Page 34 of Highlander’s Devious Ally

“The first thing to remember is that the first price is never the last price,” Ailith began. Her eyes were gleaming and she was in her element. “If it says five shillings, make up your mind that you are paying less. Decide on your price and stick to it.” She then went on to explain about offer and counter offer, the ability to buy in bulk, and the importance of keeping a stony face. “Never carry more money than you intend to spend. That is very important. And never smile at the seller. If you do that, he will think you are agreeing with him. Do not smile. Use silence too. It feels very uncomfortable, but the longer you let it go on, the worse he feels, which is when he will say anything to break the tension, maybe even offer a lower price. If you cannot get your price, walk away. Sometimes he will even run after you with a better offer!”

Fenella gazed at her in astonishment. She could not believe she was being taught such things! No other woman could know them, besides her late mother maybe. “You make it sound so easy!” she marveled.

Ailith shrugged. “It’s not at first, but when you have some experience and stop being afraid it is.”

“I am so glad I met you and that we will soon be sisters-in-law!” Fenella said fondly.

Ailith kissed her. “I am too,” she replied with great warmth in her voice. “It seems amazing. A few months ago I expected to marry Jock, and settle for second best. Imagine if it had actually happened!” She shuddered, thinking of the ambush, the cottage, and the hanging.

“Well, it did not!” Fenella shook her gently and they smiled at each other. “And I hope you will be the happiest couple in the world!”

“And you will soon be married too,” Ailith said gently. She had noted the way that Fenella looked at Findlay, and it bothered her. “There are so many young lairds-in-waiting looking for wives that it seems that you will be spoiled for choice!”

Fenella’s face fell. “I want none of them,” she said scornfully. “They are boys.”

“You want a man?” Ailith asked.

“One man,” Fenella replied. “Findlay, and if I cannot have him I want no one else.”

“You are still very young, Ella,” Ailith pointed out. “There is still time.”

Fenella said nothing for a moment, then she rounded on Ailith. “Stop telling me that! Everyone tells me that!” she was tearful with rage. “Look! I am a woman now!” She stuck out her chest to show off her breasts. “I am not a child!” Then she ran downstairs into the courtyard with no clear idea of where she was going, straight into Findlay’s arms.

Findlay had been helping to shoe a horse and his hands were covered in soot. He was brushing it off and not looking where he was going when a tearful Fenella rammed into him, then staggered backwards with the force of the collision. Instinctively he thrust out his hands to grab her arms and steady her. It was only then that he realized she was weeping.

“Fenella—are you hurt?” he asked anxiously. “Why are you crying?”

She looked up helplessly into his navy blue eyes, and realized that despite the circumstances, she was right where she wanted to be. Without giving herself time to think, she pulled his head down to hers and kissed him.

It was the first time she had kissed a man, and it was not at all what she expected. His lips were soft and not rough as she had imagined, and they moved under the pressure of her mouth. She was startled after a moment to feel his tongue on her lips, and when she parted them, it slid inside her mouth.

Findlay froze in shock for a moment, then his body remembered how long it had been since he had kissed a woman, and responded in the most primitive fashion. Later he would not remember wrapping his arms around her, but he did remember coming to his senses a few seconds later and pushing her away.

“I am sorry Fenella,” he said raggedly, his cheeks flaming with embarrassment. “That should not have happened.”

“Yes, it should,” she answered firmly. “I wanted it to.”

Findlay looked at the ground, because he could not look her in the eyes, then he turned and walked away. She looked after him, but strangely she was not sad. He had responded to her, perhaps not in the way she had expected, but he had done so.

That night as her maid was taking off her dress to put on her nightgown, she noticed Findlay’s black handprints on the sleeves.

“These will take a muckle bit o’ scrubbin’ mistress,” she said, frowning. “Whit happened?”

“A man, Tammie,” Fenella replied. “A man happened.”

20

The Wedding

You are not a boy, Lyall told himself yet again as he stood outside the church, bracing himself for the moment that he would have to enter and pledge to love and honor the woman he adored. What are you frightened of, you coward? You should be rushing in there and marrying her before she gets away!

He sighed and squared his shoulders, and was just about to stride into the church when he felt someone patting his back, then he turned to see Ailith’s father looking at him with a mixture of sympathy and amusement on his face.

“Scared?" he asked in a serious tone. “Because I was, and so was every other bridegroom I ever knew.”

“Terrified,” Lyall admitted, “but it is good to know that I am not the only coward!" he laughed.

Matthew Galloway put a hand on his shoulder. “My daughter is the one who should be afraid, since she is the one who is going to bear your children. We men will never need the kind of courage that women have. A wise man once told me that, and it is worth remembering. So whatever is making you afraid, remember that it is ten times worse for Ailith.”