Page 25 of Highlander’s Dangerous Gambler

Either way, normally feisty Aileen was looking for a way out of this conversation. Finally, she had enough. Setting her wooden cup down on the table, she smiled at the laird.

"So," she said, with a pause. "Ye didnae get me here to watch me eat porridge."

The laird smiled. "I did nae," he agreed. Taking a wee dram from something Aileen was fairly sure was whiskey, he wrapped his fingers around the cup and continued.

"I came here to ask ye a question," he said finally.

Aileen thought as much. Immediately, her heart started up. She had been the laird's guest for scarcely a day but knew full well his hospitality didn't come for free.

Feverishly, her mind scanned all the possible treaties and favors a man like McLeod might want in return for his help. Hopefully, Fiona would be amenable to them.

Fiona.The thought of them all, back at the clan, brought her up cold. Her sisters would be wondering where she was. Aileen's stomach twisted in the thought of the fallout of her disappearance.

"Well, sir, I'm listening," said Aileen coolly. She turned to look out the window. Men were lining up to hunt—at least, that was what it looked like. Aileen's heart panged. She wished she could ride off into the distance. Even getting off her chair without assistance seemed an insurmountable task.

"Braw, lassie, because I've had a wee idea," said the laird. "I want ye to wed my sonny..."

His words wandered off, as did his eyes. Or eye. Aileen blinked. She could never be quite sure where he was looking.

But right then, she was not thinking of that. She was too busy trying to get her heart to restart. Breathlessly, Aileen looked at the laird as if he were mad.

"M-Marry?" she asked. She had hoped she had not heard quite right. But to her dismay, McLeod nodded.

"Aye, wee lass. What do ye think about a union between McLeod an' Duncan? Braw, isnae it?" He smiled so perfectly that Aileen did not have the heart to dispel him.

Instead, she played for time. "I...will have to think it over," she managed to say while inside, her head had flown into crisis mode.

"Of course," said the laird, smiling. "It's to be expected. But a braw idea, no?"

Aileen smiled limply while searching desperately for some end to this talk of marriage.

To no avail, McLeod was just getting warmed up. His murky eyes had leaped alive and were now darting all over the room.

"I will set up a meeting wi' yer sister." He smiled before Aileen could think of any way of stopping him.

Quick!Aileen panicked. Think o' something to stop him, afore ye’re bartered off like a leg o' mutton!

But her brain had run dry. It had too much to deal with—the pain, the shock, and the disconnect of being proposed to in little more than her stays. And the laird was going nowhere. Worse still, he was not taking no for an answer.

This was a crisis, and no mistake. Aileen was on the verge of feigning a swoon when a voice from behind nearly made her go into one for real.

"Sir, excuse me for overhearing, but I think we should return the wee lassie to her estate afore any talk o' weddings."

Out of nowhere, Scott had materialized and now stood, bathed in sunlight, staring straight at McLeod.

Blinking, Aileen tried to think straight but failed. All she could see was the sun streaming around, illuminating particles of dust in the room. Head swimming, she searched his face for signs of his previous petulance.

His expression did not give away much. And from the look of him, it was impossible to tell what he was thinking. But all the same, he had come to her rescue.

Hopeful, she met his eyes, wearing the faintest glimmer of a smile. She was grateful for his intervention but unsure of his intent.

"Ah, o' course, no pressure," said the laird, with a look of intense pressure. At that moment, Aileen realized he wanted this marriage more than anything.

Reading her face, Scott smiled, and then out of the corner of his eye, suddenly winked. And Aileen's heart buoyed.

She was forgiven.

Pushing his way into the fore of the bedchamber, Scott knew he was on shaky ground. He was only a guard, albeit a trusted one. He had no jurisdiction, let alone the right to offer McLeod unsolicited advice. Still, when he saw the look on Aileen's face, he had to intervene.