Page 40 of Highlander’s Dangerous Gambler

Heat built up in her head, with no outlet for it coming.

Dinner had been announced so suddenly, barely giving her a chance to freshen up. Now she was sitting there, besides Scott, without having washed or dressed for dinner.

And the hall was packed. Aileen had hoped for a quiet family dinner, not being watched like a hawk by half the clan.

Discord rankled further when Scott handed Fiona the letter from the laird. Taking it, Fiona unfurled it curiously.

In actual fact, Aileen had not realized that Laird McLeod had written a letter, but perhaps she should have. As Fiona sat and read it, atop of the crowded dinner table, a pin could have dropped.

As she did, Aileen's heart contorted in butterflies. This, she had not expected. Yes, the laird would explain the proposal, but was that all? Aileen's mind cast back to the laird's threat. Had he told them how she had come to be injured on McLeod land?

From Fiona's face, it was impossible to tell, but one thing was for sure: something was bothering her when she got to the end of it. Setting the scroll aside on the dinner table, Fiona smiled, but it was false.

Aileen should know. She watched the tension in her sister's muscles, the little stiff movements in her cheeks. And she was staring sharp knives at her.

Her expression was so intense, it even cut through the hum of the dinner table. To Aileen's dismay, they were dining with half the court. Not only her family and their bairns but also most of the elders and a good deal of the guards.

All of them, staring at her.

"Well, there is much to discuss, sir," said Fiona graciously but with a tone of ice. She smiled frostily, leaving Aileen in no doubt that she had been blindsided by the laird's proposal.

Scott grinned too, but beneath it, he also looked worried. And as for Aileen, she could not keep her eyes off him.

It was as if the rest of the room was just a distraction—the bairns, the greeting, the elders, and the sisters... They were all just a backdrop for him.

Which made it more annoying that he barely sent a glance in her direction. Aileen felt herself heating up.

Beneath the gentle light of the candles, her eyes roved across at Scott's. Softly lit, his face bounced with light. Aileen longed to run her fingers through his thick and dark hair but had to pull herself away not to.

"Of course," said Scott politely. He took another dram of the wine before him. The banquet that had been made in her honor was sumptuous, but looking down, Aileen could not recall eating a morsel of it. "Besides, it is nae for me to discuss. ’Tis between yerselves an' the laird."

Fiona nodded. "An' Brodie..." Her eyes flashed to Scott's. At the mention of his name, Scott's face momentarily clouded.

This was not lost on Aileen, who immediately turned to observe. A strange twitch crossed Scott's face, but the minute it was there, it had gone. All the same, it filled Aileen with concern.

What was it that he knew about Brodie?

"Aye, an' Brodie," said Scott. On the surface, he was friendly, but when Aileen looked, she could sense the coldness.

This was something she had never seen before in the lad. His clear blue eyes went the iciest shade she could imagine.

Then, Scott's eyes darted to hers. "So maybe I should be excused, an' ye an' yer sister can talk things through more privately?"

To her surprise, Scott stood up from the table, smiled, and excused himself. Then—and only then—did Fiona fix her with a real look.

Smiling, her sister stood from the table.

"Aye, we need a wee chat."

Pushing her aside, Fiona abruptly led Aileen into the small cabinet at the back of the hall. Once penned in there, her sister swung the door shut.

"Marriage, well, finally," said Fiona, her eyes crisp and cold. She fixed Aileen with her pure green beam. "I am pleased to hear it. This could work out well for the clan. However, before I say anything in company, I need to ken...what are yer thoughts?"

Aileen pulled a face. "I dinnae ken," she said, casting her eyes down. Surreptitiously, she glanced about. Outside was cold, and the whole world seemed to have been dark for hours.

Beyond them in the main hall, there was feasting. But not in Aileen's heart.

She was not sure what had happened, just that she was not happy about any of this.