“Cameron…” she had murmured feebly, her heart sinking when Daran shook his head.
“He’s gone, Aislinn, an hour past. I spoke to him before he left—”
“Did he know I was here?”
“Aye, but he was forbidden to see you.”
“No, no, surely that cannot be! Surely he said something to you—”
“Only to wish you happiness in your marriage to Lord Butler…”
Her marriage… her marriage… her marriage!
Aislinn cried out and squeezed her eyes shut as if she could stop the words from echoing in her mind—while Sister Agnes looked at her with growing concern.
“Ease yourself, child, I beg you! Lord Butler willna be pleased if you suffer a setback—God help us, you know he’s coming here later today tae fetch you! What will he say when he sees your face swollen from weeping?”
“I care nothing for what he thinks and I will not marry him! I love another, Reverend Mother, I’ve told you as much! Laird Cameron Campbell! What will I do?What will I do?”
Aislinn had never been one for weeping, but now it seemed she could not stop while Sister Agnes rose from the bed and began to pace the small room, her long black habit swirling.
Magdalene’s former room in the nuns’ sleeping quarters, making Aislinn think again of the spirited young woman who’d had no say over whom she married—no say!
Yet their stories were different for Magdalene had already been wed by proxy when Laird MacLachlan had come to fetch her, while thankfully, Aislinn was still unmarried.
Magdalene’s feigned lunacy had brought her here—aye, Sister Agnes had shared some of her wild antics, chuckling even!—while Aislinn had been more dead than alive when she had been carried by Lord Butler into this room and laid upon the bed.
Swamping dizziness and a numbing sleep had claimed her again after what Daran had told her, Aislinn’s heart aching so badly that she had craved oblivion.
She remembered nothing of the journey by oxcart to the convent. Yet Lord Butler had shaken her roughly awake as Sister Agnes and the two other nuns who had cared for her so diligently over the past week, Sister Hestia and Sister Tabitha, had gasped in horror.
Lord Butler’s face contorted with fury, his voice low and ominous.
“You will be my bride, Lady De Burgh, whether Laird Campbell has lain with you or not! He claimed he only kissed and embraced you, but I don’t believe him—yet no matter. I want strong sons—notweaklings like your pitiful brother—and seed growing inside your belly will accomplish my aim whether it’s that Highlander’s or mine! Do you hear me?”
Aye, Aislinn had heard him through the haze enveloping her and the piercing pain in her head, making her cry out when he pushed her back down upon the bed—and the nuns to gasp again.
“Don’t think your father’s death will alter anything, for Daran has sworn to uphold Lord De Burgh’s wishes. Tend to her well, Reverend Mother. I’ll send a messenger to bring me a report every day.Every day!”
At the stark memory, Aislinn wept all the harder while Sister Agnes continued to pace with a vigor belying her threescore years, until a rap came at the door.
Aislinn fell silent at once, hiccoughing, and Sister Agnes rushed to let Sister Tabitha into the room, the plump nun’s usually cheerful face marred by distress.
“God help us, Lord Butler is already here?” blurted Sister Agnes, but Sister Tabitha shook her head.
“No, Reverend Mother, but a messenger has come from Dumbarton Castle. Forgive me, Lady De Burgh, for bringing you such grievous news. Your father has died, God rest him.”
Aislinn could but stare at her, stunned that he had survived so long, though Daran had told her, too, that King Robert’s chief healer had believed he might be able to save him.
She hadn’t been able to glance to the right or left at the infirmary for the fierce throbbing in her head, but she had heard her father’s agonized cries as the rotted flesh was burned with a red-hot iron from his shoulder—no, no, no, she didn’t want to think of it!
Nor her father’s cruel words about her shaming him and disgracing their family, instead of offering thanks to Cameron—or her!—for saving his life.
Everything she had done to try and make him see her differently had been folly!
How could she have hoped that he would change his mind and allow her to choose her own husband one day?
The man Aislinn loved as surely as she breathed… yet Cameron must hate her now for not telling him the truth about her betrothal!
