on her cheeks. Gil stepped forward to slap him on the shoulder, nodding his congratulations. Several of the men moved closer as well, only to be stopped by someone’s loud command at the hall’s entryway. Duncan stood still. He recognized Robert MacDonell’s booming voice.
And as he turned to face his future brother-in-law, his gaze swept past the hearth to see that his acorn had burst into flames.
“Is it true, MacRae? Are you planning to marry my sister, or is this another ploy to make a mockery of my clan?”
Aileana felt a shock go through her.Robert was here?She looked questioningly at Duncan, and he nodded. “I invited him with my message to Dulhmeny. Don’t worry, Aileana; we’ll convince him to support our union.”
She didn’t have time to question further. A path cleared, revealing the new chieftain of the clan MacDonell, her eldest brother, Robert. He looked impressive, standing in his full regalia as laird, with a jaunty bonnet on his head complete with a plume jutting out to the side. Without the dirt and blood of battle, as she’d last seen him, he looked a new man. Startled, Aileana realized for the first time how much he resembled Father.
Robert’s stony expression softened at the sight of her, and she went running into his arms.
“How have you fared, lassie?” he murmured, cupping her cheeks in his palms and tipping her face up.
“I’ve been well. In truth, I’m the happiest I’ve ever been.”
Robert’s brow shot up. He released her gently. “That is much to say, the happiest in all your life. The MacRae…he’s treated you well, then? I couldn’t tell as much when I visited last, since the wretch wouldn’t let me see you.”
“We’ve had some difficulties, it’s true, but Duncan has never done ill to me. I—I’ve come to care for him, Robert.”
Robert frowned. “Then the news of your betrothal is true?”
“Aye. Duncan has asked me to be his wife, and I’ve accepted.” She took his hand and began to lead him back to where Duncan sat waiting on a bench near the hearth. “You needn’t look so stern. I’m only going to be married, not disappear forever.” She spoke the rebuke as if in jest, but she sensed the troubled undercurrent in him.
“I don’t like the lateness of MacRae’s decision. He wouldn’t accept the offer of your hand when I made it at the beginning of all this.” Robert frowned. “Though I suppose as things rest, late honor is better than none at all.”
Aileana felt the flush grow warmer in her cheeks. Until seven days ago, her honor had been intact, no matter what the world had thought true. But now she could no longer deny Robert’s reference to her lack of purity. Shaking off the momentary guilt, she said, “Duncan is a man of his word, Robert.”
Her brother stopped her ten paces from Duncan and stared at her. “His sudden claim to want a wedding isn’t because you’re with child, is it? I’ve heard of rogues who’ll tell a woman almost anything to keep her happy until the babe arrives. Then they take the child and abandon its dam.”
“Aileana isn’t with child, so far as I know, MacDonell.” Duncan had stood and was approaching them, looking like a thundercloud. Robert fixed him with a glare, and Aileana shuddered, wishing that her brother had thought to ask such an indelicate question while they were still out of Duncan’s earshot. A devilish glint came into Duncan’s eyes, and he directed an equally pointed glance at Robert. “However, I am looking forward to the time when Aileana will bear the future heir to the clan MacRae.”
Irritation lit in Aileana’s breast as she viewed her brother and her betrothed, facing each other down and discussing her like a possession of war. She stepped up between them. “I do not much like serving as the unseen subject of your conversation. If the two of you cannot speak to each other and to me in a civilized way, I’m going up to my chamber.Alone,” she added, as she flashed a sharp look at Duncan, “to leave you both down here wallowing in your foolishness.”
The heat in her chest began to abate with her outburst, and she saw with satisfaction that both Duncan and Robert had stopped still to gaze at her. Robert looked puzzled, but Duncan’s blank stare soon turned to wry amusement.
Finally, he crossed his arms over his chest and rocked back on his heels. “I think if you needed proof that I haven’t mistreated your sister, MacDonell, you’ve just witnessed it. She’s found her temper and the will to voice it in the time she’s lived at Eilean Donan with me.”
Aileana lifted her chin, refusing to let Duncan make her feel the slightest bit embarrassed for what she’d said. She looked at her brother. “What Duncan means to say is that I’ve learned to defend myself against his oafish behavior.” She heard his choked laugh behind her and fought the exasperated smile that suddenly tugged at her lips.
She struggled to maintain a serene composure as she slipped her hand beneath Robert’s elbow, steering him closer to the fire. “Come. You must be hungry. I’ll bring you a bowl of stew. We can talk more after you eat.”
Robert nodded, casting a searching glance between her and Duncan, as if trying to read their swift exchange of emotion. Aileana felt the tension relax from his arm, finally, as he too gave into a smile and allowed her to lead him to the bench. Duncan came close behind, and Robert slid over to allow him room to sit.
