Page 41 of Highlander’s Dangerous Gambler

"Ah, but ye dae ken," said Fiona, her eyes matching Aileen's sharply. "Well, excuse me, but I dinnae ken what the objection is. Aileen, this could be a braw thing for the clan! Why dinnae ye want to marry him?"

Aileen bit her lip. She did not want to, but there was no choice. She had to tell Fiona.

"Because I want to see what Scott does first," she said. Almost as soon as the words were out of her lips, she wished they had not.

"Scott?" asked Fiona, puzzled. "What's it got to do wi' him?"

But even as she said it, Fiona's eyes fell open. "Och," she said, understanding. "I see."

Desperately, Aileen burst in, "I just need to ken where I am. He feels the same, I am sure, but..."

Even as she said it, Aileen felt anything but sure. She swallowed hard, recalling how Scott had spurned her advances the night before. But this was nothing on the reaction that Fiona had.

"Aileen, are ye mad? Ye want to sit around an' wait for the affections o' some guard?" Her green eyes shone inquisitively into Aileen's face. Aileen felt a sudden urge to punch her.

Inside, her stomach churned massively.

"Just a guard?" she said hotly. She could feel herself heat up. It was not good when this happened. The last time she had felt like this, bad things had happened! "Fiona, ye dinnae ken what ye’re saying! Have ye nae ever..." Aileen's voice trailed off. She stopped, guiltily aware of what she was going to say.

But Fiona was having none of it. Now she stood up in a cold rage.

"Aileen," she said, in a voice that she used for her children, "ye must understand that ye’re o' marriageable age. It is time to put away the playthings o' childhood."

Aileen bubbled with rage. "Put away the things o' childhood?" repeated Aileen. She could not keep calm.

"Aye," said Fiona, fixing her with a stare. "An' do what's right for the clan. An' that is nae—is never—marrying some guard!"

Aileen's cheeks burned. It was too late. She was going into the zone. She backed away, worried about her own reaction.

"I mean, what is there to think about, Aileen? Ye silly moo!!" cried Fiona.

Aileen hated her. Right then, she could not bear to be near her sister. Tears forming in her eyes, Aileen backed away. She had to, else she would have hit Fiona. Running from the room, she heard Fiona's taunts.

"What is there to think about?"

And in Aileen's head came the words she almost said out loud.

"Havenae ye ever been in love, Fiona? Because I am. I am in love wi' Scott."